If you've been around for a while, you know.
Halloween is a Big Friggin Deal in the House of Black. I've already baked pumpkin muffins (recipe later this month!) and made several batches of Mexican Hot Chocolate - Fall is well under way!
Every year I urge you to watch a few spooky films that I just happen to adore. This year's theme is the werewolf. Over the years I've developed a serious soft spot for them when it comes to film & lore. Perhaps because they're the most human of old world "monsters"? Perhaps because I frequently see myself becoming a crazy monster & can't help it? Perhaps because I like my men a little hairy?
Ahem. I've chosen 4 films for this year - each a different interpretation of one of the oldest legends there is. I hope you'll check them out or see them again!
To start this off right...
The Wolf Man
1941
Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, Bela Lugosi, Evelyn Ankers
The classic werewolf. This was when the world was first introduced to Talbot Hall, Blackmoor, and the icon of the werewolf as it is today. The monsters of back then had style - even when Talbot hit beast mode, he was usually still clad in tweed pants and a dress shirt in the morning. Would it surprise you that when I was but a child, I thought Lon Chaney Jr. was the perfect man? Dashing and tall and kind-faced...and tormented. What can I say, I've always had a type.
This is one of the first instances I can remember of blatantly rooting for the "villain". Obviously the older I get, the more "grey" the idea of a villain becomes and in fact, this is a pretty poor example of one. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Sometimes good people have to do bad things. Doesn't make us any less human unless you are unfortunate enough to be this guy.
may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms
and the autumn moon is bright."
These days I still swoon over Larry Talbot but I can also appreciate the gorgeousness of the scenery (seriously, steer clear of those foggy moors!) and noticeably beautiful score. Incidentally, if you watch the film - do you notice the bit of music that might have been Danny Elfman's inspiration for the Batman theme song? It's in there.
Being such a nerd about such things, I adore the fact that fellow screen giants Claude Rains and Bela Lugosi are also in the film, even if it's not as the roles that made them legendary.
In my search for acceptable screen caps, I came across some pretty fantastic stuff, including this desktop background created from an old Mexican movie poster:
You can download it for yourself from CinemaIsDope here
A great shot of Chaney being done-up by movie make-up legend Jack Pierce:
And Chaney - in full Wolf mode - taking a nap on his beta.
By the way!
In 2010, Universal re-made The Wolfman starring Benecio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins. My opinion is that's a pretty good remake - it's a bit over-the-top in the story department and Anthony Hopkins chews the shit out of the scenery. But it's beautifully shot, the costuming is wonderful, del Toro makes a perfect choice for a new Larry Talbot, AND it is kind enough to give a few shout-outs to it's original including using bits of the original score and bringing back Talbot's awesome wolf head pimp-stick.
Well my little vultures, that's enough rambling from me for one day!
October is just beginning, I've a lot of things in mind for the month so do come back soon!
current sounds: TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me
current beverage: Trader Joe's Sumatra blend
0 comments:
Post a Comment