Season of Silents: A Christmas Carol (1910)

I'm revisiting a well traveled story today and watching a short version of A Christmas Carol from A Christmas Past DVD. The Internet Movie Database lists 25 different versions of this tale on film, and this is the second version listed, the first one being from 1908. This was filmed at Thomas Edison studios and since it is short, the action is condensed down to important scenes, with a basic knowledge of the story to carry it along. This short is presented with a score by Al Kryszak, relying heavily on violins that, to these ears, have an unpleasant, discordant sound. Perhaps it was an attempt to match the unpleasant character of Scrooge. Scrooge is played by Marc McDermott, who was a prolific actor from 1909 to 1928, and appeared in He Who Gets Slapped and Flesh and the Devil.

Season of Silents: A Trap for Santa (1909)

A Trap for Santa is a short film by D.W. Griffith, who's well known for developing many film techniques that are used today. I have not seen any of his feature length films, which may be unusual for a silent film enthusiast, but I have taken a different path to silent film. This is one of several short films of his I've seen, most of which have been thought-provoking films that involve social issues. This short film can be found on A Christmas Past, a collection of Christmas silent movies, which gives an interesting look at Christmases in the early 1900s. Al Kryszak is responsible for the original score, using violins, viola, cello, piano, harp, and a handbell choir. At times it is pleasant and other times discordant. I don't find that it always fits the action onscreen, but it's got a holiday vibe.

Before we even see the family we are informed that there is no work for the father (Henry B. Walthall), and that misery and want are the family's lot. The mother certainly looks miserable while their little waif of a daughter appears to be gnawing on a chunk of bread.

Season of Silents: The Unknown (1927)

I am kicking things off with a Lon Chaney movie I've been wanting to see for awhile, The Unknown. It can be found on The Lon Chaney Collection from TCM Archives.

If you are still on the fence about whether silent films will interest you, then a Lon Chaney flick is a good place to start. Phantom of the Opera is a film that appeals to many people and is one that you may want to see first. That was all I knew of Lon Chaney for a long while until I saw He Who Gets Slapped, The Unholy Three and The Penalty, and truly developed an appreciation for his fine work. I confess that I have not yet seen the 1923 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which is another highly praised film of his, and on my list of films to acquire.

This movie is one of ten that Chaney did with Tod Browning, the director known for Dracula and Freaks. Tod Browning worked at one time in the circus, which is the setting for quite a few of his movies, including this one. Chaney's first movie with Browning as director was The Wicked Darling, which I hope to watch soon.

This movie also has Joan Crawford in an early role before her flapper films, and she reportedly said that she learned more about acting from seeing Lon Chaney at work than from anyone else. They work very well together.

The musical score was composed and performed by the Alloy Orchestra. It's serviceable and plays well to the action on screen. Quite a few people enjoy their scores, but I am not a big fan. I find them completely competent, it's just that I prefer a more traditional sounding score that's more in keeping with what may have been presented at the time the movie was released.

The picture quality is pretty fair, though there are some scenes that look as though we're seeing them through a burlap sack, and quite a few lines and debris are running through much of the film. I didn't find that it hampered my enjoyment of the film or obscured the action on screen too much. Most of the time I didn't notice these imperfections as I was too busy looking at Chaney's face.

"Men! The beasts! God would show wisdom if he took the hands from all of them!"

What's to Like About Silent Films

As I delve into a Season of Silents, I thought I might take a moment to state that I am not expert on silent films, I have only my experience to share. Here are some things I have learned from watching silent movies.

Silent films have varying picture quality.

There was a time when my only exposure to silent film did not go far beyond Nosferatu and Phantom of the Opera. At that time, the silents I saw were in pretty bad shape, the actors looked ghastly, their makeup stood out in a ghoulish way, the movies were played at the wrong speed or were heavily edited, making the films pretty hard to watch. Restoration efforts in the present day have significantly altered the offerings of quite a few silent films today, allowing us to see them as they were originally intended to be seen, often with tints and proper musical score or synchronized sound. It's often difficult to fathom that such pristine prints depict action from 100 years ago or more.

Silent films have well known actors and directors from the sound era.

My experience watching many pre-code movies led me to begin exploring the silent era. In watching many films of favorite actors and directors, I found myself drawn to silent films where they also played a part. Greta Garbo, Norma Shearer, Neil Hamilton, Joan Crawford, John & Lionel Barrymore, and Marie Dressler were some of the actors that drew me in.

