Vintage Horror Film Classics: Universal Horror Vs Hammer Horror

I wrote this post last year so I apologize if you read it and are bored by it, I wanted to update it a bit and re-post it for this Halloween. 

 

For the vintage loving horror fan their are two essential series to know: Universal Horror, also referred to as the Universal Monsters, and Hammer Horror.  Universal monsters gave audiences a chill  from 1923 to 1960 and was the provenance of horror meistros Lon Chaney, Bella Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Lon Chaney Jr.  The universal horror films began with Lon Chaney Sr.  starring in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera in the 1920s 





Lon Chaney in the Phanton of The Opera

These were extremely lavish productions for the time with elaborate sets and costumes and audiences flocked to see them again and again.  Thankfully unlike many films from this era both survive to this day.
 
Universal Horror's hey day  was the early 1930s with the advent of the classic monster films Dracula and Frankenstein.  





image source



Bride of Frankenstein 1935


The iconic performances of Bella Lugosi and Boris Karloff made these films classics, but the gorgeous sets, clever cinematography, and beautiful 1930s costumes certainly didn't hurt.  I don't think there has ever been a more beautiful wedding dress on film then the one in 1931s Frankenstein



Frankenstein 1931



and of course Bride of Frankenstein, 1935 had a minimalist modern look that was decades ahead of its time.



Encouraged by the enormous success of Dracula and Frankenstein during the heart of the depression Universal began making scores of monster movies.
Films like The Mummy 1932, The Invisible Man 1933, and The Wolf Man 1941 remain eternal classics.




The Mummy 1932



The Invisible Man 1933



The Wolf Man 1941

  By the 1940s Universal may have been running out of horror film ideas, or at least monsters, and began churning out monster meetup films.

 

 

These films, charming though they may be, were clearly the swan song of the Studio, the reign of the Universal Monsters was over .  Thankfully Hammer Horror was there to pick up the monster film torch.


While Universal Horror films are  black and white with a Gothic sensibility and a certain restrained subtlety, Hammer Horror  films luxuriate in techni-color.  Innocent as they are as compared to todays scary movies, they are a blood bath.  Specifically a blood bath of brightest red blood you have ever seen. 



 

image source

 

From late 1950s through the 70s the studio churned out blood drenched period horror films.  An interesting mix of restrained British class and B movie shocks.

Dracula 1958

The Curse of Frankenstein 1957

Dracula Has Risen From The Grave 1968

Severak of the films, such as Horror of Dracula,  starred Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.   They make excellent screen partners and elevated the somewhat low brow fare.



Hound of The Baskervilles 1959

Most Hammer films are costume dramas set in the Victorian era or earlier, but you can see a definitely early 60s vibe in the clothing, and the flesh, on display.



 



Brides of Dracula, 1960

Hound of the Baskervilles. 1959

 

 

Curse of the Werewolf, 1961

 

Frankenstein Created Woman, 1967 

 If you are interested in either the Universal or Hammer Films there are box set collections available from Amazon.  The Universal Classic Monsters Blu Ray set and the Hammer Horror Series 8 Film Collection, both make excellent October viewing.  

Cinema Style Saturday-Universal Horror VS Hammer Horror

For the vintage horror fan their are two essentials: Universal Horror, also referred to as the Universal Monsters, and Hammer Horror.  Universal monsters gave audiences a spooky from 1923 to 1960 and was the provenance of horror meistros Lon Chaney, Bella Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and Lon Chaney Jr.  The universal horror films began with Lon Chaney Sr. The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera in the 1920s and the popularity peaked in the early 1930s with the advent of Dracula and Frankenstein.   From their Universal began capitalizing on the horror drama with scores of monster movies with  varying results.  Universal horror films are generally black and white with a Gothic sensibility and often feature a  sympathetic monster, such as Frankenstein or the Wolf Man.  The popularity of the films has stayed strong over the decades wtih collectors shelling out sizable sums for memorabilia:

Lon Chaney in the Phanton of The Opera

Dracula 1931

Frankenstein 1931

Bride of Frankenstein 1935

The Mummy 1932

The Invisible Man 1933

The Wolf Man 1941

In the late 1950s through the 70s Hammer Horror took over where Universal had left off.  Again they specialized in lush stories with a British tinge.  The big difference was Hammer Horror appeared in thrilling techni-color with redder then red blood, plenty of gore, and lots of scantily clad females.

Dracula 1958

The Curse of Frankenstein 1957

Dracula Has Risen From The Grave 1968

Hound of The Baskervilles 1959

Brides of Dracula, 1960

 Perhaps because my preferred vintage decade is the 1930s I have a strong preference for the Universal Monsters, though the Hammer films are plenty of fun too.  I strongly recomend a viewing marathon of either this Halloween.  Preferably with a dog or cat cuddled up on your lap.