Long lost horror film the old dark house stands as one of. Margaret gloria stuart in her evening gown is pursued by drunken houseman morgan boris karloff then rescued by husband philip raymond massey in james whales the old dark house, 1932 view the tcmdb entry for the old dark house 1932. Podcast the old dark house 1932 episode 22 decades of. Sep 01, 2016 the old dark house is a 1932 american precode horror comedy film directed by james whale and starring boris karloff. Even if it hadnt been essentially lost, james whales the old dark house 1932 wouldnt ever have fit, exactly, on the mount rushmore of universals horror greats. The old dark house is worth checking out for its early interactions between thesiger, laughton et al, and the occasional knowing moment of genre deconstruction such as when stuart uses the sets classic gothic lighting scheme to make shadow puppets but otherwise its a somewhat sedentary and secondrate entry in universals otherwise great second horror cycle. The deal announcement comes as, in a major move for horror fans, the cohen media group v. Long lost horror film the old dark house stands as one. Chiller thriller from 1932 with boris karloff, melvyn douglas, charles laughton, raymond massey and gloria stuart. Whale used influences from these films to create something that is better still, absorbing their key.
From the director of frankenstein, a group of stranded travelers stumble upon a strange old house, and find themselves at the mercy of the. A restoration of james whales the old dark horse will screen as part of the revivals section of the 55th new york film festival september 28 october 15. Earlytalkie style trailer for universals the old dark house. The old dark house is a universal horror movie from the year 1932.
He certainly had the last laugh because he probably never intended it that way, although most of the critical acclaim came after his death. Priestley originally published under the name benighted, and the new screenplay was written by robert dillon. The old dark house is clearly one of the best films of its genre, eclipsing films like the cat and the canary or any other of the early haunted house films. Prior to the release of the old dark house 1932, a secondfiddle chiller that reunited director james whale and stars boris karloff after the overnight success of frankenstein, motion pictures of similar persuasions were confined to the realm of silence. Both men previously contributed to the 1931 frankenstein. Approved, 1 h 12 min boris karloff, melvyn douglas, charles laughton, lilian bond director.
Jul 14, 2004 ive come to love the old dark house, but it wasnt always so. Philip waverton raymond massey, his wife margaret gloria stuart, and their friend roger penderel melvyn douglas are. Inside they find a gruff monster of a man in karloff, an inhospitable old woman who wishes theyd leave, and a genial if rather nervous old gent. The old dark house 1932 4k restoration coming from cohen. The old dark house 1932 is a terrific film, set in the ever popular haunted house on a dark, spooky rainy night. Ive come to love the old dark house, but it wasnt always so. The old dark house 1932 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Priestleys novel benighted into a nervejangling tale that became the template for all spookyhouse chillers to come. My first time was via a dark bootleg tape and i just didnt see what all the fuss was a the old dark house 1932 classic horror film board. The steady, stable image has excellent contrast and much less granularity than one would expect from 1932era film stock. Stranded travelers stumble upon a strange old house, and find themselves at the mercy of a highly eccentric and potentially dangerous family.
The cohen groups bluray of the old dark house is quite a revelation, like finally seeing a fine painting when before only sour photocopies were available. Due to those dimensions, the image has not been enhanced for 16x9 televisions. The ensemble cast includes boris karloff, melvyn douglas, gloria stuart, charles laughton, raymond massey, and ernest thesiger. The old dark house 1932 first, a little history for many horror fans, when they think of iconic characters such as dracula or frankensteins monster whether they realize it or not the pictures in their mind originate from the classic films of universal studios.
The steady, stable image has excellent contrast and much less granularity. They showcased the 35mm prints of the sublimely brilliant kenneth strickfadenfilled laboratory designs, and composer franz waxmans exhilarating score for the bride of frankenstein 1935 and the old dark house 1932. Wonderfully weird and atmospheric, flavoured with james whales trademark dark humour, and featuring an outstanding cast including boris karloff, raymond massey, gloria stuart, melvyn douglas, ernest thesiger, and. Even for a 85yearold movie, this was a disappointing presentation. May 20, 2014 an odd assortment of travellers find themselves forced to seek shelter with an even odder family of eccentrics in a remote welsh manor on the proverbial dark and stormy night.
This article includes a list of related items that share the same name or similar names. The film is based on the novel benighted 1927 by j. Old dark house, the 1932 movie clip hes only stunned. If an internal link incorrectly led you here, you may wish to. The old dark house, an american precode horror film. The credits of the old dark house even helpfully specify that, yes, this is the same karloff youre thinking of.
Stranded travelers stumble upon a strange old house, and find themselves at the mercy of a highly eccentric and potentially dangerous. It was directed by james whale and features boris karloff among its cast. The old dark house 4k restoration official us trailer. Both men previously contributed to the 1931 frankenstein in the countryside of wales, several people are caught up in a raging storm and seek shelter from a mansion they come by. Sleepers west lloyd nolan, lynn bari, mary beth hughes. It is a remake of the 1932 film of the same name directed by james whale. Wonderfully weird and atmospheric, flavoured with james whales trademark dark humour. The old dark house appears in an aspect ratio of 1. The old dark house is a 1963 britishamerican comedy horror film directed by william castle. Seeking shelter from a storm, five travelers are in for a bizarre and terrifying night when they stumble upon the femm family estate.
