MovieChat Forums > Night Monster (1942) Discussion > Night Monster I love this classic

Night Monster I love this classic

posted 14 years ago by tom-kssl
18 replies | jump to latest

Wow we got 5 comments but not one person discusses the film. ok I will. im a tv film historian. i cherish this classic now out on dvd in tat set from 1942. the music plot, the acting the death scenes my god almost gruesome bit daring in its day. the appropiate death music as each victim is about to die. Its history now that Alfred Hithcock ten under contract at Universal was on the set at times watching , this film caught his attention. I love these universal horror films. But Ralph Morgan is great as crippled killer Kurt ingston. Watch for Robert Homans flub calling Simmons , Timmons to Mils Aster. Faye Holden, Irene Hervey, Frank Reicher, old lional Atwill Bela Ligosi are fine here restricted but fine and i salute Frances Pierlot WOW watch his dramatic death scene backing up as the unidentified killer is ready to KILL> The music is superb the sets standard but very good. We got a houseful of creepy characters to keep the pace.old Robert Homans does fine in one of his last roles as old Cap.Watch for Nils Aster first scene smirking at the plot of this film as he goes thru the gate then he remenbers to go back into character. Ah they make horror films or films eriod like they use too and universal pulled out all the stops here. what a great film, serves its purpose. still holds up.watch it youll like it and watch for Cyril Delavanti as gatekeeper tork what a character, thanks again.

[–] plo_kn 14 years ago

Yeah I like this film too, not the biggest fan of it in all honesty, but that's mainly because I was hoping for Lionel and Bela (my two awesome heroes, lol) to have much larger roles, but I agree with everything else you say buddy :)
The one gripe I DO have about alot of these films is that they tend to use the same scores for them...I noticed The Wolf Man's score right away, lol.
I too have the boxset that this film is on and it's certainly one of the better films on there but if I had to choose my favourite, it would either be The Black Cat (Rathbone) or Man-Made Monster. Raplph Morgan is certainly one of the most unique monsters though....love the long claws.
Thanks again bro :)

[–] tom-kssl 14 years ago

this is well known in the industry. this isnt a guess but a well known fact. There are several reasons why i love this film..the acting the sets and yes Universal then not a big industry it is today was CHEAP in 1942 trying to cut corners wherever they could. so bad that its unthinkable tho they filmes Phantom of the Opera in 1943 in technicolor, they were so poor in 43 they couldnt afford to colorize the Universal Globe back then thus in the 40s in a Universal film you neer saw an color Universal Globe . thats sad and cheap so cheap they can afford coloring a 93 min film but they cant colorizse the Universal 10 second globe on the opening credits. But hey there lets return to my main thought. Another reaso NIGHT MONSTER stands out is because Alfred Hitchcock one of the most revered directors ever , uneer contract to Universal was on the set often to watch them film the movie because he was rivited by the theme the plot and a few daring approaches. Please note the murder of Phipps backing out in terror as the Night Monster comes to him after kncking on his door 3 times. look at the fear the absolute FEAR in this mans eyes as he is about to be brutally strangled. Daring and impressive. The reason wehy Atwill & Lugosi were given small parts was because of name recognition. lugosi due to poor management was relavated to minor parts tho his nae was still top drawer & Atwill was coming off a sex scandal thus he wasnt too bankable. I think that explains it. Thanks my friend. i have this dvd set. i love this fimlm. The killer the Ingston monster is a beaut here. they got you on the edge of your seat til the very end. Thanks for stopping by. i value anything you say. TOMK

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] tom-kssl 14 years ago

WELL My first reply in months and a kind one. NIGHT MONSTER is a favorite and i totally concur on your commrnts. it was unique along with two other bonechilling horror films that gave us an extra daring controversial chill in the early 40s . Check out MONSTER & THE GIRL and I say no more just lookk at the realistic gorilla and the murder scenes are grim and real and very disturbing. very daring in its day. the same applies to Dr Renaults Secret J Carrol Naish gives a frightening performance and the killings in this mpvie are unsettling the mood truly creepy. NIGHT MONSTER was a favorite of Alfred Hithcock who was present on the set as he was under contract at Universal he took an interest in the filming. Dr Phipps death is nothing like what you saw in death scenes from 40s horror films . its a standot. a great film on all accounts a grand deforce and Ralph Morgan is very good as Kurt Ingston . My friend give me feedback on me commrnts here and throw some names and films at me i got many hidden hollywod secrets tidbits behind the scenes recollections of old horror films thanks Neon knoghts lets keep in touch

