Classic Universal Horror Screenings Celebrate the Return of Famous Monsters

To celebrate the Return of Famous Monsters of Filmland – the original monster movie magazine – the American Cinematheque presents a pair of classic horror movie double bills: SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939) and GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942) on May 30 and DRACULA (1931) and HOUSE OF DRACULA (1945) on May 31. The screenings will be introduced by Sara Karloff (daughter of Boris, who played Frankenstein’s Monster in SON) and by actresses Carla Laemmle (DRACULA), Janet Ann Gallow (GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN), and Jane Adams (HOUSE OF DRACULA).

Edited by Forrest J Ackerman and published by James Warren, Famous Monsters of Filmland launched in 1958 and folded in 1983. After years of legal battles, the magazine is re-launching, along with a new website. Although not dismissing current horror films, the late Ackerman always evinced a special fondness for the old black-and-white scare films of the 1930s and 1940s, so the films being screened this weekend form a perfect tribute for the magazine’s resurrection.

Title: Son of Frankenstein & Ghost of Frankenstein
Location: Egyptian Theatre – 6712 Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood (323) 466-FILM
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Description: SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939) will be introduced by Sara Karloff, whose father Boris plays the monster in the film. GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942) will be introduced by actress Janet Ann Gallow. SON is one of the last great horror films from Universal Pictures, which began rehashing its successful formual in the 1940s; it marks Boris Karloff’s last performance as the Monster, a role he made famous, and it is also distinguished by a fine performance by Bela Lugosi as the vengeful grave-robber Ygor.
Date: Saturday, May 30 at 7:30pm

Title: Dracula & House of Dracula
Location: Egyptian Theatre – 6712 Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood (323) 466-FILM
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Description: DRACULA (1931) will be introduced by Carla Laemmle (daughter of studio head Carl), who has a brief role at the beginning of the film. HOUSE OF DRACULA (1945) will be introduced by actress Jane Adams, who plays the hunch-backed nurse in the film. DRACULA is the film that launched the horror genre on screen in the U.S., moving movies toward supernatural thrills instead of the phony scares of mystery movies (that explained away their ghosts as tricks).
Date: Sunday, May 31 at 7:30pm