Friday, June 29, 2012

Movie Monsters BEFORE They Were Famous: Film List



Whenever the subject of classic monster movies turns up, our thoughts immediately revert to the old Universal horror pictures and the stars that immortalized them. However, long before Bela Lugosi haunted movie theaters as the cruel bloodsucking Count, before Boris Karloff gave audiences nightmares as the gruesome undead Mummy or as Frankenstein's creature that was put together from parts of the dead, and much earlier before Claude Rains ever gave audiences chills, thrills, and shocks as the maniacal Invisible Man, film directors had been terrifying filmgoers since 1896 with demons, witches, vampires, ghosts, ogres, werewolves, and other frightening creatures. Unfortunately, most of these films never achieved the popularity or acclaim associated with the stylish motion pictures from Universal, but they did provide entertainment for the masses with early interpretations of macabre tales, such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame or the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, before they were given the star treatment by the likes of Lon Chaney or John Barrymore.

Sicko-Psychotic pays tribute to these lesser-known silent screams that featured many famous monsters before they became famous in later pictures. This list archives early appearances by Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, Mr. Edward Hyde, the Invisible Man, Quasimodo, and the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow, as well as generalized vampires, werewolves, and mummies. They're all here... and, although many remain unfortunately lost films, there is always hope that we will someday be able to view them for ourselves as numerous silent films are slowly beginning to resurface and reintroduced to the public and a new generation of monster fans!