Not all silent movies are slapstick comedies.

When many people think of silent movies, they picture Charlie Chaplin and the Keystone Cops going on wild chases, but many genres are represented in silent film besides comedies, including westerns, drama, romance, mystery, documentary and horror. Silent films are also pre-code films, and include subjects of prostitution, adultery, drug abuse, and crime. Silent films can be thought provoking and timeless, with topics that remain relevant in the present day.

A good musical score is essential.

The score of a silent film is crucial to the enjoyment of the film. I believe it's a matter of personal preference what composers and orchestras you will enjoy, as I've read reviews from some folks who adore an orchestral score that absolutely grated on me. I am a purist and always prefer to hear a reproduction of the original score when available, but usually this is not the case, and there are certain composers I appreciate more than others.

Not all home video offerings are created equal.

I have found Flicker Alley and Criterion to offer the best releases of films with good picture quality and orchestral scores. Kino Lorber is also consistent in releasing a good quality product, though often the best available prints are not without defects. Warner Archive tends to provide fair quality prints. Grapevine is not always the finest quality but still a step above Alpha Video. I purchase from Alpha Video only if I really want to see a film and there are no other options available.

What's in store for the Season of Silents?

While I have more than enough silent films to watch every day during the Winter, I won't try to fool myself into thinking I can watch and write about one every day. My ambitious goal is to try and watch and write about three each week, but my minimum expectation is to post about at least one every weekend. I have many films I haven't seen in awhile that I'd like to revisit and many new films I have not yet seen.

Merrie Melodies Short: The CooCoo Nut Grove (1936)

Directed by Friz Freleng
Music by Carl Stalling
Original Release Date: November 28, 1936
Voices by Verna Deane, Bernice Hansen, Peter Lind Hayes, Tedd Pierce, The Rhythmettes, Wini Shaw, Danny Webb



Before the Merrie Melodies short, Hollywood Steps Out, there was the CooCoo Nut Grove, which featured caricatures of celebrities of the 1930s and was based on the famed Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel in Hollywood. It is a delight to classic movie fans, but likely a mystery to everyone else. I saw this short as an extra on The Petrified Forest DVD from TCM Greatest Gangster Films Collection, but it can also be found on the single disc release or on The Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 3. It opens with a view of the club, and a close up of the sign reveals that it is illuminated by fireflies.

Season of Horror Wrap Up

When I began this ambitious adventure back in September, I truly had high hopes to be able to get through most of my collection of horror movies, but it feels like I barely scratched the surface, leaving room for Season of Horror II next year. Although I wasn't able to keep up with watching a movie a night and insanely trying to blog in real time, it was fun to try.

Season of Horror: Phantasm (1979)

I have missed my Saturday night Creature Features fest the past two weeks. Last week I was taken out by what felt like a weaponized virus, and last night was busy celebrating holiday festivities with friends. As the Season of Horror draws to a close this week, I cannot wrap it up without revisiting this frightening film.

Phantasm is another horror movie that frightened me when I was younger, and I haven't seen it for quite a number of years, so I'm looking forward to seeing this one again. I recently received the newly released 4K restoration on Blu-Ray and I must say, it's gorgeous.

"The funeral is about to begin, sir!"

Season of Horror: Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

The days are getting shorter and it's another wonderful Saturday night made for horror. I initially intended to make this a TV time portal night and watch Burn, Witch, Burn, as Bob Wilkins was showing this on Creature Features this night back in 1966, but I really wanted to see this film I recently acquired, Let's Scare Jessica to Death. It's a film I had heard of, but never seen, and comes recommended by Brother John, who usually does not steer me wrong. Of course, he did also recommend The Monster of Piedras Blancas. Here's a word from Bob Wilkins before we begin.

A woman is in a boat on a lake, who informs us through narration that she can't believe what happened, but has to. We see a hearse traveling on the road while somber piano music plays as the title is shown. The hearse stops at a cemetery and a woman jumps out of the back saying she'll take a minute. Two guys wait by the side of the hearse and one remarks that the farm will be great for her.

"Nightmares or dreams. Madness or sanity. I don't know which is which."

