At the end in the trailer, when she knows that they all know. And Johnny Eck starts polishing his gun, another little person takes out his switchblade and glares eye contact with her... that’s about as tense as any scene in anything contemporary.
My parents wouldn't let me watch the film. They sent me with my sibs to a double feature. I simply stood up at the top of the aisle and watched the entire film. I kinda got a crush on the one white actor with no lower body..so that's my confession for the day Lil thanks for the forgiveness Lil laugh intentionally loud
For your obscure knowledge, as I liked learning it: the inventor of The Butler Did It trope was Mary Roberts Rinehart, who originated it in a 1930 novel. The great irony is that at one point, her cook tried to murder her... for having been denied a promotion to butler. Since he failed to Do It, she was clearly right that he didn't have what it took to be a real butler.
The Mummy stands out for me for a couple of reasons: 1) it's Karloff's first great horror-film "speaking role," and I adore that man's voice; 2) it features an active and interesting heroine in Zita Johann's Helen. Women's roles in classic films intrigue me; true, the films are products of their time, but on occasion the female characters can still be pretty impressive. (An upcoming case in point will be Glenda Farrell in 1933's Mystery of the Wax Museum.) Plenty of horror movie ladies are so excruciatingly bad you might catch yourself rooting for the villain to take them out of the picture (e.g. Sidney Fox in Rue Morgue, Madge Bellamy in White Zombie). Others have more of a dash of spirit and pluck, at least a bit of personality (e.g. Fay Wray's characters in Doctor X and The Most Dangerous Game, Leila Hyams in Freaks, Gloria Stuart and Lillian Bond in The Old Dark House). But none of them quite match up to Helen, IMO. As for which 1932 horror films I've seen, they include Freaks, White Zombie, Doctor X, The Most Dangerous Game, The Old Dark House, Vampyr, The Mummy, and The Island of Lost Souls. I tried to watch Murders of the Rue Morgue but couldn't stomach Sidney Fox, evidently the screenwriter's and casting director's idea of "pure and wholesome." (This type of character had already been done much better by Rose Hobart in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Mae Clarke in Frankenstein, and would be done better the following year by Fay Wray in King Kong.) And I refuse to sit through Fu Manchu, even for Karloff -- although perhaps because of Karloff; I revere the man, and this is such a black mark. He'd make a fair share of stinkers in his long career, but few as overtly offensive as this one.
I love this series way more than I expected and not just because of some of the backstory for Freaks and the wonderfully moody Vampyr…thanks, Josh! That said, to really capture that pre-war feel: *you need a hat to complete your ensemble* 🤠
I love "Vampyr" so much. I'm kinda surprised it was so hated upon its release... was it a case of being ahead of its time, or what? Of the four films from this year that I've seen, I'd go in this order: "Vampyr", "Freaks", "The Old Dark House", and "Doctor x", which I watched ages ago, and didn't care for.
These are great! Thanks for doing the Host segment / Old timey and main segment / standard audio. I really do like the effect, but it becomes a bit much when done the entire run. Can't wait to see more!
For what it's worth, I'm one of the weirdos who actually liked the original one with the audio filter for the entire video. But this is a reasonable compromise, and I get that it's probably more enjoyable for the majority.
Oh cool I was hoping for more '30s project. I know you've already got so much stuff going on but it would be so cool if eventually you could do every decade up to today. Nowadays there are a lot of horror movies made. You're one of my favorite movie youtubers. Thanks for the vids.
Love that you are doing these movies! I have seen a majority of them and now for some reason feel compelled to watch the FuManchu flick with Karloff since I have never given them a try. Cheers!
Of the ones I have seen in this bloc, The Mummy is my favorite with Island of Lost Souls a close second, but I am a sucker for og horror movies especially if Lionel Atwill is involved. Great video Josh!
I love all of the murder mystery at an old creaky mansion type films so I enjoyed watching The Monster Walks. My favorite of the block is The Old Dark House. That's a 5 star movie for me!
Freaks is an amazing classic, everyone knows that one, or should, murders on the rue morgue is my fave Poe story, just as Clive Barker's books of blood did new murders on the rue morgue, awesome work Josh
I love your RU-vid channel! I really enjoy the horror films from the 1930s and 40s. Would you consider doing a 40s horror film timeline? Keep up the great work!
