Category Archives: Monsters and Matinees

Monsters and Matinees: Revisiting the shades of fear in ‘The Leopard Man’

Revisiting the shades of fear in ‘The Leopard Man’ We’ve all been there. There’s a noise behind us. A rustling of bushes. Or a movement in a dark street corner. Is someone there? We casually walk a little faster while … Continue reading

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Monsters and Matinees: A Killer Gaze: Richard Burton and his ‘Medusa Touch’

A Killer Gaze: Richard Burton and his ‘Medusa Touch’ A severely beaten man who has survived a heinous assault is unconscious in a London hospital. His head and face are wrapped in bandages with only his eyes (a key thing) … Continue reading

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Monsters and Matinees: The Classic Connection of Warner Bros., Big Bugs and Hammer Horror

The Classic Connection of Warner Bros., Big Bugs and Hammer Horror Gangster films, innovative musicals, hard-boiled detective movies and female-centered dramas. Porky Pig, Donald Duck, Bugs Bunny and Batman, too. That’s quite a distinct and diverse group of genres and … Continue reading

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Monsters and Matinees: A trio of films bring to life Richard Matheson’s ‘I Am Legend’

A trio of films bring to life Richard Matheson’s ‘I Am Legend’ The idea of the last man or woman on earth spurs my imagination. How will it happen? When will it happen? Why will it happen? “Germs. Bacteria. Viruses. … Continue reading

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Monsters and Matinees: Celebrating Ricou Browning

Celebrating Ricou Browning “The Gill-Man is coming!” That was me, giddy as a teen, just three years ago when it was announced that Ricou Browning would be appearing in my hometown of Buffalo, N.Y. The idea of being in the … Continue reading

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Monsters and Matinees: Like big-bug films? Try these she-bug B-movies

Classic horror fans are forever grateful to the 1950s, a decade that birthed one of the greatest of all film genres: the big-bug movie. Multitudes of giant ants, spiders, grasshoppers, shrews and scorpions all treated moviegoers to oversized terrors. Toward … Continue reading

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Monsters and Matinees: A century later, Chaney’s ‘Hunchback’ still amazes

A century later, Chaney’s ‘Hunchback’ still amazes If you were a moviegoer 100 years ago in 1923, you would have been treated to laughs courtesy of comedy greats Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. You might have held your breath as … Continue reading

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Monsters and Matinees: Pat Boone shares memories of ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’

Pat Boone shares memories of ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ at TCM Cruise The importance of horror and sci-fi movies from the classic film era tends to be overshadowed when compared to today’s big-budget CGI-films. So when you … Continue reading

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Monsters and Matinees: Beyond Lugosi – 9 Classic Film Actors who Played Dracula

9 Classic Film Actors who Played Dracula Say the name Dracula and who do you see? Most likely Bela Lugosi. The Hungarian actor remains the face of Bram Stoker’s iconic character even for some who have never seen him play … Continue reading

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Monsters and Matinees: Ghostly Terrors, Big Bugs and Universal Friends are Great Intros to Classic Horror

It’s October and everyone wants to watch a horror film. Here at Monsters and Matinees – where we watch horror movies all year – we understand and are prepared to help out by offering suggestions of films that would be … Continue reading

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