CREEPY CLASSICS [A-Z]

CREEPY CLASSICS, SILENT FILMS, AND MORE..

20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (1916) This silent rendition of the Jules Verne novel was dubbed "the first submarine photoplay ever filmed!" Alan Holubar plays an eastern prince who takes to the ocean depths in his assault-prone submarine in order to get revenge on a wealthy businessman who murdered his daughter. Features a number of early special effects, and underwater photography courtesy of Ernest and George Williamson. Also stars Curtis Benton, Howard Crampton, and Jane Gale. Directed by Stuart Paton. In English. (A-/B).

ADVENTURES OF PRINCE ACHMED

ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1915) Here's an early silent adaptation of the classic Lewis Carroll story. Stars Viola Savoy as Alice. Unfortunately, not much is known about this film which seems to have been sonorized for re-release in the early 30's. The film no longer exists in its entire form, however this is the most complete version available. Directed by W.W. Young. In English. (A-/B).

AVENGING CONSCIENCE, THE (1914) Also known as: "Thou Shalt Not Kill." Early horror yarn loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe's "Imp of The Perverse." Young man kills his overbearing uncle, who comes back as a specter to haunt him. Henry B. Walthall, Spottiswoode Aitken, Blanche Sweet, George Siegmann. Directed by D.W. Griffith. In English. (A-/B).

BAT, THE (1926) Roland West directed this silent mystery/horror comedy which was considered quite advanced (in a cinematographic sense) during its day. A masked criminal dressed like a bat, and terrorizes guests staying at the home of a mystery writer. Starring George Beranger, Charles Herzinger, Emily Fitzroy, and others. In English. (A-/B).

BELLS, THE (1926) This early Boris Karloff feature (in which he plays a minor role) is quite an interesting gem. Mathias, an Alsatian innkeeper (played by Lionel Barrymore), murders a rich Pole staying at his inn. But Mathias' conscience will not let him rest, and the murdered man's spirit threatens to drive the innkeeper mad. Also stars Caroline Francis Cooke, Gustav Von Seyffertitz, Lola Todd, and others. Directed by James Young. In English. (A-/B).

BETWEEN TWO WORLDS (1944)

BLACK CASTLE, THE (1952)

BLACK CAT, THE (1941)

BLACK DRAGONS (1942)

BLACK RIDER, THE (1954) When young reporter and amateur biker Jerry Marsh investigates a mysterious hooded figure on a motorbike, he discovers a gang of crooks hiding out in a ruined castle. British mystery thriller starring Jimmy Hanley, Rona Anderson, Leslie Dwyer, Lionel Jeffries, and others. Directed by Wolf Rilla. Dubbed in English. (A-/B).

CANTERVILLE GHOST, THE

CASE OF THE BLACK PARROT (1941) Sandy Vantine and her uncle, Paul Vantine, return from Europe with an antique cabinet purchased during their trip. Jim Moore, a reporter who had met Sandy and fallen for her during the voyage, suspects something odd about the cabinet. His suspicions are confirmed when people who have touched the cabinet mysteriously die. Jim and Sandy set out to solve the mystery before anyone else can become a victim. Good mystery chiller starring William Lundigan, Maris Wrixon, Paul Cavanagh, and others. Directed by Noel M. Smith. Dubbed in English. (B/B-).

CASE OF CHARLES PEACE, THE (1949)

CHLOE (1933)

CHRISTMAS CAROL, A (1938)

CHRONICLES OF GRAY HOUSE, THE (1925) Original title: "Zur Chronik von Grieshuus." Hinrich, the son of a feudal German landowner, falls in love with the daughter of one of his father's serfs despite opposition from both families. But when he actually offers marriage to her, this is going too far. The return of his brother Detlev, with an unscrupulous aristocratic bride of his own and a rival claim to their father's estates, proves to be the trigger for tragedy. Rare silent classic starring Arthur Krausneck, Paul Hartmann, Rudolf Forster, and others. Directed by Arthur von Gerlack. (B/B-).

CLAIRVOYANT, THE (1934)

CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT (w/ Boris Karloff) / (1956)

CREEPER, THE (1948) A man is turned into a "catlike" killer by means of a serum invented by a crazed scientist. Good horror starring Onslow Stevens, Eduardo Ciannelli, June Vincent, Ralph Morgan, and others. Directed by Jean Yarbrough. In English. (A-/B).

