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Fanfare, v. 1, issue 1, December 1939
Page 15
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Fanfare 15 carries the child into the village. Monster attacks Dr. Frankenstein's wife-to-be; loud guffaws arise from the increasing audience as the Monster stalks her, but we think they're whistling in the dark more than anything else. Probably scared to death themselves and trying to keep up courage. 3:20 P.M. Scene in the forest and mountains, and by the lake, is rather muddled; figures are for the most part too indistinct. Finally the Monster finds Dr. Frankenstein and drags him into the old windmill. Fight on the edge convincing; Frankenstein is thrown into space As hestrikes the blade of the windmill, a gasp goes up from the audience. The Monster is burned alive presumably; however, scene is rather overdone. Two boys go out of the theater rather hurriedly, but it's problematical whether they were scared or just remembered an errand they had to run. Last scene somewhat of a let-down. Not what you'd expect. 3:40 P.M. Coming attractions duly prevued; Ken Maynard will be revived, and Shirley Temple all next week. 3:45 P.M. We realize the theater is filling up rapidly. Perhaps 75% full now; when we arrived it was 75% vacant. Dracula begins. Immediately we are plunged into a different atmosphere. Somehow the pictures don't go together so much as you'd suspect. One too much stf., the other too weird to fit in the same twin bill. Green light impressive at first, but soon grows monotonous. It should be reserved for special effects. 3:50 P.M. Now we don't know whether Lugosi or Karloff is the better actor. Bela is positively menacing as he makes his entrance; his veiled words are rather shocking to the audience . . . Again guffaws arise [as everyone laughs almost hysterically (?)]. At the least possible excuse everyone laughs almost hysterically; if they'd be that amused at a comic picture in proportion it would be a case for a psychologist. Or something. But not a sound is heard as Dracula bends to the throat of one of his victims; as the scene is cut each time, the theatre is as a tomb. Lids of the coffins raising cause vague murmurs thoughout the audience. Scurrying of little animals arouse little gasps. 4:10 P.M. The picture winds its course along, and draws near the climax. Only time anything like fear is produced in the people watching the picture is when the bat is shown flapping along.......Looking around it is a marvelous study in countenances in the half-dark theatre........We were never able to grasp, for certain, the name of the fellow Dracula puts a spell over at the start of the picture, and we cannot remember it from the cast of characters........But this fellow's ravings about his unquenchable thirst for spiders, the only scene calculated to make a few giggles come from an ordinary audience, falls somewhat flat........Most striking scene in the the entire picture is when Dracula is shown the mirror in the cigarette box. A concerted "oh" arises from the audience as he strikes it to the floor. 4:20 P.M. Again the final scene falls short, it seems to us, of what we expected. Probably convincing enough to the average person, but we'd expect more of a final catastrophe........Dracula's final gasp-gurgle is marvelous in its effect as the stake is driven through him. And so home through the half-dusk. We DID take it-------but if anyone yelled "Boo." we'd have screamed! -the end-
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Fanfare 15 carries the child into the village. Monster attacks Dr. Frankenstein's wife-to-be; loud guffaws arise from the increasing audience as the Monster stalks her, but we think they're whistling in the dark more than anything else. Probably scared to death themselves and trying to keep up courage. 3:20 P.M. Scene in the forest and mountains, and by the lake, is rather muddled; figures are for the most part too indistinct. Finally the Monster finds Dr. Frankenstein and drags him into the old windmill. Fight on the edge convincing; Frankenstein is thrown into space As hestrikes the blade of the windmill, a gasp goes up from the audience. The Monster is burned alive presumably; however, scene is rather overdone. Two boys go out of the theater rather hurriedly, but it's problematical whether they were scared or just remembered an errand they had to run. Last scene somewhat of a let-down. Not what you'd expect. 3:40 P.M. Coming attractions duly prevued; Ken Maynard will be revived, and Shirley Temple all next week. 3:45 P.M. We realize the theater is filling up rapidly. Perhaps 75% full now; when we arrived it was 75% vacant. Dracula begins. Immediately we are plunged into a different atmosphere. Somehow the pictures don't go together so much as you'd suspect. One too much stf., the other too weird to fit in the same twin bill. Green light impressive at first, but soon grows monotonous. It should be reserved for special effects. 3:50 P.M. Now we don't know whether Lugosi or Karloff is the better actor. Bela is positively menacing as he makes his entrance; his veiled words are rather shocking to the audience . . . Again guffaws arise [as everyone laughs almost hysterically (?)]. At the least possible excuse everyone laughs almost hysterically; if they'd be that amused at a comic picture in proportion it would be a case for a psychologist. Or something. But not a sound is heard as Dracula bends to the throat of one of his victims; as the scene is cut each time, the theatre is as a tomb. Lids of the coffins raising cause vague murmurs thoughout the audience. Scurrying of little animals arouse little gasps. 4:10 P.M. The picture winds its course along, and draws near the climax. Only time anything like fear is produced in the people watching the picture is when the bat is shown flapping along.......Looking around it is a marvelous study in countenances in the half-dark theatre........We were never able to grasp, for certain, the name of the fellow Dracula puts a spell over at the start of the picture, and we cannot remember it from the cast of characters........But this fellow's ravings about his unquenchable thirst for spiders, the only scene calculated to make a few giggles come from an ordinary audience, falls somewhat flat........Most striking scene in the the entire picture is when Dracula is shown the mirror in the cigarette box. A concerted "oh" arises from the audience as he strikes it to the floor. 4:20 P.M. Again the final scene falls short, it seems to us, of what we expected. Probably convincing enough to the average person, but we'd expect more of a final catastrophe........Dracula's final gasp-gurgle is marvelous in its effect as the stake is driven through him. And so home through the half-dusk. We DID take it-------but if anyone yelled "Boo." we'd have screamed! -the end-
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