Season of Horror: The Omen (1976)

I think I should get a job watching movies. Let me know if you're interested in hiring me. Oh well. It was worth a try. I've been applying my writing talents to grade reports lately, which takes an inordinate amount of time and has left me devoid of energy and vocabulary. It has also left little time for the luxury of movie viewing. I am limping back into action tonight and it seemed fitting to revisit The Omen. It's been about 30 years since I've seen this 40 year old movie, and it's always fun to watch something that I haven't seen since I was an impressionable young lass to compare how differently I perceive it now.

Season of Horror: The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)

I've shared this before, but I love it so much I'm sharing it again. 

You can find Bob Wilkins on Facebook.

Tonight I'm watching The Quatermass Xperiment--a movie I've known about for some time, that I'm finally getting around to watching.

Season of Horror: El barón del terror (1962)

The problem with having way too many movies, aside from not having the time to watch them all, is that it's sometimes difficult to decide what to watch. That's not the reason for my absence, and while the Season of Horror hit a bit of a lull, it is not over yet. I'm back this evening with something completely different.

On this day in 1966, Bob Wilkins was showing Invasion of the Saucer Men and Return of the Fly. I am watching neither tonight, but would like to think tonight's selection would fit in well on Creature Features. I hesitated before picking up El barón del terror aka The Brainiac. The plot sounds utterly ridiculous, but the reviews I read about it were so enthusiastic, I was convinced I should watch it. Producer and star, Abel Salazar, who played Enrique in El Vampiro, is tonight's brain sucking Barón, so it can't be all bad. I am watching the Spanish version with English subtitles tonight from CasaNegra Entertainment. An English dubbed version is also available on a separate audio track if you have a disdain for reading subtitles.

The opening titles are shown over bizarre images recycled from the opening of El espejo de la bruja, which also shares director Chano Urueta. The action begins with the handsome Barón Vitelius Destera being tried by the Inquisition in 1661 for using witchcraft, necromancy and for generally being naughty and seducing married women and maidens. He had been sentenced to torture, but as he laughed and joked his way through it, the inquisitors decided to stop the torture and are now deciding what they should do with him.

"I want to love you and adore you above all else. But I can't. My hatred is stronger than my love."

Season of Horror: Rosemary's Baby (1968)

It is said that horror films help us to purge our negative emotions, which leads me to revisit Rosemary's Baby tonight, because I recently found myself repeatedly saying some of the same words Rosemary says in the movie. It's also a really great film and always fun to watch.

Since it's Saturday night, when I like to remember my favorite horror host, Bob Wilkins, here's an interview he did with Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) that is completely unrelated to tonight's film, but who cares because it's awesome.

Who would have imagined that a simple La la la song could be so haunting. A few things I've noticed that I hadn't noticed from viewing in the past is that our camera man, William Fraker, from Outer Limits and Incubus (among many other great films) is Director of Photography on this movie. I was also surprised to note that it's produced by William Castle. I already was aware that Roman Polanski wrote and directed.

 "This is no dream. This is really happening!"

Season of Horror: The Evil Dead (1981)

I am pushing the boundaries of what I consider classic film, but I had to pick something appropriate for election night and The Evil Dead seemed to fit the bill. 

I acquired the Book of the Dead Limited Edition because Mom apparently purchased more than one for John so I ended up getting the extra one. I just opened it today and it feels like what I would imagine gross dead skin might feel like. It's been over 20 years since I've seen it, but I do remember being scared by this movie as a teen, thinking that just hearing the incantation as it played in the movie might raise the evil dead.

Two guys and three gals are going to camp in the forest, nearly crashing head on with a truck and falling through a rickety bridge on the way. As they approach the cabin, we no longer hear the sound of the car or occupants, but of a rope swing banging on the door, which suddenly stops when Scott retrieves the key above the door. Sound is used extremely well in this film to create tension and heighten fear, and the camera work is simply brilliant.

Season of Horror: Incubus (1966)

Incubus was directed by Leslie Stevens, the man who created The Outer Limits. Conrad Hall did some wonderful cinematography on that show and his work on this film is simply beautiful and awe inspiring. Dominic Frontiere also worked on TOL and provides the eerie music in this film. Unfortunately this film was lost for many years and the best available copy found was subtitled in French, and the English subtitles that are superimposed over them often obscure some of the lovely camera work. I recommend watching with the French subtitles if you can. I forgot to mention this movie was filmed in Esperanto, which really makes it a special film. It is available on DVD, with terrific special features which include an awesome interview conducted by David J. Schow with Anthony Taylor, Conrad Hall and William Fraker, as well as two commentary tracks, and some notes on The Curse of Incubus.

