Isle of the Dead (1945)
December 17, 2024 11:17 AM - Subscribe
[TRAILER] Gen. Nikolas Pherides (Boris Karloff) takes leave from the 1912 Balkan War to visit a small island in Greece, where his wife is buried. While there, a plague breaks out -- and along with an American reporter (Marc Cramer) and several other travelers, Pherides is forced to stay when quarantine is declared. Soon, locals and foreigners alike succumb to the influence of Madame Kyra (Helene Thimig), who accuses a nurse (Ellen Drew) of being a vorvolaka, a malevolent vampiric demon.
Also starring Katherine Emery, Alan Napier, Jason Robards Sr., Ernst Deutsch, Sherry Hall, Erick Hanson, Skelton Knaggs.
Directed by Mark Robson. Written by Ardel Wray, along with Val Lewton (uncredited) and Josef Mischel (uncredited). Produced by Val Lewton for RKO Radio Pictures. Cinematography by Jack MacKenzie. Edited by Lyle Boyer. Music by Leigh Harline.
90% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Currently available for digital rental in the US. Also streaming on Internet Archive. JustWatch listing.
Also starring Katherine Emery, Alan Napier, Jason Robards Sr., Ernst Deutsch, Sherry Hall, Erick Hanson, Skelton Knaggs.
Directed by Mark Robson. Written by Ardel Wray, along with Val Lewton (uncredited) and Josef Mischel (uncredited). Produced by Val Lewton for RKO Radio Pictures. Cinematography by Jack MacKenzie. Edited by Lyle Boyer. Music by Leigh Harline.
90% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Currently available for digital rental in the US. Also streaming on Internet Archive. JustWatch listing.
Based on the writeup and comment here, I went and watched this, and it was really good. I had only known Boris Karloff vaguely as peer and rival to Bela Lugosi, but actually watching him perform opened my eyes to his talent. He turns this B-movie character into a real human being with depth and surprises, all with just a few expressions and gestures. So good. And I also learned about the Greek Balkan wars, which as a moderately informed history buff I still had never heard of.
Shortly after finishing this movie, I saw a clip of comedian/actor Bill Hader ("Barry" and Saturday Night Live) speaking about Val Lewton and all these B-movies that were really training grounds for a whole generation of actors, directors, cinematographers and other talents, and were all much better than they should have been, given their budgets, shooting schedules, and scripts.
So thank you, DOT, such a terrific recommendation, as usual! :)
posted by seasparrow at 6:49 PM on January 14 [1 favorite]
Shortly after finishing this movie, I saw a clip of comedian/actor Bill Hader ("Barry" and Saturday Night Live) speaking about Val Lewton and all these B-movies that were really training grounds for a whole generation of actors, directors, cinematographers and other talents, and were all much better than they should have been, given their budgets, shooting schedules, and scripts.
So thank you, DOT, such a terrific recommendation, as usual! :)
posted by seasparrow at 6:49 PM on January 14 [1 favorite]
I also highly recommend Boris Karloff in Peter Bogdanovich's Targets which is free on Hoopla right now if you have that.
Basically, Karloff plays a version of himself, as an aging, elegant horror icon who has been invited to a filmfest at a drive-in. The fest is attacked by a Charles Whitman-like mass shooter. Karloff is quite good in that.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:37 AM on January 15 [1 favorite]
Basically, Karloff plays a version of himself, as an aging, elegant horror icon who has been invited to a filmfest at a drive-in. The fest is attacked by a Charles Whitman-like mass shooter. Karloff is quite good in that.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:37 AM on January 15 [1 favorite]
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I am coming to really, really love Boris Karloff, who elevates nearly everything he is in.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:03 PM on December 17, 2024 [2 favorites]