Where did the Inner Santum Series Go Wrong? in Universal Horrors Forum

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Where did the Inner Santum Series Go Wrong?

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JamesT850	Where did the Inner Santum Series Go Wrong?	Lead	[-]
Jun 28 12 5:56 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Every now and again I wonder to myself "how did Universal Studios mess up Inner Sanctum?" I own several episodes of the radio series and they are wonderful: Clever writting, good acting, and that creaking door. Does the blame fall onto Lon's shoulders for not being able to carry the series or was he set up to fail with the scripts he was given? What do you guys think was the issue/s that made this series possibally universal's biggest missed opportunity(atleast IMO). And also what rank would you put the movies in. Mine (from best to worst) is 1.Weird Women 2. Calling Dr. Death 3. Strange Confession 4. Frozen Ghost 5. Dead Man's Eyes 6.Pillow of Death
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Mora		#1	[-]
Jun 28 12 6:09 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Well James, IMO they are overall a fine series of films. When I was much younger and the Inner Sanctum movies were presented as part of a Universal TV package called --- I kid you not: "Weirdo Theater", each weekly offering disappointed me because I knew it would be an unwelcome intrusion to "monster" showings. Last year bought the complete series at Sears for $9.99 (can't pass that up), re-watched each of the films and found that, for what the series was intended to be, it succeeded. Pretty intriguing mysteries. Interestingly, though, James, my preferences are almost exactly yours . . . in reverse. Pillow of Death, Dead Man's Eyes and Frozen Ghost are my faves. Really couldn't get into Weird Woman. Well, as the song goes -- To Each His Own.
Tragg		#2	[-]
Jun 29 12 5:12 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I agree totally Mora, there's nothing wrong with the Inner Sanctum films, and overall they're pretty entertaining - although Pillow Of Death was below par. Like yourself, I've never rated Weird Woman either; my dad saw this as a small boy at the cinema, and has always recounted what a terrifying film it was (though he could never specifically recall many plot details or what it was that frightened him). So when I got the Inner Sanctum DVD set the first film I watched was Weird Woman, and I have to say I thought it was a lukewarm bore at best (I actually got less enjoyment from it than the hopelessly muddled Pillow Of Death). Mind you, I'm not a fan of the Conjure Wife story either, so for me the source material was flawed to begin with. The strength of the series for me is (contrary to received opinion) Lon Chaney Jr, who manages to invest a mechanical series of mysteries with his usual likeable personality, so that even if he wasn't your typical college professor or artist (whatever they might be) you always sympathised with his plight. Had Universal made these identically with a stuffy cold fish like Ralph Bellamy, or used a supercilious and obnoxious snob as a lead character (like Patric Knowles' horrible 'hero' in The Strange Case Of Dr R X), they'd be far less watchable than they are. A couple of years ago I showed the Inner Sanctum films to my wife and children (who had no preconceived notions about the films, and knew nothing of the 'received wisdom' about the series), and on the whole they enjoyed them, in the same way they had fun with the Charlie Chan films, or the Mr Moto series.
Mora		#3	[-]
Jun 29 12 9:19 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The reason I chose Pillow of Death as my fave of the series, Tragg, is: SPOILER It is the one entry in the series where Chaney is actually guilty of the crimes for which he is accused. I thought the guilt-or-innocence aspect prior to the revelation was quite well done. The other films in the series have him as a prime suspect but inevitably the true perpetrator of the crime is revealed. Good point you bring up, as well. I definitely could see Ralph Bellamy stepping into these roles, but then they truly would have been a painful viewing experience. Chaney was certainly no acting dynamo (with a few notable exceptions), but his tragic persona was just right for the series. And I agree with you about Conjure Wife. Definitely not a personal fave, hence my lack of enthusiasm for Weird Woman.
Wich2		#4	[-]
Jun 29 12 9:25 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	No Fritz Leiber fans here, eh? Well, I do prefer "Gonna Roll the Bones," anyway!
Tragg		#5	[-]
Jun 29 12 10:34 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Mora wrote: The reason I chose Pillow of Death as my fave of the series, Tragg, is: SPOILER It is the one entry in the series where Chaney is actually guilty of the crimes for which he is accused. I thought the guilt-or-innocence aspect prior to the revelation was quite well done. The other films in the series have him as a prime suspect but inevitably the true perpetrator of the crime is revealed. Good point you bring up, as well. I definitely could see Ralph Bellamy stepping into these roles, but then they truly would have been a painful viewing experience. Chaney was certainly no acting dynamo (with a few notable exceptions), but his tragic persona was just right for the series. And I agree with you about Conjure Wife. Definitely not a personal fave, hence my lack of enthusiasm for Weird Woman. I still quite enjoyed Pillow Of Death, but it was the post-production cost-cutting that spoilt it for me, with the jettisoning of the special effects shots which would have added the ghost (or the ghostly vision as the film would have played it). As it is you're left with scenes where you're meant to be following an onscreen spectre (which would have added some punch), and there's nothing there. Which is rather like watching a Ray Harryhausen scene before the stop motion has been added. I presume this late-in-the-day effects omission (as the camerawork in the finished film clearly leaves visual 'spaces' for the superimposition to take place) was due to the penny-pinchers that were taking over Universal at the time...the same ones who ruled that Jack Pierce was an unnecessary expense for the studio.