Season of Horror: Don't Look Now (1973)

I started watching Don't Look Now last night, and at the time was thinking that perhaps I should have listened to the title. I got sleepy and couldn't finish it, so I decided to watch the rest tonight to see if it would redeem itself. It did pick up in the second part I watched tonight, or it could be that I was more alert than I was last night. The movie is beautifully filmed, and certainly comes to a horrifying conclusion, but what leads up to it is somewhat confusing, and at times feels disjointed. It gives the sense of being in an unpleasant dream and is quite unsettling. This is a movie I'll want to revisit and watch in one sitting before going into detail about it. I'll share a few shots and will warn you before I show the horrifying conclusion, which you should avoid if you want to see this movie.

Season of Horror Meets Hollywood History

Back in April, I registered for this course on Hollywood: History, Industry, Art that was initially set to begin in July, during the dog days of summer when I had loads of time to take an online course. The course has finally begun today, in the midst of my folly to try and watch as many of my horror movies as possible, in the course of also watching daily Dark Shadows, while at the same time neglecting the not so new latest releases from two of my favorite authors, Robert McCammon and Stephen King. I'd like to try and post weekly about what I'm learning, but we'll see what I'm realistically able to do.

The course looks very interesting and you can still sign up, so if you're interested, check it out.

Season of Horror: Masquerade (1961)

Happy Halloween! I've been wanting to write about this misunderstood episode of Thriller for quite awhile, and give it the appreciation it deserves. Masquerade is a quintessential Halloween episode, which is why I've chosen to watch it tonight. It aired the day before Halloween in 1961, and when I first saw it, I couldn't help but think it was like being at a kid's Halloween party back in the 60s. The kind where you pass the peeled grapes and spaghetti noodles and someone jumps out and says BOO! This episode is all about Halloween fun. Here's something to get you in the spirit.

The viewer is expected to determine who is wearing the masks in this episode. It leads one to wonder that if kids wear monster masks on Halloween, then what kind of masks do the monsters wear? It is fun, lighthearted, and for it's time, portrayed vampires in a uniquely different light. You'll find no capes or fangs or fake Transylvanian accents here. As Karloff says in his intro, "Before this terrifying adventure is ended, you'll change some of your outdated ideas about vampires."

This episode is appreciated even more on second viewing after seeing the reveal at the end, as much of the dialogue is cleverly written and will take on new meaning. Elizabeth Montgomery and Tom Poston play well together, and the lighting and detail in the house is a pleasure to watch. It looks as though Norman Bates left behind objects of his taxidermy. There's much to enjoy about this episode.

"Just such a night as this, who knows what masquerade the living dead may choose."

Season of Horror: Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Halloween is in the air and Saturday night is the perfect night for watching a Creature Features favorite movie, Night of the Living Dead. If you're a fan, you'll be happy to hear it's getting a 4k restoration. This movie terrified me when I was younger, and I think it may still terrify me. I found a list of dates it was shown on Creature Features over at BLOG WILKINS, but I honestly can't remember which of those dates I might have first seen it. It's been quite a few years since I've last watched this movie and I have a feeling I will be highly attuned to all the bumps and creaks and noises in the night tonight. I am watching the Special Collector's Edition released in 1997 from Elite Entertainment and I'm going to live blog it. Before we begin, let's take a moment to remember and honor Bob Wilkins.

This release begins with the opening from the horrible unrestored version that was available up until this version was released, and what a difference to clearly see the details. Here's the difference between seeing it when I was a kid and seeing it as an adult.

Season of Horror: The Monster of Piedras Blancas (1959)

I'm so happy it's a rainy Friday night and I have the privilege of relaxing with a new monster movie. Don't judge. We should all do what makes us happy. The Monster of Piedras Blancas comes by recommendation of brother John. Rubber suited monsters aren't my favorite thing, but they are usually fun and lovable, and John never leads me astray on a recommendation, so I'm sure there's something I'll enjoy about this flick. It's been about three years since I last saw Creature From the Black Lagoon. The character on the title menu looks like the Creature's evil twin holding a decapitated head. It's going to be a bumpy night.

