This Week in Horror: August 9 - 15

August 9
2005 – Matthew McGrory (actor in several horror films) dies (b. 1973)

August 10
2005 – Chaos (2005) released theatrically

August 11
1947 – Stuart Gordon (director of Re-Animator and Dagon) born
1980 – City of the Living Dead released theatrically
1989 – A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child released theatrically
1999 – System Shock 2 released on PC

August 12
1941 – Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) released theatrically
1991 – Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge released on the Game Boy in Japan

August 13
1899 – Alfred Hitchcock born (d. 1980)
1953 – The War of the Worlds (1953) released theatrically
1982 – Friday the 13th Part 3 released theatrically
1993 – Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday released theatrically
2004 – Alien vs. Predator released theatrically

August 14
1975 – The Rocky Horror Picture Show released theatrically

August 15
1986 – The Fly (1986) released theatrically
1986 – Manhunter released theatrically
1997 – Event Horizon released theatrically
2003 – Freddy vs. Jason released theatrically




Source: wikipedia Portal:Horror/This day in horror archive

Please leave a comment with any additions/corrections. Thanks.

This Week in Horror: April 26 - May 2

April 26
1956 – The Creature Walks Among Us released theatrically
1991 – Monsters ends its run on television
2002 – Jason X released theatrically
2005 – Resident Evil Outbreak File #2 released for the PlayStation 2 in North America

April 27
1980 – Mario Bava (director of horror films) dies (b. 1914)
1990 – Castlevania II: Simon's Quest released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in Euope

April 28


April 29
1980 – Alfred Hitchcock dies (b. 1899)
1981 – The Beyond released theatrically

April 30
2004 – Godsend released theatrically

May 1
1981 – Friday the 13th Part 2 released theatrically
1987 – Creepshow 2 released theatrically

May 2
1965 – Ari Lehman (actor who portrayed Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th) born
1972 – The Rock (actor in Doom) born
1989 – Society released theatrically
1999 – Oliver Reed (actor in several horror films) dies (b. 1938)




Source: wikipedia Portal:Horror/This day in horror archive

Please leave a comment with any additions/corrections. Thanks.

Back For Christmas

Halloween is over (sigh), but here's a little pre-Christmastime tale for you.

Escape's "Back for Christmas" was adapted from the short story of the same name by John Collier. Both Escape and Suspense presented this tale but without the gruesome elements of the original work. The radio dramatizations also added extra scenes to fill the half-hour format.

The story begins in England, inside the house of a professor of botany named Herbert Carpenter. He and his wife, Hermione, are soon to leave for an extended trip to America, where he will be lecturing.

Hermione is a shrew who keeps her husband under her constant control. She has planned every detail of their trip with precision and, to her annoyance, Herbert is not conforming with her plan. Instead, he is wasting time on a botanical project in their cellar. He is also lingering too long at the bookshop to chat with the bookseller, Miss Markham.

Hermione has promised all of their friends that they will be back for Christmas, but if Herbert has his way -- she won't be.

The radioplay performed on Escape had originally aired on Suspense on December 23, 1943. Peter Lorre played the role of the professor and his rendition of the hen-pecked husband gone mad is classic. The name of the actress who played Hermione is not given, but it was probably Jeanette Nolan.

Listen to "Back for Christmas".

The story was also produced as an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents in 1956. You can watch the full episode in a popout window by clicking on the picture below.





Source for radio broadcast: Escape and Suspense!

The Birds: The Birds Amass, The Children Run

I still get an uneasy feeling whenever I see a flock of birds massing together, because of this scene in the 1963 movie The Birds, directed by Alfred Hitchcock.


Cause here's what can happen.

Man From the South

Most people are probably familiar with some of the children's books by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, etc.).

He also wrote some great stories for grown-ups, 25 of which are included in The Best of Roald Dahl. This collection brings together Dahl's finest work, illustrating his genius for the horrific and grotesque.

One of my favorite stories in the collection is Man From the South.

This story was filmed twice as both 1960 and 1985 episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and also adapted into Quentin Tarantino's segment of the 1995 film Four Rooms. This bizarre, oft-anthologized suspense classic concerns a man residing in Jamaica who wagers with visitors in an attempt to claim the fingers from their hands.

The 1960 Hitchcock version stars Steve McQueen and Peter Lorre. Peter Lorre makes a bet with Steve McQueen that McQueen can't light his cigarette lighter ten times in a row. If McQueen does, he wins Lorre's new car. If he doesn't, Lorre gets to chop off McQeen's pinky.

A film adaptation of the story first aired on August 7, 1955 as an episode of Cameo Theatre.

It was later redone in 1979 with José Ferrer as an episode of the syndicated anthology Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected.

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ran from 1962-1965 for 93 hour-long episodes. It was a continuation of the dramatic anthology series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1962), hosted by the master of suspense and mystery. When the series was revived in 1962, episodes were extended to a full hour instead of 30 minutes and the name was changed, but the format stayed fairly true to the original. In each episode, viewers would be strung along with the story, never knowing which way the final twist would turn.

You can view full episodes of the series here.