BORIS KARLOFF ON "THIS IS YOUR LIFE" - JACK PIERCE SEGMENT

[801liveable]

what a twosome..PIERCE with a little help from BORIS KARLOFF probably creating the most famous hollywod icon..THE FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER..the 2 show genuine respect for each other..in hollywood circles BORIS KARLOFF, was a very charming man..JACK PIERCE, that's another story..he apparently was pretty tough to get along with in his makeup room.. PIERCE'S last job was working in the MISTER ED series on CBS..

[ThePappadeux]

One of my screen idols and one of the best makeup men in the business - ever !

Thank you so much for taking me back to my childhood.

[MrWesdotcom]

This was such a great look at the real Boris. This was before you could google his name and find out all about him, and this was probably a lot of people's first look at who he really was. Terrific actor, and a terrific human being as well.

[k4jdp]

The Tower of London seems to have been overlooked as a genuine classic even though there were no actual "monsters" in it.

[sluggo06]

What do u think happens after we die?

[giantrobotbil]

heh, i live about 15 minutes from angels camp california

[romas1995]

amazing actor but lets face it he was one lucky son of a bitch.

bela lugosi was equally talented but karloff was always getting better parts and greater salary example ? the body snatcher , lugosi plays a janitor, a fucking janitor , he has nothing to work with. i cant stand this. but unfortunatelly frankenstein is destroyed and lugosi's dracula has been exorcised for ever.

[cha5]

@romas1995 Well for me both actors and the roles that they will always be remembered for (Dracula & Frankenstein) have achieved something of an iconic immortality that will always be with us.

(sorry if that sounds pithy or like I'm delivering a sermon)

[drgangrene]

Awesome. Thanks for uploading. You can really tell the mutual admiration the two men had for one another.

[cusplatter]

OK...1)This was a great find for me and a wonderful shock(I wasn't looking for it ) 2)It's amazing to me that young people like balrog13571 even KNOW who Jack Pierce or Boris Karloff is.A friend of mine was talking with me the other day and we said that it's such a shame that todays society couldn't enjoy the work of Pierce or Harryhausen because of the cg used in so many movies anymore.I couldn't be happier to have been wrong.

[superdavid002]

I sing about Karloff, Frankenstein, and other stars in The Celebrity Song.

[peppersax]

I was 9 years old when I saw the "Frankenstein" movie. I ran out of the theatre because it scared me so much:)

[tomkes100]

The great BORIS AND JACK in this classic THIS IS YOUR LIFE> I love it. The King of Monsters 7 Kinf of Makeup. Ah they do9nt horror films loike them anymore. Thanks fellas. Horror film historian TOMKES

[balrog13571]

Oh and when I say Avatar I mean I still was wondering throughout the movie how Cameron would do it without CGI. His work in Aliens and the Terminator movies were awesome and much more atmospheric without it so I was wondering about how Avatar would live up going int it. It cost a ton though to make some improvements and you can still not quite bring yourself into there. That's why I worry about the Wolfman nad Clash of the Titans remakes. They didn't need any of that to be awesome.

[soshanna1]

I AGREE WITH TRUND27

[Trund27]

Boris Karloff totally rocks. So suave, too!

[tomkes100]

Hey Scott it just dawned on me thi your webpages this tribute to our pal JACK PIERCe, Its Tom here, why dont you say hello or maybe you didnt know my e mail address. ill gladly personally e mail you. Thanks Scott this is great. great to see you on youtube my friend. Its tom k from the East coast you sent me your magazines. Bless you. Take care. THIS IS YOUR LIFE BORIs 7 good old Jack pierce the greateat of makeup men.

[tomkes100]

boris Karloff 7 Jack Pierce on this is Your Life 1957. A classic. Hollywoode destroyed this makeup genuis as historuy has shown us. they degrded his talents.booted him out , but KARLOFF ever the gentleman stood by him. Two great mrn in the buisness. This is Your Life truly did a splendd job here honorting the King. TOMKES horror film historian back here again & enjoying it.

[crowerpower57]

Four days before this aired, They arrested a REAL Ghoul, The ''Wisconsin Ghoul'' Eddie Gein, Nov. 16, 1957.......MMMMMMUUUUUAAAAAHHH­HHAAAAAAAA

[hermankatnip]

Boris's tribute was very true. "The best makeup man in the world" Even Rick Baker would admit that. Its a shame what happened to him at universal. He deserved more than that.

[Valkonnen]

As a makeup artist for over 25 years,Ihave great respect for talents like Jack Pierce. Correct me if I'm wrong though....Isn't it true that Pierce refused to use appliances, and that was why he was ousted? A good artist should advance to what is state of the art for the time,and if he didn't want to, what were they to do?

