Favorite Movies III: Classic Terror Tales

 

I love these classic films.  I am reminded of late nights curled up on the couch  with my older sisters.  I wasn't supposed to be watching for I would get nightmares.  It sounds stupid now that I would get creeped out by these films but I was  just a kid after all.

Boris Karloff preferred the term "Terror Tales" to Horror Films.  One of my most favorite B.K. films is the The Body Snatcher 1945.  No, it has nothing to with aliens taking over humans bodies.   Set in Edinburgh in 1831, Dr. MacFarlane (Henry Daniell) runs a medical school where a young student, Fettes, is interested in helping a young girl who has lost the use of her legs. He is certain that MacFarlane's surgical skills could be put to great use but MacFarlane needs to do more studies.  The good Dr. MacFarlane  has been paying a local cab driver (Karloff), to supply him with dead bodies for anatomical research.  Has his position of grave robber become even more sinister?  Also on the Boris Karloff list: The Mummy 1932, it stills gives me the creeps when he comes back to life.  The Old Dark House 1932, Frankenstein 1931 and Bedlam 1941.

Bela Lugosi is known mostly for his portrayal of Count Dracula in 1931's Dracula.  I have to see this movie every Halloween. He plays side kick to the doctor in  The Body Snatcher,  and evil doctor in The Devil Bat 1940.  "A mad scientist develops an aftershave lotion that causes his gigantic bats to kill anyone who wears it".

One day on TCM, the whole day was dedicated to Vincent Price.  What a great day that was!  Just looking at this guy gives a chill up and down the spine.  House of Wax, 1953, is the story of a horribly disfigured sculptor who opens up the House of Wax in New York, using the wax-covered bodies of his victims as his displays. A young Charles Bronson gives an appearance.  Other faves included are: The House on Haunted Hill1959, The Fly1958, The Bat 1959. 

Lon Cheney Jr. is wonderful as The Wolfman 1941.  A  man returns to his home, is attacked by a creature of folklore, and infected with a horrific disease.   Even though he tries to fight it he cannot.

Other greats not to miss include: 

I Walked with a Zombie 1943,

A young nurse comes to Haiti to care for Jessica, the wife of a plantation manager (Paul Holland). Jessica seems to be suffering from a kind of mental paralysis as a result of fever. When the nurse falls in love with Paul, she is determined to cure Jessica even if she needs to use a voodoo ceremony. 

The Haunting 1963, An insecure young woman finds she cannot leave this mysterious mansion.
The Devil Doll 1936, with Lionel Barrymore in drag.

Nosferatu 1929, silent but scary.

This whole month on TCM you can see most of these wonderful movies! www.tcm.com

Favorite Causes: Fight for the Cure

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. For that month, I am donating 30% of all sales from Glazed Earth and Finn Gallery, to Susan G. Komen For the Cure of Kansas City.
 
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
http://www.komenkansascity.org/

Finn Gallery
http://www.etsy.com/shop/FinnGallery

 

 Glazed Earth
http://www.etsy.com/shop/glazedearth

Thanks for your support!

Favorite New Etsy Shops! part II

While talking on the Etsy forums, I ran across a shop that is new to Etsy!  Let's give a warm greeting to Jacqueline Jewelry!

Jacqueline designs "one-of-a-kind handmade beaded jewelry pieces along with home decor items for the casual craft lover as well as serious collectors." Much of her jewelry is wire wrapped and handcrafted from Sterling Silver and/or copper. She uses semi-precious stones and a variety of other high quality materials.

 Jacqueline creates items that are bohemian to elegant.  Her aim is to "provide products that are well-made, lasting and unique."

"The concepts of the preciousness and sacredness of the everyday run through my work. I create pieces that are accessible to a wide audience, and trust that the forms and materials I use appeal to people on many different levels. Treating each piece as an individual piece of wearable art, I create timeless jewelry meant for both the casual craft lover and the serious art collector."
- Jacqueline


One of my faves from her shop...perfect for the wine drinker and for the upcoming holiday parties!

"Add a little style to your glassware and never again have to answer the question: "Is that glass mine?" "
http://www.etsy.com/shop/JacquelineJewelry

Favorite Movies II: Comedy Horror Films

Who doesn't like to laugh?  Even horror fans can make fun of themselves and enjoy a parody of a great terror tale.  Shaun of the Dead (2004) is one of those parodies.  Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield and Bill Nighy star in this hilarious story of love, friendship, family and zombies.

Keeping in the realm of zombies is Zombieland (2009).  A wimpy college student (Jesse Eisenberg) has managed to stay alive through this zombie apocalypse by sticking to his 33 rules, which only a few are mentioned.  He decides to go to Ohio in search of his family and teams up with a gun toting zombie killer (Woody Harrelson) who has a Twinkie obsession.  With the help of two young cons (Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin), they kick even more zombie butt.  Lots of great surprises!

