• In this movie, a young woman named Janet Stewart is anticipating the arrival of her husband and attempts to check into a hotel. They are meeting after years apart and have planned to meet at the hotel. During his military service he was presumed dead, but was a prisoner of war. Unfortunately, her cable requesting the reservation never arrived. The staff, after hearing her story, agree to provide a room for the night. Restless, she isn't sleeping. She hears a loud argument and goes to the balcony window where she witnesses a man striking his wife with a candlestick. The woman is killed.The next morning, her husband arrives and attempts to surprise Janet. Instead, he discovers her sitting on the couch, staring into space. She has gone into a state of shock as a result of seeing the murder. The hotel doctor is called, but he suggests she see a specialist...Original release date:January 10, 1946

    Shock is a 1946 American film noir directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring Vincent Price, Lynn Bari and Frank Latimore. Following its release, some film reviewers took particular offense to the film's treatment of psychiatry. Coming in the wake of World War II, in which so many people had suffered shock and could benefit from treatment of their anxieties, Crowther asked the 'critical observer to protest in no uncertain tones' the movie's 'social disservice' in its fostering 'apprehension against the treatment of nervous disorders', deploring the lack of consideration for those in need of treatment evidenced by producer Aubrey Schenck and distributor Twentieth Century-Fox.Directed by Alfred L. WerkerProduced by Aubrey SchenckStory by Albert DeMondCast:Vincent Price as Dr. Richard CrossLynn Bari as Elaine JordanFrank Latimore as Lt. Paul StewartAnabel Shaw as Janet StewartStephen Dunne as Dr. StevensReed Hadley as O'NeillRenee Carson as Mrs. HatfieldRuth Clifford As Mrs. Margaret CrossCharles Trowbridge as Dr. Franklin Harvey

  • The Screaming Skull is a 1958 independently made American black-and-white horror film, produced by John Kneubuhl and directed by Alex Nicol. The film's storyline concerns a neurotic newlywed woman who believes she is being haunted by the ghost of her new husband's previous wife. Original release date: August 1958.

    Over a scene of an opening coffin, a narrator explains that the film's climax is so terrifying that it may kill the viewer, while reassuring the audience that should they die of fright they will receive a free burial service. Inside the coffin is a card that reads 'Reserved for You.'[5]

    Newlyweds Jenni (Peggy Webber) and Eric (John Hudson) move into Eric's palatial country home. Jenni is Eric's second wife; his first wife Marion died when she accidentally slipped and hit her head on the edge of a decorative pond on the estate. At the home they meet Eric's friends, the Reverend Snow (Russ Conway) and his wife (Tony Johnson), as well as Mickey (Alex Nicol), the mentally disabled gardener. Eric privately mentions to the Snows that Jenni spent time in an asylum following the sudden death of both her parents, and Mrs. Snow reveals that Jenni is very wealthy.

    Jenni is disturbed both by Mickey's belief that Marion's ghost wanders the estate and by Marion's self-portrait inside the house, which Jenni believes resembles her mother. When she begins to hear unexplained screaming noises and see skulls around her house, she believes that Marion is haunting her. Though Eric speculates to Jenni that Mickey, who was a childhood friend of Marion and thus dislikes Jenni, may be behind the trickery, Jenni worries that she is going insane. Eric suggests to remove Marion's self-portrait from the home. Eric and Jenni take the painting outside and burn it, later uncovering a skull from the ashes. Jenni panics at the sight of the skull, but Eric denies that the skull is there. As Jenni faints, Eric withdraws the skull and hides it, revealing that he has been gaslighting her all along.

    Believing she has finally lost her sanity, Jenni resolves to be committed. She tells Eric that the entire property will be meticulously searched for the skull as a last resort. Mickey secretly steals the skull and brings it to Snow before Eric can retrieve it. That night, Eric prepares to murder Jenni and stage it as a suicide. Jenni sees Marion's ghost in Mickey's greenhouse and flees back to the house, where Eric begins throttling her. The ghost appears and chases Eric outside, corners, and attacks him, drowning him in the decorative pond.

    After Jenni regains consciousness, the Snows arrive. Mrs. Snow comforts a hysterical Jenni and the Reverend discovers Eric's body in the pond. Some undisclosed time later, Jenni and the Snows depart from the house. Reverend Snow declares whether or not Marion's death was an accident will remain a mystery.

    The film ends with Mickey drinking from the pond and saying, 'They've left. Rest in peace.' A vision of a woman's face appears in the pond.

  • While out rowing in the middle of a lake after dark, John Haloran and his young wife Louise argue about his rich mother's will. Louise is upset that everything is currently designated to go to charity in the name of a mysterious 'Kathleen.' The argument, combined with the exertion of rowing the boat, causes John to have a heart attack. He informs Louise that, should he die before his mother, Louise will receive none of the inheritance, after which he promptly dies. Thinking quickly, the scheming Louise dumps his fresh corpse over the boat's side, where it sinks to the bottom of the lake. Her plan is to pretend that he is still alive so that she can ingratiate her way into the will. She types up a letter to her mother-in-law, Lady Haloran, inviting herself to the family's castle in Ireland while her husband is 'away on business.' Original release date: September 25, 1963.