Puttys and collodians are inferior techniques compared to appliances. They enable artists to maintain proper continuity, are more comfortable, and go on in less time.

[hermankatnip]

@Valkonnen

Its true he used laborious methods such as building up the makeup from scratch using cotton and collodian. He did use an appliance for the nose of the wolfman. Also if you look at the Bride of frankenstein monsters forehead it is cleary a rubber appliance and was not built up every day from scratch. Maybe he used impracticle methods but I would argue there is no greater monster makeup than the original frankensteins monster. Rick Baker would kill to create such an Iconic monster.

[mcsquared65]

I remember this rerun on tv and didn't think I'd find it...thanks!!

[balrog13571]

Jack Pierce and Boris Karloff in one interview= WIN!!! Though not like the book at all, I have to say Karloff gave the best performance ever. And the studio's make-up never sat quite right with me after Pierce was gone. Yes the new methods were easier and quicker, but the overall effect of Pierce's work was astounding and creature's like the Wolfman can never look as amazing without him. I'm 17 and I'm so glad to have the old movies and feel terrible today'[s culture isn't exposed to them.

[ScottEssman]

Glad to have you as a fan! We couldn't do it without you young new fans. Yes, Pierce was a makeup god among makeup men. Check out my book and DVD about Pierce. I have been a lifelong fan.

[balrog13571]

You are most welcome and thanks for the tip. I'm honestly disappointed with the effects of today. Except maybe with Andy Serkis you can't have a CGI monster give an actor's performance and characteristics no matter how hard you try and spend. King Kong was okay I guess but the original is best. Very nervous about the Wolfman and Creature of the Black Lagoon remake. Even Abott and Costello Meet Frankenstein didn't have the same effect without Pierce, but it was still alot of fun.

[joeyvader]

"you can't have a CGI monster give an actor's performance"...so true...witness the ABYSMAL "Van Helsing" for proof of that!! Who wants to watch two CGI characters duke it out??

[balrog13571]

Yeah. Well I take it back a little. Andy Serkis did a good Gollum. But then they used a different sort of CGI and he had a physical presence there, but they animated around him. The other LOTR stuff and Avatar were improvements over the usual CGI flaws too. CGI is so overused however and most movies lack realism for it. I like to see a more resourceful director's take. I'm the odd one out at my high school for feeling that way, but I think todays stuff look fake while the old days were more real

[tomkes100]

this horror film histirian lves this and i have TIYL on dvd. it takes me back 1957. jACK PIERCE the best makeup man in the world indeed tragically mistreated. its a gem. i love this tribute genuine heart & soul here. these old Universal shockers we need more of. i love these old classic horrors abd the men who made them. any feedback and lets discuss the great JP or Karloff or THIS IS YOUR LIFE. Thanks fans.TOMK a man who knows oh how i know

[cha5]

"The best makeup man in the world"

Truer words were never spoken.

R.I.P Boris Karloff and Jack Pierce.

[AvuncularFeldspar]

Someone noted Karloff's real name (William Henry Pratt). Does anyone know if he went by "Boris" in his every day life?

[Drac39]

Yeah he did but for legal documents he signed by Prat and never legally changed his name

[telecaster1963]

When an old one tries to prevent two young people to love each other we can call it: useless precaution.

But, I advise you to Go wikipedia and see "Boris Karloff" and "Anna Leonowen". You'll see it was no cigar.

[telecaster1963]

Part of his ancestors were from India. Indians are a very beautiful people

[keywestredbeard]

Just Awesome! Boris Karloff's performance as Frankenstein's monster set the bar for later films. He's played several of the most famous monsters in film history. Thank you!!

[westfield90]

this is awesome. Thank you for posting this

[Daracdor]

In early 60`s when I was a lil lad .. His Frankenstien movies scared me so much ..I had to have company even to go to the Toilet . But even then at that early age I knew the monster wanted love ... but , still scared me . It was quite a few years later that I actualy saw Boris as Himself and not the Monster in another movie . He was a Teddy Bear of a man & not the monster at all. I wish I could have met him .... Love you Boris .

[MitcheruUSA62]

What does these posts have ANYTHING to do with Mr Karloff's contribution to movie history and this video? Some people are amazingly... naiive!!

[DAT573]

BORIS KARLOFF, was a very handsome man.

[azulo65]

The upper class - upper caste? Brahman? - Indians would have spoken English as they often served in the British adinistration. It was probably very similar to the situation today in India with wealthier Indians speaking English and poorer Indians speaking native languages/dialects.

