The bride of Frankenstein (1935)
The ‘monster’ created by Frankenstein returns in this—higher quality— sequel to the original 1931 Frankenstein movie, matching Boris Karloff with a female partner who also comes from the world of the dead. The masterful, expressionistic art direction by Charles D. Hall, the iconic figure (and hairdo!) of Elsa Lanchester, and the combination of subtle humor with romantic pessimism rank the movie at the very top among the legendary Universal Studios monster movies. The line “We belong dead!” is a cry of pain that still shocks audiences to this day.
Director: James Whale
Saturday 03/12 19.30
The Wolf Man (1941)
The attack of a wolf has unpleasant consequences for the hero, played by Lon Chaney Jr.—lost behind extensive hair make-up—in this scary genre hit. This film influenced all subsequent cinematic attempts that dealt with the legend of lycanthropy, despite the fact that the pattern of transformation by the full moon is absent in this movie. The actor spent five to six hours every day on make-up, which took another hour to be removed after shooting! Universal first introduced audiences to this monster via the lesser-known movie Werewolf of London, in 1935.
Director: George Waggner
Saturday 10/12 19.30
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
A prehistoric monster hiding in the depths of the Amazon jungle is discovered by a team of scientists who try to capture and transport it back to civilization to study. Obviously, not a very good idea… An archetypal film that enjoyed huge commercial success in its time, largely attributed to the suspense of underwater shots and its menacing 3D. It was rumored that Ingmar Bergman watched the movie every year on his birthday! Needless to say, the ‘Gill-man’ ranks among the most famous Universal monsters.
Director: Jack Arnold
Saturday 17/12 19.30