Written, pencilled, inked by : Heath P. Lail
Welcome, one and all to the special 75th Anniversary Issue of Clerk's Cafe! What's that? You say that if it had been around for 75 years I'd be 100 years old (and more than likely writing this post-humously)? Oh well friends, let me clarify....it is not the 75th Anniversary of this Journal--it is in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Bela Lugosi's stunning performance of the legendary bloodsucker in 1931's "Dracula". I bought this movie last night at Wal-Mart...I knew I was going to be home sick today so I figured I might as well enjoy my illness as much as possible by watching a good flick I'd never seen. It came down between Dracula and the 75th Ann. Edition of Frankenstein, with actor Boris Karloff in that title role. After watching this movie and enjoying it in grand fashion, I think that Franky might come home with me as well, in order to complete the collection (Universal's Legacy Series).
I enjoy horror stories...my dating life thus far has been one (insert rimshot). Seriously, though. I have always heard that these movies are classic for one reason or another, but have never seen either of them. As soon as I popped the disc in, I could tell I was in for a treat (though I did think it funny that while most animated movies do not warrant a change in the Level Settings of my PS2, a film from 1931 that is tame caused me to up the level to view). The menu had a great snippet of the score playing while a massive picture of Lugosi glares out at viewers. Though most people point and laugh at old films such as this, I enjoy watching black and white productions from time to time though I do chuckle and chortle as well at the campiness of some things. Watching old films and newsreels in B&W gives our generation a gimpse into the movies while they were still conssidered "magic". There was an aura of imagination and fiction to these stories, unlike today's movies where we want to find "perfect love" (never happen in a million years, kids...trust me) or action heroes who do things most guys would never be able to do when dropped into the same situation with exactly the same tools at their disposal. Don't get me wrong--I enjoy current movies as well as the next guy or gal...but watching old stuff just takes you back to a time and place that no longer exists.
Anyway, the movie has been restored remarkably well considering its age and there are no pops,dark moments or any visible defects that I can tell after viewing it. The other great thing about old movies is, they are incredibly short. I think this whole movie ran maybe an hour, tops. No three and four hour Titanics or Lord of the Rings here. These movies were straight and to the point, though they included a lot of pomp and flair into these short productions. There was something that is missing from most current flicks--actual acting. You can feel the emotion put out by these actors...it is more than reading lines, grabbing throats and getting the maximum amount of shock value from viewers. Instead, it is slower and more intimate (and like I said, at an hour it is over reasonably quick if you do decide you hate it). These actors wanted you to feel the intensity of the moment rather than simply say "Oh he's dead...just watch...it's over for him...". They wanted you to care about the characters more than anything else--they loved playing these parts, and thought you should love their bits as much as they did.
I'm going off on a tangent, I can tell...its the meds I think lol All I can say sit down and watch this movie sometime. Even if you laugh all the way through it and never experience a quiet moment because of the "bit acting", then it'll all be over in an hour and you can say that you've seen one of the greatest classic horror movies of all time. AND you had fun. And isn't that what movies are all about?
Til next time...I remain
Heath P. Lail
2 comments:
Quite the little advertisement you have going here. You should work for Universal. hehe.
Seriously though, I like old movies, too. I've found myself watching some black and white films all the way through before even registering that there was no color. I was so enthralled by the things you described... the acting, for instance, that I didn't even notice the lack of glitter and gold (and green and blue and...)
:)
Hey hon, thanks for the comment. Feel free to go back and comment on recent "issues", or start at the very beginning and just comment on whatever tickles your fancy. Sam used to post here regularly but now it seems she is too busy to bother with it. She gave her own blog up around May I think. I refuse to give up...I will be heard, even if only by myself in my head as I write this here Journal lol. Hope you had a great night, and just wanted to say again that it has been great talking to you on a regular basis--you've helped me through some rough mornings and let me vent when I needed it. Too bad I can't come hang with you and your crew but maybe (if you've been doing your homework, eating your veggies and reading those links on 24 Hour Comics Day I sent you) we can get together later this year/early next year and work on that comic together. Like you said, it will help us get to know each other better, and that's never a bad thing;) Plus, I hate to see a potential draftsman/woman go to waste...you never know where your dreams might take you, and Lord knows we writers need more informed, intelligent artists around. G'night darlin', sleep tight
H
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