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Post by Giganfan on Oct 27, 2004 14:22:55 GMT -8
I think we mighta' done this one last Halloween, didn't we? Maybe not? Oh well, we'll do it again! Which horror legend do YOU prefer? I, myself am partial to Bela Lugosi. The thing that I hate is that alot of people like to talk about how much more versatile Karloff was. I think just the opposite. Lugosi did a wide variety of roles within the horror genre. He played the seductive, quietly horrifying vampire king, a sleuthe of mad scientists, a voodoo master, hairy-faced manimals, demented, broken-necked blacksmiths, etc. And I'm probably the only one that defends his performance as the monster in FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN (Lugosi had a lot more stand-out moments than Chaney Jr. and Glenn Strange combined). Lugosi had an almost god-like presence that he brought to every one of his roles. Even in his worst films, he's still larger than life. Karloff was more or less a face and a voice. His performance as the monster in the first three Frankenstein movies is first rate, no doubt. Nobody could do what he did with that part. And Boris Karloff is certainly one of the top two greatest horror icons of all time. But in my opinion, he ain't got sh*t on Lugosi! ;D
LUGOSI's stand-out roles:
Count Dracula in DRACULA (1931) and ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948)
Dr. Mirakle in MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE (1932)
Murder Legendre in WHITE ZOMBIE (1932)
Sayer of the Law in ISLAND OF LOST SOULS (1932)
*Dr. Verdagast in THE BLACK CAT (1934)
Dr. Vollin in THE RAVEN (1935)
Anton Lorenzen in THE MYSTERY OF THE MARY CELESTE (1936)
Ygor in SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939) and GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942)
Bela in THE WOLF MAN (1941)
*- He should have won an OSCAR for this one, or atleast been nominated.
KARLOFF's stand-out roles
The Monster in FRANKENSTEIN (1931), BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935) and SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939)
Imhotep in THE MUMMY (1932)
Hjalmar Poelzig in THE BLACK CAT (1934)
Janos Rhuke in THE INVISIBLE RAY (1936)
Dr. Gustav Nieman in HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944)
John Grey (?) in THE BODY SNATCHER (1945)
Anyway, this is only as far as the movies I've seen for each actor. I've seen more of Lugosi's films than Karloff's, so that's one reason why his list is longer.
So, in your opinion, who wins?
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Oct 27, 2004 15:04:38 GMT -8
hmm, i probably prefer Boris, but couldn't begin to say why, unless it was his turn in THE RAVEN (and i mean Corman's version) that made me a big fan of his.
Bela is underrated though, for sure. i'm glad i don't have to choose between either. i think Bela's drug use hindered him a lot from having a more spectacular career and then some of the movies he was in (the lower budgeted ones) also hindered him (not saying that i dislike him because of those movies).
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Post by RoadWarriorYajuta on Oct 27, 2004 19:30:39 GMT -8
Karloff was the Grinch in the classic cartoon version of Dr Seuss' tale. That cinches it for me.  I think Frankenstein and I automatically think Boris. I think Dracula and I think of Bela. That is a testament to them and the life they gave those characters. |
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Post by Giganfan on Oct 28, 2004 12:22:27 GMT -8
One thing that really irks me whenever I watch the old Karloff/Lugosi movies at Universal is how they billed each actor. In THE BLACK CAT, they're billed as "KARLOFF & Bela Lugosi." In THE RAVEN, it's "KARLOFF & LUGOSI," even though Lugosi's character is clearly the star of the picture. By the time of THE INVISIBLE RAY, I think it was just "KARLOFF in THE INVISIBLE RAY." I might be mistaken on that last one though. If there was such a financial benefit in teaming the two, shouldn't they have been atleast billed equally, seeing as how the public would have suggested such? I mean, considering the fact that DRACULA and FRANKENSTEIN were the two scariest movies of their time, the stars of those films would have been equally revered. But I guess Carl Laemmle and co. didn't like Lugosi much (I mean geez, he was second-billed to Sydney Fox in MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE, a movie that nobody would even care about if Bela weren't in it!). And oh yeah, this is a good one. The posters for each movie always read something like "KARLOFF The UNCANNY & Bela Lugosi," or "KARLOFF the UNCANNY, and Bela (Dracula Himself) Lugosi." Talk about a screw-job and-a-half.