    Dementia 13 (known in the United Kingdom as The Haunted and the Hunted) is a 1963 independently made black-and-white horror-thriller film, written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Roger Corman. It was Francis Coppola's feature film directorial debut.The film stars William Campbell, Patrick Magee, and Luana Anders. It was released in the United States by American International Pictures during the fall of 1963 as the bottom half of a double feature with Corman's X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes.

     

    Although Coppola had been involved in at least two sexploitation films previously, Dementia 13 served as his first mainstream 'legitimate' directorial effort. Corman offered Coppola the chance to direct a low-budget horror film in Ireland using funds left over from Corman's recently completed The Young Racers, on which Coppola had worked as a sound technician. The producer wanted a cheap Psycho copy, complete with gothic atmosphere and brutal killings, and Coppola quickly wrote a screenplay with Corman's requirements. Although he was given total directorial freedom during production, Coppola found himself at odds with Corman after the film was completed. The producer declared it un-releasable and demanded several changes be made. Corman eventually brought in another director, Jack Hill, to film additional sequences.

     

    The film's title appears on a theater marquee in the Coppola-produced film American Graffiti (1973), even though the film was set in 1962, before the theatrical release of Dementia 13.

     

    A remake by director Richard LeMay was released on October 6, 2017.

     

    DIRECTED BY

    Francis Coppola

     

    PRODUCED BY

    Roger Corman

     

    CAST

    William Campbell as Richard Haloran

    Luana Anders as Louise Haloran

    Patrick Magee as Dr. Justin Caleb

    Bart Patton as Billy Haloran

    Mary Mitchel as Kane

    Eithne Dunne as Lady Haloran

    Peter Read as John Haloran

    Karl Schnazer as Simon, the poacher

    Ron Perry as Arthur

    Derry O'Donovan as Lillian, the maid

    Barbara Dowling as Kathleen Haloran

Dr. Mabuse the Gambler (1922) 4K - Pt 1 "The Great Gambler: A Picture of the Time"

Dr. Mabuse the Gambler is a 1922 German silent crime film directed by Fritz Lang and written by Lang and his wife, Thea von Harbou. The film is based on the novel “Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler” by Norbert Jacques. This film is considered an important work in German Expressionist cinema, with striking visuals and themes that echo the chaos and moral decay of post-World War I Germany.

Watch Part 2 HERE

Plot

The film is divided into two parts, running over 4 hours in total.

The first part, titled “The Great Gambler”, follows the rise of Dr. Mabuse as he establishes himself as a notorious gambler, hypnotist, and criminal mastermind. Using his powers of manipulation, Mabuse carries out a series of elaborate schemes, including a train robbery, and drives his victims to the brink of madness.

The second part, titled “Inferno”, sees Mabuse’s plans begin to unravel as he becomes the target of a police investigation. Mabuse uses his hypnotic powers to try and control the investigation, but is ultimately defeated in a dramatic finale.

Part 1 Overview

Chapter 1: Dr. Mabuse’s Rise

The film begins with the mysterious and cunning Dr. Mabuse, a criminal mastermind, hypnotist, and master of disguise. He uses his abilities to manipulate people, control the stock market, and dominate the illegal gambling scene in Berlin. Through a series of daring and intricate schemes, he gains immense wealth and power while evading capture by the police.

Chapter 2: The Pursuit

Inspector Karl von Wenk is assigned to investigate Dr. Mabuse and his criminal activities. He becomes entangled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, as Dr. Mabuse constantly outwits him, using his hypnotic powers and disguises to stay one step ahead. As the plot progresses, von Wenk becomes increasingly determined to bring Dr. Mabuse to justice.

Chapter 3: The Downfall

In the final act of the film, Dr. Mabuse’s schemes begin to unravel. His obsession with power and control leads him to make a series of fatal mistakes, culminating in a dramatic showdown with von Wenk. Ultimately, Dr. Mabuse’s own madness and hubris lead to his demise, and he is captured by the authorities.

Dr. Mabuse the Gambler 4K Blu-ray Restoration

Moonflix AI Restoration

Moonflix, a pioneer in AI-driven film restoration, has used state-of-the-art technology to meticulously restore Dr. Mabuse the Gambler, repairing film defects and enhancing the visuals to an unprecedented level of clarity and detail. This restoration has breathed new life into the film, making it more accessible and enjoyable for modern audiences.

