Rita Hayworth wrote: "Are you talking about the 1952 movie - The Ghost Ship?" No Erik, I should have been a little more specific. I was referring to the Val Lewton production of 1943. It stars Richard Dix.

Has anyone seen Lewton's THE GHOST SHIP? It's hard to define; not really a horror movie, but it does have quite weird and chilling moments.

My brother, Jim, keeps at me to get the Barrymore version. I like Barrymore, but the clips I've seen looked a little creaky. There's a great (and frightening) moment in the March film. Jekyll's just broken off his engagement. He leaves, but pauses, to glimpse "Muriel" through the French wi...

I'm currently waiting on the arrival of THE MAN IN THE ATTIC (coupled with: A BLUEPRINT FOR MURDER). Jack Palance isn't easy to "get a handle on". I guess now he's mostly remembered for CITY SLICKERS. That's a long time (and a whole world) away from the pictures I remember him best in (SHA...

Yes. I was going to make that very observation W.G. I think that--after this reach in time--the real Mr. Daniell would prove quite elusive to any biographer. Also, a biography of Daniell would probably prove too esoteric a subject to make the book saleable. I reckon a book could be got-up along the ...

I wish I could recall where I read those comments about Henry Daniell W.G. I see an underlying warmth in some of his performances that sort of belies that aloof impression; the solicitor, "Mayhew" in WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, for example. Do you? P.S. Why not write a biography of Mr. Da...

Mr. Arkadin, ISLE OF THE DEAD; it's the only one of the Val Lewton chillers that I've not seen. I Shall remedy that situation--soon. W.G., I enjoyed THE HAUNTED STRANGLER. While we're on about Boris: I was intrigued, some time back, to learn that he was RKO's first choice for BLACKBEARD THE PIRATE. ...

Forgot to mention THE BODY SNATCHER. It is a belter! The B.B.C. used to show a cut version--the bit were Karloff's body tumbles out of it's shroud was censored (the imagination boggles!). I read somewhere (can't recall where) that Henry Daniell was every bit as aloof, in real life, as some of the ch...

RR, Re: BEDLAM; It's long been my favourite of the Val Lewton pictures. I love the 18th Century, and the works of the artists who depicted it (not least Canaletto, who lived and worked in London between 1745-1754). Despite it's unsavoury aspects, it remains one of the finest evocations of 18th Centu...

Thanks for the info. and the link on Ken Tobey W.G. Tom Weaver was so right when he wrote: "one of the first--and one of the best--of the great sci-fi movie heroes of the Fifties." Was pleased to read that Ken "ran into Sammy Davis Jr in a Los Angeles jazz club in the early sixties.&q...

I didn't know that Kenneth Tobey had suffered a stroke W.G. It's nice that you got the chance to speak with him, as you say; and a pity the interview had to be scuppered. I did notice the beautiful Ms. Gray!

W.G., Tom Weaver's piece on Ken Tobey--Is it available to read anywhere?

W.G., THE VAMPIRE; it's not bad! Kenneth Tobey is always Welcome with me. No one utilised him the same as Hawks (or should that be Nyby!).

An interesting aspect about Francis Lederer, is his sense of Personal style. It has been suggested (in some sources) that the draping of an overcoat, over his suit (in THE RETURN OF DRACULA) cleverly suggests a cloak. It does. But reference to photos from previous Lederer films, show that this was p...

CONFESSIONS OF A NAZI SPY is now on my shopping list Erik. By the way, I've just started Barbara Leaming's If This Was Happiness.

To be honest W.G., I'm not overly familiar with Mr. Lederer's resumé myself. Just before kicking this thread off, I got out my DVD copy of Return of Dracula (it's coupled with THE VAMPIRE, which I've never bothered to watch). I enjoyed it so much (after a few years gap) I've seen it three times sinc...