Horror Movies | Hollywood Yesterday

Elizabeth Allan and Lionel Barrymore, Mark of the Vampire

October 30, 2022 By Joi

Elizabeth Allan and Lionel Barrymore

If there’s one thing you can be certain of, if Ethel or Lionel Barrymore is in a movie, I will watch it and watch it and watch it again and again. I feel they were in a league of their own making and can’t get enough of either of them. Naturally, this time of year, I revisit one of my favorite classic “horror” films, Mark of the Vampire.

Lionel Barrymore is, as always, perfectly wonderful in this film and draws you in to each and every scene he’s in…. creepy surroundings or not, you have to go where he leads you.

If you’ve never seen this particular film, I hope you’ll check it out really soon. It is incredibly unique and it’s one of those films you find yourself thinking (and talking) about for days upon end!

You can watch Mark of the Vampire on Prime Video (Amazon link).

Director Tod Browning, Carroll Borland, and Bela Lugosi behind the scenes of Mark of the Vampire

October 27, 2022 By Joi

Director Tod Browning, Carroll Borland, and Bela Lugosi behind the scenes of Mark of the Vampire

One of the best classic horror films, in my “in love with the genre” opinion is 1935’s Mark of the Vampire. Directed by Tod Browning, the phenomenal cast includes Lionel Barrymore, Donald Meek, Ivan F. Simpson, Carroll Borland, Holmes Herbert, James Bradbury Jr., Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, Jean Hersholt, Elizabeth Allan, Henry Wadsworth, Leila Bennett, June Gittelson, and Jessie Ralph.

If you haven’t seen this one in a while (and certainly if you’ve never had the pleasure), I hope you’ll find it this Halloween season and enjoy every deliciously entertaining moment.

You can watch Mark of the Vampire on Prime Video (Amazon link).

Christopher Lee and Vincent Price Behind the Scenes of The Oblong Box

October 26, 2022 By Joi

Christopher Lee and Vincent Price Behind the Scenes of The Oblong Box

Two names synonymous with classic horror films are pictured here – the wonderful Christopher Lee and the equally wonderful Vincent Price. They co-starred in the horror film The Oblong Box in 1969. Directed by Gordon Hessler, the film was based on the Edgar Allan Poe short story.

Edgar Allan Poe… Vincent Price… Christopher Lee… if that doesn’t spell out MUST SEE classic horror film I don’t know what does!

You can find The Oblong Box on dvd and blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the madness on Prime Video!

Vincent Price behind the Scenes of House on Haunted Hill

October 24, 2022 By Joi

Vincent Price and an Unidentified Co-Star on the Set of House on Haunted Hill

One of my favorite Vincent Price movies (though I can’t think of even one I don’t love) is House on Haunted Hill. The 1959 horror film was directed by William Castle and also stars Carol Ohmart, Elisha Cook Jr., and Richard Long.

As always, Vincent Price is mesmerizing to watch and reminds the viewer, once again, that he was truly cut from a different cloth altogether.

You can find House on Haunted Hill on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the classic horror unfold on Prime Video.

Mark of the Vampire: One of my Very Favorite Classic Horror Films (What Ambiance!)

October 22, 2022 By Joi

Carroll Borland, Holmes Herbert, James Bradbury Jr., and Bela Lugosi

Everyone has their favorite Classic Horror films and I’m certainly no exception. All Abbott and Costello “Meet the Monsters” films are among my favorites, as are the original Dracula and The Bride of Frankenstein but there isn’t a single one I like any better than the one you see pictured here, Mark of the Vampire. The directing by Tod Browning is outstanding and the cast is absolute perfection.

Lionel Barrymore is one of my top 6 favorite actors and Donald Meek and Ivan F. Simpson are two of my absolute favorite character actors… all three are in this film and figure heavily in the story!

While that’s part of the reason why I love this one so much, another is the absolutely delicious classic horror atmosphere the director and crew created. From the early scenes with the townspeople to the bats and the music – it is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable of all the classic horror films and I honestly grow to love it more with each passing year.

In addition to Lionel Barrymore, Donald Meek, Ivan F. Simpson, Carroll Borland, Holmes Herbert, James Bradbury Jr., and Bela Lugosi, the WONDERFUL cast also includes Lionel Atwill, Jean Hersholt, Elizabeth Allan, Henry Wadsworth, Leila Bennett, June Gittelson, and Jessie Ralph.