Cléopâtre (1899; a.k.a. Cleopatra's Tomb) -- first appearance of a Mummy
The Haunted Curiosity Shop (1901) -- a living Mummy briefly appears before turning into a skeleton
La Esméralda (1906; a.k.a. Esmeralda) -- first adaption of The Hunchback of Notre Dame; lost film
Les Invisibles (1906; a.k.a. The Invisible Thief; The Invisible Men) -- Invisible Men are featured; lost film
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Selig Polyscope; 1908) -- first adaption of the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; lost film
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Kalem; 1908) -- second film adaption of the tale; lost film
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1908) -- first adaption of story and appearance of the Headless Horseman; lost film
The Hunchback (1909) -- second appearance by Quasimodo; lost film
L'Homme Invisible (1909; a.k.a. The Invisible Thief) -- inspired by H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man, a thief makes himself invisible
A Modern Dr. Jekyll (Selig Polyscope; 1909) -- comedy version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with Henry Arthur Barrows; lost film
La Momie du Roi (1909; a.k.a. The Mummy of the King of Ramses) -- a Mummy appears; lost film
The Duality of Man (1910) -- an adaption of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; lost film
Frankenstein (1910) -- first film version of the story
Hugo the Hunchback (1910) -- based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame; lost film
The Love of a Hunchback (1910) -- based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame; lost film
The Romance of the Mummy (1910) -- based on a book by Theophile Gautier; lost film
Den Skaebnesvangre Opfindelse (1909; a.k.a. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) -- fourth appearance by Mr. Edward Hyde; lost film
Wanted - A Mummy (1910) -- a man disguises himself as a Mummy; lost film
The Mummy (1911) -- a Pathé film featuring a man impersonating a Mummy; lost film
The Mummy (1911) -- a Thanhouser film featuring a girl turned into a Mummy by electricity; lost film
The Mummy (1911) -- an Urban film featuring a Mummy come to life; lost film
Notre Dame de Paris (1911) -- based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame; lost film
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1912) -- starring James Cruze
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1912) -- second film adaption of story and appearance by the Headless Horseman; lost film
The Secrets of House No. 5 (1912) -- first film to feature the appearance of a Vampire; lost film
The Vampire Dancer (1912) -- features an exotic dancer who plays a vampire on stage
The Vengeance of Egypt (1912) -- a Mummy curses a stolen ring until it is returned; lost film
When Soul Meets Soul (1912) -- a mummified Egyptian Princess is reunited with her reincarnated lover; lost film
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913) -- starring King Baggot
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913) -- a Kineto-Kinemacolor film; first colorized version of tale; lost film
The Egyptian Mummy (1913) -- once again, a man disguises himself as a Mummy; lost film
A Modern Dr. Jekyll and Hyde (1913) -- starring Robert Broderick; lost film
Notre Dame (1913) -- based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Vampire (1913) -- Much like a succubus, Alice Eis does her famous "Vampire" dance for her male victim
The Vampire (1913) -- This Searchlight film from Great Britain features a female who turns into a snake; lost film
The Vampire of the Desert (1913) -- features a woman with hypnotic powers. Based on a poem by Rudyard Kipling; lost film
Vampyren (1913; a.k.a. The Vampire) -- Lili Bech stars in this Gothic film which is reported to feature a Vampire; lost film
The Werewolf (1913) -- first appearance of a werewolf on film; lost film
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Starlight; 1914) -- parody; lost film
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Done to a Frazzle (Warner Brothers; 1914) -- spoof; Charlie de Forrest as J&H; lost film
The Egyptian Mummy (1914) -- comedy with Joel Day as the Mummy
Ein Seltsamer Fall (1914) -- based on Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Naidra, the Dream Worker (1914) -- featuring a Mummy and its curse; lost film
The Strange Story of Sylvia Gray (1914) -- although Dr. Frankenstein appears, it is not based on Mary W. Shelley's novel; lost film 
The Temptations of Joseph (1914) -- featuring a lustful Mummy; lost film
The Vampire (1914) -- a man attempts to murder his wife with narcotics and a Vampire bat; lost film
La Torre dei Vampiri (1914; a.k.a. The Vampire's Tower) -- Ambrosia film, but unknown if the title character is a "vamp" or actually a Vampire; lost film
Vampires of the Night (1914) -- Greene's Feature Photo Plays. Unknown if title characters are "vamps" or Vampires; lost film
The White Wolf (1914) -- a Werewolf transforms back into a Native-American shaman; lost film
The Devil's Daughter (1915) -- reportedly a Vampire movie; lost film
The Dust of Egypt (1915) -- an Egyptian Princess returns to life as a living Mummy; lost film
The Fox Woman (1915) -- a female "vamp" is featured, but a supernatural power is hinted at; lost film
Horrible Hyde (1915) -- based on Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde; lost film
Life Without Soul (1915) -- based on Mary W. Shelley's Frankenstein; lost film
The Live Mummy (1915) -- yet again, a man poses as an Egyptian Mummy; lost film
Miss Jekyll and Madame Hyde (1915) -- based loosly on Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde; lost film
The Missing Mummy (1915) -- a man disguises himself as a Mummy; lost film
Was She A Vampire? (1915) -- Universal film. Unknown if title character was a "vamp" or Vampire; lost film
When the Mummy Cried for Help (1915) -- Universal picture about a man dressed as a Mummy; lost film
The Wraith of the Tomb (1915; a.k.a. The Avenging Hand) -- a Mummy's hand that kills; lost film
The Elixir of Life (1916) -- a Mummy returns to life; lost film
Homunculus (1916) -- 6-chapter serial based loosely on Mary W. Shelley's Frankenstein; partially lost
Luke's Double (1916) -- a man dreams of his own version of Mr. Edward Hyde; lost film
The Mysteries of Myra (1916) -- 15-chapter serial borrows much from Frankenstein; partially lost
Nächte des Grauens (1916; a.k.a. A Night of Horror; Night of Terror; A Night of Horror in the Menagerie) -- features Vampire-like people; lost film
The Darling of Paris (1917) -- based on The Hunchback of Notre Dame; lost film
Dr. Jekyll (1917) -- film may or may not have ever existed
The Undying Flame (1917) -- features a Mummy; lost film
The Voice on the Wire (1917) -- 15-chapter serial features Mummification; lost film
Die Augen der Mumie Ma (1918; a.k.a. The Eyes of the Mummy) -- a Mummy seeks vengeance
The Silent Mystery (1918) -- a Mummy's curse; lost film
Lilith and Ly (1919) -- a mystical ruby brings the Vampire Lilith back to life; lost film
Unheimliche Geschichten (1919; a.k.a. Eerie Tales; Tales of the Uncanny; Tales of Horror; Five Sinister Stories) -- Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde appear in one of the tales
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) -- comedy short starring Hank Mann; lost film
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) -- starring Sheldon Lewis
Dracula (1920) -- this Russian film is considered a rumor and there is no proof that it ever existed; lost film?
Happy Hooligan in: 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Zip' (1920) -- animated cartoon spoof
Der Januskopf (1920; a.k.a The Head of Janus; Janus-Faced; Love's Mockery) -- based on Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde; lost film
Sumurun (1920; a.k.a. One Arabian Night) -- similarities to The Hunchback of Notre Dame, features a ridiculed hunchback in love with a gypsy dancer
When Quackel Did Hyde (Aywon; 1920) -- short comedy; Charles Gramlich stars; lost film
Drakula Halála (1921; a.k.a. The Death of Dracula) -- a young girl dreams that an inmate from an insane asylum is the legendary Count; lost film
Il Mostro di Frankenstein (1921; a.k.a The Monster of Frankenstein; Frankenstein's Monster) -- based on Mary W. Shelley's Frankenstein; lost film
Esmeralda (1922; a.k.a. The Hunchback of Notre Dame) -- Quasimodo appears; lost film
The Headless Horseman (1922) -- based on Washington Itving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Nosferatu eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922; a.k.a. Nosferatu) -- unauthorized version of Dracula, was pulled from theaters after lawsuit. Now a classic
Le Loup-garou (1923; a.k.a. The Werewolf) -- a murderer is cursed into becoming a Werewolf; lost film
Tut-Tut and His Terrible Tomb (1923) -- living Munnmies are featured in this comedy; lost film
Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde (1925) -- parody of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Prem Ane Vaasna (1925; a.k.a. Wife and the Vampire) -- unknown if a Vampire actually appears in this film from India; lost film
Wolf Blood (1925) -- a man fears he is becoming a Werewolf
Mummy Love (1926) -- horror-comedy; lost film
London After Midnight (1927) -- a detective impersonates a gruesome Vampire; lost film





  

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