AOB 1 - Witchfinder General Analysis

The Witch-finder was made in 1968, it was directed by michael reeves, and produced by tigon films.

It was called The conqueror worm in america, this is a title of a poem by edgar alan poe, this made alot of the audience recognize the film, by the poem that edgar alan poe wrote. this kicked off another wave of poe adaptation.

The film was a big hit, mainly because it starred Vincent Price, he was a big horror actor, in the time of these films, so many more people went to see it, simply because of linking it to other films he had been in, although the original lead role was meant for Donald Pleasance, he was a ludicrous authority figure and a big actor in those times, but AIP wanted their biggest star, vincent price, so the director had to rethink the role and the script was changed to suit the personality that vincent price had to play.

The Witchfinder was Censored by the BBFC, simply because of the long screaming bits, it used to be censored because of the bad parts or they cut them out. but nowadays if this was the case they would just put it in a higher certification.

Vincent price would not be able to play that typical figure, so they had to change everything to make him more suited for the films.

people don't think that even the actors/actresses personality and the way the perform affects the film and the status of which they are made/written.

I felt this film was very graphic and didn't like the way they treated women or the way they tested men and women for being 'witches'.

AOB 1 - Fall of the house of Usher Analysis.

The fall of the house of usher is a horror film, there are 3 main characters within the film that star in it, Roderick played by Vincent Price, Philip Winthrop played by Mark Damon and Madeline Usher played by Myrna Fahey.
The house of usher is a rather strange film, Philip goes to visit Madeline at her home, she lives at home with her brother Roderick, but Roderick is very protective of Madeline and tells Philip to leave as soon as possible. He constantly tells him that the mansion they live in is haunted and that all of the Usher family are doomed. Philip wants to take Madeline back to Boston with him, but Roderick thinks Madeleine is ill. The film makes the audience think as to whether the usher family are really ill or if it’s Roderick poisoning everyone’s mind. The house shakes quite alot throughout the film, which gives it an eerie feel, it also makes the audience wonder as to whether it’s something to do with Roderick but we find out later on in the film, that the house is situated on a pit and the tremors are just the house shaking, not by a curse, just because of the situation of the house.

The film has the typical conventions that would be found in a horror film such as, a haunted mansion, a protagonist and an antagonist, a “curse” that is supposedly taking over the house.
There is scary music and sound effects included within this film, which helps add the eerie horror effect. The audience are constantly guessed to if theres an “otherness” in the house, like they are being watched.
American International Pictures (turned into Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) chose to create just horror films, because it was cheaper for them, they reused shots in other films they created, also they used props from other films, whilst this film was being shot there was a house fire close to where they were filming, so they stopped filming the film and went and filmed the house fire, so they could use it in the film.
Many of the things used and recognised in horror films, don’t have the same impact as what they would have many years ago, they are all clichéd and tend not to scare audiences nowadays because everyone has seen them and recognise them.
Edgar Alan Poe wrote horror so it helps fit into the horror genre better, he knew exactly what all was needed to fulfil horror. Madeleine is the main victim, her top is open, showing her chest, which shows her as being a “sexual instrument” this is often iconic, such as women in the film the witch finder general .
There is a great benefit for using Vincent price in films, simply because the producer knows how he works and also because he was a huge star in that time, he would attract fans of his, to films he starred in.
The audience would of enjoyed the mystery side of this film, because its quite difficult to follow, the film puts things into your head, for example: is there a curse or is it Roderick?

AOB 1 - Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Analysis.

The frankenstein Franchise has changed quite a lot from the 1930s (James Whales Version) to the 1994 version (Mary Shelley), there could be many reasons for this...One major difference between Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein is the conception of the Monster. While in Frankenstein he was a murderous vengeful creature, the sequel presents a Monster the audience can sympathise with, bringing him much closer to Mary Shelley's original concept.

I think the more recent film definitely looks different to the older one, because of the vast increase in technology/techniques that were available within that era, compared to the 1930s version. Also with the 1930’s version it has had to be filmed in black and white, so with the more recent one being in colour, it adds alot more effect and also adds atmosphere to the film, as the audience can relate to colours, for example: red being scary/horror/anger. Also because more money has been spent on the film, it means that alot more effort has been put in the recent one to provide better entertainment to the audience.

