click image to enlarge
Product Description
In stock for immediate shipping.
Classic Monsters of the Movies issue #20 takes you on another exhilarating, nostalgic journey into the world of classic horror cinema. Whether you’re a seasoned monster kid with a lifelong passion for vintage monster movies, or a recent convert to this wondrous genre, you’ll find our combination of stunning imagery, absorbing journalism and world-beating production values are just what you’re looking for.
As you’ll have guessed from the gloriously atmospheric Daniel Horne painting that graces the front cover, our lead article this issue is an exploration of the Frankenstein Monster as portrayed by Bela Lugosi in 1943’s Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man. Lugosi’s characterisation has received more criticism than is fair, and we look at the studio politics and hasty decisions which got in the way of what should have been a rich evolution of the character. You’ll gain a fresh appreciation of Lugosi’s performance – as well as a new excuse to rediscover this classic Universal monster mash-up.
But as fans of monster cinema and readers of Classic Monsters of the Movies know, stars come in all shapes and sizes. Our Creepy Crones article introduces you to the wizened witches and haggard heroines who have enriched the genre, from Maria Ouspenskaya’s portrayal of wise Maleva to Ingrid Pitt’s somewhat worse for fear Countess Dracula. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer the Universal classics or the mouldering halls of Hammer Horror – in the horror world, there’s an interfering old woman around every corner.
Did someone say Hammer Horror? No fan of the English house of horror should miss our biography of Thorley Walters, who provided unforgettable support in many beloved films. From weary theatre manager Lattimer in The Phantom of the Opera (1962) to duplicitous madman Ludwig in Dracula Prince of Darkness (1966), he brought subtle charisma to every role. You might also remember him from apocalyptic sci-fi drama The Earth Dies Screaming in 1964, but there’s so much more to his legacy, with a few surprises to discover.
We also head further back into horror history with a look at 1931’s pre-Code shocker Murder by the Clock. Positively dripping with threatening atmosphere and packed with strong performances from the likes of Irving Pichel, Lilyan Tashman and Martha Mattox, it’s an intense and ugly experience that you won’t forget in a hurry. We look at the making of the movie as well as the stories of its stars, with some beautiful stills that take you to the heart of the action. If being buried alive doesn’t get you, something else will…
The subject of our next feature might look elegant and stylish with its French Riviera setting, but don’t be fooled – 1961’s Taste of Fear is the perfect example of how Hammer could turn their hand to a sinister mystery and keep us all guessing. David Huckvale’s exploration of this much-loved movie examines the imagery, atmosphere and performances that weave together into an exquisite tale of deception and madness.
But don’t worry if all that human drama feels a little oppressive, as Classic Monsters of the Movies issue #20 has the perfect antidote in the shape of 1956 alien-invasion cult hit It Conquered the World in our Kitsch Corner section. Beverly Garland and Lee Van Cleef are about to face the scariest vegetable you’ve ever seen, so buckle up for one heck of a ride. The Benefactor isn’t all it seems!
There’s much more to discover in Classic Monsters of the Movies issue #20 – whichever aspect of classic horror movie culture you love the most, you’ll find something here to inspire you. Our commitment to quality means every issue is printed and finished to the highest standard, with meticulously restored images bursting from the page with clarity and depth as you enjoy our warm-hearted commentary. Classic Monsters of the Movies is the classic horror film magazine you’ve been searching for.
Issue 20 includes:
- Lugosi’s monster – what should have been a new era for the Monster became a laughing stock, but Bela’s performance as Frankenstein’s creation has a poetry all of its own.
- Thorley Walters – always impressive but never overpowering, he was one of Hammer’s most beloved support stars thanks to his eccentric characterisations.
- Creepy crones – old ladies are the lifeblood of the classic horror world. Sometimes they’re monstrous, sometimes they’re saintly, and we certainly couldn’t get by without them.
- Murder by the Clock – it’s intrigue all the way, with motives layered upon motives and all manner of evil afoot in this grimly compelling pre-Code drama that deserves more recognition.
- Taste of Fear – the dazzling sunshine of southern France casts deep shadows in Hammer’s twisty mystery that boasts some haunting imagery and a raft of enigmatic performances.
- And more besides!
Within the pages of Classic Monsters of the Movies issue #20 you’ll discover the kind of articles you’ve always wanted to read in a horror movie publication, and the imagery you’ve always wanted to accompany them. Inspired by the magazines of yore, but with a clean modern approach and the highest production values, we bring you the classic monster movies as you’ve never seen them, breathing new life into the films you’ve always loved.
Magazine specification:
- 68 pages
- Full colour throughout
- Packed with stills, posters, articles and info
- Printed and finished to the highest standard
NA –
It is especially nice to see some praise heaped upon ‘poor Bela’ in the first Universal mash-up. His story is one full of bad luck, and that extends to his interpretation of Frankenstein’s monster. Until the day that the excised scenes turn up featuring Bela’s monster actually talking, the main feature in issue 20 of the relentlessly excellent Classic Monsters will do!