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Surprise! It's midnight on Halloween. You thought my week o' public domain horror films was over with Night of the Living Dead. You were wrong.
Director Carl Dreyer directed one of the great films of all time, The Passion of Joan of Arc, which I once called "a blessing to the world of cinema." Four years later he would direct Vampyr, a ghostly, ostentatious, bold, experimental film. It's dark and slow and brooding and moody and forgoes an engrossing story in exchange for an engrossing atmosphere. Twilight this ain't.
Happy midnight. Enjoy the film. (I've changed the embedded video to links so this page loads faster):
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Read more about Vampyr here. The best edition to purchase -- restored, gorgeous, much better than these videos -- is this one.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Night of the Living Dead!
For Halloween, I thought I'd go with the big daddy. One of the kings of them all. Grandfather of one of the most popular subgenres of horror today. I'm talking, of course, about George Romero's classic, Night of the Living Dead.
Now THIS is a legendary film. When it comes to modern zombies, it's the one that started it all. And it's still fantastic. It also happens to be in the public domain (see below), so for this Halloween take a gander back at a flick you probably haven't seen in a while:
Some things to note:
* When I spoke to Russell Streiner (Billy) several years ago for a feature on the 2005 Fangoria convention, he told me the movie doesn't hold up just because of the zombies. “Night of the Living Dead, as odd as it may seem, there’s a lot of human drama that went into it. One of the things that made it successful is that it focused on telling a story.” And he's right.
* The film is in the public domain only due to a quirk in the law.
* Because it's in the public domain, there are literally dozens of DVD releases available. Don't get suckered into one of the cheap knock-off DVDS. There is only one version worth getting.
* Happy Halloween!
Now THIS is a legendary film. When it comes to modern zombies, it's the one that started it all. And it's still fantastic. It also happens to be in the public domain (see below), so for this Halloween take a gander back at a flick you probably haven't seen in a while:
Some things to note:
* When I spoke to Russell Streiner (Billy) several years ago for a feature on the 2005 Fangoria convention, he told me the movie doesn't hold up just because of the zombies. “Night of the Living Dead, as odd as it may seem, there’s a lot of human drama that went into it. One of the things that made it successful is that it focused on telling a story.” And he's right.
* The film is in the public domain only due to a quirk in the law.
* Because it's in the public domain, there are literally dozens of DVD releases available. Don't get suckered into one of the cheap knock-off DVDS. There is only one version worth getting.
* Happy Halloween!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962)
We'll cap off this Halloween season foray into public domain horror films tomorrow with the biggest classic of the classics, but for now let's just have fun with the schlocky B-movie fun of The Brain That Wouldn't Die, a 1962 flick about a doctor who keeps his girlfriend's decapitated head alive and goes in search of a body to attach it to.
Two of the characters in this movie are billed as "Blonde Stripper" and "Brunet Stripper," so you know this is good cinema.
Oh yeah.
It's in the public domain, so check it out:
The movie is freely and legally available for download here, though I can't vouch for the quality.
Two of the characters in this movie are billed as "Blonde Stripper" and "Brunet Stripper," so you know this is good cinema.
Oh yeah.
It's in the public domain, so check it out:
The movie is freely and legally available for download here, though I can't vouch for the quality.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Three, three, three! classic silents
It's the Friday of Halloween weekend. Maybe you're bored. Maybe you're looking for something to occupy your time. That's why I'm packing three, three, three horror classics of the silent era into one blog post.
Forget about song and dance and Broadway, the real Phantom of the Opera was a creepy classic that was ahead of its time. The story has been remade five times, but it's tough to beat a silent classic with Lon Chaney.
Jekyll and Hyde don't rate very highly in modern horror, but way back when it was a pretty creepy story about man's dual nature. This 1920 adaptation is considered by many to be among the best silent horror films.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) is a landmark of German film and of early horror. I almost made this one the featured subject of a post, but had to admit to myself that not many people would find it entertaining. Not because it isn't a great film -- it's rich with images film enthusiasts (especially of the silent era) will love, including amazing staging, set design, and stunning visuals from the German impressionist era -- but because it's simply not entertaining in a modern sense. Remove it from its historical context and only a small segment of people will enjoy it. But that segment of people will enjoy it a LOT, because it's loaded with hallucinatory images and influential filmmaking.
