BARBARA STEELE
BELA LUGOSI
BOB CLARK
BORIS KARLOFF
"Boris Karloff was a bit player at Universal Studios when he agreed to play a role that had been turned down by the reigning king of horror movies, Bela Lugosi. It was a non-speaking role and, the legend goes, Lugosi felt it was beneath his station to take. Karloff was happy to have any work, even for a role that required him to spend hours in the make-up chair every morning and wear heavy elevator shoes that weighed 13 pounds each. Taking the role turned out to be a decision that changed his life forever. It was The Monster in the 1931 film, Frankenstein.
Even with his face heavily made up Karloff was still able to infuse his portrayal of The Monster with equal amounts of savagery, confusion and pathos. The film is a quality production through and through, but Karloff's portrayal is the reason people still watch and revere the film today. Though the censors were not kind to the film, excising some of the most important scenes and lines from the film, the public loved it. Karloff's monster was the most terrifying thing they had ever seen.
Karloff was never out of work for the rest of his life. He was instantly dubbed The King of Horror, and he remains such even today. He appeared in over 150 films, countless television shows, many radio dramas, stage plays, and even released several record albums, nearly all of which here horrific or mysterious in nature. Even though he was in reality a kindly, soft-spoken British gentleman he never once complained about being a "horror actor." He was making a living doing what he loved - acting - and he was very grateful to his fans for keeping him employed.
Following Frankenstein he appeared in many of the greatest horror films of the 30s and 40s, including the sequel to Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, which many, myself included, consider the best horror film ever made. He often appeared alongside his friendly rival, Lugosi, in films such as The Black Cat and The Body Snatcher. In the 60s he appeared in several films directed by Roger Corman alongside other horror stalwarts Vincent Price and Peter Lorre. No matter the role he played, mad scientist, monster, thug, lackey, police detective, kindly old grandfather, he always embued his roles with a humanity and understanding that would not have been found in the hands of a lesser talent. His kindly British accent, with it's slight lisp was instantly recognisable.
Some of his greatest triumphs were on Broadway, even though he was reluctant at first to venture on The Great White Way, fearing failure before a live audience. He needn't have worried. The audiences loved him in person and he was quite proud of his stage roles as Capt. Hook in Peter Pan, Pierre Cauchon in The Lark, and Jonathan Brewster the sadistic killer in the original production of Arsenic & Old Lace, a character who has had his looks surgically altared so he looks "just like Boris Karloff." Another role that brought him great joy was that of Narrator and Grinch in the original telivision production of Dr. Seuss's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
Though there were some low budget horror films released after his death that featured footage Karloff shot before he died, these messes are ignored by his fans for the travesties they are. He was in failing health, having to work from a wheel-chair, with an oxygen tank at hand, and he gave his all, just as he did in every job he did.
His REAL last film was a fitting tribute and ending point to his career. It was director Peter Bagdonovich's first feature film, and he got the chance to make it because producer Roger Corman had Karloff on contract for three days, and Corman never let anything go to waste. Corman told Bagdonovich he could make any film he wanted as long as he stayed in budget, used Karloff for three days and also used some footage of another Corman production starring Karloff, The Terror.
What Bagdonovich fashioned has become a minor classic. Karloff plays an aging horror film star named Byron Orlok who laments what has become of Hollywood in the modern age. Bagdonovich himself plays Orlok's director in the film. Contrasted with the world of horror in movies is a plot about a sniper who kills his family and then is killing random victims throughout the town. The two plots converge at a drive-in theatre Orlok is to make a personal appearance and the sniper is hiding in. Contrasted with images of Karloff on the drive-in screen and Orlok the actor in person faced with a real killer he must defeat is a cinematic tour-de-force, but it's not the only amazing scene in the film. Earlier, Orlok and his director share some quiet moments in a hotel room and the actor remenices about his past. Karloff was afraid he might not be up to the lengthy monologue the script called for so Bagdonovich just sat him down with a few belts of scotch and they started filming. He did the scene in one take.
The image of Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster is THE iconic image of horror films, and the humanity he managed to give that character is the reason why. He was a master of his art, and he's still scaring us even today." -
NeverEnding
BRAM STOKER
