Mystery of the wax museum 1933 ivan igor lionel atwill is the sculptor at a famous wax museum in london. Mystery of the wax museum 1933 18 the house of stuff. Mystery of the wax museum is rare in the fact that it was filmed in the twocolor technicolor film process. A scene from the 1933 film mystery of the wax museum with lionel atwill, glenda farrell and fay wray. The disappearance of people and corpses leads a reporter to a wax museum and a. The film we see today is taken from jack warners personal collection and was a 35mm nitrate print of the film thought long lost. This newer version is far superior,with a better script,cast and production. This is somewhat unfair, however, as although this film isnt a brilliant masterpiece, or even genre classic, it has a right to remembered in its own right. Mystery of the wax museum was one of three warner bros. While theres some truth to this assessment, i think its unduly harsh. There is some good acting in this film and the great glenda farrell, as the girl reporter suspicious of what is going on at the museum, is responsible for moving the film along quite briskly. Noted as the last featurelength film photographed in technicolors twocolor system, mystery of the wax museum reunited director michael curtiz casablanca with. It focuses on the efforts of a protagonist to solve the mystery by means of clues, investigation, and deduction. Kudos must be given to cinematographer ray rennahan for the visual feast he gives the audience.
The mystery of the wax museum, a twotone technicolor mystery from 1933, was a great scheduling pick from the new beverly theater on this week of creeps leading up to halloween. Mystery of the wax museum is a bit of an oddity in that its a 1930s horror film shot entirely in color. Were your movie poster source for new releases and vintage movie posters. This is somewhat unfair, however, as although this film isnt a brilliant masterpiece, or even genre classic, it. It was meant to be a horror film, but got more than a little confused with a mix of awkward comic relief and romance added along the way.
Mystery of the wax museum is a 1933 american precode mysteryhorror film directed by michael curtiz and released by warner bros. The use of color for a horror film may have been ground breaking in 1933, universal wouldnt do a color horror movie until the science fiction era. Directed by michael curtizwho would later win an oscar for helming a little film called casablancathe film is a curious mixture of vincent price spooks, quick screwball comedy banter, and a dash of german. Mystery of the wax museum is a 1933 american precode mystery horror film directed by michael curtiz and released by warner bros. The mystery of the wax museum is one hour and seventeen minutes long and was released on february 17, 1933. Read the full synopsis of mystery of the wax museum, 1933, directed by michael curtiz, with lionel atwill, fay wray, glenda farrell, at turner classic movies. Produced with a primitive 2color process, the movie may stand apart from the decades other classic offerings by way of its presentation, but takes its place right alongside them in both quality and execution. Its difficult to believe this film was made in 1933. Mystery of the wax museum 1933 page 19 classic horror. Lionel atwill plays ivan igor, a brilliant sculptor who manages a wax museum. The mystery of the wax museum 1933 the vintage cameo.
Nov 23, 2018 mystery of the wax museum is solid film for its time. The mystery of the wax museum 1933 rotten tomatoes. Original movie poster for mystery of the wax musuem, the 1933 20552 mystery of the wax museum original warner brothers scene lobby card 11x14. Mystery of the wax museum is a 1933 horror film directed by michael curtiz and starring lionel atwill, glenda farrell, and fay wray. Released in february 1933, it was one of the earliest experiments with color film as well as one of the earliest treatments of a now wellknown mystery plot, topped with an intriguing visual style and.
Mystery of the wax museum movie posters from movie poster. The mystery of the wax museum begins in london in the 1920s. A mystery film is a genre of film revolving around the solution to a problem or a crime. Sculptor ivan igor struggles in vain to prevent his partner from burning his wax museum, and his children. The remake is a light thriller for kids, and the original is a stunning horrorshow from a time in hollywood when the genre was a picture subject matter. Based on a 1932 short story called the wax works by charles beldon, the movie has been restored when it was rediscovered and is often available with its. Oct 11, 20 the nitrate diva has some excellent film theory for you on this one about how mystery at the wax museum can be seen as a metaphor for film itself. A young charles bronson is given atwills character name of igor, but its perceived more as a callback to the universal horror assistant instead of a tribute to the earlier film. Bet ya didnt know that the original house of wax was a remake.
Mystery of the wax museum 1933 halloween horror picks. The film was actually thought to have been lost until the early 60s. When sculptor ivan igors wax museum is burned down by his treacherous partner, he is left devastated. By the way, the 1975 maltin movie guide that does list mystery of the wax museum does not list freaks, which was certainly not a lost film so motwm omission in earlier guides is no evidence of when it became available. Mystery of the wax museum is a 1933 horror film directed by michael curtiz and starring lionel atwill, glenda farrell, and fay wray when sculptor ivan igors wax museum is burned down by his treacherous partner, he is left devastated. Handsome to look at check out igors lab, complete with a bubbling jacuzzi of liquid wax and with a great atmosphere, mystery of the wax museum may not be a top notch horror of the day, with too many distractions, but its one of the fondest remembered. Feared to be lost for many years, mystery of the wax museum gained a mighty reputation when film historians memories of the movie were jogged by the 1953 3d remake, house of wax.
