The Werewolf: Henry MacRae

By OCAL at clker.com

The Werewolf  is said to be the first werewolf movie. Unfortunately, this silent gem venturing into the original attempt at a werewolf movie is lost to the succeeding generations. It was consumed in a fire in 1924.

Macrae, a Canadian, was a screenwriter, director, and producer that went on to work for Universal Studios. He directed more than 130 movies. He produced serials like Flash Gordan Conquers the Universe and The Green Hornet. He also directed many westerns.

The 1929 film Tarzan the Tiger debued his "talkie" movie phase.

MacRae had the kind of imagination that sparks the interest of people that like speculative ideas, stories, and movies. This is proven by his list of science fiction, horror, and mystery serials and movies. Pioneers like him got the ball rolling and moving forward for us. 


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The Fly 1958 and 1986

The original movie, The Fly, was adapted from a short story written by George Langelaan. It appeared in Playboy in June of  1957. The original movie came out in 1958, the remake in 1986. Howard Shore composed an opera inspired by the plot of the remake.

By OCAL at clker.com

 There were two sequels: Return of the Fly in 1959 and Curse of the Fly in 1965. This is quite a feat for a short story if we think of it as having a persona. Quite a bit of attention given to the story and creative energy expended beyond and including Langelaan's spark and flame.

This is the plot: A dreadful accident ensues when a scientist played by Vincent Price tries out his new invention: a teleportation  apparatus. Jeff Goldblum plays the scientist in the 1986 version.

The Rotten Tomatoes tomatometer scores the 1986 version at 91%.


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Movie: The Vampire Bat 1933

Vampire Bats Sucking Blood in Klineschloss or Vampires?

The setting is Klineschloss a small village where superstition rules. The village head honchos think vampires are attacking because villagers are found with puncture wounds and blood missing. Karl Brettschneider, the inspector, distrusts the villagers explanation, and Dr. Otto von Niemann is a scientist/doctor that aids the victims. 

Using some literature Niemann informs the inspector of  vampire cases. The inspector starts to think the answer could be preternatural after all. It requires some goading from Niemann for Brettschneider to come around to this consideration.

Herman Gleib Pursued by Villagers

After Martha Mueller, an apple vendor, is slain and drained. Herman Gleib is surmised as the killer. He is simple minded and likes bats. While some villagers pursue him,  the real killer does in  Georgiana; she is  Dr. Von Niemann's housemaid. Ah, the villagers are wrong.

Tissue Needs Blood

Niemann who got the inspector to look for vampires is the actual rapscallion. He invented tissue that requires blood and has used his assistant to get it. Emil, under hypnosis goes out and retrieves villagers, and Niemann takes their blood to feed the tissue.

So, the inspector has been vindicated. His concept that no preternatural activity was involved was correct.