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] tom-kssl 14 years ago

Neon Knights what a joy after being here for months and finally getting someone who appreciates my reviews and opinons but more important someine to duscuss these films. god MONSTER & THE GIRL from 41 you and others got to check out its very scarey with the APE killing off its victims or should i say the poor ape was the victime. Its no secret the great actor PAUl Lukas (Read my comments on him on IMDB ) hated this film with a passion. THATS UNJUST but in the 40s no actor wanted to appear in horror films look at where we are today with gore bloody etc. And Dr Renaults Secret wow again i always back up what i say. J Carrol Naish gives an unforgettable role as Noel and well just dont tease Noel , thats an inside joke he kills those who pokes fun at him and the deaths while no way graphic or gory is very disturbing. they were getting daring during these years throwing in a surprise like the murder of MARY GORDON in Mummys Tomb . Wow that scene still disturbs me. you decide if im right or wrong. NIGHT MONSTER we all love ad know about. Theres more i can share if you like to know. thanks. TOMK

[–] wg123456789 13 years ago

I first saw this film as a child in a theater back in 1953 and still remember to this day how scary it was to me at that time.
Afterwards whenever I was walking at night and the crickets and frogs suddenly stopped I would take off running.

[–] tom-kssl 13 years ago

well im not alone again i see others see the light. NIGHT MONSTER 1942 still packs a wallop a grand cast atmospheric and gloomy good writing. and as i said alfred Hithcock himself would stop by the set to see scenes being filmed. he was caught by it all. a bit daring in its own way. The death scenes are played so so well such as Dr Phipps . Forget the inconcistencies of this film, as are in many others it gets you charged up a greqat Who Done It . Look for Capt Beggs botched line callinf Dr Timmons Dr Simmons . Brilliant realistic the way its carried out fun great entrertainment still scarey today . check out The Girl & The Monster & Dr Renaults Secret 2 more chillers ahead of its time. thanks my friend scarey in 42 scarey in 53 still scarey today. how did you see it in a theater in 53/Second run in those days?

[–] wg123456789 13 years ago

We lived in a small rural town in West Virginia and the theater usually could only afford to show second runs.

[–] tom-kssl 13 years ago

Thats great i wish we had second run theatres well we did in the mid 60s after the old State theatre reopened and they had Dance With Me Henry Abbott&COstello & Wizard of Oz Jack 7 Beanstalk etc but wow if you care to tell us what other horror films or ant old films back in 53 did they rerun i love to hear the titles and when did the threatre stop running old films/ Thanks and again NIGHT MONSTER Is a must make sure the lights are off and have popcorn nearby. even today its miles ahead of the senseless gore sex blood profanity filth in todays horror films. And i like to think im not alone in this thinking.

