This Week in Fright Film History May 7 - 13, 2017

Val Lewton  an American film producer and screenwriter, noted for a series of low-budget horror films he produced for RKO Pictures in the 1940s. was born on May 7,1904 in Yalta, Imperial Russia.  He is noted for creating  the "Lewton Bus” technique.  The "Lewton Bus” is  a scene that slowly builds tension and then gives the viewer an unexpected jolt with something that turns out to be completely harmless. The Lewton Bus was first used in Cat People (1942) and is a technique that is still used today, especially slasher films such as the Friday the 13th and the Halloween series films.

The Corpse Vanishes (1942) an American horror film starring Bela Lugosi, directed by Wallace Fox, and written by Harvey Gates was released on May 8, 1942. Lugosi plays a deranged scientist who murders virgin brides and injects their fluids his wife (Elizabeth Russell) in order to preserve her beauty.

Bedlam (1946) directed by Mark Robson, starring Boris Karloff, Anna Lee, and Billy House was released on May 10 1946. Bedlam  was the last in a series of horror films produced by Val Lewton for RKO Radio Pictures.

Jesús "Jess" Franco a Spanish film director, writer, cinematographer and actor noted for such films as  The Awful Dr. Orloff  (1962), Necronomicon (1967), Ninety-Nine Women (1968), The Bloody Judge (1969), Count Dracula (1969) and Vampyros Lesbos (1971) and  was born on May 12th  1930.

Werewolf of London (1935) an American horror movie starring Henry Hull and directed by Stuart Walker was released on May 13, 1935. Werewolf of London (1935) is credited with being  the first Hollywood werewolf movie.

Bride of the Monster (1955) starring Bela Lugosi, along with Tor Johnson, Tony McCoy and Loretta King Hadler was released on May 11, 1956. It was produced, directed and co-written by Edward D. Wood, Jr. and would be Lugosi last speaking role, Plan Nine from Outer Space (1956) would be his final film appearance.

Revenge of the Creature (1955) was the sequel to Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) and was the only 3-D film to be released in 1955 and the only 3-D sequel to a 3-D film. The movie was released May 11, 1955 and was Clint Eastwood’s first screen appearance in an uncredited role .