The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Forget about song and dance and Broadway, the real Phantom of the Opera was a creepy classic that was ahead of its time. The story has been remade five times, but it's tough to beat a silent classic with Lon Chaney.
Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (1920)
Jekyll and Hyde don't rate very highly in modern horror, but way back when it was a pretty creepy story about man's dual nature. This 1920 adaptation is considered by many to be among the best silent horror films.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) is a landmark of German film and of early horror. I almost made this one the featured subject of a post, but had to admit to myself that not many people would find it entertaining. Not because it isn't a great film -- it's rich with images film enthusiasts (especially of the silent era) will love, including amazing staging, set design, and stunning visuals from the German impressionist era -- but because it's simply not entertaining in a modern sense. Remove it from its historical context and only a small segment of people will enjoy it. But that segment of people will enjoy it a LOT, because it's loaded with hallucinatory images and influential filmmaking.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
White Zombie (1932)
For most of this week of horrors I've focused on classics of the silent era. Here I thought I'd throw something else into the mix. Not only is 1932's White Zombie not of the silent era, it's not really a classic, either.
But it IS something of a landmark. Featuring screen legend Béla Lugosi, best known for being creepy as hell (and the most recognizable Dracula), White Zombie is probably the first ever zombie film, albeit not in the George Romero way we think of zombies today. This is classic voodoo and witch doctor stuff.
Is it any good? The reviews were not great (though it's quite a moody picture), and I'm afraid time hasn't sparked a renewed interest in the film, either. Still, if you're a fan of the genre or of Lugosi's work, you might want to check it out. It's public domain, so here it is:
Some things to note:
* Like far, far too many early films, White Zombie was once thought lost. A print was discovered in the 1960s.
* Yes, the band White Zombie named itself after this film.
But it IS something of a landmark. Featuring screen legend Béla Lugosi, best known for being creepy as hell (and the most recognizable Dracula), White Zombie is probably the first ever zombie film, albeit not in the George Romero way we think of zombies today. This is classic voodoo and witch doctor stuff.
Is it any good? The reviews were not great (though it's quite a moody picture), and I'm afraid time hasn't sparked a renewed interest in the film, either. Still, if you're a fan of the genre or of Lugosi's work, you might want to check it out. It's public domain, so here it is:
Some things to note:
* Like far, far too many early films, White Zombie was once thought lost. A print was discovered in the 1960s.
* Yes, the band White Zombie named itself after this film.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)
When I first began to explore silent film, one of the earliest movies to convince me of the power of the silents was 1922's landmark horror film, Nosferatu, a Dracula adaptation in all but name.
I say in all but name because the film was intended to be an adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, but the studio could not obtain the rights the story. A few name changes and plot tweaks and wala! A brand new story ... sort of.
Nosferatu is one of the great silent films and is still one of the great horror films, relying on a creepy, moody approach rather that jump-at-you scares and gore. The film is in the public domain, so that means you can watch it in full, for free, legally. And you can do it right now:
A few things to note:
* You can't see it in the video above, but the original version of the film was heavily color tinted. Quite effectively, too. If you want to see the difference color tinting can make, look at this 10-minute clip, which showcases the yellow tinting (for day) and blue tinting (for night):
* There are about eight gazillion versions of this on DVD. Don't settle for a cheap version. The two best feature excellent restorations, the original coloring, and copious extras. They are the Masters of Cinema release or fantastic Kino edition.
* This film was almost lost. Under a settlement with Bram Stoker's widow, all know prints were destroyed. However, other prints later surfaced -- and thankfully so, because this picture is a landmark.
* Due to the horror, the film was banned in Sweden until 1972.
* The versions available for home viewing are NOT the full version. A full restoration of the original film exists, cobbled together from four separate prints, but it's not available for home viewing. Goddamnit.
I say in all but name because the film was intended to be an adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, but the studio could not obtain the rights the story. A few name changes and plot tweaks and wala! A brand new story ... sort of.
Nosferatu is one of the great silent films and is still one of the great horror films, relying on a creepy, moody approach rather that jump-at-you scares and gore. The film is in the public domain, so that means you can watch it in full, for free, legally. And you can do it right now:
A few things to note:
* You can't see it in the video above, but the original version of the film was heavily color tinted. Quite effectively, too. If you want to see the difference color tinting can make, look at this 10-minute clip, which showcases the yellow tinting (for day) and blue tinting (for night):
* There are about eight gazillion versions of this on DVD. Don't settle for a cheap version. The two best feature excellent restorations, the original coloring, and copious extras. They are the Masters of Cinema release or fantastic Kino edition.
