Inner Sanctum Series in Universal Horrors Forum

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Inner Sanctum Series

Author	Comment
midnightsun1578	Inner Sanctum Series	Lead	[-]
May 8 06 4:35 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Can someone give me some background on these films. I hear them mentioned but don't know anything about them.
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BijouBob8mm	Re: Inner Sanctum Series	#1	[-]
May 8 06 5:05 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	There were six films made, all starring Lon Chaney Jr, and inspired by the radio series of the same name. These were 1943's CALLING DR. DEATH, 1944's WEIRD WOMAN (based on Fritz Leiber Jr's novel, "Conjure Wife"), DEAD MAN'S EYES, 1945's FROZEN GHOST, STRANGE CONFESSION (which Universal had filmed in 1934 as THE MAN WHO RECLAIMED HIS HEAD) and PILLOW OF DEATH. Sometimes Chaney was victim, other times villain.
WeedeeWeedeeWam	Inner Sanctum	#2	[-]
May 8 06 5:07 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Well, sir, there were six of them -- all of them are murder mysteries and each one starred Lon Chaney Jr., who often narrated over them. The first few of these movies begins with a distorted face in a crystal ball and the guy is talking about murder. "Yes, even you may commit murder," he tells the audience. The films were based on a series of stories called Inner Sanctum by publishers Simon & Schuster. You may want to look these movies up on the Internet for plot summaries and cast members. 1. Calling Dr. Death (1943) 2. Dead Man's Eyes (1944) 3. Weird Woman (1944) 4. The Frozen Ghost (1944) 5. Strange Confession (1945) 6. Pillow Of Death (1945) WEIRD WOMAN was remade in Britain in 1962 as BURN, WITCH, BURN, which was a terrific movie. STRANGE CONFESSION was a remake of an earlier Universal film called THE MAN WHO RECLAIMED HIS HEAD (1934), starring Claude Rains and Lionel Atwill.
BijouBob8mm	Re: Inner Sanctum	#3	[-]
May 8 06 5:12 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	BURN WITCH BURN (released to VHS by MGM as one of their "MidNite Movies") was also shown under the title NIGHT OF THE EAGLE, and was later remade (with Terri Garr) as WITCHES' BREW.
WeedeeWeedeeWam	Inner Sanctum	#4	[-]
May 8 06 5:15 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I saw BURN, WITCH, BURN as a 12-year-old in my local moviehouse. That film literally scared the pants off me, especially when the statue of the giant eagle comes to life and starts chasing Norman all over the college campus.
BijouBob8mm	Re: Inner Sanctum	#5	[-]
May 8 06 5:56 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I need to track a copy of BWB down. The novel is a good, quick read.
MyDarkSide	Re: Inner Sanctum	#6	[-]
May 8 06 7:13 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Sooooo, these had nothing directly to do with the radio series. No Raymond the Gay(sic) Ghoul or squeaking door present in any of the six films???
bosko52	Re: Inner Sanctum	#7	[-]
May 8 06 7:50 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	No, but I think the not-bad independent 1948 INNER SANCTUM feature was more in keeping with the radio show. Certainly the early 50s TV series used the creakjing door and creepy narrator as a recurring motif in the intro.
David Scott Butner	Re: Inner Sanctum	#8	[-]
May 8 06 7:52 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The Inner Sanctum radio series actually also took its name from the Simon & Schuster series -- apparently the show's creator/producer, Hyman Brown, was unable to sell the series to the network under his original title, "The Squeaking (or Creaking) Door," until he conceived the idea of doing a tie-in with the already-popular publication. I've recently revisited a number of the Inner Sanctum radio programs in my collection, and though the series and its sardonic host undoubtedly served as a vital inspiration for Tales From the Crypt and its ilk, I've actually been pretty disappointed by the formulaic and predictable "twists" featured in most of the episodes. Too bad, because the programs were often drenched in atmosphere and quite good in their setup -- to say nothing of the extraordinary acting talent they often showcased, including Peter Lorre, Mary Astor, Simone Simon, and, of course, Boris Karloff. Perhaps this belongs more in the OTR catagory, but can any fans of the series recommend particular episodes they feel are standouts? ------------- "After all, it is better to be frightened than to be crushed."
