The 1963 one is pretty good as well with Lorre getting most of the laughs, Hazel Court is luscious here and cool seeing a young Jack Nicholson!

HITLER'S MADMAN (1943). MGM movie that I thought was a PRC film (finding out later PRC made it and sold it to Metro::confused::) nonetheless has a bravura performance by John Carradine as Reinhard Heydrich, one of the most odious of Hitler's henchman and the film deals with his assassination and the destruction of the Czechoslovakian village of Lidice as retribution by the Nazis. There is some propaganda-ish elements here, but not really to the detriment of the film.One of JC's better films and one more people should know about. His final speech is electrifying. Also some truly audacious moments in here, surprised they got past the Hays Code.
Good supporting cast with Patricia Morison (CALLING DR DEATH, DRESSED TO KILL and venerated stage actress), Ralph Morgan (THE MONSTER MAKER, WEIRD WOMAN), Vicki Lane (JUNGLE WOMAN) and a very early appearance by Ava Gardner. ****

Got to see this. Never even heard of it. Released right in the heat of the war.

Hi Sculpt,
I found out about it through Greg Mank's THE HOLLYWOOD HISSABLES and peaked my interest . It might be on YOUTUBE; I got my copy through DCS VIDEO SCREAMS which has a ton of obscure stuff.


MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE (1932). Supposedly a consolation project for Director Robert Florey and Bela Lugosi (Both being replaced for FRANKENSTEIN), this has such promise ; Mad Scientist Bela has a crackpot theory of evolution , involving apes and women, but an incredibly disjointed script and horrendous acting (particularly prissy Bert Roach and squeaky star Sydney Fox), sloppy camera work (especially towards the end) and several overly long scenes just take the wind out of its sails.
Still, Bela is awesome as always, some great sets (Dr Mirakle's lab, the Parisian Rooftops) and a scene between Bela and Arlene Francis (later on TV's WHAT'S MY LINE?) that truly packs a wallop-how this must have shocked 1930's audiences-, although one wonders how the good DR could be so clueless. *1/2

PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (1945). Top notch production details cannot save how incredibly dull the film is. Hurd Hatfield has absolutely no presence as the titular character and the majority of the film involves people conversing on what an horrible person DG is. Have read in some books how this could be similar to DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE, but at least in the latter, things happen. George Sanders plays another overbearing Cad-quite obnoxious too-and for Me, a young Angela Lansbury is the only reason to check this out; she is very good. **

Might be a little harsh. I liked it. Not as good, and the basically the plot stolen from, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but I thought it was solid and entertaining.

THE INVISIBLE RAY (1936). Probably the most reserved of the Karloff/Lugosi teamups for Universal, but I've grown truly to like this a lot. Boris is very good as the Genius scientest whose discovery will give him the respect He wants and feels he deserves, but what a Price to pay! Bela is definitely a support player in here, but he delivers it, although it's probably his most low key performance. Some good John Fulton FX also help out. ***1/2

A Christmas Carol, 1951

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A Christmas Carol, 1938

https://66.media.tumblr.com/3e0bdaf5...16eo2_400.gifv

What's the best of the two? And which Christmas Carol do you think is the best of all the ones you've seen?

I love them both. My favorite Christmas story..ever. ::love::

Not that you asked me, but, I'll tell you anyway ::big grin::

My favorite is the 1951 version.