Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies: Universal Horror, Class #1

The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies held its first class of the 2011-12 academic year last night. Instructor Charlie EllBé led the class through a lecture on the origins of Universal Studios' first cycle of horror films (1931-1939), with screenings of clips from F. W. Murnau's Nosferatu and the Spanish version of Dracula, shot on the same sets (at night) as the more iconic film starring Bela Lugosi and directed by Tod Browning. EllBé also elaborated on the inspiration and production practicalities for the set design of the Universal horror films, pointing out shared elements between Browning's Dracula and the sets of films such as The Man Who Laughs (1928, d. Paul Leni). A screening and discussion of Browning's beautiful, poetic and dreamily-paced film followed. Highlights of the lecture and discussion included insights into Bela Lugosi's star-making performance, as well as regarding the film's careful, impressionistic use of sound and silence, and its parallel visual play with fullness and lack, particularly in the film's framing of its iconic monster, Lugosi. I look forward to three more weeks of Universal Horror studies!