Films for October-- Part 2

This is part 2 in a series on October Films, a look at dependable classic suspenseful films:

Dracula (1931): Tod Browning’s classic starring Bela Lugosi stands as THE definitive Dracula movie. It introduced the line “I don’t drink… wine” that did not appear in Bram Stoker’s novel, but appeared in countless incarnations of the Transylvanian count on film.

Frankenstein (2004): Yep, that date is right. I’ll probably catch flak for it, but as good as James Whale’s 1931 classic was, this 2004 Hallmark (?!) mini-series is the best version of Mary Shelley’s put on film. The 3-hour story captures Shelley’s novel in a way Branagh missed and gives enough time in its 19th century setting to set up the characters. Next thing you know, our well-meaning doctor has slipped to a place beyond his control. Yes, it is available on DVD. Stars William Hurt, Donald Sutherland, Alec Newman (SciFi's Dune and Children of Dune) as Victor Frankenstein and Luke Goss (One Night with the King) as the Monster.

House on Haunted Hill (1959): Another classic remade as a failure. And another William Castle classic. Vincent Price offers $10,000 each to five strangers if they spend the night in his creepy house. And that’s before the credits roll! A fun film to watch with someone late at night.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941): There are several versions of this film, but this one is distinctive because of the casting choices. Spencer Tracy as the good doctor and his evil counterpart, Lana Turner (the femme fatale from The Postman Always Rings Twice) as the kind Beatrix Emery and Ingrid Bergman (Ilse from Casablanca) as the fleshly-minded Ivy. But it works, especially in the hands of director Victor Fleming (The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind).

The Stand (1994): Stephen King wrote the screenplay based on his epic novel about an apocalyptic battle between good and evil. Available on DVD and originally shown as a 4-part mini-series, this 6-hour opus has everything: great characters, suspenseful plot and cameos by King, Ed Harris (Needful Things) and Kathy Bates (Misery). (Not rated, but not suitable for the very young)

The Wolf Man (1941): Another Universal classic (like Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy and Creature from the Black Lagoon) about a man who turns into the titular creature. One of the first films to popularize the werewolf, but few later efforts captured the tortured soul like Lon Chaney, Jr. as the tormented Lawrence Talbot. Also stars Claude Rains (Universal’s The Invisible Man), Ralph Bellamy and Bela Lugosi as… Bela.

Vertigo (1958): Considered by many to be Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece, Jimmy Stewart redefines “obsessed” as an ex-cop-turned-private-eye while following the woman who may (or may not) be the reincarnation of her ancestor. Stewart’s character also battles acrophobia (the fear of heights), which naturally, interferes with the case. Great stuff remastered in all its full-color glory.

North by Northwest (1959): One year after Vertigo, Hitch gives us Cary Grant as the “wrong man” in the ultimate mistaken identity story. An ad man is innocently confused for a secret agent and is chased across the country, including one famous scene by a cropduster, and culminating in a chase at Mt. Rushmore. Also includes the lovely Eva Marie Saint, James Mason and a young Martin Landau.