Original mystery of the wax musuem, the 1933 movie poster. I revel in mystery of the wax museum for the sublime, unintentionally. This film is full of unexpected twists and turns as should be any good mystery. Offered by kirby mcdaniel movieart of austin, texas. Its twocolor technicolor had faded to the point of monochrome, but fortunately its original hues were. Mystery of the wax museum 1933 18 the house of stuff. This is a long lost color print, unearthed by the american film institute, of a precode horror classic about a deranged wax sculptor who almost loses his life in a fire set by his partner. The lighting by master cinematographer ray rennahan and the frequently abstract set designs by anton. Mystery of the wax museum 1933 mystery of the wax museum. Niagara falls has a ton of wax museums, especially on the canadian side of the falls. This makes it a natural fit for a movie that wants to shock and scare and offend its audience. Oct 06, 2014 mystery of the wax museum is a film about a wax museum, whereas house of wax is a film about a sculptor gone mad.
I have already explained in complete detail at talk. House of wax is a 1953 american color 3d horrorthriller film directed by andre detoth. The original is included here,and its still good fun. Mystery of the wax museum has apparently been restored through cooperation of ucla, warners and the film foundation. The version used for screencaps here is the version included as a bonus on the house of wax dvd, and is very inaccurate in terms of color and an insult to the original cinematography. Mystery of the wax museum is a 1933 horror film directed by michael curtiz and starring lionel atwill, glenda farrell, and fay wray. It is you who is refusing to explain why you wish to retain the clearly incorrect and incomplete portions which i have completed and corrected. 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. Oct 29, 20 the mystery of the wax museum 1933 posted on october 29, 20 october 9, 2015 author emily 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. Published for the wisconsin center for film and theater research by the university of wisconsin press, 1979 ocolc567698378. Lionel atwill is a deranged waxworks genius, in mystery of the wax.
Long thought lost, the mystery of the wax museum was rediscovered in jack warners personal film collection in 1970. The mystery of the wax museum turner classic movies. 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. This is somewhat unfair, however, as although this film isnt a brilliant masterpiece, or even genre classic, it. Mystery of the wax museum is a film about a wax museum, whereas house of wax is a film about a sculptor gone mad. 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. Peary is less than impressed by this oncelost early horror film, lamenting that it has several dull stretches, unfunny comedy, and uninteresting subplots. The only other film to use this process was doctor x from 1932. Mystery of the wax museum brought back memories of a trip beth and i took to niagara falls around 1986. The mystery of the wax museum 1933 rotten tomatoes. The mystery of the wax museum 1933 michael curtiz synopsis. Lionel atwill and fay wray in mystery of the wax museum 1933 monica bannister and glenda farrell in mystery. Mystery of the wax museum is a bit of an oddity in that its a 1930s horror film shot entirely in color.
The late fay wray is showcased here in this preking kong horror movie. The story revolves around a reporter who suspects that the bodies that have been disappearing at the morgue are finding themselves inside a museum molded as famous characters from history. This 1933 thriller vividly stands apart from every other horror film of that early talkie. 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. When his partner, joe worth edwin maxwell, burns down the museum for the insurance. 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. 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. The film stars lionel atwill, fay wray, glenda farrell, and frank mchugh.
Bill chambers film freak central august 4, 2003 mystery of the wax museum is not without its drawing cards, but its nowhere near as fun as its eventual remake. Mystery of the wax museum is a 1933 film about the disappearances of people and corpses which leads a reporter to a wax museum and a sinister sculptor. 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. Also, the bitterness of the main character is more apparent. Fans tend to dismiss mystery, but i think its equally as good as the legendary vincent price film. Original mystery of the wax musuem, the 1933 movie. The film stars vincent price as a disfigured sculptor who repopulates his destroyed wax museum by murdering people and using their waxcoated corpses as displays. Just like doctor x, mystery of the wax museum was apparently missing from sight for many a year, but is now back in circulation for all to enjoy.
