(From The Golem, 1915)
We're in a bit of a lull since our dining room shoot has been moved to next week. So I've been viewing assumed-to-be public domain horror movies to find clips of medieval sorcery (or similar) that I can use in the film. I have a plan to integrate these clips in an interesting way into one of the final scenes.
The Magic Sword, 1962
A bizarre action-comedy with some witchcraft and a nifty dragon with classic Star Trek style red-gelled lighting. Stars Gary Lockwood, also from Star Trek (Where no man has gone before) and made-for-TV actress Estelle Winwood. Screens like a sitcom, complete with goofy audio stingers.
Haxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages, 1922
Incredible combination of visual effects, practical effects, animation and live action. You'll swear you're looking at the big "S" himself. Certainly deserving of being Criterionized. Probably too iconic and too beautiful to use for our project. Maybe I can use After Effects to create something like that mechanical hell at 5:01 (1968 version).
L'Inferno, 1911
This visual effects spectacle is a sincere attempt to film the Divine Comedy, but looks like your elderly aunt's vacation movies if she took a trip to hell. Amazing: carnal sinners blown about by gusts of wind (17:41); funny: Cerebus the 3-headed dog; cool: Demons (43:45); yuck: Tangerine Dream score on the 2004 version.
Touch of Satan, 1971
What movie doesn't need just a little "touch of Satan?" Like a farmer's daughter joke gone horribly wrong. The 1800's burning-at-the-stake scenes look straight out of, uh, 1971.
Merlin's Shop, 1996
I'm only going to see this if I get desperate.
Witch's Curse, 1962
This one screams "1960's Italian cinema" and as usual, the culprits are the women's hairstyles and makeup. That and the Italian bone structure. The hero's journey through hell looks a lot like a sideways scrolling video game: he runs, jumps and leaps over obstacles while killing creatures. The hell set looks great, almost as if they were able to find a real volcano interior in which to shoot. Also features a classic 'burning the witch at the stake' scene. Guest appearance by Prometheus, who in accordance with the myth, is having his heart eaten by an eagle.
The Golem, 1915
Downloaded from archive.org. A beautiful film with expressionistic influences. Some great magic sequences. A keeper.
Cabiria, 1914
Incredible spectacle. Frequent use of dolly shots gives this nearly 100 year-old silent a film a surprisingly contemporary feel. Notable: erupting volcano, temple of Moloch (23:19), burning hand (24:49), sacrifices to the gods (26:00), spatial montage dream sequence (1:34), superimposed animation sequence finale (2:05).
The Undead (1957)
Directed by Roger Corman. Watch for: bats on wires turn into Allison (Attack of the 50 foot woman) Hayes and Billy Barty; Satan presents a modern interpretive dance with three female minions (48:57); "'thee," "thou," and "thy"-filled King James style language; three witches beheaded by a hooded executioner (1:07); fantastic sci-fi score by Ronald Stein.
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