Non-Universal - Horror - SciFi & Monsters 1930s -- The Music of Universal Horror and Drama Films

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Date Posted: 16:50:00 01/29/14 Wed
Author: DAN
Subject: Non-Universal - Horror - SciFi & Monsters 1930s

After rewatching the Universal horror films so many times, my cousin and I decided to watch as many of the horror films from the other studios.
Beginning with the movies from the 1930s, (which we just finished) and rank them.

Next we're going to watch the Non-Universal horror films from the 1940s.

Here is a chrononlogical list as many of the 1930s films as I could find.

1931
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

1932
Doctor X
Freaks
Island of Lost Souls
White Zombie
Vampyr

1933
King Kong
The Ghoul
Mystery of the Wax Museum
The Vampire Bat
Murders in the Zoo
Night of Terror

1935
The Black Room
Mad Love
Mark of the Vampire

1936
The Devil Doll
The Man Who Lived Again
The Walking Dead
Revolt of the Zombies

1939
The Man They Could Not Hang
Dark Eyes of London

CONTAINS SOME "SPOILERS"

MY RATINGS:

KING KONG = A+
My favorite monster movie outside of some of the Universal films.
This is the first monster flick I ever saw, way back in March 1956

DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE = A
The very best version of the Jekyll and Hyde films.

MURDERS IN THE ZOO = A
Lionel Atwill stars as a zoologist who becomes jealous of his wife and murders her suspected suitors in various ways using the zoo animals.
Very entertaining early Lionel Atwill film.

ISLAND OF LOST SOULS = A
Bela Lugosi in heavy makeup as "Sayer of the Law"

FREAKS = A
This film has turned off a lot of people because of the use of real people with birth defects.
But as a horror film it still packs a punch.

MARK OF THE VAMPIRE = A
Bela Lugosi in his second vampire role.
But unfortunately it was revealed at the end of the movie that he was just an actor playing a vampire.
I was disappointed when I first saw this, but now it is quite enjoyable, despite the fake vampires.

THE MAN WHO LIVED AGAIN = A
Boris Karloff in his first role as a "Mad Doctor"

THE WALKING DEAD = A
Boris Karloff stars as a man executed and then brought back to life and seeking revenge on those who framed him.

THE BLACK ROOM = A
Boris Karloff in dual roles as twin brothers.
One good, one evil.

DEVIL DOLL = A
Entertaining film about shrinking people.
Lionel Barrymore stars

MAD LOVE = B+
Stars Peter Lorre and Colin Clive.
Mad Doc Lorre grafts hands of a knife killer onto pianist Clive after he lost his in a trasin wreck.
This film could have done a lot better without Ted Healy's annoying comedy.
I never cared for him when he was with "The Three Stooges"

THE VAMPIRE BAT = B+
Lionel Atwill, Dwight Frye, and Fay Wray star.
Dwight Frye plays another dimwit on the style of Renfield.
Entertaining film from minor studio, Majestic.

WHITE ZOMBIE = B
Bela Lugosi stars as a plantation owner using zombies to do the work.
This film is a little creaky at times, but overall it will hold your interest.

MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM = B
Starring Lionel Atwill, with Fay Wray.
Once considered lost, then it showed up in the 70s.
I first saw it on TV in 1976.
Too much comedy brings it down some.
Remade as House of Wax with Vincent Price.

DOCTOR X = B
Lionel Atwill in his first horror role. With Fay Wray.
The only slow parts are the lame comedy relief.
If not for the comedy, I'd give this a higher rating.

THE MAN THEY COULD NOT HANG = B
Boris Karloff as a scientist working on bringing the dead back to life. He is caught and hung for his crimes.
His assistant brings him back to life and then he goes on a killing spree seeking revenge against the judge and jury.

DARK EYES OF LONDON = B
Bela Lugosi plays Dr Orloff who runs an insurance agency where he loans money in exchange for the assigning of life insurance benefits to himself of many of his customers policies. A resident of Orloff's (under the name "Dearborn") home for the "Destitute Blind" is Jake, a tall, hideous brute, who muders on Orloff's behalf

THE GHOUL = B-
Boris Kaloff stars in a sort of poor man's "The Mummy"
Rather slow moving in the scenes without Karloff.

NIGHT OF TERROR = C-
Bela Lugosi is wasted in this tale of a maniac killer.
This is the only film that I don't have on DVD or VHS.
Had to watch it on YouTube.

RETURN OF DOCTOR X = C-
Stars Humphrey Bogart in his only horror role.
Not quite as bad as the critics make this film out to be.
But really only moves when Bogie is on screen.

VAMPYR = D-
This is a highly rated movie by most critics.
But I found it boring as hell.
A few weeks ago was the third and last time I'll be watching this any time soon again

REVOLT OF THE ZOMBIES = D-
Poor follow up to "White Zombie"
Zombie scenes save it from an F rating

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