* This film was almost lost. Under a settlement with Bram Stoker's widow, all know prints were destroyed. However, other prints later surfaced -- and thankfully so, because this picture is a landmark.
* Due to the horror, the film was banned in Sweden until 1972.
* The versions available for home viewing are NOT the full version. A full restoration of the original film exists, cobbled together from four separate prints, but it's not available for home viewing. Goddamnit.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
House on Haunted Hill (1959)
Many of the films we dive into during this week o' horrors will be silent films. Not this one. House on Haunted Hill is an influential B-movie from 1959 starring the legendary Vincent Price. So influential, in fact, it was one of the inspirations for Alfred Hitchcock's slasher classic, Psycho.
House on Haunted Hill tells the kind of story you've probably heard before. Five people are invited to stay in a house overnight. Guests who stay until morning win a boatload of cash. But staying is dangerous, and terrible, terrible things begin to happen.
The film is in the public domain, and that means you can watch it right now:
A few things to note:
* The film was re-made in 1999, starring Geoffrey Rush, Famke Janssen, Chris Kattan, Ali Larter and others.
* That Alfred Hitchcock fellow? You may have heard a rumor that I co-authored a book about his films.
House on Haunted Hill tells the kind of story you've probably heard before. Five people are invited to stay in a house overnight. Guests who stay until morning win a boatload of cash. But staying is dangerous, and terrible, terrible things begin to happen.
The film is in the public domain, and that means you can watch it right now:
A few things to note:
* The film was re-made in 1999, starring Geoffrey Rush, Famke Janssen, Chris Kattan, Ali Larter and others.
* That Alfred Hitchcock fellow? You may have heard a rumor that I co-authored a book about his films.
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Golem (1920)
This creepy, dreamlike film from 1920 is based on the old Jewish folklore of the Golem, an artificial creature made of inanimate matter and brought to life. (Shades of Frankenstein's monster there.) In this moody German production, the creature comes to life and, naturally, wreaks havoc.
This variation on the tale -- the full title is The Golem: How He Came into the World -- is one of the great examples of German impressionist cinema. Both the story as well as the approach to visual storytelling in this film proved highly influential, guiding the work of legends like Alfred Hitchcock.
Since the film is in the public domain, you can check it out yourself right here:
* The film is available to download (legally) right here.
This variation on the tale -- the full title is The Golem: How He Came into the World -- is one of the great examples of German impressionist cinema. Both the story as well as the approach to visual storytelling in this film proved highly influential, guiding the work of legends like Alfred Hitchcock.
Since the film is in the public domain, you can check it out yourself right here:
* The film is available to download (legally) right here.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Frankenstein - the 1910 motion picture
Halloween is coming, so this week I thought I'd share some great bits of old film that fit into the Halloween theme. These are amazing pieces of our cultural history, many sadly forgotten. We'll start with a 1910's Frankenstein.
Produced by Edison studios (though Edison himself had nothing to do with it), this adaptation of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein was long thought lost. For decades, only a few stills existed. In the 1970s, it was discovered in a private collection, where it had sat since the 1950s, the owner unaware of just how rare the film was.
Though it had been released to DVD earlier, the print was only fully restored and released back in March 2010. The film is in the public domain. Here it is, at a mere 13 minutes long (first minute or so is rough, quality is good after that):
A few interesting things to note:
* The presentation is pure stage show. This is five years before the landmark Birth of a Nation, which all but invented the language of film as we now know it. Prior to that, movies were essentially stage shows on film.
* The color seen above is accurate. We think of early films as being in black and white, but in fact, during the silent era color tinting was common. The awesome Dracula adaptation, Nosferatu, filmed in 1922, is particularly effective at using tinting to enhance the mood and tone of certain scenes.
* At around 7 minutes, check out the way the shot is set up with the mirror. Very creative for its time!
* Charles Ogle, the man who plays the monster, was the son of a fundamentalist minister. His father disowned him for playing the role of a godless creature. He became an accomplished silent film actor, appearing in over 300 productions between 1908 and 1926.
* The director, J. Searle Dawley, did several other adaptations, including one of Snow White that predated Disney's by 21 years!
