Greatest Horror Films: 1930's

A compendium of Hollywood's greatest classic horror films, targeted to tutor the uninitiated in the fine art of golden terror.

• Frankenstein: The archetype of the horror genre is at heart an emotive morality tale, entrenched equally in pastoral countryside and austere charnelhouse as the Monster's tragedy unfolds. Launched the careers of Boris Karloff and director James Whale in grand, Germanic style, two essential elements in horror history. 6#.
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: The vibrant and imaginative stylistics of director Rouben Mamoulian enhance this gritty drama of good and evil; the restrained, mannered Victorian versus age-old animal lust. Fredric March won a Best Actor Oscar for his dynamic efforts in the dual title role, and Miriam Hopkins is also brilliant. #2.
• White Zombie: Some of the most strikingly weird and hypnotic imagery in any horror film, with dancing shadows, glowing eyes, phantom heads, spiritual visions, and Bela Lugosi's haunting role as a reckless voodoo master. Notable for introducing undead zombies to cinema for the first time, as pallid, shuffling automons who slave on a sugar plantation. 7#.
• The Invisible Man: This classic story of meddling "in things man must leave alone" hasn't dated a day, retaining its absorbing drama, crazed scientific principles, and cruel wit in the person of Claude Rains. The marvellous special effects of John P. Fulton are seamless, unparalleled, and strangely beautiful, going miles beyond the hokey piano wire. 4#.
• King Kong: There's little left to say about the king of lost civilizations, imperiled heroines, stirring adventure, and really, really big apes. Possibly the definition of "movie milestone," it offers incredible fascination and entertainment even today, not least in its stunning technical wizardry. 5#.
• The Black Cat: Edgar Allan Poe would have reveled in this darkly suggestive, endlessly moody melodrama, displaying a twisted Bauhaus fortress plagued by bloody war and lurid Satanic worship. Slyly understated in its chilling horror and sexual sadism, this retains a nightmarish quality of inevitable doom - with Karloff and Lugosi, nonetheless! 3#.
• Bride of Frankenstein: Suppose that Shakespeare made a horror film - here it is, comedy, tragedy, and cinema history rolled into one audacious powerhouse. Revolutionary in its "camp" humour, eccentric character theatrics, and unreal stylization (not to mention a fabulous musical score), this is a genuine triumph of James Whale's directorial vision. #1.
• The Raven: Unprecedented Grand Guignol entertainment reigns in this insanity-fuelled, serial-like, comic strip torture tale. A true anomaly for Universal Pictures, as Lugosi was given the chance to dominate Karloff, and delivered the goods with wickedly bombastic, barnstorming flamboyance. 9#.
• Dracula's Daughter: Gloria Holden lends this vampire yarn a dignified melancholy and powerful belivability, despite lacking the infamous Count. A strangely sympathetic and rather spooky entry in a hopelessly stereotyped sub-genre, and the valuable inspiration for Anne Rice's phenomenally-popular Vampire Chronicles. 10#.
• Son of Frankenstein: Basil Rathbone (Sherlock Holmes himself), Karloff (in his most famous role), Lugosi, and Lionel Atwill (both at the peak of their talents in the finest roles of their careers), pad the cast of this monster myth. Epic in expressionistic sets and sprawling scope, this is the classic that relaunched Hollywood horror, ushering in a second Golden Age... 8#.

It was tough paring down the list of 1930's classics to ten films. Strongly considered were Bela Lugosi's legendary Count Dracula, Tod Browning's monster show using real-life Freaks, resurrected Egyptian Boris Karloff as The Mummy, Lionel Atwill scavenging the local morgue for beautiful corpses, ushering in the Mystery of the Wax Museum, Jack Pierce's makeup genius creating Henry Hull's WereWolf of London, Bela Lugosi's Gothic nightmare, struck by the Mark of the Vampire, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, played by the heartbreaking Charles Laughton, which comes in at a very close #11. The list goes on. Also, please keep in mind that there are more than a few holes in my viewing pattern. Having dusted off all the classics available to me, it becomes clear that there are hundreds of titles still missing on television, video, and DVD. As a result, this list will update as time goes on...