[–] chongajuly 13 years ago

NIGHT MONSTER has always been one of my all time favorite Universals. It never bothered me that Lugosi and Atwill were wasted, I believe the film would have lost some of its marquee value without them. Don Porter had debuted in 1939's MYSTERY OF THE WHITE ROOM, was the mystery killer in Abbott and Costello's WHO DONE IT? and ended his Universal days in SHE-WOLF OF LONDON (June Lockhart) and DANGER WOMAN (Patricia Morison). One of the reasons he enjoyed NIGHT MONSTER was working with beautiful Irene Hervey (he'd "been nuts" about her for years). She was in CHARLIE CHAN IN SHANGHAI (Jon Hall), ABSOLUTE QUIET (Lionel Atwill), THE HOUSE OF FEAR (William Gargan), and PLAY MISTY FOR ME (her last film), plus "The Watcher" episode of Karloff's "Thriller" TV series. Ralph Morgan, brother of Wizard of Oz Frank Morgan, was no stranger to Hollywood whodunits, being revealed as the secret killer in THE KENNEL MURDER CASE and STAR OF MIDNIGHT, plus red herrings in THE EX-MRS.BRADFORD and SONG OF THE THIN MAN (all four with William Powell). NIGHT MONSTER gave him his best horror role (check out THE MONSTER MAKER for another), a wheelchair-bound megalomaniac who couldn't possibly be guilty...or could he? Initially droll, but sly and chilling before long, and the sequence where he dismembers himself on screen must have turned a few stomachs during wartime. Alfred Hitchcock screened this film because he was interested in casting Janet Shaw as a bored waitress in his second and last Universal feature, SHADOW OF A DOUBT ("I'd just die for a ring like that!") Janet Shaw has always been one of my favorite Universal starlets, and this was her greatest showcase (and she nearly didn't get it, since Elyse Knox was up for the part). She was in Abbott and Costello's HOLD THAT GHOST, THE MUMMY'S TOMB, HOUSE OF HORRORS, plus two Monogram Chans, THE SCARLET CLUE and DARK ALIBI. A scream in the night through the fog on Pollard Slough, when the frogs stop a-croakin', this was a perennial favorite on Pittsburgh's CHILLER THEATER (Bill "Chilly Billy" Cardille). Director Ford Beebe had just graduated from serials, completing this film in only 11 days, and what a magnificent stylist he proved to be (he later produced the superior SON OF DRACULA). Francis Pierlot's death scene is terrific, almost a first-person account through the eyes of the killer. Still, I prefer Frank Reicher's earlier demise, alone in his room, standing before the mirror. Through the mirror we see a door open behind him, and suddenly, we're in a long shot with the killer stepping out in shadow, growing larger and larger, it's still a marvel just thinking about it. NIGHT MONSTER played on a double bill with THE MUMMY'S TOMB, and still doesn't seem to get its due. It's one of those rare pre-1960 titles that still chills the marrow today (atmospheric and eerie don't begin to describe it, I'd call it unique). Realart distributed the Universals in theaters until 1957, when the SHOCK THEATRE package was released to television screens across the nation, followed a year later by SON OF SHOCK, which added a dozen Columbia titles (73 in all). CHILLER THEATER began airing the Universal classics in 1965 (1931's FRANKENSTEIN was the first), and the station ended its run of horror films in 1988, right after John Carradine passed away.

"I take pleasure in great beauty" - James Bond

[–] tom-kssl 13 years ago

Brilliant brilliant the best reply i ever got to any of my comments and you truly know your horror films as i a historian knows . i salute you. write me privately if you like i like to exchange hollywood trade secrets mysterys facts fiction etc with you i have tons of stories my website has 1000 celebrities i knew over 40 years from golden age of hollywood but im partial to old horror films notably Universal and NIGHT MONSTER i cherish its greatly forgotton and underestimated yes MONSTER MAKER a must Mummys Tomb (Jane Bannings death is a chiller) and Monster & The Girl read my comments . i can go on hut i salute you sir , write again i like to discuss so much more god bless

[–] marktayloruk 12 years ago

Saw it the other night. Very good film-but what became of Bela Lugosi's character?

[–] tomk-437-445764 12 years ago

Hello Marktayloruk yes i cherish this underated film horror classic Alfred Hitchcock was on the set watching the filming, he was so impressed by the film As for Bela and his outcome, we may never know such things are never explained back then, pre tv , the studios figuring no one will take notice But we did HE evidently perished in the film NIGHT MONSTER i a must Ralph Morgan superb as Kurt Ingston Thanks my friend

[–] tali1 11 years ago

Quite a charming little movie - far better than the hyped rubbish pumped out by many a "legendary" horror director.
There was a gap of nearly 30 yrs for my 2nd viweing

Hey Witchdoctor, give us the magic words.
ooh ee ooh ah ah, ting tang wallawallabingba

[–] Altho73 11 years ago

I have to see that I really enjoyed this movie. I first saw it in the 1980's on a rare showing on TV and it stuck in my memory for many years until I saw it again a couple of years ago and it WAS as good as I remember it.

I distinctly remember the classic line by the detective, 'For goodness sake keep these dogs locked up, I don't want any more complaints from the undertakers that they've been biting their legs', a brilliant piece of light heartedness in what was a serious and scary story.

But it would have been great if Universal had managed to persuade old Basil Rathbone to play the part of the detective. That part would have suited him like a glove and he would have played it with relish and perhaps the movie would then have become better known and shown more often.

[–] MrsBuckyBarnes 8 years ago

i just watched the man they could not hang and then this back to back, and i must say this film is stilted and boring in comparison. boris karloff made a few speeches in that film that are still relevant today, and once he had his prey trapped in his house, it was really thrilling...

[–] noname1479 8 years ago

I never cared for the Universal Pictures monster movies because I only knew of Frankenstein & Dracula. Now that I'm discovering the lesser known films, I'm loving them. First I discovered House Of Dracula, which was so much better than Dracula. Now I've discovered Night Monster, which was so much better than Frankenstein. I'm hoping to discover more! I loved Night Monster. It was a true suspense
mystery till the end. Great character development.