Instead of dying in the blaze, he returns for revenge, hiding his horribly disfigured face behind a wax mask. The disappearance of people and corpses leads a reporter to a wax museum and a sinister sculptor. Thus, the stage is set for the climactic race to prevent the strappeddown charlotte from being permanently encased in wax. Mystery of the wax museum is rare in the fact that it was filmed in the twocolor technicolor film process. Thanks to the meticulous new restoration presented on this disc, the film can now be experienced as intended. Produced in the fall of 1932 and released in february 1933, mystery of the wax museum was the last feature film to be shot in the technicolor twocolor process, and it represents one of the most effective uses of it in terms of visual design. 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. Sculptor ivan igor struggles in vain to prevent his partner from burning his wax museum, and his children.
While theres some truth to this assessment, i think its unduly harsh. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing mystery of the wax museum near you. Nevertheless, no matter how convincing or complete the likeness is. Mystery of the wax museum cast and crew cast photos and info. I remember visiting movieland museum of stars, louis tussauds wax museum and the criminals hall of. Remade in 1953 as house of wax, which like its predecessor was used as a showcase for a new form of film technology. I remember visiting movieland museum of stars, louis tussauds wax museum and the criminals hall of fame wax museum. It premiered in new york on april 10, 1953, and had a general release on april. 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. 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.
House of wax the mystery of the wax museum dvd netflix. Mystery of the wax museum is a very interesting movie for fans of house of wax, and a definitive mustsee for those interested in horror movies of the 30s. 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. Genres horror subgenres gothic film release date feb 18, 1933 usa unknown. It is you who is refusing to explain why you wish to retain the clearly incorrect and incomplete portions which i have completed. Fay wray here completed a trio of films with atwill following dr. 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. Despite its flaws, mystery of the wax museum is thankfully with us again after so many years of hibernation in jack warners private vaults. 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. 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. Original movie poster for mystery of the wax musuem, the 1933 20552 mystery of the wax museum original warner brothers scene lobby card 11x14. The last major studio production filmed in twocolor technicolor, mystery of the wax museum was a followup to warner bros. Mystery of the wax museum 1933 ivan igor lionel atwill is the sculptor at a famous wax museum in london. An original film score for orchestra and an analysis outlining the evolution of film music through american horror films of the early 1930s 2017. 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. Jan 21, 2017 mystery of the wax museum 1933 from warner bros. When sculptor ivan igors wax museum is burned down by his treacherous partner, he is left devastated. An original film score for orchestra and an analysis outlining the evolution of film music through american horror films of. Todays episode features the highly underrated 1933 classic, mystery of the wax museum, starring fay wray and lionel atwill. A disfigured wax museum artist finds an easier, if not legal, way of making. The story revolves around a reporter who suspects that the bodies that have been disappearing at the morgue are finding themselves inside a.
Mystery of the wax museum all of the necessary corrections to be made within the article. Mystery of the wax museum 1933 classic horror movies. The mystery of the wax museum 1933 the vintage cameo. Years later, igor starts a new museum in new york, but his maimed hands confine him to directing lesser artists. 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. Doctor x and mystery of the wax museum classic movie hub. 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.
Produced with a primitive 2color process, the movie may stand apart from the decades other classic offerings by way of its presentation, but takes. Rent house of wax the mystery of the wax museum 1953 starring vincent price and frank lovejoy on dvd and bluray. Filmed in the twocolor technicolor process in 1933, mystery looks very good for its age and history, although it has more than its share of rough edges. One of the talkies early horror classics, the mystery of the wax museum is a crackling good thriller thats a great deal of fun. Mystery of the wax museum, sometimes referred to simply as wax museum, was produced by warner brothers to capitalize on the fad for horror films at that time, ranging from the nowlegendary universal franchise of horror films to lowbudget independent productions like white zombie 1932. Noted as the last featurelength film photographed in technicolors twocolor system, mystery of the wax museum reunited director michael curtiz casablanca with actors fay wray and lionel atwill, plus key technicians from the 1932 twocolor horror flick, doctor x. Igor takes a sinister interest in charlotte, fiancee of his assistant ralph, but arouses the suspicions of roommate, wisecracking reporter florence. 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. 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. Michael curtizs mystery of the wax museum is a fun and curious little film.
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