Classic Horror Actors

A short tribute to that glorious assortment of murderers, madmen and flat-out monsters who made the classic horror films of the thirties and forties such fun to watch. The still frames are accompanied by the late Tony Jay's magnificent rendition of "Hellfire". The running order is:

Tod Slaughter in "Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn" (1935)
Claude Rains in "Phantom of the Opera" (1943)
George Zucco in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" (1939)
Lionel Atwill in "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon" (1942)
Ernest Thesiger in "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935)
Henry Daniell in "The Woman in Green" (1945)
Boris Karloff in "The Black Cat" (1934)
Bela Lugosi in "Dracula" (1931)

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Tod
• Slaughter
• Claude
• Rains
• George
• Zucco
• Lionel
• Atwill
• Ernest
• Thesiger
• Henry
• Daniell
• Boris
• Karloff
• Bela
• Lugosi
• Horror

[imlaughing2death]

I know most of them, (my favorite is Karloff) but who's the first man and the one after Ernest Thesinger?

[ImhotepsAshes]

@imlaughing2death The first man is Tod Slaughter, great actor of British melodramas, the most famous being the 1936 'Sweeney Todd'. The one after Thesiger is Henry Daniell, shown here as Moriarty in 'The Woman in Green' but probably best known for 'The Body Snatcher' opposite Karloff and Lugosi. They more than deserve their places in the horror hall of fame!

[ChildOfTheWilderness]

Claude Rains was better as The Invisible Man

The greatest Phantom is Lon Chaney Sr

[ImhotepsAshes]

I agree with you on both counts! However, I wanted to be able to show Claude Rains' real face, so I couldn't use pictures from 'The Invisible Man' - the same thing with Chaney really, which is why I left him out.

[MrsLonChaney]

not that I'm not grateful for the lovely shots of Claude Rains, but Lon chaney's Phantom surpasted his 10x.

[ImhotepsAshes]

I'd be ridiculous not to agree, but I wanted to get images with the real faces of the actors visible. And with Chaney, that can become something of a problem! I'll have to track down 'The Penalty' or 'The Unknown'.

[mxylpx]

I just chanced up your gem! Outstanding collection of great actors of a sinister persuasion and great commentators to boot! Keep them coming.

[sickkat44]

lionel atwill seems to be forgotten but was such an integral part of the universal horror films, always great when he's on screen, he adds so many little quirks to his parts.

[tomkes100]

MajorSecond thanks.Universal was King in horror & the musical scores. the 30s&40s were golden years.But lets not forget believe it or cheapies PRC & Monogram who had their own orchestras giving mrmorable music.Majestic too. This is up my alley these classic films& actors& the music.i discuss this in m website to old actirs&films.I knew many character actors&supporting players from horror&classsic films. you can e mail me anytime.these films live endure for ETERNITY.thanks. TOMK a man who knows

[MajorSecord]

search "Flash Gordon the music" and click on Tony LoBue's website for clips of all the great 1930s Universal music

[MajorSecord]

I grew up watching this stuff on tv in the 60s--Universal had the best-paced, atmospheric horror films in large part because of the great music. Starting with The Invisible Man and The Werewolf of London through The Bride of Frankenstein and Son of Frankenstein, everyone of those flicks had spectacular soundtracks. Someone found some of the charts and a few years ago certain scores were recorded by full symphony orchestras and released on cd.

[tomkes100]

this horror film historian has his own website dedicated to 300 character actors i knew personally not to mention big name stars of yesteryear. i love these old horror gems universal at its best. Zucco, Frye Atwill, Rains Thesiger,Rathbone, the list is endless, PHANTOM 43 was Rains best film. acid&chandelier scenes UNFORGETTABLE. Ah for the old films

& actors of yesteryear. Thanks folks. I cherish all thrse films now in dvd. How about some feeback from you film fans. thanks.TOMK

[chiliheadwizard]

But I want to see what the Invisible Man looks like. (Chortles and ducks rotten tomatoes...)

[Pikatroid42]

Disney movies back then were so much better than now. Pixar movies are good though.