Little known fact, Freaks is based on the short story, Spurs, by Tod Robbins. And this is on my list of "Movies that were better than the book" as the lead character, Jacques (who would be changed to Hans in Browning's movie) is a cruel and vindictive jerk.
those conjoined twins in Freaks were from my hometown in UK. Theres a plaque dedicated to them. They moved to america & had a pretty miserable end. Their manager just dumped them in a city after a PA. They were taken in by a guy who gave them a job as checkout assistants in a store where they had a partition to diguise they were conjoined. When one of them died the other didnt alert anybody so she could die days later also.
25:28 - The Technicolor process in this film is very reminiscent of Turner's that would occur in the 1980s: lots and lots of emerald green. 46:33 - Universal bought the rights for Island of Lost Souls from Paramount in 1958 and now consider it part of the Universal Monsters series.
Freaks is just one of those films that stands alone. Its never been replicated. Its a historical masterpiece of cinema. Maybe not for its technical side but just for its daring & subject matter. Even now its still shocking. I think its fascinating to watch. Its almost a documentary in part cause they really did live that life. It captured it well. The way it also tested the censor system was also groundbreaking. If it were made today I think it would still be highly controversial.
Thanks for switching to standard audio for the movie segments. Old-timey audio is good for the host segments, but becomes tiresome when used too much. This is perfectly balanced, as all things should be.
My favorite version of 'the Most Dangerous Game" (besides the Predator franchise, of course) was Surviving the Game with Ice T. And when it comes to Chandu the Magician - this is a great example of how super-hero adaptions is nothing new to Hollywood.
Question for you: Will you be covering the Topper films in this list since they are ghost stories (though more of a comedy than horror) and will there ever be a Movie Timelines on the Topper series of films since there are three?
I'm afraid you've done Karloff a disservice. Karloff was, in fact, of east Indian ancestry. So to describe him as not at all Asian isn't entirely accurate.
he'll be showing up pretty soon, but there's already been at least one actor in the '30s Project and '80s Project and it's Melvyn Douglas. he's in the Old Dark House here in this episode and was in both the Changeling in 1980 and Ghost Story in '81.
Of this group I've seen parts of freaks, all of The mummy rest of them I really haven't seen oh take that back I've seen White zombie because I had it in a collector's pack. I would kind of like to see some of these others it's just finding the time to do it.
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🎥 *Introduction to the 1932 horror movie reviews* - Overview of the 1932 horror movie releases. - Switching to regular audio sound for voiceover narrations. - Mention of upcoming reviews for the releases of 1932. 01:02 🦍 *"The Monster Walks" (1932)* - Plot summary of "The Monster Walks." - Commentary on the film's shortcomings and predictability. - Historical significance as the first film to use the word "damn." 03:54 🤹♂️ *"Freaks" (1932)* - Introduction to the film "Freaks." - Description of the characters and daily life in the circus. - Insight into the troubled production and the film's cultural impact. 08:37 🕵️ *"Murder at Dawn" (1932)* - Synopsis of "Murder at Dawn" and its mysterious plot. - Comparison to "The Monster Walks" in terms of character types. - Brief overview of director Richard Thorp's prolific career. 11:12 🦍 *"Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1932)* - Overview of "Murders in the Rue Morgue" and its adaptation of Poe's tale. - Information on director Robert Florey and the alterations to the original story. - Discussion on the film's controversial scenes and its impact. 15:19 👮 *"Behind the Mask" (1932)* - Brief summary of "Behind the Mask" as a crime drama with Caroff. - Notable plot points and peculiarities in the storyline. - Recognition of John Francis Dillon, the director's, contributions. 18:00 🧛♂️ *"Vampyr" (1932)* - Introduction to "Vampyr," an international release from Germany. - Description of the mysterious events in the plot. - Insights into director Carl Theodor Dreyer's innovative filmmaking techniques.- 00:00 🎬 Introduction to 1932 Releases - Overview of watching horror movies from the 1930s. - Announcement of covering all 1932 releases in this episode. - Switching to regular audio sound during voiceover narrations. 01:02 🦍 *"The Monster Walks" (1932)* - Synopsis of "The Monster Walks" plot. - Commentary on the film's shortcomings, especially regarding the promised giant ape. - Historical note: First film to use the word "damn," re-released after King Kong's success. 