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Post by amphiboid on Oct 28, 2004 17:29:32 GMT -8
From a strictly financial perspective, I think Karloff was more popular (made studios more money) than Lugosi. But, I always considered them apples and oranges, and equals; Lugosi played a definitive Dracula, and Karloff a definitive Monster, and they both also played other memorable roles.
To me, they were always the moo-ha-ha Scary Buddies.
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Post by Giganfan on Nov 2, 2004 10:33:02 GMT -8
Yes, but Lugosi was still a name-value star. One that Universal still had under contract. While they were making films with Karloff as the sole horror star, they could have done the same with Lugosi as well. It's a pity that of all of the Universal horror movies made during the 30s and 40s, Lugosi only received top-billing in two, DRACULA and NIGHT MONSTER, a movie in which Bela played a role similar in stature and significance to the script as Karloff's Morgan was in THE OLD DARK HOUSE. All I can really say is 'poor Bela.'
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Post by Mothra on Nov 19, 2004 23:01:22 GMT -8
Bela is for me the better actor, and more popular, just by these facts: Bela's memorabelia outsells Karloff's (Stills, pics, lobbycards, etc.) By nearly 8 to 1!!! I NEVER Saw Karloff Play a hero, but Lugosi did the Job as Chandu in the Return of Chandu Serial!!! He did a damn good job too! Drug use? Bah! Who cares? All true artists are haunted by personal demons!!! Besides, He was a Buddy to Ed Wood!!! Now that's gotta rate for something! "Karloff? Karloff? He's Not good enough to smell my sh*t!! How dare you mention Karloff to ME!!" -Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood-Touchstone, 1994 |
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Post by Zone Fighter on Nov 20, 2004 7:49:42 GMT -8
Karloff started in a series of mysteries in which he played detective Mr. James Lee Wong.
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Post by amphiboid on Nov 20, 2004 8:52:06 GMT -8
I'm scratching my brain a little, and I seem to remember that he played a hero in "Night Key," as well. That was like 1941 or something? Friendly scientist character...Monogram picture?
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Post by Mothra on Nov 20, 2004 21:31:21 GMT -8
Like I stated in my Post, I never seen those films with Karloff as a good guy. I didn't say he hasn't just that I've never watched them. I knew about the Mr. Wong series, as Alpha video carries most of the films, and the TV show, on their cheapie DVDs.
Bela still out sells Karloff in merchandise tho. ;D
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Post by celamowari on Nov 24, 2004 14:25:09 GMT -8
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Karloff's turn as a hero in Peter Bogdanovich's TARGETS.
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Post by Lunkhead on Nov 26, 2004 16:40:25 GMT -8
  I love Karloff & Lugosi and feel they were both great, under-rated actors, but Boris has always been my guy. His Frankenstein monster is my favorite of the Universal classic monsters. Outside of that and Imhotep, one of his greatest portayals must be that of grave-robber, John Gray in THE BODY SNATCHER. Not only one of my favorite horror films, but one of my favorite movies period.  So glad I got to see him on 60's TV on THRILLER and a guest stint with Vincent Price on THE RED SKELTON SHOW. I also remember when the GRINCH first premiered. KARLOFF The UNCANNY will always be my king. Now having said all that, Bela is a very close second. Plus I love all the greats - the Chaneys, Vincent Price, Dwight Frye, etc. Also, I wish Boris and Bela could have made more films together. They were a dynamite team. |
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Dec 1, 2004 7:43:13 GMT -8
i'm glad i don't have to choose!  |
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I think Frankenstein and I automatically think Boris. I think Dracula and I think of Bela. That is a testament to them and the life they gave those characters.
