The Universal classic monsters are the top classic movie monsters that never seem to lose their appeal.
Frankenstein,Dracula and The Wolf Man have been featured in hundreds of movies over the last century but their most famous big screen appearances were in the series of Universal Studios movies of the 1930s and 40s.
Frankenstein and Dracula were both released in 1931 and this can be considered the start of the classic monster movies era.
Dracula based on the 1897 Bram Stoker novel and starring Bela Lugosi opened in theaters on Valentine’s Day 1931. Although a movie version entitled Nosferatu was filmed in the silent era the 1931 version was endorsed by Stoker’s widow.
Lugosi’s portrayal of Dracula has been emulated by almost everyone else who has ever played the role and vampire movies never seem to lose their popularity.
Frankenstein,released in 1931 was based on the Mary Shelley novel. The monster was played by Boris Karloff.
Dr. Henry Frankenstein is played by Colin Clive and his assistant Fritz is played by Dwight Frye. Frankenstein’s fiancee is played by Mae Clarke.
The Wolf Man (1941) starring Lon Chaney,Jr. was the second werewolf movie made by Universal. Werewolf Of London was not a hit when it was released in 1935.
In the movie Chaney’s character,Larry Talbot, returns to his European village to reconcile with his father who is played by character actor Claude Rains. While there he is bitten by a wolf (Bela Lugosi) and begins his transformation into a wolf.
A screening of classic monster movies would be the perfect theme for a Halloween gathering. To me the old school monster movies beat the modern slasher movies hands down.