I hope you’ll include it in your Halloween movie-watching this year. You’ll be frightfully glad you did.

You can watch Mark of the Vampire on Prime Video (Amazon link). I haven’t been able to find it on dvd yet but hope to soon!

Boris Karloff: Behind the Scenes of The Bride of Frankenstein

October 20, 2022 By Joi

Boris Karloff, Behind the Scenes of The Bride of Frankenstein

As I’ve often confessed, my love for behind the scenes pictures knows no limits. I am completely and joyfully obsessed with them and, let me tell you, Boris Karloff NEVER disappoints. There’s just something extraordinary about his behind the scenes presence.

This “on set” photo from The Bride of Frankenstein is one of my favorites. What a mood!

You can find The Bride of Frankenstein on dvd or Blu-ray or watch the classic horror on Prime Video.

Boris Karloff and James Whale on the Set of The Bride of Frankenstein

October 19, 2022 By Joi

Boris Karloff and James Whale, The Bride of Frankenstein

While we give the wonderful Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester their due credit for the brilliance of The Bride of Frankenstein, we need to always remember to mention the name of its brilliant director James Whale. He’s also the director responsible for Frankenstein (1931).

(About Boris Karloff) “His face fascinated me. I made drawings of his head, adding sharp bony ridges where I imagined the skull might have joined.” ~ James Whale

You can find The Bride of Frankenstein on dvd or Blu-ray or watch the classic horror on Prime Video.

James Whale, Ernest Thesiger, and Elsa Lanchester: Behind the Scenes of The Bride of Frankenstein

October 18, 2022 By Joi

Director James Whale and Ernest Thesiger (“Dr. Pretorius”)

One of the most popular and beloved classic horror movie is the 1935 The Bride of Frankenstein, directed superbly by James Whale. Whale also directed Frankenstein (1931) , The Old Dark House (1932) and The Invisible Man (1933). He clearly had a wonderful feel for the genre.

You can find The Bride of Frankenstein on dvd or Blu-ray or watch the classic horror on Prime Video.

Elsa Lanchester – The Bride of Frankenstein

Dorothy McGuire, The Spiral Staircase (A Haunting Performance!)

September 28, 2022 By Joi

Dorothy McGuire, The Spiral Staircase

I realize I just recently had a post about The Spiral Staircase… VERY recently in fact! So to have yet another one this soon may seem odd, but what can I say?

It’s one of my favorite movies.
It’s Halloween Season!
It’s one of my favorite movies.

This wonderful 1946 horror-suspense film was directed by Robert Siodmak and features a flawless cast including Ethel Barrymore, Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, Rhonda Fleming, Gordon Oliver, Elsa Lanchester, Sara Allgood, and Kent Smith. Each gives a memorable performance with Elsa Lanchester, as ALWAYS, daring you to take your eyes off of her for one second.

One of my favorite actresses, Ethel Barrymore, also gives a stand-out performance, but let’s make no mistake about it, this is Dorothy McGuire’s film and she gives an extraordinary performance. a haunting performance in fact. This was actually my first Dorothy McGuire movie and I vowed, immediately, to see every film she ever made. She was always wonderful but this remains my favorite of all of her excellent performances.

You can find The Spiral Staircase on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link).

Dorothy McGuire, The Spiral Staircase

Ethel Barrymore in The Spiral Staircase (PERFECT Suspense/Horror Movie from 1946)

September 26, 2022 By Joi

Ethel Barrymore, The Spiral Staircase

One of my favorite movies (not just favorite classic horror movies, but favorite movies, period) is the spell-binding 1946 horror film The Spiral Staircase (directed by Robert Siodmak). While it is categorized as a horror movie, I’d call it more of a suspense, but we’ll just go with “horror” since we’re this close to Halloween.

The movie stars one of my absolute favorites, Ethel Barrymore, Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, Rhonda Fleming, Gordon Oliver, Elsa Lanchester (SUBLIME as ever), Sara Allgood, and Kent Smith.

The cast is absolutely flawless in a film that’s suspenseful, extraordinarily directed, entertaining, well-written, and downright spellbinding. If you’ve never seen this one, I really hope you’ll check it out this Halloween season. It isn’t necessarily “scary” and won’t give even the biggest scaredy cat (ME!) nightmares. It’s just an outstanding film, period.

You can find The Spiral Staircase on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link).