CRIME DOCTOR COMPILATION (1943-1949) Here's a rare treat for collectors: the entire series of "Crime Doctor" films starring Warner Baxter, on two discs. Films include "Crime Doctor," "Crime Doctor's Strangest Case," "Shadows in the Night," "Crime Doctor's Courage," "Crime Doctor's Manhunt," "Crime Doctor's Warning," "Just Before Dawn," "The Millerson Case," "Crime Doctor's Gamble," and "Crime Doctor's Diary." Counts as two titles. In English. (A-/B).

DANTE'S INFERNO (1924) The tactics of a vicious slumlord and greedy businessman finally drive a distraught man to commit suicide. The businessman is tried for murder and executed, and is afterward taken by demons to the Hell where he will spend the rest of eternity. Rare silent classic starring Ralph Lewis, Winifred Landis, William Scott, Pauline Stark, and others. Directed by Henry Otto. In English. (A-/B).

DEAD MEN WALK (1943)

DEAR MURDERER (1947)

DEVIL'S ISLAND (1939) For treating a wounded revolutionary, respected brain surgeon Dr. Gaudet is sentenced to the hellish French penal colony on Devil's Island. There, he rebels against the inhuman conditions and incurs the wrath of the brutal commander, Colonel Lucien. When Lucien's daughter is injured in an accident and only Gaudet can save her, the tables are turned. Starring Boris Karloff, Nedda Harrigan, James Stephenson, and others. Directed by William Clemens. Dubbed in English. (A-/B).

DRAGONWYCK (1946)

DR. RENAULT'S SECRET (1942) Interesting horror about a doctor who visits the chateau of his fiancée's uncle, only to find that he's been engaging in scientific work of a highly suspicious nature. When murders start breaking out in the village, a strange mutant-like servant falls under suspicion. Does he have anything to do with the doctor's experiments? Starring George Zucco, J. Carrol Naish, Lynn Roberts, John Shepperd. Directed by Harry Lachman. In English. (A-/B).

DRUMS OF JEOPARDY (1931) Decent crime/horror hybrid based loosely on Harold MacGrath's novel. Demented Russian doctor seeks revenge against noblemen who murdered his daughter. When they flee to New York he follows them, but one of them escapes and seeks refuge with a girl. A strange night ensues. Warner Oland, June Collyer, Lloyd Hughes, Hale Hamilton, and others. Directed by George B. Seitz. In English. (A-/B).

EYES OF THE MUMMY (1918)

EYES OF THE UNDERWORLD (1943) Also known as: "Criminals of the Underworld." Low-budget crime thriller which casts Richard Dix as a police chief assigned to break up an auto-theft racket. After catching one of the criminals (played by Lon Chaney, Jr.), he gets blackmailed over info regarding his past, and when the prisoner escapes he's accused of being in league with the gang. Is it a frame-up? A private investigator posing as a sales manager tries to get to the bottom of it all. Also starring Wendy Barrie, Lloyd Corrigan, and others. Directed by Roy William Neill. Dubbed in English. (A-/B).

FACE BEHIND THE MASK, THE (1941) Also known as: "Behind the Mask." A disfigured watchmaker with a grudge against society embarks on a life of crime. Good thriller starring Peter Lorre, Evelyn Keyes, Don Beddoe, George E. Stone, and others. Directed by Robert Florey. Dubbed in English. (A/A-).

FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1926)

FAUST (1926)

FLESH AND FANTASY (1943)

FOG ISLAND (1945)

FOR THEM THAT TRESPASS (1949)

FRANKENSTEIN (1910) / A TRIP TO THE MOON (1902)

GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE (1942)

GHOST OF RASHMON HALL, THE (1947) Also known as: "The Night Comes Too Soon." A doctor is summoned to an old dark house to rid it of evil spirits. British horror starring Valentine Dyall, Ann Howard, Alec Faversham, Howard Douglas, and others. Directed by Denis Kavanagh. Dubbed in English. (A-/B).