James whales 1932 drama the old dark house a film that was part of universal studios deliriously successful run of horror films in the pre. My first time was via a dark bootleg tape and i just didnt see what all the fuss was about. A truly great theatre the landmark jersey city loews for a james whaleboris karloff dynamic double feature. The old dark house movie put me immediately in mind of the 1960s version of the addams family tv show. The old dark house begins delightfully, with animated opening credits by none other than charles addams the creator of the immortal blackly comical series the addams family and brings forward several great gothic aspects, like a moody old castle and neverending thunderstorms. Margaret gloria stuart in her evening gown is pursued by drunken houseman morgan boris karloff then rescued by husband philip raymond massey in james whales the old dark house, 1932.
Oct 04, 2017 even if it hadnt been essentially lost, james whales the old dark house 1932 wouldnt ever have fit, exactly, on the mount rushmore of universals horror greats. Unfortunately, even with all the mocking dialogue and evocative chills, the old dark house s box office didnt approach frankensteins. Feb 27, 2018 earlytalkie style trailer for universals the old dark house. I did get a reply from jim carl who has been doing an excellent job for years with great projection of 35mm, dcp, and bluray when no better option at the carolina theater in durham nc, and he said that the old dark house would be screened from a bluray provided from kino. He played iconic roles like frankensteins monster and imhotep aka the mummy, but boris karloff also instilled life in so many other intriguing characters, including morgan in the old dark house, coming to bluray in a 4k restoration, dvd, and digital platforms this october from the cohen film collection. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts.
That they are actually preparing the old dark house for reissue and eventual bluray release is somewhat miraculous to me, considering all and i mean all previous video releases have looked muddy and fuzzy and borderline unwatchable. Three friends escape a dark and stormy night, by finding shelter in an old dark house. The old dark house is a 1932 american precode horror comedy film directed by james whale and starring boris karloff. The story of the old dark house begins with five weary travelers caught between avalanches on a stormy night and searching for a place to. The old dark house is a 1932 american precode comedy horror film directed by james whale.
Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comic con sundance film festival toronto intl film. The old dark house 1932, which costars boris karloff, melvyn douglas, and charles laughton is just plain loopy, although whale filmed it well before the haunted house genre was ripe for such a sarcastic deconstruction. Priestleys novel benighted into a nervejangling tale that became the template for all spookyhouse. Stressing, as the studio would have in 1932, action and terror rather than the wry, macabre qu. Apr 27, 2018 t he great scarymovie ancestor is rereleased. Sep 07, 2017 the old dark house 4k restoration official us trailer. Priestleys novel benighted into a nerve jangling tale that became the template for all spookyhouse.
If you look carefully at the opening credits you see charles addams inspired this movie as well and it shows. The setting of the old house on a dark rainy night is brilliantly done and the mood is held all the way through. Whale used influences from these films to create something that is better still, absorbing their key elements and adding his very own touch to it. The old dark house 1932 boris karloff, james whale. Being mindful that this is an old movie some of its jokes and plot points are dated. The old dark house, a comedymystery film index of articles associated with the same name this article includes a list of related items that share the same name or similar names.
Today, the initial setup is just about as hoary as they come. It is certainly, in my book, the best film james whale ever made, and if you see it on a good print, it stands up very well. Discover what genre the old dark house, 1932, directed by james whale, with boris karloff, melvyn douglas, charles laughton, belongs at turner classic movies. Oct 12, 2017 the old dark house is clearly one of the best films of its genre, eclipsing films like the cat and the canary or any other of the early haunted house films.
Sep 07, 2017 from the director of frankenstein, a group of stranded travelers stumble upon a strange old house, and find themselves at the mercy of the highly eccentric, and potentially dangerous, femm family. Seeking shelter from a pounding rainstorm in a remote region of wales, several travelers are admitted to a gloomy, foreboding mansion belonging to the extremely strange femm family. It soon becomes apparent that the inhabitants of the old dark house are hiding something, or someone. In the old dark house, whale puts a surprising spin on horror film conventions even as he is creating them, adding black humor and sexual perversity that was eyeopening in 1932. The old dark house critics consensus a deft blend of wellchosen ingredients, the old dark house is a delightfully scary horror comedy that benefits from james whales suspenseful direction. An odd assortment of travellers find themselves forced to seek shelter with an even odder family of eccentrics in a remote welsh manor on the proverbial dark and stormy night. Essentially the old dark house is a well acted sometimes very funny stagy farce with a horror atmosphere at best.
First released in 1932, this boris karloff picture was thought lost for years. The old dark house 1932 4k restoration home media release. The old dark house mystery was a pet subject of theatrical productions in new. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comic con sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. I have no clue about rights to the film in any territory or format. I have to say that i have loved this movie since i saw it fifty years ago, and it was a revival, even then. Oct 30, 2017 chris views the 1932 classic, the old dark house. These days its a great chiller with whales special brand of humor and.
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