Halloween Month continues here at Balladeer’s Blog with this look at the silent horror films which starred Conrad Veidt – Major Strasser from Casablanca.
THE MAN WHO LAUGHS (1928) – I have no idea why Conrad Veidt doesn’t get the silent horror film love that Lon Chaney and Paul Wegener receive. In this final silent horror movie for Veidt, he shines once again in another landmark film. This one is based on the neglected Victor Hugo story about a figure who, like Hugo’s Quasimodo, has a monstrous disfigurement that causes him to be shunned and feared.
The title character, Gwynplaine (Veidt), was tortured and mutilated by lunatics as a child and, in addition to other bodily scars, his face is distorted into a permanent, hideous smile. Mary Philbin portrayed Dea, the blind girl who cannot see Gwynplaine’s terrifying face and is therefore the only person who does not treat him like a monster.
Dea falls in love with Gwynplaine’s poetic nature in fact, but when the grotesque smiler is discovered to be of noble descent the pair are separated by villainous figures involved in aristocratic court intrigues. Olga Baclanova co-starred as Duchess Josiana, the lead heavy in this forgotten Gothic horror classic. Continue reading
RAFFERTY (1977) – Before House there was Rafferty! The great Patrick McGoohan, still praised for his multiple creative contributions to the 1967 series 
Time for another current events roundup from 
Halloween Month continues here at Balladeer’s Blog with this look at three notorious – but not necessarily all that good – horror films from iconic Italian director Lucio Fulci. 
THE BEYOND (1981) – A woman inherits The Seven Doors Hotel, a run-down inn outside New Orleans in the Louisiana countryside. It was once the site of an infamous murder in the 1920s and supernatural activities break out as our heroine Liza Merrill (Katherine MacColl) tries to refurbish the place. 
THE GROOVIE GOOLIES (1970) – This 16-episode cartoon series seemed like an appropriate subject for Halloween Month. In previous years, Balladeer’s Blog reviewed 
Other supporting characters at the castle called Horrible Hall were Mummy the mummy, plus Bone-Apart, the living skeleton in a Napoleon hat and epaulettes. Additional monsters and living pieces of furniture added to the cast and appeared intermittently. 
TOPPLING NUMBER THREE – In NCAA Division Three, the 14th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT LACROSSE EAGLES visited the number 3 team in the nation – the UW-WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became a 17-14 Eagles advantage by Halftime. Lacrosse extended their lead to 27-17 in the 3rd Quarter, then held on in the 4th for a 37-34 victory. 
NUMBER SIX TAKES A FALL – Up in the NAIA, the number 19 GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS took on the home standing 6th ranked BETHEL (NC) WILDCATS. The Tigers parlayed a 21-10 lead at the Half into a 31-16 advantage in the 3rd Quarter, then ended the 4th on top 52-24.
WE WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME BUT A BASEBALL GAME BROKE OUT – NCAA Division Two’s ARKANSAS TECH WONDERBOYS traveled to face the SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE BULLDOGS. Unyielding defense was the name of the game as the Bulldogs went up 7-0 in the opening Quarter, a score that held up at Halftime and at the end of the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, the Wonderboys came from behind for a 9-7 triumph. 
Balladeer’s Blog’s month-long look at Halloween continues! In the past, I examined the most Halloweenish covers for Marvel horror figures like 
VAMPIRE TALES Vol 1 #1 (June 1973) 
Synopsis: One night in Los Angeles, Morbius tries to find his lady love Martine Bancroft (Adria Arjona in the movie), whom he was separated from shortly after his transformation into vampire form. He encounters Carolyn, a female member of the Children of Satan cult. 
FROM OUT OF THE SILENCE: SEVEN STRANGE STORIES (full title) (1920) – Written by Lady Bessie Kyffin-Taylor. The stories are: 
WE NEED THIRD PARTIES! 
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