Svengoolie's Saturday Night Screening Of "Dracula" Was Disappointing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              All week long, I had been looking forward to seeing this film;  my last  recollection of viewing it  was on the big screen at the  Film  Forum, several years ago.  However, Svengoolie, and maybe the station, pulled some fast ones on me.

                                                 The first was his announcing that the film  would be shown with a musical accompaniment, which most  of  his viewers loved.  Well,  I  did  not.  "Dracula's" lack  of music gives  the film  its tension  and  terror; adding it  removes viewers  further from unreality.  The second mistake, maybe by the station, was the  omission of a brief, but important, scene.  Midway through  the film, there is  a brief shot of a tree from a distance,  followed by a wolf's howl and a child crying.  From behind the tree, emerges Frances Dade as Lucy Westenra, proving she is  the "Bloofer  Lady," later referenced, who lures children with the promise  of  chocolates, only to extract their blood.  Let me tell you, if Lucy were  to lure me, she would have to promise me her glamorous Twenties flapper look she has in this film, even though it was released in 1931, and set in Victorian England!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   What survived are the stunning cinematography, set decoration and art  direction.  So, to cover the film, I have decided to speak on iconic images in "Dracula."

                                                                             

                                      The Titles--"Dracula" opens with the well known  Tchaikovsky "Swan Lake" theme. We all know it, darlings.  I first saw  the film at  the age  of nine, and knew nothing  musically, then .  Hence, to this day, whenever I hear the  piece, the first thing  I think of is "Dracula."

                                                                          

                                        The Armadillos--The ride to the castle is a visual gem in itself, deserving to be examined and explored, frame by frame, like the Shower Scene  in Hitchcock's "Psycho."  But the armadillos  are the film's first scene stealers.  Name a vampire, or any horror, film, that features them.  You can't, right?  My guess is since the film was shot in  Southern California, a couple  of  them wandered onto  the  set,  and Tod Browning, in his wisdom, decided to  use them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                        

                                                                                    

                                

                                                                                    

                              The Three Vampire Women--Sometimes described as Dracula's brides; mentioned in the film here, as "his wives," in human or bat form, their visual look and movements are stunning, having an almost poetic, choreographed form to them.  I am convinced Michael Bennett saw this  film  when young, and images like these foreshadowed his staging of "At The Ballet," in "A Chorus Line."

                                                                               

                                Renfield--If any performance can be said to steal the film, it is  Dwight Frye's spot-on portrayal of this tragic character.  In the novel, Jonathan Harker goes to Castle Dracula, on  business, but returns, unscathed.  In the film, Renfield is dispatched, only to be made an acolyte of Dracula.  As  unsurpassable as Lugosi is, acting mainly with his face, lighting, and little dialogue, not to mention  that signature cape, Frye, a distinguished stage actor, matches him scene for scene.  The tragedy of Renfield is twofold--he still has a conscience, when  he plaintively pleads to Dracula, before dying, not  to be allowed to die with all the lives  he has  on his soul.  I had  not realized the film  was so moralizing.  Second, so good was Frye as  Renfield, that he was typecast, playing variations on  this role for the rest of  his Universal career, not getting the more serious roles  he wanted.  Lastly, I had no idea the censors  took  issue with Dracula bending over Renfield, preparing to drain him of blood.  It was said to have had a homosexual connotation to it.  Girls, in my 46 years as a card carrying homosexual, I never once thought of this.  Which may explain the omission of my favorite,  the "Bloofer Lady" scene; it might be, even today, just too intense for viewers.

                                                                    

                                           Girls Just Wanna Have Fun--Mina (Helen Chandler, on the left.) spends  the night with Lucy in London.  Just hanging out, brushing their hair, fantasizing about Count Dracula.  Darlings, how many of us would want a sleepover like this?  That hair, those gowns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         How Did  This Get Past The Censors?--Seldom has been depicted on film  such a rabid shot of female, carnal lust.  But here it is, with Helen Chandler, as Mina,  contemplating  sinking her  teeth into  fiance  Jonathan Harker,  played  by David Manners.  And a good look  at him  will make  Mina's  manner  understanding.  Many would want to  sink their teeth into  delicious David!

                                         "Dracula," at 90, is still a remarkable film, but Svengoolie ruined it.  See this one at a screen revival, or on DVD, minus music, and see what a true screen  masterpiece it  is.

