Anyone see this? I got this on DVD from my local library, and I feel like such a grown up for watching a black and white 1933 movie and enjoying it!
Make with the discussion! It starred Fay Wray and Leslie Banks, and ::spoiler::
was about a scary guy who shipwrecked people then hunted them on his island. Very cool! Fay was beautiful in it, and did all those great classic movie things like the "wide eyed scared look extreme closeup"and the “arm across the forehead in angst” look. There was creepy music and and a dashing hero- all the things that good flicks are made of.
Since one of my goals for this year is to watch more old movies, can anyone recommend something similar? I like basic plot lines (not complicated war strategies or anything) and I like good acting.
Oh, another point about the DVD- if you suffer insomnia, run out and buy this. The commentary that you can watch is about as exciting as calculus lecture. I fell asleep 3 times trying to watch it.
Zette
The film has been re-made a lot of times. The 1930s version was done by a lot of th folks that went on to do King Kong almost immediately afterwards (I think they even re-used the jungle sets). Goldner and Turner devote a chapter to TMDG in their book The Making of King Kong
I haven’t seen the movie, but I did read the kinda-short story in my 7th grade English class. Creeped me the heck out, it did, though, so I wouldn’t suggest it for curing insomnia in any of its forms.
Try ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (1932), starring Charles Laughton. Huge fun (based on H.G. Wells’ novel THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU), and you’ll recognize lots of late-20th century catchphrases the movie engendered, including “Are we not MEN?” “There natives are restless tonight” and the House of Pain.
Man, I love MOST DANGEROUS GAME…and Cal is right as rain about the cross-use of sets (and leading actress) with KING KONG.
For more fun with Fay Wray, go get THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM (1932), also starring Lionel Atwill. That one’s made with an early Technicolor process, so you’ll feel more comfortable.
– Uke, who wants YOU to see as many pre-Code movies as possible
My eighth grade English teacher read this to us in class. Only thing he ever read to us. I figured it was because he must have been in one of the films, as he was a stunt double before he was a teacher. He claimed to have done some of Johnny Weismuller’s Tarzan stunts. I think his name was Hal Stiller. His wife was an actress.
Uke- I’m looking for those movies, but I don’t think they’re on DVD yet. I did find a movie duo on Netflix of “The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Devil Bat”. I’ll get that one and see how I like it.
A lot of the info you mentioned was in the commentary portion of the DVD, which I did catch some of. Very interesting stuff!
Zette
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen that movie, but I must let you all know that I love watching old movies on AMC (American Movie Classics) and TCM (Turner Movie Classics). There’s something about watching a slice of life from sixty years ago, watching the fashions, home furnishings and social interaction from a bygone era.