We open with a nice view of a lighthouse and move to a claw reaching into a bowl that is chained. The crotchety lighthouse keeper is walking his bike and stops to yell at some darned kids with fishing poles that he's told to stay away. While the credits roll, he rides his bike through the village.

Season of Horror: La Strega (1962)

It's Thriller time! We're getting close to Halloween and it's time to show some love and respect to the witches. Jeannette Nolan plays one brilliantly in La Strega. I have not seen this episode since watching it with the Thriller-a-Day boys back in October 2010. This episode was directed by that talented lady, Ida Lupino.

A pretty little Italian girl is washing her laundry in the river when she's accosted by three brutish males calling her Strega. The doltish ringleader with the one word vocabulary slaps her around and then picks her up and tosses her in the river, where she thrashes about in the water.

Karloff arrives on scene to make the introductions, and defines Strega as witch, "a dreadful word for a horrible creature." He goes on to describe how witchcraft in Italy was called the old religion over a hundred years ago, and that pious peasants used extreme measures to fight witches, but that witches can fight back and wreak a fearful vengeance on those who stand in the way.

"She's outcast, unwanted, feared, and the image of her that has come down to us through the ages is a frightening one indeed."

Season of Horror: The Walking Dead (1936)

I'm forging ahead tonight in an insane attempt to get through the bulk of my classic horror movies--because Winter is Coming. Hopefully I'll have some real time off by then--the kind I don't have to work through--and I'll complete all my unfinished business before moving on to the Season of Silents. That's just the piecemeal way I'm putting this scrapbook together.

To celebrate the beginning of Season 7 of The Walking Dead, I'm watching The Walking Dead, 1930s style. I won't be watching the contemporary version until tomorrow, but I thought it'd be fun to see this one tonight. There is no zombie apocalypse going on here, and the only dead guy walking is one of my favorite horror guys, Boris Karloff. This film can be found on the Karloff & Lugosi Horror Classics set. I recommend picking this set up while you can.

This movie was directed by Michael Curtiz, who you may not know that you know. Or at least I didn't, until I kept seeing his name reappear on a lot of my pre-code movies like God's Gift to Women, The Office Wife, Bright Lights, The Mad Genius (Boris Karloff appears briefly in this pre-Frank film), and one of my favorites, Female. I was further surprised to discover he directed Casablanca, Mildred Pierce, and White Christmas. I could list more but I should get on with it. I don't know how it is that I did not know this guy's name as well as I knew Ernst Lubitsch, Fritz Lang, F. W. Murnau, Billy Wilder, Cecil B. DeMille, or Alfred Hitchcock. But I do now and now so do you. Let's move on.

"Leave the dead to their maker. The Lord our God is a jealous god."

Season of Horror: The Last Man on Earth (1964)

If you've been following along, then you know that Saturday night is a time to honor and appreciate my most favorite horror movies.

Tonight I am watching The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price. I purchased The Vincent Price Collection II set expressly for this movie. I had previously only seen this copy from 2000, so I am looking forward to finally seeing it with greater clarity. It's dubbed, which gives it that same strange mismatched dialogue that we saw in Black Sunday. Apocalyptic stories are some of my favorites.

"Theoretical? Do I have to remind you that theory is the beginning of solution?"

Season of Horror: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

....aaaaaand we're back! How lovely it is to have some time off after an intense work week, and be able to spend quality time with some fearsome fictional characters. I had not really planned to be watching The Texas Chainsaw Massacre this evening. It just happened. It's another adventure in streaming TV.

This is my first time viewing this film. Brother John will surely be shocked to hear that, since he played it regularly in our youth, and although I did have some exposure to it, I always managed to avoid seeing it. I felt it might be too scary for me. Upon perusing the selections Amazon Prime Video was boasting in advance of Halloween, I decided to take the plunge on this film. I really only meant to see the first part of it and then got sucked in.

"I just can't take no pleasure in killin'. Well, there's just some things you got to do, don't mean you have to like it."

Season of Horror: Carnival of Souls (1962)

I like to hear the Creature Features opening theme before delving into something truly scary on a Saturday night. It brings back fond memories. It's a stormy night with rain and gusty winds and after seeing Carnival of Souls tonight, I will not want to look out the window for fear I might see the ghoul from tonight's movie. This is the first time I'm seeing this film on Blu-Ray. This version is not the extended director's cut, but the deleted scenes are available in the supplements.