                                             Go suck, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                  

                                                                           

                       

Goodbye, Summer Of 2021!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         For those, like I, who believe tomorrow is officially the first day of Autumn, when Proserpina  goes back to Hell for the next six months, today marks  the official last day of Summer.!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           The first thing to be said is Summer Of 2021 was better than that of 2020!  The second is it seemed the fastest Summer on record.  It just flew, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             And though not much happened, there were trips to bookstores, books that got read, plays that got viewed, and all kinds of health safe, at home, fun.

                                               This is usually a time of sadness, but for some reason, not this year, what with contemplating the coziness of  cool Autumn and  cold Winter nights, all with  my beloved David, there is more to look forward to, than bemoan.

                                                   So, you were a good  one, Summer of  2021.  May the rest of the year go as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     And what better way to mark the season's end,  than Christine Ebersole, as Little Edie,  singing, from the 2006 musical, "Grey Gardens," "Another Winter In  A Summer Town????????????"

                                         Happy Autumn To All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's Catch Up With "American Horror Story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                      The fourth episode, entitled "Blood  Buffet," demonstrates why I avoid buffets, at all cost.  With the sole  exception of  The Court Of Two Sisters, which is based in New Orleans, most buffets are simply excuses for White Trash pigs to indulge their gluttony.

                                        But I had to hand it to AHS, which gave us Belle and Austin's back stories.  Belle, with Frances Conroy shining as always, was a beaten down, emotionally abused wife,  who fancied herself a would be Barbara Cartland or Danielle Steel.  I believe the latter  is referenced.  I am telling you, after Belle takes the pill, and tears into her abusive husband,  I  bet everyone watching was applauding furiously. I  know I  was.

                                           Now,  where did that pill come  from?  The sudden arrival  of  chemist Angelica Ross explains its spreading, but just who is this dame? A mad doctor?  A disciple of the Devil?  Both???????  The  final  episode is approaching fast; will  all these questions be answered?  Or what will viewers  be left  with?

                                             Frances  was  not  the only one  who shined.  So,  too, did  the  brilliant Evan  Peters, as  the most  faux of  faux drag artists; he could  not even get  his wig on  right, so that  his real  locks  shone through.  Priceless.

                                               It was smart having  this episode be somewhat cathartic and  humorous.  Because the one that follows  is anything but.

                                                                            

                                "Gaslight," which was episode five, was emotionally wrenching.  Ursula, in true bitch form, is linked with Harry and  Alma to  drive  Doris,  who  has just  given  birth, mad.  Lily Rabe makes  her moments almost  a potential  redo of "Rosemary's Baby," and she  is up to the level of Mia.  Crafty little Alma comes in, and  manipulates Mommy into talking the pill.  Unfortunately, and  I was afraid of  this, Lily/Doris turns  into  one of  the Untalented, and even her gorgeous hair falls  out.  The make-up department really gets  credit for this one.

                                    Now, get ready for this.  Mickey professes  love  to  Karen, and  tries to con her into taking the pill.  Karen is  smart, but ambiguous; does she take the pill,  or doesn't she?  She morphs, or pretends to, into a blood  feeder,  gorging on Mickey, so that is the end of  Macualay Culkin.  And, unless he is lucky enough to get a gig from this, so goes his career...again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Sarah/Karen is the saddest.  Her artwork never shown, but still with a social conscience, she  walks into  the ocean, committing suicide.   I hope Sarah was properly layered for  this  shot, so  as  not  to catch pneumonia.  I actually cried at the last sight of Karen.  In some ways, I felt  this  should have ended "Red Tide," as the waters  flowed  with Karen's blood.

                                          So, heaven knows what we are in for, next week, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          I am telling you, that Alma!   I bet she'll be the last one standing!

Girls, Join Us Tomorrow Night, As Svengoolie Presents One Of Cinema's Masterworks, The 1931 "Dracula!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                 This film, with  "Frankenstein" released in succession,  not  only  put Universal on  the  path  to being the horror studio,  it also put Lugosi and vampirism on the map.