SAM33	Re: Inner Sanctum	#9	[-]
May 8 06 8:49 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Don't know about the radio, but of the movies, most people seem to hate it, but I rather like PILLOW OF DEATH - the last of the series I believe, and I think it's a genuine surprise ending. DEAD MANS EYES is another favorite of mine. SAM33
taraco	Re: Inner Sanctum	#10	[-]
May 8 06 11:11 PM Burgomaster Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I love Universal and I love Lon Chaney Jr., but man these are hard to sit through. Almost all of them put me to sleep, and I recall I had to try several viewings of each before I could get through them. They literally have the pacing of 40s radio...in a bad way! And yet...and yet... david
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Renfield	Re: Inner Sanctum	#11	[-]
May 9 06 12:42 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I was able to enjoy all of them when they came out on VHS. However, they weren't exceptional by any means, and if Universal ever puts them out on DVD, they will be low on my shopping list. Joe "Renfield" Meadows HORROR-WOOD Webzine http://www.horror-wood.com
The Drunken Severed Head	Re: Inner Sanctum	#12	[-]
May 9 06 1:44 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* That film literally scared the pants off me Wow! Hope the theater wasn't chilly! Max
chris schillig	Re: Inner Sanctum	#13	[-]
May 9 06 4:50 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* I need to track a copy of BWB down. The novel is a good, quick read. The novel also goes under the title CONJURE WIFE, and it's much better than ANY of the movie adaptations. Oops, just noticed that BijouBob already mentioned the novel name above...
Professor Von X	Re: Inner Sanctum	#14	[-]
May 9 06 7:18 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	My favourite of the series (and I must revisit these since I finally broke down and bought a cheapo VCR after being without for about 4 years) is Strange Confession, which also features Lloyd Bridges! in a prominent supporting role. Wasn't this movie unavailable for decades or something? I seem to remember reading that it was never a part of Universal's TV package, while all 5 other IS's were. Professor Von X No longer the "Faceless Man"!
Joe Karlosi	Re: Inner Sanctum	#15	[-]
May 9 06 7:25 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	We've probably done this somewhere before but let's rank our "best to least" order! Mine: WEIRD WOMAN CALLING DR. DEATH STRANGE CONFESSION DEAD MAN'S EYES THE FROZEN GHOST PILLOW OF DEATH ---------------------- "It's MORE ... than a hobby!"
BijouBob8mm	Re: Inner Sanctum	#16	[-]
May 9 06 8:04 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Sooooo, these had nothing directly to do with the radio series. No Raymond the Gay(sic) Ghoul or squeaking door present in any of the six films??? No Raymond, but the films (or was there one that didn't do this?) open with a ghostly face inside a crystal ball sitting on a table in a study/library, welcoming us to the Inner Sanctum. "Yes, even YOU can commit murder...."
Butcher Benton	Re: Inner Sanctum	#17	[-]
May 9 06 11:07 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I was recently informed that the creepy head-in-the-hourglass who opens the Inner Sanctum films is character actor David Hoffman. I like the films even though they are hokey and cheap. It does take a certain amount of stretch to accept Chaney Jr.as a psychiatrist, botanist or college professor. The two best entries are "Weird Woman" and "Strange Confession".. "The Frozen Ghost" is pretty bad. Martin Kosleck is the only actor who appears to be energized with Chaney Jr. and Ankers appearing distracted and with little wonder.
dr gogol	> Re: Inner Sanctum	#18	[-]
May 9 06 2:17 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Evie was pregnant during the filming of "Frozen Ghost". I believe it is her last Universal appearance. For more info than one could possibly want, check out Tom Weaver's and the Brunas brothers' excellent "Universal Horrors". For my part, I have a love/hate relationship with the "Inner Spankdums" as I affectionately call them. Watching Chaney struggle through roles he is unsuited for ("a mental giant!", "a great artist!") carries a unique fascination. Performances range from interesting (J. Caroll Naish, Elizabeth Russell) to absurd (Aquanetta, Ramsay Ames). I think Chaney is at his best when he plays the amiable everyman chemist in "Strange Confession". "Wierd Woman" is still my favorite though.
Butcher Benton	Re: > Re: Inner Sanctum	#19	[-]
May 9 06 2:38 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	That's right about Ankers, I had forgotten. I have the seminal "Universal Horrors" which I did not consult prior to my earlier post. Of course, Ankers loathed working with Chaney anyway so she was probably relieved that she was at the end of that particular string. Acquanetta and Ramsay Ames were jaw-dropping beauties who were not very good actresses.
BijouBob8mm	Re: > Re: Inner Sanctum	#20	[-]
May 9 06 3:07 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Performances range from interesting (J. Caroll Naish, Elizabeth Russell) to absurd (Aquanetta, Ah yes, Aquanetta...Universal should put the Captive Wild Woman trilogy out on a DVD.
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