Classic Horror Movie Death Match: Bout #1

1127 Views 15 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Sinister, Jan 28, 2006

Sinister

Discussion Starter · Jan 21, 2006

As promised, I had something special for this time around. In this particular tournament, we will be pitting some of the finer films of Universal, Hammer and other classic films against one another. It should prove interesting with the selection we have coming down and the first begins with a bang.

The first contestant is the Universal masterpiece, the 1931 version of Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff, Dwight Frye and Colin Clive. In the second corner, we have another version of the tale by Mary Shelly, this one produced by Hammer Studios and one of their best outings in 1957 The Curse of Frankenstein and starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Hazel Court. Wow! Could you ask for a better bout? I don't think so as both are Horror classics of the highest caliber. But which do you think is better?

It's the battle of the boltnecks as Henry Frankenstein's creation battles Victor Frankenstein's creation. May the best monster film win. Get voting guys, this it the match-up's you have been waiting for.

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RAXL

· #2 · Jan 22, 2006

I gotta go with Universal. Not to take anything away from Hammer, but you can't beat Frye and Clive. Oh, and that Karloff fella was alright as well.

dougspaulding

· #3 · Jan 22, 2006

You're kidding me! Frankenstein was only the greatest horror movie ever - that's all! Karloff's creature was the epitome of filmdom's monster! He was and it was the greatest - and is!

But I won't beat around the bush. I vote for 1931.

Sinister

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 22, 2006

I went for the 31 version as I suspect many others into the Universal era will too. I had no doubt this would garner many, if not all the votes, but I had to put it against something. Just declaring it the winner on general principle isn't very sporting, now is it?

The Curse of Frankenstein is a great movie and one of the better outings involving Mary Shelley's monster and mad doctor. I even think Cushings portrayal of the monster's creator is better than Colin Clive's. Cushing had a cooler disposition in which to work on something as complex as creating life, whereas Clive seemed a bit too manic and melodramatic to actually pull off something that would require sheer genius and clear thinking. Still, the atmosphere and Karloff's performance in the 1931 classic is one of the best ever filmed and for that alone it's praises are well founded.

Zombie-F

· #5 · Jan 22, 2006

I'm yet to see the Hammer version of this... so I just shot it to the top of my Netflix Queue and I should have it by Wednesday or Thursday for review. I'll cast my vote then, but I have a feeling I'm already going to go with the 1931 version.

Dr Morbius

· #6 · Jan 24, 2006

Like you Zombie, I haven't seen the Hammer version either, however, the Karloff monster can't be beat. I even carved a pumpkin with his heavy lidded mug on it!

Love those Pumpkin master Stensils..

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CharlieM

· #7 · Jan 24, 2006

What about the one with Sting?

dougspaulding

· #8 · Jan 24, 2006

CharlieM said:
What about the one with Sting?

Well now you're just being facetious!

Frighteners Entertainment

· #9 · Jan 25, 2006

Got to agree with the '31 as choice.
But you matched up an original with kinda a remake.

Jeff

Sinister

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 25, 2006

Frighteners Entertainment said:
Got to agree with the '31 as choice.
But you matched up an original with kinda a remake.

Jeff

Not at all. There are many different versions of this story and Universal doesn't have the first lab on the block as far as Shelley's classic goes. That belongs to Thomas Edison with his silent film of the story, so by your rationale, this would be two remakes against each other. However, I don't see it that way and feel justified with the selection I made.

Frighteners Entertainment

· #11 · Jan 25, 2006

Sinister said:
Not at all. There are many different versions of this story and Universal doesn't have the first lab on the block as far as Shelley's classic goes. That belongs to Thomas Edison with his silent film of the story, so by your rationale, this would be two remakes against each other. However, I don't see it that way and feel justified with the selection I made.

I went thru his entire listing of 341 films, viewed about 12 of them and can't find it.
What's the title?

Jeff

Frighteners Entertainment

· #12 · Jan 25, 2006

Nevermind!
It wasn't listed on that page of titles but was listed on the directors page.
Dir: J. Searle Dawley and released in 1910.

I'ld be bet that most would believe Universal had the orig on this..

Have you seen it?

Jeff

RAXL

· #13 · Jan 25, 2006

I've seen clips from it. The monster actually looked pretty neat. I have no idea if a complete copy still exists.

Sinister

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 26, 2006

RAXL said:
I've seen clips from it. The monster actually looked pretty neat. I have no idea if a complete copy still exists.

Like Raxl, that's all I have seen. I'm afraid that's all that really exist. Film doesn't hold up well from that era. We're lucky, damn lucky that there were some prints of Nosferatu someone managed to save. That film is one of the best there is and it would have been most unfortunate if Stoker's widow had gotten her way and had all the copies destroyed like was originally supposed to happen.

dougspaulding

· #15 · Jan 26, 2006

Sinister said:
I'm afraid that's all that really exist. Film doesn't hold up well from that era. We're lucky, damn lucky that there were some prints of Nosferatu someone managed to save.

Yeah - look what happened to London after Midnight!

Sinister

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jan 28, 2006

Unless we have a sudden influx of votes that beat out the 1931 classic in favor of the Cushing/Lee film, I'm going ahead and calling this. Frankenstein (31) wins by a virtual landslide, which comes as no real surprise. This thread is now officially closed and we move on as does Karloff but to the quarterfinals.

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