                                                     There is so  much to enjoy in this film.  The Victorian look of the cinematography gives the film its  period feel.  Lugosi's performance is signature, but not to be overlooked are Dwight Frye, who almost steals  the show as Renfield, and Frances Dade as Lucy Westenra, dressed and mannered like  a Twenties flapper,  yet her performance works, anyway.  And how about that brief scene where  she is  victimizing children, as "the Bloofer lady?"    That  is the  most  disturbing scene  in  the film,  and Universal was lucky to get that by the censors.   Maybe they would have included the scene of  the distraught peasant woman,  banging on the door, screaming, "Monster, give me my child!"  That  would have been great.  But I think, censorship wise,  it might have  been too much for the time.

                                                         So,  darlings, when watching "Dracula" tomorrow night,  and  I hope you do, cherish these moments, which are now iconic screen moments and images.

                                                          Not to mention,  the film  is  now 90 years  old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                           See you tomorrow, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Would Rather Have Seen "Abbott And Costello Meet Joan Crawford!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                 Saturday night's Svengoolie screening of "Abbott And Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde" was marred by sound and technical disruptions from the station it was broadcast on.

                                                    The film was mildly entertaining, trying to cram everything--Stevenson's story, Frankenstein, Dracula, "House Of Wax"/"The Mystery Of The Wax Museum"--including musical numbers, chorus girls, you name it.  There was even a subliminal hint at incest between Boris Karloff and his attractive ward, which made me wonder how it passed by the censors.

                                                       Nevertheless, I think Bud and Lou facing Tough Joan would have been hilarious!  After all, Joan went on to do "The Story Of Esther Costello" in 1957.

                                                         Universal probably could not afford Joan, who would have wanted top dollar.  And, had she come aboard, the film  would have been no longer Abbot and Costello's, but hers, as she would insist on star billing, and would upstage them mercilessly.

                                                            Still, it would have been fun to see.

                                                             As was this 1953 film, which really showcased Universal's make-up department!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ninety-Nine Years Ago, Tonight, Darlings........................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      I did a long post on this, nine years ago, but as the Centennial is approaching, I thought it worth mentioning.

                                       Many of my age, and older, living in Middlesex or Somerset Counties in New Jersey, could not help hearing about The Hall-Mills Murder.  My paternal relations talked about it all the time, as they were children, when it happened, back  in  1922.

                                           Technically, it is till  an unsolved case, though, like my paternal grandmother, I always felt Willie Stevens, Mrs. Hall's special needs brother, did the deed, at his sister's request.

                                             It was the scandal of the day.  The Reverend Hall, pastor of the Episcopal Church on George Street, was allegedly having an affair with his choir singer, Eleanor Mills.  It was known all over town, and Mrs. Hall came from money; her family was involved in the founding of Johnson and Johnson, which now runs New Brunswick.   I grew up, across the river, in Highland Park.

                                              The murder took place this night in an apple grove, on what was then DeRussey's Lane, and is today Franklin Boulevard.  What I believe is that Mrs. Hall discovered what was going on through the discovery of letters, and, with Willie Stevens, went to the lovers' trysting place, where they confronted them.  Either things got out of hand, or Willie was ordered to kill them, but on  the morning of September 16, their  bodies were found under the crabapple tree.  Allegedly--maybe an urban legend--his penis was cut off and placed in her mouth.

                                               Several books were written about the case--"Lovers Lane," by Rick Geary, "The Minister And The Choir Singer," by William Kunstler (the one and only!)--and countless articles,  proposing all sorts of theories, but, based on the knowledge  of  my grandmother, plus the credibility of its possibility, I have always gone with Mrs. Hall and  Willie confronting the couple, resulting in their deaths.

                                                   Something  to think about, girls!  No wonder I developed such macabre fascinations.

                                                    They geographically surrounded me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    Let's hope New Brunswick does a Centennial Celebration, next year!

                                                   I  will actually go back there, for that!

                                             

Here Is How To Deal With Covid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               If this image looks familiar, I used "BASH!" four years ago, during the Christmas season, when my theme was "Games Of My Past!"

                                                 But, with all the anger, exhaustion, and explosion of emotions, not to mention frustration, in the wake of still dealing with the pandemic, it  occurred to me that a reissue of  this game, might be the thing to reduce tension.  Get out your aggressions by--pardon me, darlings!--banging Mr. Bash!  Or, better  yet, smashing him.

                                                  Because, once done, he can be reassembled, to be smashed again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   This could be just the thing, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   Sorry now I  did not keep my copy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!