GHOST OF ST. MICHAEL'S, THE (1941)

GHOUL, THE (1933)

GILDERSLEEVE'S GHOST (1944)

GRAND NATIONAL NIGHT (1953)

HATTER'S CASTLE (1942)

HAUNTED CASTLE, THE (1921) Rare silent thriller from director F.W. Murnau. In the castle Vogeloed, some aristocrats are awaiting baroness Safferstätt. But first count Oetsch invites himself.. Everyone thinks he murdered his brother, baroness Safferstat's first husband, three years ago. But Oetsch stays, arguing he is not the murderer and will find the real one. Starring Arnold Korff, Lulu Kyser-Korff, Paul Bildt, and others. In English. (A-/B).

HAUNTED SPOOKS (1920)

HOUSE OF DANGER (1934) Excellent murder mystery about a man who returns home after many years to find strange events surrounding the death of his father. Soon it becomes revealed that the butler and spoiled nephew have entered into scheme to get rid of the heir. Onslow Stevens, Janet Chandler, James Bush, and others. Directed by Charles Hutchison. Dubbed in English. (B/B-).

HOUSE OF DARKNESS (1948) A young man visiting a house that turns out to be haunted is terrorized by the ghost of a man who had been murdered there years before. Good British mystery starring Laurence Harvey, Lesley Osmond, Grace Arnold, John Teed, and others. Directed by Oswald Mitchell. Dubbed in English. (A/A-).

INTERRUPTED JOURNEY, THE (1949)

INVISIBLE MENACE, THE (1938)

ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (1932)

LOST WORLD, THE (1925)

LOVES OF EDGAR ALLAN POE, THE (1942) Well-polished and atmospheric biographical tale, which focuses on the life of Edgar Allan Poe, including his march to success, and the strange death of his wife. Starring Linda Darnell, John Shepperd, Virginia Gilmore, and others. Directed by Harry Lachman. Dubbed in English. (A/A-).

MAD DOCTOR OF MARKET STREET (1942) A mad scientist is forced to leave San Francisco when his experiments become known. He lands on a tropical island, takes control and terrorizes the local populace. The survivor of a shipwreck washes ashore on the island, sees what is happening and determines to free the natives from his rule. Starring Lionel Atwill, Una Merkel, Nat Pendleton, and others. Directed by Joseph H. Lewis. Dubbed in English. (A-/B).

MAD GENIUS, THE (1931)

MAN FROM BEYOND, THE (1922) A man who has been frozen in the Arctic ice for 100 years returns to civilization to find his lost love. Rare silent classic starring Harry Houdini, Arthur Maude, Albert Tavernier, and others. Directed by Burton L. King. In English. (A-/B).

MANHUNT (1941)

MAN IN HALF MOON STREET, THE (1945) Very efficient B-grade horror about a scientist (played by Nils Asther) who has discovered a way to prevent aging. Unfortunately, he still needs to perform glandular transplants before his experiments are a success. This requires the use of human guinea pigs, which equates with murder. Also starring Paul Cavanagh, Helen Walker, Reinhold Schunzel, and more. Directed by Ralph Murphy. In English. (A-/B).

MAN WHO LAUGHS, THE (1928) Impressive silent epic from expressionist filmmaker Paul Leni. It's really a melodrama, though it plays sometimes like a swashbuckler, at other times like an eerie horror film. The only son of a condemned aristocrat is abducted by Gypsies who carve his face into a permanent smile. His identity is discovered years later by an evil jester who supervised his father's execution. The jester sets out to destroy him. Starring Conrad Veidt, Mary Philbin, Brandon Hurst, Olga Baclanova, and others. In English. (A/A-).

MIDNIGHT FACES (1926)

MISSING GUEST, THE (1938) One of the guests at an old mansion disappears from his room. The other guests search the house for him, but he appears to have vanished into thin air. Siperb late-night mystery chiller featuring Paul Kelly, Constance Moore, William Lundigan, and others. Directed by John Rawlins. Dubbed in English. (A-/B).

MONASTERY OF SENDOMIR (1920)

MONSTER, THE (1925)

MONSTER WALKS, THE (1932) People in an old dark house on a stormy night are menaced by a killer ape. Creepy late-night thriller starring Rex Lease, Vera Reynolds, Sheldon Lewis, and others. Directed by Frank R. Strayer. Dubbed in English. (A-/B).