I believe that the audiences of today wouldn’t find the new version of Frankenstein as scary as the audiences in the 1930’s would have with the old one, simply because it was all new to them, and because more films are watched by audiences nowadays, it takes the scary edge off the films, because every horror, has similar aspects.

The narrative has definitely changed; it’s as if the directors put more effort into pleasing the more recent audience because they would expect more from watching other horror films, so it would be harder to please them than it would the 1930s audience. Victor Frankenstein was also portrayed as a very nervous man in the 1930s film, whereas in the newer film, he is expressed as a hero and the audience get a better idea of his background, he also falls in love with his adopted sister, this wasn’t in the old film, but it adds a romantic edge to the film, appealing it to more than one type of audience, as people nowadays like to see romance within a film.

There were many stories within the news at the time of Shelley’s film, such as a man who had a battery operated heart fitted within his body, this would make audiences believe that it is possible to make life, if it’s possible to fit a battery operated heart.

In the newer film, the audience get a better idea of each characters personality, so it builds up an image in the audiences head, and help to establish different feelings towards each character, so when Frankenstein gets turned away by people just by the way he looks, we feel a bit sorry for him, the film features topics of how peoples appearances can affect the way they live their lives and how they fit into society.

I believe that the audience’s expectations have definitely changed through time, because there are more films available, from all different genres, this means that there are going to be comparisons between different films, and that’s what makes them more critical, compared to how people were in the 1930’s. I studied this film in my English lessons, and we had to read Mary Shelley’s book, personally I feel that the film played a very good part in explaining the story, so I enjoyed it alot more than reading the book.

Technology has definitely changed the whole style of the film, because more techniques have been worked out and used, better lighting, special effects and it can also be edited better through a computer. It’s easier to portray something because of the advanced technology, this helps the audience understand the film better, and not only that, it helps improve suspense and atmosphere. I believe that more people would watch the more recent film, more so than the 1930’s version, because of the new technology, also the films are advertised more so now, than they were in that day, which helps get an interest from the audience.

AOB 1 - The Bride Of Frankenstein

Bride of Frankenstein Genre Analysis.

This film fits best into the Horror genre, simply because of the way in which the camera shots are used, also it fits in with the general conventions of a horror film, with it having blood and gore, also with it building up alot of suspense through the music and the sound effects used, the typical horror sounds have been used, such as
The groaning of the monster, and the noise of people being murdered.
Alot of the shots are canted, this means that they are on a slant, adding alot of effect to the film, also giving the film a scary 'edge.'although this film sometimes gets mistaken for a sci-fi, because alot of science is involved within the making of 'the bride’, the use of electricity and many doctors within the storyline.this shot is a good example to show, that this film is under the horror category, because this particular shot wouldn't be found in something like a comedy, plus it's a good shot, because it lets the audience know that the 'bride' is alive and also makes us want to watch more.

James Whale produced the film, in 1935 there was a big recession because of the Wall street crash so there was alot of depression, the mood of the world was very depressive, so this film fits in well, also the film studios had to cut back on the amount of films they made, and felt that the best genre to stick to would of been Horror. Because it was a low budget horror film also it fit in with the financial depression of the time. From a modern day viewpoint, I feel that the film was very well made for the time of the 1930's and I was amazed by the way in which they filmed the people in the little jars, because they simply wouldn't have the technology in them days to be able to apply these techniques to the film, but somehow they managed it.

Personally I feel that this is a very well made film, although the ending could have been a little better.
The benefit of genre, helps the audience, establish what film they are going to see, for example, this is a horror film so those who get a bit queasy or uneasy about blood/guts can easily decide they don't want to watch it, by knowing the conventions of a horror film (blood, guts, death e.t.c)

The benefit of genre to the producers, helps them to understand what conventions the film needs to have for it to be able to fit into each genre, it also gives them a base idea, as most films have similarities in more ways than people think, but in the 1930s, because of the recession, they had to think of the best and most cost effective way to produce films, so sticking to one genre was important to them.