Classic
Cinema Nite
October
28, 2014 at 6pm
The Globe is
proud to present, for the first time in over two decades since being used as a
movie house in Berlin, classic films using vintage restored 16mm projectors and
equipment. The presentations are hosted
by two local 16mm film collectors, Tim Price and Jack Cleveland.
Tonight’s
Feature Film
The 1948 comedy classic, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Introducing
The Cast
Abbott and Costello
as Chick Young and Wilbur Grey
William “Bud”
Abbott and Lou Costello were among the most popular and highest-paid
entertainers in the world during World War II. Their patter routine “Who’s on First?” is considered one of the greatest comedy routines
of all time. Bud and Lou made 36 films
together between 1940 and 1956. During
filming, the “Monsters” found Costello so funny they would often break up
laughing, necessitating many retakes. There were several pie fights between
takes as well, but Abbott and Costello respected the three monsters and made
sure no pies were flung at the heavily made-up actors.
Glenn Strange as The
Frankenstein Monster
Glenn Strange was the great, great, great, great, great,
great, great, (whew!) great grandson of John Rolf and Pocahontas. On the set while made up as Frankenstein, he
tried to say hello to Lou Costello’s young daughter, Chris. She was so upset she had to be removed from
the film lot. Universal Studios would
use Glen Strange’s image as Frankenstein so often in promotions that when Boris
Karloff died it was a photo of Glen Strange as Frankenstein that was run alongside
Karloff’s obituary.
Bela Lugosi as
Dracula
This picture is the second and last time Bela Lugosi would
play the character called Dracula, the first time in 1931 for Universal. This is also the last time Lugosi would work
for a major motion picture studio. (No,
Ed Wood doesn’t count!)
Lon Chaney, Jr. as
The Wolfman
His first brush with a serious film career was in 1939 with
his portrayal of Lenny in Of Mice and Men.
Chaney would always be best known as the Wolfman beginning in 1941. He was the only actor to play all of the big
four of horror monsters, Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Wolfman and Dracula. During the chase scene at the end of Abbott
and Costello meet Frankenstein, Glenn Strange had injured his ankle tripping
over a camera cord. Lon Chaney, Jr.
happened to be on set that day and took Glenn Strange’s place as
Frankenstein. It is Lon Chaney, Jr. that
you see throwing Dr. Mornay’s stunt double out the window.
Lenore Aubret as Dr.
Sandra Mornay
Lenore Aubret would have the distinction of being the only
female mad scientist in the history of the golden age of cinema. Her father was a general in the Austrian
army. When the Nazis invaded she was
forced to flee with her Jewish husband to Paris. During the filming of this movie, it was
rumored that Aubret, dressed from head to toe in mink, would walk Glenn
Strange, in full makeup, around the film lot on a leash for the visiting
tourists on the tram.
Fun
Facts
·
#56 of the American Film Institute’s 100 Years. 100
Laughs.
·
Considered by many to be Abbott and Costello’s
best film.
·
The first of three films to pair the comedy team
with Universal Studio’s famous cadre of monsters.
·
Originally written in 1943 as a live stage play.
·
The original Universal Frankenstein monster was
played by Boris Karloff. When Karloff
was asked, he refused to play the character or see the movie but said he would
agree to promote it. Universal took a
series of publicity stills showing Karloff standing in line to buy tickets to
the movie.
·
In
2001, the United States Library of Congress deemed this film "culturally,
historically, or aesthetically significant" and selected it for
preservation in the National Film Registry.
Tonight’s
Program
Projector 1
A Halloween themed
Cartoon from 1952
Bugs Bunny in “Water, Water Every Hare”
Projector 2
Reel 1 of our feature
Abbott
and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Projector 1
Intermission – Visit our Snack
Bar!!
Classic 10 minute
countdown Snack Bar Intermission Film
Projector 2
Reel 2 of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Trivia
Question:
What famous voice gives Bud and
Lou a scare at the end of the movie?
~~~
Our next Feature Film is “A Wonderful Life” on December 2, 2014 at 6pm.
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