As Good as 1953 version?

I suspect this goes without saying for most of you on this thread who are clearly already fans of the vintage horror genre, but anyone loving any of the versions of this story has GOT to see 'Carry On Screaming' which sends up many old horror movies but has a particularly strong connection with the wax storyline. It's a real hoot, and is one of the Carry Ons that could stand alone outside of the series on its own strengths.

Sounds about right to me. I love both films.Each is great in its own way, different from the other. The 1933 original is more lush, stunning to look at, it would have made a big splash if it had been a silent film; while the remake, from exactly twenty years later, relied heavily on the 3D "gimmickry" (as it were), which was a huge selling point at the time, yet was to fall out of favor in a in a couple of years. In this case the color is also a huge asset, though it's full three strip Technicolor, which came in about two years after Wax Museum33, and was a point in its favor, too, as color was still somewhat restricted to big budget films and westerns.

The later version was somewhat more realistic looking, was made with less "flamboyance" than the original, though it's handsome to look at all the same. I find the writing somewhat better in the remake; and the characterizations are more modern, as it's not truly Expressionistic,while the first version creates more "its own special world", and stays in that world. House actually made an attempt to create a realistic picture of early 20th century New York City, and makes a handsome job of it. There's also a stronger emotional quality to this one, with Vincent Price's character's decline in the course of its story sympathetic, while in the first picture Lionel Atwill's fall felt way more diabolical.

I've just seen both versions and I like them both. The 53 version is faster and more fun,and his Vincent Price in fairly restrained mode,but the 33 version is more interesting visually and has better dialogue. I would say the 53 version just edges it for me,I just enjoy it a little more.

The recent version hardly has anything to do with them besides the use of wax dummies,but it's a fun grizzly slasher along Texas Chainsaw lines.

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"You're wrong, you're so wrong."

Just watched Mystery of the Wax Museum and I enjoyed it a lot. I also love House of Wax. As a huge fan of German Expressionism, I enjoyed MOTWM a little more, but it does have two major drawbacks for me: Glenda Farrell's Florence is annoying beyond words --that voice, yikes, fingernails on the chalkboard-- and the horrible ending where Florence, who has shown no romantic interest in the slightest towards her editor Jim decides to marry him instead of the guy who has stood by her nonsense for the entire film, George Winton. Ooooohhhh, the working stiffs stick together against the rich guy, puh-leeze.

On the whole, I'll take Lionel Atwill's "silent screen acting" performance over Vincent Price's campiness, but they're both excellent in the role.