When Karl Freund’s The Mummy (1932) was released, the horror genre was already ingrained by Universal Studios and other American studios. The 1930s are considered the beginning of the horror genre’s classic phase. Horror films “primarily engages us affectively and viscerally-its aim seems to be to scare and disgust us, to raise the hair on the back of our necks or make us cover our eyes”. The horror film of the studios years gives physical shape and specific presence to metaphysical, notions of spirit or moral evil. The Mummy embodies our personal fears and social fears on a larger scale. Death and damnation are central to The Mummy. The star of The Mummy is Imhotep/Ardath Bey played by Boris Karloff. Imhotep (a high Egyptian priest) …show more content…
In the 1930s it was Universal who pioneered the horror film as a low-cost studio genre.
Universal Studios and Rise of Horror Films
Universal’s origin can be traced back to 1906 when Carl Laemmle gave up his post as a bookkeeper and used his savings to buy and operate a nickelodeon in Chicago. Universal was one of the eight large companies who dominated the industry, though they were not one of the “majors.” To be a “major”, a company had to be vertically integrated, owning a theater chain and having an international distribution operation. The five majors Paramount, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, and RKO dominated the industry. Universal had constant money problems, however, was still successful during the Great Depression of the 1930s. In 1931 Universal released Dracula starring Bela Lugosi and directed by Tod Browning, which a huge success and initiated the horror cycle. Universal also released another successful film Frankenstein (1931) starting Boris Karloff. The follow up to Dracula and Frankenstein was an even greater success, and Universal now looked for another success that would use its new star, Boris Karloff. This new success would be The Mummy (1932).
The Filming History of The Mummy The Mummy was filmed during the Great Depression. The financial collapse came against the background of an already
In the early 1900’s, as films stated centering their focus on profit, large scale studios came onto the film scene. The studios that were discussed in the chapter were: Universal, United Artists, Paramount, Warner Bros, MGM, Fox, Columbia, and RKO. These studios employed some of the biggest names in the film world at the time. Many of these studios are still in business today, and have given prominent actors and directors their shot at fame. Universal was the first studio to move to the west coast. They produced popular films such as The
During the early 1930s Movies, Music and Art had a major role during the Great Depression. Despite all the hardships in the 1930s, people were enthralled by the entertainment provided during this time period. It was extremely exciting and it had a huge impact on peoples daily lives. It would also take people out of the dark times, and to a much happier place. Some people were so impacted by the Great Depression, that they began to lose hope until Movies, Music, and Art spoke to the people of our society.
In the modern movie genre, horror movies accounts for very great proportion of the number of followers. Relevantly, the zombie film genre has been developed into a dominant part of mainstream horror, replacing the previous monster such as vampires and werewolves. In Max Brooks’s essay “The Movies That Rose From the Grave”, he offers his opinion that throughout the process of zombie film transformation, it increasingly captivates viewers while gradually generates the modern horror. Brooks’s essay should be an appropriate inclusion of a college textbook which explains the phenomenon of the “undead explosion” in various kinds of media, proving to the audiences with enthusiasm, interest, credibility and specific examples that zombie culture is resurrecting a formerly obsolete genre.
She discusses how Weimar Cinema came to be and how it did so well financially, moves onto the introduction of Expressionism into film from its origin in theater and painting, and finally describes the characteristics of Expressionism in Cinema as opposed to other artforms. From there, she discusses how the various members of the Prana cinema team came together and how their expertise contributed to the movie, how they prepared the masses for Nosferatu, and how they presented the movie. However, she provides the counterpoint of how Florence Stoker’s lawsuit against the Prana film company damaged the movie’s reputation and popularity. From there she describes how the plot of Nosferatu follows the pattern established by Noel Carroll in Philosophy of Horror of an onset phase, a discovery phase, a confirmation phase, and a confrontation phase. As the chapter progresses, Massaccesi’s description of the plot includes lengthy and in-depth analyses of each character in terms of their interactions with each other and with the setting(s). From there she considers the significance of various aspects of the film in relation to the film’s events and characters, such as camera angles and symbolic imagery, She also discusses the significance of other aspects of the film in relation to the sociopolitical situation in Germany and Europe as a whole, applying themes such as the defeat of a tyrannical villain figure or the supernatural wonder associated with Romantic artwork.
To begin with, some background information on movies and Hollywood in the 1920’s. In the 1920’s, movie attendance soared (The Rise of Hollywood par. 4). As stated in the introduction, with the influx of money in the American economic system, the average person also had an influx of time on their hands. The normal solution was to spend that time on entertainment and movies were the perfect way to do that. By the mid-decade, movie attendance rose to fifty million and only increased from then. The five main movie studios were Warner Brothers, Paramount, MGM, RKO Radio Pictures, and 20th Century Fox (Dirks 1). Before these studios were formed, every aspect of making movies was separated into different companies. The aspects may include filming, editing, or distributing. With the spark of interest in movies, these five companies took it upon
The foundation of horror genre was set by monsters that not only haunted your dreams but also conveyed rich themes found deep beneath the surface. Vampires are considered a symbol of seduction and sophistication while Frankenstein monsters represent misunderstanding, oppression, and rebellion. Some of the strongest symbolism is found in standard films of the horror genre does not come from the frequently updated relics. Utilizing fear and horror as mechanisms for subtext, social commentary, and symbolism, George Romero created a new horror genre, one that scares and shines just as much as great horror classics. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead revolutionized the once stagnant zombie film and made into something unstoppable, still to this day zombie movies rake in millions of ticket sales at the box office while remaining culturally relevant.
