Beginner’s Guide to Early Horror Films

White Zombie

Year: 1932
Directed by: Victor Halperin

As I mentioned above, with the success of Dracula, Béla Lugosi was typecast as a horror villain. One of his greatest roles is in this film, which is considered to be the first movie in which the word “zombie” was used to describe the living dead. Although filmed on the Universal Lot, White Zombie was an independent production — not the easiest of feats during this era in Hollywood. The film is set in Haiti and the plot revolves around Lugosi’s Legendre, a white Haitian who practices voodoo and commands a crew of zombies.

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The Invisible Man

Year: 1933
Directed by: James Whale

I dare you to find a greater performance in 1933 than Claude Rains in this film. He is simply fantastic as yet another mad scientist whose obsessive experimentation leads to his downfall. Do we see a trend in these horror films? More like a trend in late 1800s literature (the industrial revolution was a scary time!). This film contains some of the most mind-boggling special effects of its time — or any time, really. I still can’t tell how they did some of it! The Invisible Man also has a stand-out ensemble cast including Gloria Stuart (the older version of Rose in Titanic), Una O’Connor, Henry Travers and E.E. Clive.

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Werewolf of London

Year: 1935
Directed by: Stuart Walker

While 1941’s The Wolf Man, starring Lon Chaney, Jr., is probably the most famous werewolf film of the classic era, I prefer 1935’s Werewolf of London. Though both films were made by Universal, only the latter wasn’t really all that successful. Regardless of its failure at the time, I think this film plays out wonderfully. Unlike the Chaney version, which is full of camp, this version is more like a drama with horror elements. Maybe that’s why it flopped. This time, our mad scientist is a botanist who is in the wrong place at the wrong time — exotic Tibet! — and gets bitten by a werewolf. I think you can figure out what happens after that. Another difference between this film and the Chaney version is the werewolf make-up. While it is much simpler, it is perfectly eerie; again, this film took a far less campy path. If you’ve got the time, watch ’em both and tell me which you prefer.

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The Bride of Frankenstein

Year: 1935
Directed by: James Whale

I tried not to repeat any directors on this list (otherwise it would have more Browning and Tourneur), but I broke that rule for Whale, who is probably my favorite director of horror from this era. As great as Whale’s 1931 Frankenstein is, I think that The Bride of Frankenstein is his masterpiece. You should really watch both though, otherwise you won’t get to see Clive Colin’s masterful “It’s alive!” moment. Boris Karloff shines as the monster in this film, bringing to him a wonderfully woeful and morose longing for humanity. Elsa Lanchester is also fantastic as the titular Bride, who sports one of the most iconic hairdos in all of Hollywood history. Lastly, I must recommend Bill Condon’s 1998 biopic Gods and Monsters, which features Sir Ian McKellan in an Oscar-nominated turn as Whale.

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I Walked With A Zombie

Year: 1943
Directed by: Jacques Tourneur

Producer Val Lewton made several really great horror films for RKO, including Tourneur’s 1942 film Cat People, which I also recommend. Though I enjoy Cat People, I like this film more. Basically, like White Zombie, the zombies in the film are caused by a practitioner of voodoo. Lewton apparently told his writers he wanted the structure to resemble that of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. What’s not love? Romance! Voodoo! Zombies! Simply fantastic.

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6 Responses

  1. Brett G. says:

    I agree that the earlier horror movies (particularly the silent ones) are still the most eerie. Stuff like Haxan and Faust are just so bizarre and nightmarish, totally in the vein of Caligari.

  2. Great post! I’ve never heard of “Werewolf of London” -thanks for bringing it to my attention! Have you seen “Vampyr?” It’s quite an experience and I think it’s still up for free on Hulu.

  3. Thats a good list Amy. I have been getting into the Universal Monster Pics lately. You had a few films that I had not checked out yet on this lis that I am going to have to give a look see.

  4. Camiele says:

    Love love LOVE Nosferatu. Love Bella Lagosi even more!

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