Previous Restorations

Before Moonflix’s AI-driven restoration, Dr. Mabuse the Gambler had undergone several attempts at restoration, including a notable effort in the 1990s. These earlier restorations focused on repairing damaged film elements and improving image quality, but none achieved the level of detail and precision that Moonflix’s AI technology has brought to the film.

Cinematography

The cinematography of Dr. Mabuse the Gambler is a key aspect of its success and lasting influence. Carl Hoffmann’s skillful camerawork and innovative techniques allowed Fritz Lang to create a visually striking and memorable film that has stood the test of time.

Some standout aspects of the cinematography include:

  1. Expressionistic set design: The film features elaborate and stylized set designs that are characteristic of German Expressionist cinema. These sets, with their distorted perspectives and dramatic lighting, create a sense of unease and reinforce the film’s thematic exploration of societal chaos and moral decay.
  2. Contrast and lighting: The use of high contrast and dramatic lighting is a defining feature of the film’s visual style. Shadows are used to create a sense of depth and atmosphere, while the interplay between light and darkness emphasizes the film’s central themes of power, control, and corruption.
  3. Camera movement: Dr. Mabuse the Gambler features innovative camera movement for its time, including tracking shots, pans, and tilts. These movements contribute to the film’s dynamic visual storytelling and help to create a sense of tension and suspense throughout the narrative.

Special Effects

Despite being a silent film from the 1920s, Dr. Mabuse the Gambler features a number of impressive special effects that were groundbreaking for their time. These special effects contributed to the film’s lasting impact and its status as a classic of German Expressionist cinema. Some of the most notable special effects include:

  1. Multiple exposures: Fritz Lang and his cinematographer, Carl Hoffmann, made extensive use of multiple exposures to create a dreamlike and unsettling atmosphere. This technique involved superimposing two or more images onto a single frame, resulting in eerie, ghostly visuals that heightened the film’s psychological tension.
  2. In-camera effects: The film also features a variety of in-camera effects that were innovative for their time. These include the use of mirrors to create visual illusions, forced perspective to alter the perceived size and depth of objects, and the use of miniatures to depict large-scale sets and landscapes.
  3. Visual symbolism: Throughout the film, Lang and Hoffmann incorporated visual symbolism to emphasize themes and character motivations. One example is the use of shadows and lighting to represent the duality of Dr. Mabuse’s character, highlighting his sinister intentions and the darkness within him.
  4. Innovative editing: Dr. Mabuse the Gambler is known for its rapid editing and cross-cutting between scenes, a technique that was relatively new at the time. This fast-paced editing style adds to the film’s tension and suspense, keeping the audience engaged and contributing to the overall expressionistic aesthetic.

Themes

Dr. Mabuse the Gambler delves into themes of power, control, and the corrupting influence of wealth. The film reflects the societal upheaval and moral decay of post-World War I Germany, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the lengths to which people will go to maintain power.

Creators

Directed by Fritz Lang
Screenplay by Thea von Harbou
Cinematography by Carl Hoffmann
Art direction by Otto Hunte, Erich Kettelhut, and Karl Vollbrecht
Restored and upscaled by moonflix, LLC

Cast

Rudolf Klein-Rogge as Dr. Mabuse
Aud Egede-Nissen as Cara Carozza
Gertrude Welcker as Countess Told
Alfred Abel as Count Told
Bernhard Goetzke as State prosecutor Norbert von Wenk
Paul Richter as Edgar Hull
Robert Forster-Larrinaga as Spoerri
Hans Adalbert Schlettow as Georg, the Chauffeur
Georg John as Pesch
Charles Puffy as Hawasch
Grete Berger as Fine, a servant
Julius Falkenstein as Karsten
Lydia Potechina as Die Russin / Russian woman
Julius E. Herrmann as Emil Schramm

Reception and Legacy

Dr. Mabuse the Gambler received critical acclaim upon its release, with many praising Fritz Lang’s visionary direction, the innovative cinematography, and the film’s exploration of complex themes. Over time, the film has become a classic of German Expressionist cinema and is considered a significant influence on later crime and psychological thriller films.

The character of Dr. Mabuse has left a lasting impact on popular culture, inspiring numerous sequels, remakes, and adaptations. Fritz Lang himself revisited the character in two later films, “The Testament of Dr. Mabuse” (1933) and “The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse” (1960).

Remakes

There have been several remakes and reinterpretations of the Dr. Mabuse story over the years. These include “The Return of Dr. Mabuse” (1961), “The Invisible Dr. Mabuse” (1962), and “Dr. Mabuse vs. Scotland Yard” (1963), among others. While these remakes vary in quality and faithfulness to the original story, they stand as a testament to the enduring appeal of the character and the themes explored in Dr. Mabuse the Gambler.

Original release date: April 27, 1922

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Genres: New Arrivals, Crime & Mystery Films, Movies, 1920's, Silent Films, Thriller Films, Silent Films, Thriller, Crime and Mystery, German Classics, Based on Novels, ALL Movies, Uncategorized

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