[azulo65]

I guess they just fell in love - you can never really explain love can you? :)

[azulo65]

Since Karloff was of English descent I don't think it applies because I don't believe interracial marriage was ever illegal in the UK. I think the English actress Merle Oberon had an Indian mother and her parents relationship wasn't illegal. I'm pretty sure these laws against interracial marriage were largely in the US, in the southern states mostly.

[azulo65]

I think it was just marriages between whites and blacks that were banned and just in some states in the USA, not all.

[khein1967]

Thanks for this wonderful post, very special. Horror Magic live for Ever !

[brainyidiot]

Boris Karloff was actually English whose real name was William Henry Pratt. He had a great great grandmother who was of Indian origin.

[klickenpod]

I LOVE his speaking voice. We need men like him to revive that garbage we call the horror genre now.

[Drac39]

Surely someone with his creativity in make-up. Most of the film make-up today is so uninspired and allows for no facial movement which makes performances weaker. Pierce's makeup highlighted Karloff's performance

[klickenpod]

so true!

[soshanna1]

my favourite horror actor of all time, and a perfect gentleman.

[emoviebuff87]

I heard alot of negative stories about Jack Pierce. I guess it came from the snobby movie stars that didn't like being made up!!! Jack Pierce should have not been fired from universal!!! they brought in that snobby bud westmore!!

[ScottEssman]

He was supposed to be grouchy with people he didn't know, and he definitely didn't get along with Lon Chaney, Jr. that well, but Karloff obviously loved him. And he works surely stands the test of time.

[Crackpot7272]

This is wonderful! Boris always looked so lovely-such a distinctive face!

[anton1990]

Even though Bela is and will always be my favorite, Boris is also very very dear to me. Such a gentleman, and wonderful actor.

[ScottEssman]

Good point... I personally know several people who met Pierce towards the end of his life and felt he was a crusty old bastard, but I would have loved to have met him and I'm sure that he would have loved the accolades, such as in my Pierce DVD where he kept the letter from Dick Smith in his scrapbook... in this video, he is clearly overjoyed because it's Karloff... not sure how he would have been at the end of his life when he was out of work and arthritic...Pierce is my personal hero forever!

[pylgrym]

Boy! I was surprised how fast the tears came! has everyone read the nice little anecdotal bio, "KARLOFF: The Man Remembered" by lifetime fan Gordon Shriver? Nice!

[MeAndMyRC]

Karloff will always be the master of horror to ME

[batmankeith1]

I do not understand,why the man Frankenstein will not resurrect Boris Karloff!

[GCNetwork]

This man... he was brilliant and one of a kind... I miss Boris... one of the greatest icons in cinema history...

[jksonny]

Thank you for posting! I'm a huge Karloff fan/Universal horror buff and it's great to see Boris with Jack Pierce. Pierce was a genuis and was badly mistreated by the studio. He should have been a multi-millionaire. It's also nice to see that Karloff and Pierce genuinely liked each other.

[godzzla]

Thank you for posting this. Wonderful Boris with the man that created the most classic monsters of all time. Jack Pierce was responsible for some amazing creations, especially with what he had to work with. My favorite is probably the wolfman and I could never figure out as a kid how Lon Chaney Jr. was under that makeup, even after watching him transform. It didn't look like him at all, but he sure scared me as a kid. Fantastic.

[dermott37]

Excellent stuff,the only interview as such ive ever seen,there must be a proper interview out there somewhere,id like to also see a a pete lorre and rathbone one too!

[GCNetwork]

Boris Karloff was so special (and still is to this day)... he truly was one of as kind and is GREATLY missed... One of the best...

[electricland]

Jack Pierce was responsible for the monsters at Universal. The creations who remain icons now and for always.

[9aspengold5]

Boris may have acted some of the scariest characters in film, but he was known as the kindest and most generous person of his time in real life.

[filmaddict818]

Do you have the rest of this, I'd love to see it.

[ScottEssman]

It's available on the whole THIS IS YOUR LIFE with BORIS KARLOFF.

[anton1990]

Good ol Jack. After Chaney, he truely was the greatest.

[filmaddict818]

this is great, 5 stars. I have always wantedto see this archive footage of the two together. Thankyou.

[mstrsims2]

Boris was very surprised at the whole concept of him being the guest person on THIS IS YOUR LIFE. He was very happy to see Jack.

Thanks for posting this Scott

[ScottEssman]

Agreed. Sadly, at this time Pierce was working on B movies (Bullwhip is mentioned by Ralph Edwards and he did grade Z horror). But his spirits seem good when he meets Boris. Pierce is 68 here and Karloff is 70.