Some actors had so much time between their kong periods that they were able to fully complete work on other films. The film stars lionel atwill, fay wray, glenda farrell, and frank mchugh. Mystery of the wax museum was made by warner brothers and seems to have been a big production, as it was filmed in technicolor. There are some odd editing choices, a few boring stretches, and i dont love the ending, but this is a fun movie and it has certainly got it going on. Feared to be lost for many years, mystery of the wax museum gained a mighty reputation when film historians memories of the movie were jogged by the 1953. Todays episode features the highly underrated 1933 classic, mystery of the wax museum, starring fay wray and lionel atwill. Regarding his historical creations as his friends, igor refuses the entreaties of his business partner, joe worth edwin maxwell, to turn his laboroflove museum into a more profitable house of horror. In this episode, filmmaker matt dinan joins ryan to talk about one of the earliest color horror films mystery of the wax museum 1933. Buy mystery of the wax museum movie posters from movie poster shop. These days, mystery of the wax museum has become best known for the fact that it was the film that spawned the 1953 classic starring vincent price. But it is complete and intact, and the warner engineers have carefully refurbished its thin soundtrack.
Directed by michael curtiz, mystery of the wax museum was considered a lost film for a long time. In this episode of pop culture beasts halloween horror picks, filmmaker matt dinan joins me to talk about one of the earliest color horror films mystery of the wax museum 1933. These guides were not definitive listings of all the movies available at the time. Apr 07, 2012 mystery of the wax museum is a bit of an oddity in that its a 1930s horror film shot entirely in color. Also, the bitterness of the main character is more apparent. Ten years later in thenpresent day new york, he opens a new. Not only that for one thing, this film satisfies because its less a showcase for the main, dastardly character. Michael curtizs mystery of the wax museum is a fun and curious little film. Mystery of the wax museum is solid film for its time.
Igor takes a sinister interest in charlotte, fiancee of his assistant ralph, but arouses the suspicions of roommate, wisecracking reporter florence. Peary is less than impressed by this oncelost early horror film, lamenting that it has several dull stretches, unfunny comedy, and uninteresting subplots. Released in 1933 by warner brothers and vitaphone it demonstrates one of the last commercial uses of the technicolor twostrip process. Mystery of the wax museum 1933 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Movie, mystery of the wax museum movie,mystery of the wax museum trailer, mystery of the wax museum 1933, michael curtiz,fay wray. Released in february 1933, it was one of the earliest experiments with color film as well as one of the earliest treatments of a now wellknown mystery plot, topped with an intriguing visual style and some horror icons in fine form for good measure. When this film was remade as house of wax with vincent price, i was very eager to see it and compare the two wax films. The film was actually thought to have been lost until the. Produced with a primitive 2color process, the movie may stand apart from the decades other classic offerings by way of its presentation, but takes its place right alongside them in.
King kong was filmed in several stages over an eightmonth period. It was restored and released in 1970 and we now have a great. The late fay wray is showcased here in this preking kong horror movie. Lionel atwill and fay wray in mystery of the wax museum 1933 matthew. When his partner, joe worth edwin maxwell, burns down the museum for the insurance. Filmed in the early twocolor technicolor process, the mystery of the wax museum was considered a lost film for decades, until a wellworn print was discovered nearly 50 years ago. Does anyone know if the 1953 house of wax bluray recent release nov 2017 release date in the uk contains the 33 mystery of the wax museum as a bonafide hidef extra, or, more likely, is it just a standard dvdlevel affair. The nitrate diva has some excellent film theory for you on this one about how mystery at the wax museum can be seen as a metaphor for film itself. Original mystery of the wax musuem, the 1933 movie poster. Mystery of the wax museum 1933 page 18 classic horror. Mystery of the wax museum is a film about a wax museum, whereas house of wax is a film about a sculptor gone mad. Years later, igor starts a new museum in new york, but his maimed hands confine him to directing lesser artists. Regarding his historical creations as his friends, igor refuses the entreaties of his business partner, joe worth edwin maxwell, to turn his labor of love museum into a more profitable house of horror. Heres the real original in fact, it was a play even before this, a 1933 film that is strikingly similar to the vincent price horror film, but which also borrows heavily from thenpopular vampire movies.
This film, along with warners doctor x, were the last dramatic fiction films made using the twocolor technicolor process. Jul 06, 2011 mystery of the wax museum is a great early horror film. Cabot completed road house and wray appeared in the horror films dr. It has a great protagonist, awesome set design, excellent fight scenes, and a surprising twist. The mystery of the wax museum warner brothers, 1933. Offered by kirby mcdaniel movieart of austin, texas. That uses the process combined red and green dyes to create a color image with a reduced spectrum.
House of wax is purely gothic horror, which may be an outgrowth of the first films prologue. Thanks to the meticulous new restoration presented on this disc, the film can now be experienced as intended. Starring lionel atwill, fay wray, glenda farrell, frank mchugh, allen vincent, gavin gordon, holmes herbert, claude king and arthur edmund carewe. Original mystery of the wax musuem, the 1933 movie. The only other film to use this process was doctor x from 1932. Aug 05, 2012 a scene from the 1933 film mystery of the wax museum with lionel atwill, glenda farrell and fay wray. Mystery of the wax museum was filmed with a unique two color process that works rather well. Funding provided by the george lucas family foundation documentary. The original is included here,and its still good fun. Mystery of the wax museum is a great early horror film.
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