MR. DENNING DRIVES NORTH (1952)

MURDER IN THE BLUE ROOM (1944) A party is thrown at a haunted mansion, people start to die, and a man who spent a night in the "blue room" disappears. Nice murder mystery starring Anne Gwynne, Donald Cook, John Litel, Grace McDonald, and others. Directed by Leslie Goodwins. In English. (B/B-).

MURDERS IN THE ZOO (1933)

MYSTERIOUS DOCTOR, THE (1943) The citizens of a tiny Cornish village are tormented during World War II by a headless ghost which is haunting the local tin mine. Starring John Loder, Eleanor Parker, Bruce Lester, Forrester Harvey, and others. Directed by Benjamin Stoloff. Dubbed in English. (A/A-).

MYSTERIOUS ISLAND, THE (1929) Originally filmed in Technicolor, this awesome rendition of the Jules Verne classic was started in 1926, but not completed until 1929. Hence most of the film is silent, though there is some dialogue, and a complete orchestra score. Lionel Barrymore plays a reclusive nobleman who operates a marine laboratory to send expedition under the sea. When his island is taken over by a traitor, he and his crew are forced to evacuate to the ocean depths, where they are attacked by a strange race of humanlike creatures. Also stars Montagu Love, Jacqueline Gadsen, Lloyd Hughes, and others. Directed by Lucien Hubbard. In English. (A-/B).

NOMADS OF THE NORTH (w/ Lon Chaney, Sr.)

OLD MOTHER RILEY'S GHOSTS (1941)

OLIVER TWIST (w/ Lon Chaney, Sr.)

ON THE NIGHT OF THE FIRE (1940) A barber commits a petty theft, which leads to his becoming involved in blackmail and murder. Rare British crime starring Ralph Richardson, Diana Wynyard, and others. Directed by Brian Desmond Hurst. Dubbed in English. (A-/B).

ONE EXCITING NIGHT (1922) Seldom-seen silent mystery from director D.W. Griffith. A young orphan girl, courted by an unpleasant older wealthy man who has a hold over her adoptive mother, falls in love with a young stranger at a party. Odd noises begin to be heard as a group of bootleggers clandestinely try to get away with their hidden loot. One of them is killed and the young man is suspected of being the killer. Starring Carol Dempster, Henry Hull, Porter Strong, and others. In English. (A-/B).

OUTWARD BOUND (1930)

PHANTOM CARRIAGE, THE (1921)

PHANTOM OF MOULIN ROUGE, THE (1925) Original title: "Le Fantome du Moulin-Rouge." Rare French silent horror, about a man who submits to a strange experiment which frees the soul from the body. Starring Georges Vaultier, Paul Ollivier, Sandra Milovanoff, and others. Directed by Rene Clair. In English. (A-/B).

PINK STRING AND SEALING WAX (1946) A drunken tavern-keeper's adulterous wife uses the backward son of a rigid, puritanical pharmacist who makes his entire family miserable. Rare British pot-boiler starring Mervyn Johns, Googie Withers, Gordon Jackson, and others. Directed by Robert Hamer. Dubbed in English. (B/B-).

RAPSODICA SATANICA (1915)

RUBEZAHL'S WEDDING (1916) Also known as: "Old Nip's Wedding." Strange German silent horror, concerning a demented ogre who terrorizes people having a picnic in the wilderness. Starring Arthur Ehrens, Paul Wegener, Rochus Gliese, and others. Directed by Paul Wegener. Note: film is silent, with no soundtrack. (B/B-).

SECRETS OF THE FRENCH POLICE (1932) A series of murders and a kidnapping is all part of a bizarre plot by a mad Russian emigree to pass off his hypnotized victim as Princess Anastasia in order to get the millions as heir to the late Tsar Nicholas of Russia. It's up to the French police, aided by a deft criminal, to rescue the victim and thwart the scheme. Starring Frank Morgan, Gwili Andre, Gregory Ratoff, Rochelle Hudson, and others. Directed by A. Edward Sutherland. Dubbed in England. (A-/B).

SEXTON BLAKE AND THE HOODED TERROR (1938)

SHADOW, THE (1933) Great British mystery thriller done in the Edgar Wallace tradition. A group of people in an old dark house are terrorized by a mysterious hooded figure dressed in black who proceeds to kill them off one by one. Starring Henry Kendall, Elizabeth Allan, Felix Aylmer, and others. Directed by George A. Cooper. Dubbed in English. (B/B-).

