Bela Lugosi And Boris Karloff

Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster are horror cinema icons, and the actors most deeply associated with the two roles also shared a unique friendship. Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff starred in dozens of black-and-white horror films, and over the years managed to collaborate on and co-star in eight movies. Through dozens of interviews and extensive archival research, this greatly expanded new edition examines the Golden Age of Hollywood, the era in which both stars worked, recreates the shooting of Lugosi and Karloff's mutual films, examines their odd and moving personal relationship and analyzes their ongoing legacies. Features include a fully detailed filmography of the eight Karloff and Lugosi films, full summaries of both men's careers and more than 250 photographs, some in color.

"This book examines the Golden Age of Hollywood, the era in which both stars worked, recreates the shooting of Lugosi and Karloff's mutual films, examines their personal relationship and analyzes their ongoing legacies. Features include a filmography of the eight Karloff and Lugosi films, color inserts of the eight movie posters, and more than 250 photographs"--Provided by publisher.

The duo of Bela Lugosi's Count Dracula and Boris Karloff's Frankenstein's monster made some of Hollywood's most eccentric product. Equally striking was their odd, moving, ultimately tragic personal relationship. This book examines their work and personal lives and that relationship. Supporting the biographical narrative are complete production histories of their eight collaborative films, interviews with over a dozen of their coworkers and friends, archival studio material, and fully detailed filmographies. There are many unusual, never-before-published portraits, stills, and poster reproductions.

An in-depth look at the film serials of the kings of horrorBoris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney, Jr. Includes information on The Hope Diamond Mystery, King of the Kongo, The Phantom Creeps, Undersea Kingdom and much more. Contains many rare photos. A must for fans of serials.

This comprehensive analysis of Boris Karloff's life and career incorporates criticism, in-depth production information and discussions of cinematic themes and characters, with an account of the historical periods and events depicted in the films and the Hollywood era in which they were produced. Each of Karloff's horror films is examined at length, as well as his contributions to other media. Over 100 posters, portraits, film scenes and candid photos illustrate the text, and numerous contemporaries (Evelyn Karloff, Laurence Olivier, Henry Brandon, Ian Wolfe, Zita Johann, others) are quoted throughout.

The filming of the first horror films coincides with the creation of the actual cinema. Various actors, having experienced stage debut, will then be offered roles of iconic characters from Gothic fantasy literature. This was the case of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, known worldwide for their interpretations of the monster Frankenstein and Count Dracula. Therefore, two superstars in both senses of the term, who knew to impose, at the same time, the 'terror' gender and illustrate by their subtle play, the terror characters as their authors had imagined them. Two destinies, sometimes united on the screen, though very different in life as in their careers... Two personalities, having wonderfully served a difficult style by their ability to adapt to the demands of their roles that often made them look tyrannical... Two exemplary careers in many ways, whose stories are read like an adventure novel that gives true meaning to the term 'film pioneers'... These are the elements that make up this book. [Translated from French by Caroline Andreea Zgortea]

Jensen provides a definitive portrait of Karloff and his work. He traces the star's career, and describes in detail the production of all the famous Karloff movies.

He was born Béla Ferenc Dezso Blasko on October 20, 1882, in Hungary. He joined Budapest’s National Theater in 1913 and later appeared in several Hungarian films under the pseudonym Arisztid Olt. After World War I, he helped the Communist regime nationalize Hungary’s film industry, but barely escaped arrest when the government was deposed, fleeing to the United States in 1920. As he became a star in American horror films in the 1930s and 1940s, publicists and fan magazines crafted outlandish stories to create a new history for Lugosi. The cinema’s Dracula was transformed into one of Hollywood’s most mysterious actors. This exhaustive account of Lugosi’s work in film, radio, theater, vaudeville and television provides an extensive biographical look at the actor. The enormous merchandising industry built around him is also examined.