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October-1996—-National BLACK MONITOR
CAROLYN'S Cinvema Nores
[This new film-related feature is pre
pared by one who has an apprecia
tion of film and a respect for the
filmmaking process. The writer of this
column hopes to share with the read
ers of the National BLACK MONITOR
views onnotonly upcomingand newly
releasedfilms, butalso fiims onvideo,
and perhaps some “forgotten films"
that deserve a second look. So lets
go to the movies.]
Since many of us celebrate Hallow
een in some fashion, and not wanting
to wait until the end of the month, we
thought we would try to get you into
the "spirit of things" by presenting a
few of what yours truly feels are really
scary films. These are of a haunting
nature with which you might not be
too familiar.
At least since the early 1980 s when
the series of Friday the 13th films
splattered their way onto the silver
screen, we have been bombarded
with filmmakers'visions of horror in all
its gory detail. Nothing seems to be
left to the viewer's imagination any
more. And, because the special ef
fects wizards are--with the help of
high-tech computer animation--con
stantly topping themselves, the likeli
hood of future movie audiences' ever
experiencing the chills of an unseen
bogeyman is remote, and is probably
relegated to bookreading, attending
film festivals or retrospectives and
seeing older films on video and laser
disc.
Looking back, it seems as though
black and white films, particularly of
the 19205, '3os and '4os, have more
of an unnerving edge to them than
many of the technicolor fiims of to.
day. The varying shades of grey
from light to dark coupled with the
sharp black and white contrasts in
lighting, set design etc. add to this
chilling kind of mood and sense of
foreboding.
~ Among this writer's favorites are
four films recommended here, all of
which are on video.
Page10
Hair-raising Films On Video Just In Time
For Your Halloween Festivities
Are Your Local Chapters, Temples, Lodges, Courts and Branches Actively Involved in AOIP Division Organizing?
1. Nosferatu: This 1922 German silent
film is director F.W. Murnau's version
of Dracula. