 |
|
|
|
Photograph courtesy of Cookie Curci-Wright
Boo!: Actor Boris Karloff, who played 'The Mummy,' was famous for his portrayal of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Movie fans came to view the creature with compassion.
Remember When
It was the Monster Mash
Dracula, Wolfman and the rest of Saturday crowd scared the wits out of movie viewers
By Cookie Curci-Wright
As a kid, I'd root myself in a cushioned seat at the Saturday matinee to be scared out of my wits by my favorite horror films.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up in terror as I watched these spine-tingling films. I'd sit in the very last row of the theater with my back pressed hard against the wall, assuring myself that nothing was going to creep up on me from behind.
I'd enter the theater at noon with my lunch tucked under my arm and I didn't come out again until 4:00 p.m. The darkness of the palatial theater encouraged my fears, while at the same time, its church-like atmosphere evoked a sense of safety and sanctuary. Somehow, I knew I could face the worst of Hollywood's monsters and still leave the theater smiling.
Ever wonder how our favorite matinee monsters came to be? Well, some folklore, some fantasy and a young girl's vivid nightmare helped to create these merciless, but pathetic creatures.
On a dark and stormy night, in a gloomy Swiss chalet, newlywed 18-year-old Mary Shelley and her husband, the famous English poet, sat by a flickering fire discussing Darwin's theory of evolution. (Discussing evolution on their honeymoon, now that's scary.) Later that night, Mary awakened from a nightmare. So vivid was the dream that she wrote it down by the fading firelight:
"I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs. (Was Mary describing a nightmare or her honeymoon night?) Thus, young Mary Shelley gave birth to the granddaddy of all creatures, the Frankenstein monster. The year was 1816.
Two years later, Mary published the account of her dream in a novel called Frankenstein. Hollywood made it into a movie in 1931. Actor Boris Karloff portrayed the sympathetic monster and movie fans came to view the creature with compassion. The film spawned a series of sequels, including the 1935 romance classic, Bride of Frankenstein, followed by the inevitable, Son of Frankenstein and the unavoidable, I was a teen-age Frankenstein, not to be confused with Michael Landon's 1957 classic, I Was a Teen-age Werewolf. (Different species of monster)
During the 16th century, travelers who visited remote parts of the Balkans, Transylvania in particular, were returning home with strange and horrifying tales of creatures that were neither living nor dead--creatures that left their haunts at night and feasted on human prey. These long-in-the-tooth monsters became known as vampires. Their myth spread throughout eastern Europe gaining popularity down through the centuries.
According to legend, it's easy to spot one of these creatures when they're in human form; they have pointed ears, canine teeth, pale complexions, gaunt appearance and gleaming red eyes with a hypnotic stare. (However, this description could also apply to a number of today's rock stars: Keith Richards?) It is also said that a vampire's breath is very foul. (A diet of blood and garlic will do that to you.)
The Russian vampire, according to folklore, is said to have bright purple hair; (That should make him easy to spot, unless of course he's a teenager. In that case, he'd blend right in with his peers.) Vampires in Bulgaria are said to have only one nostril (saves money on nasal spray). The Bavarian variety of vampire is said to sleep with its left eye open (uh oh, sounds like great uncle Ned).
How do you dispose of these nocturnal visitors? Well, besides the messy stake through the heart method, a lethal dose of sunshine will do the trick. Also, wearing a necklace of garlic cloves or a crucifix is a good deterrent. (Note: The garlic works two-fold as a whammy on werewolves and zombies. If nothing else, it will clear your sinuses and get you a good seat on public transit.)
In 1897, writer Bram Stoker, inspired by these vampire myths, wrote the novel Dracula. It became the undisputed vampire classic. Hollywood made a movie of the thriller, starring our favorite blood sucker, Hungarian born actor Bela Lagosi. The evil spirited character fit Lagosi like a glove, or in this case, a shroud, which he wore for decades as Count Dracula, aka Count Alucard. (That's Dracula spelled backwards for those of you who don't follow vintage horror films.)
What the folklore of the vampire is to Transylvania, the werewolf is to northern and western Europe. The legend of the werewolf, a man who turns into a wolf (Lycanthropy) originated with the Norse gods who were said to change into wolves as quickly as a teen-age boy on a Saturday night date. The 16th century witch hunts encouraged the belief that people could change their forms at will.
But never fear, according to legend, there are ways to identify a werewolf when he's in human form. Folklore tells us to look for a man with hairy palms (Warning: This condition is also caused by using too much Rogaine); eyebrows that meet; (Rogaine again?); claw-like fingernails (could also be the results of a bad manicure) and very pointed ears. (He's either a werewolf, or a Trekkie on his way to a convention.)
Folklore warns: If you're bitten by a rabid wolf or you eat the wolfsbane plant you'll turn into a wolf when the moon is full. (To avoid this unholy transformation, don't pet an unfamiliar wolf, especially a rabid one and avoid ingesting strange greens, particularly wolfsbane.)
Hollywood's version of the wolfman was created in 1941. The film classic starred Lon Chaney Jr. as the hapless Larry Talbot who becomes a wolf when the moon is full. Actress Maria Ouspenskaya, a mainstay in creature film genre, portrays the wise and venerable Gypsy matriarch (what else?) who helps the creature fight the curse.( Her role never varies in these films.)
But, alas, as film buffs well know, there is no cure for the curse (save a silver bullet) and the poor wolfman is destined to roam the earth each night when the moon is full.
And so, the next time you're out walking on a bright, moonlit night, don't forget the wolf man's fate, and remember this ancient rhyme as you keep a watchful eye over your shoulder:
Even a Man who is pure of heart,
and says his prayers by night,
may become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms,
and the moon is full and bright.
|
|
|
|
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