* In 2003, it was adapted into a 40-page graphic novel called Edison's Frankenstein 1910.
Produced by Edison studios (though Edison himself had nothing to do with it), this adaptation of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein was long thought lost. For decades, only a few stills existed. In the 1970s, it was discovered in a private collection, where it had sat since the 1950s, the owner unaware of just how rare the film was.
Though it had been released to DVD earlier, the print was only fully restored and released back in March 2010. The film is in the public domain. Here it is, at a mere 13 minutes long (first minute or so is rough, quality is good after that):
A few interesting things to note:
* The presentation is pure stage show. This is five years before the landmark Birth of a Nation, which all but invented the language of film as we now know it. Prior to that, movies were essentially stage shows on film.
* The color seen above is accurate. We think of early films as being in black and white, but in fact, during the silent era color tinting was common. The awesome Dracula adaptation, Nosferatu, filmed in 1922, is particularly effective at using tinting to enhance the mood and tone of certain scenes.
* At around 7 minutes, check out the way the shot is set up with the mirror. Very creative for its time!
* Charles Ogle, the man who plays the monster, was the son of a fundamentalist minister. His father disowned him for playing the role of a godless creature. He became an accomplished silent film actor, appearing in over 300 productions between 1908 and 1926.
* The director, J. Searle Dawley, did several other adaptations, including one of Snow White that predated Disney's by 21 years!
* In 2003, it was adapted into a 40-page graphic novel called Edison's Frankenstein 1910.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
PITCHED 2 IS NOW AVAILABLE!!
You've been waiting. And the wait is over. PITCHED 2 IS NOW AVAILABLE!
And even better, I'm proud to announce that all profits will go to the Hero Initiative!
via LULU
via INDYPLANET (Ka-Blam.com)
via COMICSMONKEY! (Ka-Blam.com)
(I recommend purchasing through IndyPlanet, but all of the folks above will treat you well.)
And even better, I'm proud to announce that all profits will go to the Hero Initiative!
BUY IT NOW!!!
via LULU
via INDYPLANET (Ka-Blam.com)
via COMICSMONKEY! (Ka-Blam.com)
(I recommend purchasing through IndyPlanet, but all of the folks above will treat you well.)
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Pitched! Vol. 1 is now available via Lulu.com
If you were interested in that little comics anthology I wrote last year (with the help of a slew of talented artists) but still hadn't gotten around to getting a copy, good news. It's now available via lulu.com. I've gotten my copy and can vouch for its quality. Nice, glossy cover, strong binding, and decent paper quality.
I'll be up front: happy as I was with the quality of the work ComiXpress did (and I was), I got some complaints about slow order fulfillment. Excellent quality on the product, but it's true. A few orders were slow to be fulfilled. The Lulu version takes a slight slight (slight!) hit on paper quality, but trades it for a glossy cover, printed spine, and very fast delivery.
So if you were holding out, stop. Order. Enjoy.
After all, don't you want to read this?
Or this?
Or this?
Yes. Yes, you do.
I'll be up front: happy as I was with the quality of the work ComiXpress did (and I was), I got some complaints about slow order fulfillment. Excellent quality on the product, but it's true. A few orders were slow to be fulfilled. The Lulu version takes a slight slight (slight!) hit on paper quality, but trades it for a glossy cover, printed spine, and very fast delivery.
So if you were holding out, stop. Order. Enjoy.
After all, don't you want to read this?
Or this?
Or this?
Yes. Yes, you do.
Friday, October 08, 2010
And the next plug-worthy project is...
... not something I can announce just yet, but I've been working hard on it for the last two weeks or so, it's due in bookstores next August, I'm working with some extraordinary writers (I'm merely one small part of a team), including Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy Award nominees, and it will be geeky as hell.
The last part is the best part of all.
So yeah, all you geeks out there? Watch out for a wickedly fun announcement
The last part is the best part of all.
So yeah, all you geeks out there? Watch out for a wickedly fun announcement
Monday, October 04, 2010
Some books by friends
You folks should check out some of these books. They're self-published by folks I know, but knowing these folks isn't the point. I wouldn't be plugging them if they sucked. They don't suck. These are interesting, unusual, and memorable books worth checking out.
Brian Spaeth is a visionary and probably also a lunatic. I would not let him date my daughter, but I would let him give a speech at my funeral. He has some books.
