Table of Contents
Universal Horrors
The Studios Classic Films,
19311946
Second Edition
TOM WEAVER,
MICHAEL BRUNAS AND JOHN BRUNAS
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Jefferson, North Carolina, and London
Other books by Tom Weaver and from McFarland:
Eye on Science Fiction: 20 Interviews with Classic SF and Horror Filmmakers (2003; paperback 2007).
Interviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie Makers: Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Moguls and Makeup (1988; paperback 2006).
Science Fiction Stars and Horror Heroes: Interviews with Actors, Directors, Producers and Writers of the 1940s through 1960s (1991; paperback 2006).
Earth vs. the Sci-Fi Filmmakers: 20 Interviews (2005).
It Came from Horrorwood: Interviews with Moviemakers in the SF and Horror Tradition (1996; paperback 2004).
Science Fiction and Fantasy Film Flashbacks: Conversations with 24 Actors, Writers, Producers and Directors from the Golden Age (1998; paperback 2004).
Double Feature Creature Attack: A Monster Merger of Two More Volumes of Classic Interviews (paperback 2003; a combined edition of the two earlier Weaver titles Attack of the Monster Movie Makers and They Fought in the Creature Features).
Science Fiction Confidential: Interviews with 23 Monster Stars and Filmmakers (2002).
I Was a Monster Movie Maker: Conversations with 22 SF and Horror Filmmakers (2001).
Poverty Row HORRORS! Monogram, PRC and Republic Horror Films of the Forties (1993; paperback 1999).
John Carradine: The Films (1999).
Frontispiece: A star is born! Boris Karloff as the Monster in the 1931 Frankenstein.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Weaver, Tom, 1958
Universal horrors : the studios classic films, 19311946 /
Tom Weaver, Michael Brunas and John Brunas. 2nd ed.
p. cm.
Rev. ed. of: Universal horrors / Michael Brunas. 1990.
Includes index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7864-2974-5
1. Horror filmsUnited StatesHistory and criticism.
2. Universal Pictures Corporation.
I. Brunas, Michael. II. Brunas, John.
III. Brunas, Michael. Universal horrors. I. Title.
PN1995.9.H6B7 2007 791.43'616dc22 2006036001
British Library cataloguing data are available
2007 Tom Weaver, Michael Brunas and John Brunas. All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
On the front cover: Gloria Stuart and Boris Karloff in The Old Dark House, 1932 (Photofest); on the back cover: Rondo Hatton, mid1940s monster man in a publicity pose
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640 www.mcfarlandpub.com
The authors gratefully dedicate this book to...
Ruth (Mrs. John Brunas) for her
unconditional love, support, and stubborn belief
that the authors could make lightning strike twice.
To Rich Scrivani.
And to Boris. Poor Boris.
Table of Contents for the Print Edition
Introduction
Milestones in the History of Universal Studios
1931
Dracula
Dracula (Spanish version)
Frankenstein
1932
Murders in the Rue Morgue
The Old Dark House
The Mummy
1933
Secret of the Blue Room
The Invisible Man
1934
The Black Cat
Secret of the Chateau
The Man Who Reclaimed His Head
Life Returns
1935
Mystery of Edwin Drood
Night Life of the Gods
Bride of Frankenstein
WereWolf of London
The Raven
The Great Impersonation
1936
The Invisible Ray
Draculas Daughter
1937
Night Key
1938
The Black Doll
The Missing Guest
1939
Son of Frankenstein
The House of Fear
Tower of London
1940
The Invisible Man Returns
Black Friday
The House of the Seven Gables
The Mummys Hand
The Invisible Woman
1941
Man Made Monster
Horror Island
The Black Cat
Hold That Ghost
The Wolf Man
1942
The Mad Doctor of Market Street
The Ghost of Frankenstein
Mystery of Marie Roget
The Strange Case of Doctor Rx
Invisible Agent
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror
The Mummys Tomb
Night Monster
1943
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man
Sherlock Holmes in Washington
Captive Wild Woman
Phantom of the Opera
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death
Flesh and Fantasy
Son of Dracula
The Mad Ghoul
Calling Dr. Death
1944
The Spider Woman
Weird Woman
The Scarlet Claw
The Invisible Mans Revenge
Ghost Catchers
Jungle Woman
The Mummys Ghost
The Pearl of Death
The Climax
Dead Mans Eyes
Murder in the Blue Room
House of Frankenstein
The Mummys Curse
Destiny
1945
The House of Fear
Thats the Spirit
The Frozen Ghost
The Jungle Captive
The Woman in Green
Strange Confession
Pursuit to Algiers
House of Dracula
Pillow of Death
1946
Terror by Night
The Spider Woman Strikes Back
House of Horrors
Night in Paradise
The Cat Creeps
She-Wolf of London
Dressed to Kill
The Time of Their Lives
The Brute Man
Epilogue
Appendices:
I. Exclusions, Borderline Inclusions, and Some Odds and Ends
II. Universal Serial Horrors
III. Universal Horror Oscars
IV. Screen Gems Shock Television Packages
Index
Introduction
We are presenting this updating of Universal Horrors with belated but sincere gratitude for the generous reception which greeted its original publication back in 1990. The surge of interest in Universal horror movies since then has been phenomenal, all the more so since it has been occurring at a time when vintage black-and-white films are fast becoming cultural relics, cinematic cast-asides for a niche audience. Yet in the last decade DVD box sets of Universal chillers have racked up impressive sales, original memorabilia sells at astronomical prices and even the U.S. Postal Service has seen fit to commemorate the studios most famous monsters with a striking set of postage stampsall of which hardly would have seemed likely a mere twenty years ago. This is not a phenomenon fueled only by nostalgia but it is another stepping stone in Universals monsters quest to attain some measure of critical acceptance since they first started coming on the scene back in 1931. Thats not to say that historians are tripping over themselves to replace Citizen Kane with Frankenstein as The Classic American Film, but rather that the best of the Universal horror pictures are recognized as works of genuine merit as well as being popular audience favorites.