SHADOW ON THE WINDOW (1957) Good noir suspense thriller about three psychopaths who break into an isolated farmhouse and murder its owner whose secretary (the wife of a local police inspector) happens to be working there. The three thugs decide to hold her hostage. Her little kid sees the crime and escapes, but goes into a state of shock, and is unable to reveal what happened, or where his mother is located. The police inspector/father/husband works frantically to piece together random clues and pinpoint the scene of the crime before the thugs do their worst. Stars Phil Carey, Betty Garrett, John Drew Barrymore. Directed by William Asher. Dubbed in English. (A/A-).

SHE (1925)

SILVER BLAZE (1937)

SIX HOURS TO LIVE

SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939)

SORROWS OF SATAN (1926)

SPECKLED BAND, THE (1931)

STRANGE CASE OF DR. RX, THE (1942) After five men previously acquitted of various criminal charges are murdered by a mysterious avenger known as Dr. Rx, police Inspector and Sergeant ask private investigator to help them solve the case. Starring Patric Knowles, Lionell Atwill, Anne Gwynne, and others. Directed by William Nigh. Dubbed in English. (A-/B).

STRANGE DOOR, THE (1951)

STUDY IN SCARLET, A (1933)

TERROR ISLAND (1920)

THUNDER ROCK (1943)

TOWER OF LONDON (1939)

UNCLE SILAS (1947) British horror starring Jean Simmons, Derek Bond, Katina Pxinou, Derrick De Marney, and others. Directed by Charles Frank. Dubbed in English. (A-/B).

UNHOLY THREE, THE (1925) Three sideshow performers leave their lives of captivity and become "The Unholy Three." Echo the ventriloquist assumes the role of a kindly old grandmother who runs a bird shop. Tweedledee, the "twenty inch man," becomes her grandbaby, and Hercules is their assistant. Soon an incredible crime wave is launched from their little store. Silent classic starring Lon Chaney, Mae Busch, Matt Moore, Victor McLaglen, and others. Directed by Tod Browning. In English. (A-/B).

UNHOLY NIGHT, THE (1929) Excellent horror thriller directed by Lionel Barrymore. On a dark foggy London night, someone tries to strangle Lord Montague, but he escapes. He soon discovers the four other men who got killed were old regimental comrades in Gallipoli. When Scotland Yard gets Monty to gather the other nine surviving officers at his home, one of them is murdered, and no one else has entered the house. Now, they must determine who the murderer is. Starring Roland Young, Ernest Torrence, Dorothy Sebastian, and others. In English. (A-/B).

UNKNOWN, THE (1927)

UPTURNED GLASS, THE (1947)

WALKING DEAD, THE (1936)

WARNING SHADOWS

WEIRD TALES (1919) Very strange and surreal silent film from Germany. After an old book shop closes, portraits of the Strumpet, Death, and the Devil come to life and amuse themselves by reading stories--about themselves, of course, in various guises. Four of the stories are literary horror stories, and the last one is a comedy involving a fake haunting. Starring Conrad Veidt, Anita Berber, Renhold Schunzel, and others. Directed by Richard Oswald. In English. (B/B-).

WEREWOLF OF LONDON (1935)

WEST OF ZANZIBAR (1928) Classic weird horror flick which casts Lon Chaney, Sr. as a magician who gets paralyzed after a fight with the man who took his wife. After retreating to Africa for 18 years, "Dead Legs" becomes a pseudo-king of the natives, and puts his twisted scheme of revenge into operation. Also stars Lionel Barrymore, Warner Baxter, Mary Nolan, Jacqueline Gadsen. Directed by Tod Browing. In English. Silent, with orchestra score and some sound effects. (A-/B).

WHERE EAST IS EAST (1929)

WOLF BLOOD (1925) Rare early werewolf film, about an injured logger who is forced to submit to a wolf-blood transfusion. Soon, he starts to become a wolf. Starring Ray Hanford, George Chesebro, Maguerite Clayton, and others. Directed by George Chesebro. In English. (A-/B).

WOMAN'S VENGEANCE, A (1948)

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