"Have you no respect? Do you feel no reverence? I feel sorry for you and your lack of soul."

Season of Horror: El Espejo de la Bruja (1962)

I am watching El Espejo de la Bruja (The Witch's Mirror) this evening, which I purchased after revisiting El Vampiro and looking up more Mexican Horror from CasaNegra. Apparently, CasaNegra Entertainment has gone out of business, so it may be prudent to get some of the Mexican Horror titles they have to offer while the getting is good. These horror films are worthy of attention and I hope more will be available in the future.

"But only a superlative witch endowed with genuinely profound knowledge of the occult can make use of a magical object of infinite powers and properties invented by a great magician of ancient Persia. The mirror."

The movie begins with a description of the ancient practice of witchcraft and all the horrible things witches do and the tools they use to do it, while showing some rather interesting plates.

Season of Horror: Suspense (1913)

We're traveling back in time for a scary short film from over 100 years ago called Suspense. It can be found on the Saved from the Flames DVD.

We see an unhappy looking lady creepily staring through a keyhole at a mother and her babe, and through the note she hastily scribbles, we find out she is Mamie, and she's leaving without notice for the simple reason that the secluded environs are unacceptable to servants. Mamie is too gutless to tell the woman to her face, which is rather reprehensible, and her brief appearance apparently wasn't worth noting in the credits. The real mystery is why she's leaving the key under the mat while The Wife is at home. She must have known The Tramp was coming and would need it.

The Tramp sees her leave and makes his way to the house.

"A Tramp is prowling around the house. Now he is opening the kitchen door. Now he is..."

Season of Horror: Pigeons from Hell (1961)

It's time to revisit one of Thriller's most highly rated episodes, Pigeons from Hell. Just to put things in context, check out what folks were watching during the 1960-61 season.

Our show opens with a car driving off-road in a vehicle not made for off-road driving. The driver sideswipes a tree and then gets stuck in a sump. Two young guys step out of the car to check their predicament. While one guy notes the joys of the south, including the swamps, and blames the other for taking a shortcut, the other fella is not feeling in much of a joking mood about it. He comes up with a brilliant plan to locate a big pole in the middle of nowhere to jam under the front wheels to try and get some traction. Since it's his plan, his buddy suggests he go find the pole. Turns out they're not going to need it.

While searching the woods, a yowling sound grabs his attention. He walks toward the sound and sees a group of pigeons congregated on the grounds of a run down estate. The yowling sound happens again as he stands among them, causing the pigeons to fly up in his face. He freaks out and yells for Tim, who suggests they go check out the old house. He is still spooked but follows Tim into the creepy old place.

We cut to Karloff in a foggy wood, who describes the many frightening creatures of the swamp, and notes that our young friend is alarmed by seemingly harmless pigeons, but that he has cause for alarm because they are the pigeons from hell. He relates how spirits come back from the dead to guard their ancestral home from intruders, who in life fed on evil but in death return to feed upon the living, driven by the spell of a terrible curse. He also lets us know the two boys are brothers, but his intro gave no indication of the horrifying event that follows.

"You mean he can turn women into zombies?"

Season of Horror: Lemora, the Lady Dracula (1973)

Time to pay homage once again to Bob Wilkins with a frightening film known as Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural. When I first saw this movie in the 1970s on Creature Features, it was called Lemora, the Lady Dracula, and it disturbed me so greatly that I never forgot it. It wasn't until 2010 that I found it on DVD and was able to see it again. It's been a few years since I've last seen it, but I expect it will still creep me out. This movie is a brightly colored fairy tale nightmare.

"Is fun evil? The real sin is for a girl to deny herself life and joy."

Season of Horror: Supernatural (1933)

I've got my dear friend Cathy joining in on the Season of Horror tonight, which means I talked through most of the movie and missed some parts, but we had a good time watching Carole Lombard and Randolph Scott in Supernatural. It is a shocking and horrifying movie. Right after the Paramount logo, an ominous tone is immediately established with thunder and lightning accompanied by ghostly vocalizing.

We are then confronted with three quotes to ponder...

"Isn't she beautiful?"

"Yes, but repulsive, like a female spider that kills her mate when she's through with it."