Mora		#6	[-]
Jun 29 12 1:14 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Again, a very good point you bring up, which I agree with. Bottom line: I don't think Universal cared very much for these films, instead hoping to capitalize on the success of the radio series, and a budget-conscious way to keep Lon employed. Was Chaney's contract with the studio not renewed after Pillow of Death?
PhantomXCI		#7	[-]
Jun 29 12 1:38 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Mora wrote: Again, a very good point you bring up, which I agree with. Bottom line: I don't think Universal cared very much for these films, instead hoping to capitalize on the success of the radio series, and a budget-conscious way to keep Lon employed. Was Chaney's contract with the studio not renewed after Pillow of Death? In 1946, Universal was acquired by William Goetz and became Universal International. Pretty much nobody's contract was renewed after '46, as Goetz was trying to turn UI into an "A" studio. I don't think Universal took any more of a "feh" atttitude to the Inner Sanctum series than they did to any of their other B horror films. Remember, this is the studio which also produced THE MAD DOCTOR OF MARKET STREET, THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. RX, MURDER IN THE BLUE ROOM, THE SHE WOLF OF LONDON, JUNGLE WOMAN, THE SPIDER WOMAN STRIKES BACK, THE BRUTE MAN and a whole bunch of other less-than-great horror films.
Mora		#8	[-]
Jun 29 12 3:24 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Wow Phantom, you reminded me with a bullet! A cornucopia of stinkers! Given what was to come Lon's way as a character actor, he was fortunate to have not had his contract renewed.
Colossus Rex		#9	[-]
Jun 29 12 3:24 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Maybe this is harsh, but to me the question is "What went right?" Everything about these films seems second rate to me. They have a few fun moments, but way too many dreary and/or illogical ones. Blaming Chaney seems to easy since I think it would be hard for anyone to carry off those scripts. At least that's how it seems to me. CR
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MBarnum		#10	[-]
Jun 29 12 4:50 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Even as a little kid I loved the Inner Sanctum movies, particularly WEIRD WOMAN. Like others here there would be times when a movie would run on television in what was supposed to be a monster movie time-slot and no monster would appear, resulting in an "Aw, darn it!" from me, but nothing of the sort with these, or Universal's other mystery thrillers like THE CAT CREEPS and MURDER IN THE BLUE ROOM. Love 'em all, and still do. My blog: http://pedrotheapebomb.wordpress.com/
Rick		#11	[-]
Jun 29 12 4:56 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think I get a little more enjoyment out of these than Colossus Rex does, but for the most part I agree with him. Creighton is certainly miscast in these things, but, as stated above, there's not much that another actor could have done to improve things. At least with the Lonster we get some fun out of his miscasting. And his wardrobe. The movies do provide a kind of easygoing hour apiece. Not really good, but not terrible. Not really captivating stories, but not without some interest. Mainly, for me, it's just the pleasure of watching all those familiar faces doing what they did. The movies are more relaxing than entertaining, but sometimes that's all ya need.
Colossus Rex		#12	[-]
Jun 29 12 10:33 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I came to these late. I don't remember seeing them on TV when I was a kid along with the more famous Universal monster films. Maybe if I'd seen the Sanctum films at an impressionable age, I'd have more affection for them.
Mora		#13	[-]
Jun 30 12 12:00 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Rick, I agree. Spending an hour with a Chaney Inner Sanctum mystery is certainly a heackuva lot better than suffering through 60 minutes of most of what's offered on commercial television. You're so correct - Not a bad way to spend an evening's relaxation. Thanks for the chuckle - the mention of the Lonster's wardrobe. Came at me out of left field, but appreciated as I read this post-midnight. And I gotta say, despite criticism of the Lonster's standard truck driver dialogue delivery, I do enjoy his voiceovers in these pictures.
bela lugosi		#14	[-]
Jun 30 12 6:53 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I don't thiink they "went wrong" at all. I'm a huge fan of this series of films, and watch them often.
PShields79		#15	[-]
Jun 30 12 8:01 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	DEAD MAN'S EYES used to run most often in L.A. while I was growing up. It used to make me sad, like all of Chaney's films. The slow pan in on him with the burned eyes used to really bother me, not to mention the extreme close-up of him pulling down his bags and rolling his eyes upward. Perry Shields Member, Torrance Theatre Company
Joe Karlosi		#16	[-]
Jul 1 12 6:16 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I don't think the Inner Sanctums went wrong. And I also completely accept Chaney in the parts and think he pulls it off as a dapper and suave intellectual. Maybe it was the mustache. "Guy named Squeamy got thrown from the fifth floor. He's deader'n a mackerel."
The Mighty Bongo		#17	[-]
Jul 2 12 5:00 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I don't know about everyone else, but this is one image that scared the hell out of me as a kid ! Chris Want to hang out with the ultimate party animals ? Come see us at; http://www.hollywoodgorillamen.com/
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Where did the Inner Santum Series Go Wrong?

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