03:54 🎪 *"Freaks" (1932)* - Introduction to the film "Freaks." - Description of characters and daily life in a carnival sideshow. - Historical context and controversies surrounding the film's release. 08:37 🔍 *"Murder at Dawn" (1932)* - Brief plot summary of "Murder at Dawn." - Mention of common character types and plot elements in 1930s films. - Information on the director, Richard Thorpe's prolific career. 11:12 🦍 *"Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1932)* - Overview of the film's plot based on Edgar Allan Poe's tale. - Information about director Robert Florey and the film's alterations. - Discussion on the film's impact and subsequent adaptations. 15:19 🕵️♂️ *"Behind the Mask" (1932)* - Introduction to "Behind the Mask" with Boris Karloff. - Description of the crime drama plot with a touch of horror. - Information on director John Francis Dillon and the film's significance. 18:00 🧛 *"Vampyr" (1932)* - Overview of the international film "Vampyr." - Discussion on director Carl Theodor Dreyer's unconventional filmmaking techniques. - Information about the challenges in shooting the film in multiple languages. 20:04 🦇 *'London After Midnight' Overview* - Silent film from 1927, directed by Tod Browning. - Member of Russian nobility bankrolled the movie, faced challenges during premiere and Venice showing, but modern retrospectives are more favorable. Atmosphere praised. 21:35 🧟♂️ *'White Zombie' and Its Legacy* - Released on August 4th, 1932, directed by Victor Halperin. - Considered the first feature-length zombie film, featured low budget and recycled sets. Poorly reviewed initially but gained success later. Legacy includes failed remakes and inspiring the band White Zombie. 25:38 🕵️♂️ *'Dr. X' and Early Use of Technicolor* - Released on August 27th, 1932, directed by Michael Curtiz. - Crime and mad scientist movie with a series of murders, notable for early use of Technicolor. High budget, received mixed reviews, but significant for Curtiz's future success. 28:40 🏹 *'The Most Dangerous Game' - First Film Adaptation* - Released on September 16th, 1932, directed by Irving Pichel and Ernest B. Schoedsack. - Adaptation of the 1924 short story, first film adaptation. Shot around the same time as King Kong, shares sets. Influential story, with subsequent adaptations over the years. 32:19 🔮 *'Chandu the Magician' - Radio Adaptation* - Released on September 18th, 1932. - Adaptation of a popular radio play, budget estimates vary. Moderate entertainment value but lacks significant horror talent. Influence on comic book characters. 35:41 🏚️ *'The Old Dark House' - James Whale's Social Commentary* - Released on October 20th, 1932, directed by James Whale. - Adaptation of the 1927 novel, a sharp social commentary on British class structures. Mixed reviews at the time, rediscovered later, seen as a forerunner to films like Rocky Horror. 39:10 🎭 *'The Mask of Fu Manchu' - Yellowface Controversy* - Released on November 5th, 1932, starring Boris Karloff. - Set in England, features yellowface casting, kidnapping, and seeking an ancient artifact. Part of the controversy due to stereotypical portrayals. 40:05 🧛♂️ *Fu Manchu's Adaptation* - Overview of Fu Manchu character and the film adaptation. - Fu Manchu's portrayal and casting controversies. - Challenges during the filming and reception. 42:21 🗿 *The Mummy's Arrival* - Introduction to "The Mummy" and its setting. - Boris Karloff's multiple roles and the character Imhotep. - Comparison with previous Universal monster films, especially Dracula. 46:32 🏝️ *Island of Lost Souls* - Plot summary of "Island of Lost Souls." - Details about the adaptation of H.G. Wells' novel. - Controversies, cast, and director information. 50:54 🎬 *Wrapping up 1932* - Brief overview and favorites of the movies from 1932. - Personal favorite ("Freaks") mentioned. - Encouragement for viewers to share their favorites in the comments. Made with HARPA AI
With no intention of justifying his being cast as a Chinese or Egyptian man, I will point out that Boris Karloff was Anglo-Indian and concealed his South Asian heritage for professional reasons. He was not actually “white” by Victorian standards and his complexion and facial features were noticeably Northern Indian (like Jawarhalal Nehru).
Today I Learned: "[Karloff's] mother's maternal aunt [so, his maternal-great aunt] was Anna Leonowens, whose tales about life in the royal court of Siam (now Thailand) were the basis of the musical 'The King and I'." I'm... honestly not sure what to do with this information.
As someone who is both disabled and on the spectrum, you have no idea how hard the "Gibble gobble" scene hits for me. Let's make the normie as uncomfortable as possible if we let her in.
