The Invisible Man
With the late success ofThe Invisible Man , folks have Universal Monster Mania . These classical fiend have entertained generations of audiences since their premieres in the other 20th century . Taking aspiration from classic literature and German film movements , the films were like a shot iconic .
While they have been around for nigh a century , there are still things to pick up about them . As plastic film fans , many of us should preserve these wondrous films and their colorful history . Looking at some of the giving cinema from the earned run average , here are 10 things you did n’t bang about the Universal Monster Movies .
The Hunchback Of Notre Dame And Intercom Technology
The flick that really started the behemoth frenzy was the original production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1923 . This film starred Lon Chaney as the titular monster , a misunderstood being who was mock and convey down by the club he thirst to fence himself with .
This film was revolutionary in many ways , particularly considering its use of makeup and costuming for Chaney ’s version of the Hunchback . But it is its use of intercom technology that really marks its bequest . This first - time use of the technology allow the conductor and his assistants to utter from afar and is used on photographic film set to this day .
The Phantom Of The Opera’s Bed
The 1925 adaptation of The Phantom Of The Opera saw Lon Chaney return to Universal to portray the villainous phantom . Living in the underbody of Paris , the Phantom still had a taste for the finer things ( he lived underneath an opera house house , what more could you bear ) .
The layer used in his William Chambers was an refined boat - shaped frame . A unique look , the bottom was used on more than just this Hollywood production . Used in multiple other picture later on , the boat - determine seam might best be remembered as alsobeing featuredin the iconicSunset Boulevard .
The Spanish Dracula
One of the first of themonsterfilms to feature an audio track , Draculais one of the most iconic horror film period . Its double-dyed casting of Bela Lugosi as the famed undead count has been the templet for Hollywood vampires since its origination . There are few adaptation of Bram Stoker ’s novel quite as iconic as this .
That being say , there is a whole other motion picture that is near identical to this one . At the time of yield , Universal commission a Spanish language of the flick to be shot alongside the English one . Utilizing the same circle , the Spanish language variation throw up whole new musician into the iconic role .
The Invisible Man Always Gets In For Free
The Universal Monster movies had some of the best cast of any classic Hollywood moving-picture show . Pairing their monstrous characters with the complete histrion , these films became immortal . Claude Rains as the Invisible Man , for example , remains a perfect pairing .
It was so iconic , in fact , that it would provide Rains with some unforeseen perk . When he and his daughter when to see a re - release of the film on a piercingly cold wintertime day , Rains near the boxwood office , covered by a lid and scarf , and request two tickets . His vocalisation was instantly recognise , and the theater offered him free admission ( something he completely disapproved of ) .
Frankenstein Wasn’t Invited To His Own Premiere
It is hard to hear the name Frankenstein without thinking immediately of Boris Karloff . This icon of Horror Cinema found his start in the business playing the iconic monster of Universal ’s enfranchisement . This big interruption would put down him roles for the quietus of his life sentence .
But at the time of the flick ’s release , the studio apartment did n’t see Karloff as much more than a stuntman . He was so far down the list of VIPs , that Karloff was n’t even invite to the plastic film ’s original premiere . Come the time of his second cosmopolitan cinema , The Mummy , all the Studio had to do to trade the celluloid was feature his name on the post horse .
The Mummy’s Useless Makeup
This franchise is remembered greatly for its contribution to the world of special effects makeup . Leading the charge was Jack Pierce , who craft some of the most iconic make-up design for these flick , from Frankenstein to the Wolf Man . One of his more dear design also let in Karloff ’s The Mummy .
That being said , the undead version of the lineament ’s makeup was nothing more than an absolute wastefulness of clip . Boris Karloff only appears in the makeup in a single shaft , slowly opening his eyes . The rest of the sentence , the bandaged creature was played by a dummy , or was only shot from the knees down .
The Bride Of Frankenstein And The Sitting Doctor
The Bride Of Frankenstein is probably the most successful continuation to any of the Universal Monster Movies , at least in terms of critical reception . The Film builds and improves on the original , explore more complicated themes and embrace a stranger but more sophisticated spirit .
Colin Clive returns to the use of Dr. Frankentstein in the film , serving as one of the his last execution before his death . If you notice , he is often check sit or lying down throughout the picture show . This is due to the fact that soon before filming , Clive broke his leg in a buck - ride stroke .
The Wolf Man’s Parental Connection
The Wolf Manbrought together quite a cast together that stem throughout the entire Universal Monster ’s Legacy . Claude Rains return to fiddle Sir John Talbot , and Bela Lugosi made a pocket-size appearing as well . Perhaps the braggy connection though was Lon Chaney Jr. following in the footsteps of his father as the Wolf Man .
In a little court to his Fatherhood ’s workplace in the Monster movies , Lon Chaney Jr ’s film utilized some of the same set fromThe Hunchback of Notre Dame . In the film , Larry and his father attend church one Sunday and are seen walking up the measure to the village church . These cathedral steps were part of the original Notre Dame set .
Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man Was A Product Of Its Time
Perhaps the first Cinematic Universe to come out of Hollywood was this Hellenic monster universe . The first meet up of these behemoth start out with the classicFrankentstein take on The Wolfman . The form of address say it all , with both monsters meeting up in a climactic fight .
The picture was filmed during WWII , during a time where Hollywood adhere to strict rules of anti - German propaganda . To back up this , the screenwriter Curt Siodmak change the location of Frankenstein ’s castle from Germany to a fictional country of Vasaria , which interpret broadly speaking to " weewee place " , referencing the falls alfresco .
Creature(s) From The Black Lagoon
Often see as the final addition to the original era of the Universal Monsters , Creature From The Black Lagoonstands as a bridge deck between the world of gothic repulsion and sci - fi storytelling . The aquatic monster has urge many make-up artists and filmmakers in terms of purpose .
The definitive makeup was actually crate into two freestanding lawsuit for the motion-picture show , each performed by two unlike stuntmen . The first was a lighter biased lawsuit for the subaquatic successiveness , to highlight the teras against the darkness of the water . The other was for dry land scenery and was paint far darker .
NEXT:10 Universal Classic Monster Movies , Ranked
