Mother Riley Meets The Vampire (1952) – John Gilling

This comedic title which features the next machine menace in DK Books’ Monsters in the Movies is a film that could have been filed under vampires or robots (though the vampire is definitely in it a lot longer than the robot). Apparently Mother Riley films were a thing in the UK, the character is played…

The Ape Man (1943) – William Beaudine

Bela Lugosi headlines another titles in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies as I continue my journey through the chapter on Monstrous Apes. This unusual little film, barely running an hour, tells the tale of Dr. James Brewster (Lugosi), who has a problem. It seems through some study, and research, and experimentation he’s transformed himself,…

Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) – Robert Florey

Bela Lugosi, with the horrible addition of a unibrow, terrorises unsuspecting Paris in the next stop in the Monstrous Apes chapter of DK Canada’s brilliant Monsters in the Movies book. Based on the classic short story by Edgar Allen Poe, the tale focuses on an evolution obsessed mad scientist, Dr. Mirakle (Lugosi)  and the object…

Zombies on Broadway (1945) – Gordon Douglas

DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book by director John Landis, moves on to the realm of the mad scientist, leaving werewolves behind. And the first one I dove into was this genuinely funny film from 1945. It’s marred by moments of racism, but the rest of it proves to be very enjoyable. It what…

Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959) – Ed Wood Jr.

While not necessarily a vampire movie, Plan 9 From Outer Space, undeniably one of the worst films ever made (which in turn made it a cult classic), is the next title in the vampire section of John Landis’ Monsters in the Movies from DK Canada. The film does feature a plan to resurrect the dead,…

Mark of the Vampire (1935) – Tod Browning

Eight years after the release of London After Midnight, Tod Browning remade the film as Mark of the Vampire with Lionel Barrymore as Professor Zelin, a variation on Chaney’s inspector from the original film. It is also the next film up in John Landis’ Monsters in the Movies, a coffee table tome that I am…

Ninotchka (1939) – Ernst Lubitsch

  My time with Greta Garbo comes to an end with this recommended title from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, and this one ends up being my favorite, I think. Billy Wilder has his fingerprints on the screenplay for this Oscar nominated film that sees Garbo playing a Soviet envoy on…

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) – Charles Barton

  The Frankenstein cycle in the Sci-Fi Chronicles books takes a quirky turn (and not for the last time) into comedy as the Monster tests out his comedy feet in this Universal classic that was my introduction to the original monsters. Costello’s brain is up for grabs as Wilbur (Costello) is watched over by Sandra…

The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) – Erle C. Kenton

  Lon Chaney, jr. takes over the mantle of the Monster from Karloff in this next sequel in the Universal series. Ygor (Bela Lugosi), yet lives and is still causing problems for the hamlet of Frankenstein. The locals want to destroy the castle completely and the horrible creature still seeks revenge against the superstitious villagers….

Son of Frankenstein (1939) – Rowland V. Lee

  I’m diving into a new book to partner with the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film one, I’m adding Sci-Fi Chronicles to the list, it covers books (including comics) as well film and television, the first subject is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. I’ve previously reviewed the original film and its first sequel, Bride of,…