This documentary covers more than just a Universal horror films of the 1930's. It gives its viewer a look at the silent era, not just for the universal films but the European horror films that inspired Carl Laemmle to create the masterpieces of Frankenstein and Dracula that led to Universal being known as the premier Hollywood studio of horror films during the Golden age of movie making. You get to see a bit of what Murnau was making in Germany, what Lon Chaney Sr. was doing over at MGM, and the issues that arrived when Universal dared to make a film version of Dracula and couldn't have Chaney who had tragically passed away. this goes into great detail on the making of those two classic films and the ones that followed in the next decade, going up to 1940's "The Wolfman". Certainly, this could have continued for another 90 minutes going through the history of the B movies at Universal made after the end of karloff's reign as the Frankenstein monster, but they wisely cut it off here so they can give proper detail to the really good years, 1931 to 1935.
Film historians, younger actors who were fans of these films as children and actual participants in the making of these films get to speak. There are also appearances by family members of those involved including Carla Laemmle and Sara Karloff. It would have been nice to see Bela Lugosi Jr. But he participated in other documentaries on the subject so his take has not been completely ignored. There are some fun outakes and home movies, stills of the stars having fun while relaxing on the set and a glimpse of what these people really were like. This is a great companion piece to any of the horror films of Universal history, or simply just a documentary on an awesome time in motion picture history when you could get scared going to the movies yet not grossed out. Highly recommend and well done, utilizing historical references of world events and how horror actually came from the human souls response to real horrors that mankind created themselves.
Film historians, younger actors who were fans of these films as children and actual participants in the making of these films get to speak. There are also appearances by family members of those involved including Carla Laemmle and Sara Karloff. It would have been nice to see Bela Lugosi Jr. But he participated in other documentaries on the subject so his take has not been completely ignored. There are some fun outakes and home movies, stills of the stars having fun while relaxing on the set and a glimpse of what these people really were like. This is a great companion piece to any of the horror films of Universal history, or simply just a documentary on an awesome time in motion picture history when you could get scared going to the movies yet not grossed out. Highly recommend and well done, utilizing historical references of world events and how horror actually came from the human souls response to real horrors that mankind created themselves.