The years surrounding the Great Depression and World War II were neither pleasant domestically nor internationally. During the Great Depression, businesses and industries fell rapidly, people became unemployed, and chaos ensued in trying to pick the global economy back up. Like every other industry, the movie industry, albeit a few years later than others, suffered a massive dip. Despite the conditions, however, many Americans still went to see movies, averaging around 60 to 80 million patrons every week. During this time, movies were not necessarily a means of escaping real world problems despite the fact that they did help to keep morale stable. Instead, movies that were produced in this era could be seen more as following a trend of realism, as we saw a rise in criminal, gangster, and scandal movies (Hollywood).
“Night of the Living Dead” was the first of its kind. The movie was extremely advanced for the time it was released, which was 1968. It paved new ways towards an advanced style of horror films and opened doors up to more racial representation in the film industry. The film, for example, inspired future movie directors to chase after the zombie cult classic feeling. Zombies were such a hit in Hollywood, and they didn’t cost much to create. A little latex and fake blood could go a long way in old movies.
Many horror films provide their audiences with scares and screams. Not many viewers follow what kind of model the films follow to appease their viewers. However, after reading film theorist Carol Clover’s essay, watching one of the films she associates in the novel “Halloween”, and also watching the movie “Nightmare on Elm Street” I say almost every “slasher” or horror film follows a model similar to Clover’s. The model that is a female is featured as a primary character and that the female tends to always overcome a situation at some point throughout the film to become victorious.
Universal studios is a film studios and theme park that makes movies that might be your favorite. Universal Studios is a film studio and theme park. Universal Studios has 30 stages. Some movies made by was Dracula and Frankenstein. It was created because Carl Laemmle want to level up the film industry.
Horror can be defined as a genre meant to psychologically trigger individual fear with the presence of certain supernatural or abstract characteristics. The genre is dependent on people’s fascination with unrealism and the sensation that comes from experiencing fear personified into tangible elements on a screen. Horror films have thrilled audiences for decades, revealing stories of the more sinister parts of life. The popular allure that stems from the genre comes from the tension moviegoers experience when aroused by specific stimuli uniquely present in these cinematic features (Walters). Over time, as the genre progressed, the standardized elements found in a typical horror movie began to shift in different directions primarily due to changing societal circumstances and increasing consumer demand for cinematic innovation. The expansive nature of the different codes and conventions within the horror genre, coupled with the evolution of society’s fascination with these characteristics, has led to the mutation of the genre itself in order to allow for unique approaches to a familiar style in response to both economic developments and taste shifts within the consumer industry.
Influence of the Great Depression on Hollywood The cycle of poverty is not one many wish to live. From struggling throughout an entire day to make ends meat to waking up having to face the same struggles, it is common for one to wish for a better life. During the Great Depression nothing was enough to permanently improve the hard situation, but the population of American found a way around the hard times. Hollywood films were being produced almost every week and many used this to their advantage; it provided a sense of serenity, a feeling that was not offered in their lives.
In the mid 1970’s the movie industry seemed to have a huge recovery with the
Silent horror films continued throughout the early 20th century. Some of the most famous horror films of this era included; The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919), The Golem (1920), and Nosferatu (1920). These films feature a mad doctor, a vampire, and a monster that is never seen. (Wilson) These monsters were some of the very first to be introduced to horror but certainly not the last.
Have you ever experienced the ravenous desire to travel after watching a movie? I have. Many times. A really well made film draws me into the story, creating the sensation that I 'm not just observing but participating in the action. If the cast and crew have done their job, everything becomes real - the characters, plot and especially the setting. A thrilling location becomes a virtual character. An intriguing country, ancient city or far away island calls to me like a siren from a beckoning sea. I 'd like to share with you the top 5 movies that make me want to travel. Whenever I watch these films I itch to pack my bags, grab my passport and take that first step on a journey that promises to dazzle the eye and enlighten the soul. I hope these movies do the same for you. THE MUMMY (1932): Directed by Karl Freund. Story by Nina Wilcox Putnam and Richard Schayer. Written by John L. Balderston. Starring Boris Karloff as Imhotep/Ardath Bey; Zita Johann as Helen Grosvenor/Princess Ankhesenamon. As a child, this movie about a man returned to life after thousands of years got me hooked on the study of Ancient Egypt. Although filmed entirely in the USA, the set designs evoked in me the lure of the ruins of Cairo, Luxor and the arcane Valley of the Kings. Filmed only 10 years after the discovery of King Tut 's tomb, the movie expresses the world 's wonder and excitement at the unveiling of all those artifacts and gold. And malefic curses. Remade many times it is still this