An oldie but goody is The Ghost Breakers (1940).  A woman (Paulette Goddard) inherits her family's mansion, located on a small island off Cuba. She is joined by radio broadcaster Larry (Bob Hope) who, believing he has killed a mobster, flees New York.  Once on the island the team encounters the ghost of one of Mary's ancestors not to mention the zombie.  They find a key to the castle's treasure just in time for another bad guy to reappear.  Campy and silly but so fun to watch!

                                   

                          

My list would not be complete without mentioning Young Frankenstein (1974).  The grandson of  the infamous Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) is a surgeon who has spent his life living down the legend of his grandfather.  He has gone as far to change pronunciation of his name. When the diary of his grandfather is brought to him, he travels to the family castle. He meets up with a cast of wonderful characters played by Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn and Peter Boyle as the Monster.  Full of unforgettable quotes and scenes that is totally Mel Brooks.  You cannot miss this one!

 
For unintentionally funny horror flicks, check out the Joe Coffin series.

Would love to hear what your faves are!

Favorite Movies: SUSPENSE

With Fall coming on, I began to think of Halloween.  It's right around the corner you know.  Rather than jump right into the slasher flicks that we always think of at Halloween, I thought I would start out with a few of my favorite suspense movies.  No gore, no blood, just nail biting intense fun! 

I tend to have a thing for classic movies so I will begin with a few of my faves.  Rebecca (1940) is one of Alfred Hitchcock's many masterpieces.  A naive young woman (played by Joan Fontaine) marries a wealthy widower (Laurence Olivier) and moves into his massive mansion.  Unfortunately the memory of first wife, Rebecca, remains in the atmosphere.  This movie includes a very creepy housekeeper that you love to hate!

Gaslight (1944) stars Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer and Joseph Cotten.  Again a young woman (Bergman) marries an older man (Charles Boyer). The new couple moves into the house that  once belonged to her mother, who committed suicide after years of insanity.  Strange goings on begin to happen in the house that make the young bride believe she herself might be cursed.  Is it all in her head or is someone driving her to madness?

A movie I just last Halloween season was the The Road Builder (1971)(aka The Night Digger).  Starring Patricia Neal as a lonely woman living with her abusive mother, when handsome young stranger arrives.  

The movie, Spiral (2007), is another recent find for me.  The cast includes Joel Moore, Amber Tamblyn and Zachary Levi (from CHUCK).  A creepy tale about a reclusive man who befriends an outgoing coworker.  He begins to paint portraits of her until his past catches up (as always).   
 

I have so many more but alas I will leave you with one of my all time favorite suspense thriller nail biting movies, Shallow Grave.  Ewan McGregor, Kerry Fox and Chris Eccleston lead this cast of unlikable people.  After a  new flat mate dies unexpectedly the the existing roomies find a load of cash he has left behind.  Oh what to do?  

Please include your favorite Suspense thrillers!  (Still to come Comedic Horror Flicks, Classic Terror Tales and Modern Day Scary Movies!

Favorite Books

I have so many favorite books but I have chosen two to elaborate on.

I received The Forest Lover as a birthday gift one year and I must say I am glad to have gotten it.  The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland  is a study about Canadian artist Emily Carr.  Although fictionalized, it is based on real events surrounding the artist.  The  story is about Carr's desire to be recognized in her field.  She is concerned for the tribal peoples of a Victorian Canada, whose culture is dying out.  She camps out in the wilderness of Northern Vancouver in order to paint these people and the totems that are being removed by a white society.  I found this story entertaining, heart wrenching and fun.  Her persistence to succeed prevailed in the end!  Photos of Carr's real paintings are placed throughout the book.  This book was so fabulous I have read it twice!

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is about an evangelical Baptist missionary who in 1959 moves  his family from Bethlehem, Georgia to a village in the Belgian Congo.   The story is narrated by five women of the family: Orleanna, wife to missionary Nathan and daughters Rachel, Leah, Adah and Ruth May.  The women tell of how they are each growing and changing in this foreign land along with each one's point of view of their relationships between them selves and the people of Kilanga.  
I love the daughters thoughts of this new world around them. They now barter for food, sometimes go hungry and curse their dad's name for bringing them to such a place of political unrest.  Wonderfully written and easy to read...I found it hard to put down.

Other books include: The Birth of Venus, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and five Quarters of the Orange.

I am always looking for great reads, please leave a comment on what book you are reading!

Favorite New Etsy Shops!

I would like for you to welcome two new shops to Etsy! Opened June 23, 2010, PrettyLiLGirls Boutique is proudly owned by a single mom of three. The bold creations are inspired by her beautiful little girls! Flowers in fabulous colors make up these whimsical headbands/hats. Check out this wonderful shop for more items. Custom orders are welcome! So affordable.  
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrettyLiLGirls






Laura Gourmel has a shop that opened in May! This shop is simply named LauraGourmel . Laura is a French creator from Montreal. She creates characters from her own "strange" universe and incorporates them into her dolls, embroidery and jewelry. Please welcome Laura to the Etsy family! www.LauraGourmel.etsy.com