The Christmas Bridge - "It’s a timeless excitement fable and that means maybe lessons, and explosions, and emotions, and etc." LOL, WUT? In The Christmas Bridge, Christmas is outlawed. So, "When charismatic life drifter JESI BURNS and one-time actoring icon NICK KEEGE are tasked by Santa Claus himself to build a 200-mile long haven for those who still want some Christmas to happen, people’s souls get healed or whatever."
-------------------------------
Prelude to a Super Airplane - This strange and wonderful book contains lines like, "In this moment, before his youngest son was about to die aboard the future of airplane riding, the father was sure the son wished he had the paper, or however that sentence was supposed to be worded." It's awesome.
-------------------------------
Stanley Lieber is a multi-talented genius who writes short stories, does music, creates independent comics (including illustrating this story from my first Pitched anthology), and writes books. Books like this one.
1Oct1993 - It's a political commentary science fiction experimental meta essay action adventure war story dream. Yes. And it's available on Kindle or in print. Stanley's writing will sometimes make your head spin -- in a good way. Enjoy.
-------------------------------
Neil Welch isn't just a great guy, he's a darn good writer. I can't recommend his short story collection, Shadow Whispers, enough. Check it out, along with three other of his books.
Shadow Whispers - A slew of short stories packed into a handsome little volume, this will appeal to anyone who likes The Twilight Zone, Ray Bradbury, and good short fiction.
-------------------------------
Maisie's Cave - A book for young adults that may have some interest from a traditional publisher. "Headstrong and impetuous, Maisie is always leading her friends into trouble. But she didn't bargain for what they would find when they started exploring the cave in Drawstone Bay..."
-------------------------------
Long Shorts - One of these stories is a real tear-jerker about love and loss.
-------------------------------
Dreamhunter - "How does a detective find a kidnap victim who is being held prisoner in a dream?"
Brian Spaeth is a visionary and probably also a lunatic. I would not let him date my daughter, but I would let him give a speech at my funeral. He has some books.
The Christmas Bridge - "It’s a timeless excitement fable and that means maybe lessons, and explosions, and emotions, and etc." LOL, WUT? In The Christmas Bridge, Christmas is outlawed. So, "When charismatic life drifter JESI BURNS and one-time actoring icon NICK KEEGE are tasked by Santa Claus himself to build a 200-mile long haven for those who still want some Christmas to happen, people’s souls get healed or whatever."-------------------------------
Prelude to a Super Airplane - This strange and wonderful book contains lines like, "In this moment, before his youngest son was about to die aboard the future of airplane riding, the father was sure the son wished he had the paper, or however that sentence was supposed to be worded." It's awesome.-------------------------------
Stanley Lieber is a multi-talented genius who writes short stories, does music, creates independent comics (including illustrating this story from my first Pitched anthology), and writes books. Books like this one.
1Oct1993 - It's a political commentary science fiction experimental meta essay action adventure war story dream. Yes. And it's available on Kindle or in print. Stanley's writing will sometimes make your head spin -- in a good way. Enjoy.-------------------------------
Neil Welch isn't just a great guy, he's a darn good writer. I can't recommend his short story collection, Shadow Whispers, enough. Check it out, along with three other of his books.
Shadow Whispers - A slew of short stories packed into a handsome little volume, this will appeal to anyone who likes The Twilight Zone, Ray Bradbury, and good short fiction.-------------------------------
Maisie's Cave - A book for young adults that may have some interest from a traditional publisher. "Headstrong and impetuous, Maisie is always leading her friends into trouble. But she didn't bargain for what they would find when they started exploring the cave in Drawstone Bay..."-------------------------------
Long Shorts - One of these stories is a real tear-jerker about love and loss.-------------------------------
Dreamhunter - "How does a detective find a kidnap victim who is being held prisoner in a dream?"
Friday, October 01, 2010
Some new photos for your enjoyment
For those so inclined, I added a second page of photos to my personal website. There you can see nifty pictures like this:
I'm not a photographer, but taking pictures is fun, so I do it. Sometimes they even turn out okay.
(Previous blog posts of photos I've taken are here, here, and here. All can be found on the photography section of my website.)
I'm not a photographer, but taking pictures is fun, so I do it. Sometimes they even turn out okay.
(Previous blog posts of photos I've taken are here, here, and here. All can be found on the photography section of my website.)
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