tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589405220008327551.post9112588146325909632..comments2023-04-15T07:40:06.321-05:00Comments on The <em>Horror Incorporated</em> Project: Saturday, August 22, 1970: Dracula (1931) / The Murders In The Rue Morgue (1932)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7589405220008327551.post-45398436910466695902011-04-27T00:26:49.728-05:002011-04-27T00:26:49.728-05:00Great review of an interesting pairing. These are ...Great review of an interesting pairing. These are Universal's only starring horror films tailored for Bela Lugosi, who would not be called back until 1934, to co-star with Karloff. DRACULA aired 12 times on CHILLER THEATER, while MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE popped up an additional 10. Inexplicably top billed for an insipid supporting part, ingenue Sidney Fox gained favor at the studio for her "close" relationship with producer Carl Laemmle Jr. Alas, it didn't help her unspectacular career, which ended long before her mysterious death in 1942, at age 31 (it's a scream that the casting couch would be responsible for her earning her lone remembered movie role, playing a virgin!) This was the film debut of Leon Ames (billed under his real name, Waycoff), and while his own opinion of the film was negative, I rather enjoyed his performance. The Dupin character would reappear in Universal's MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGET, played by Patric Knowles in 1942. Lastly, Lugosi's relish is quite entertaining, but his character comes off as a real creep, making absurd statements regarding the ape's feelings that are just laughable. By the way, I recorded this film off Turner Classic Movies, beginning with the carriage driving through the fog, the fight over the streetwalker, the scene in the scientist's lab, the victim's entry into the morgue (naked), and Dupin's first visit to the amusing morgue keeper. From there, we go to the carnival, up until Mirakle discovering the girl's address. It really does make better sense in its original order, but it's clearly not a good job of directing by Robert Florey, despite Karl Freund's camera.kochillthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06843717929648076583noreply@blogger.com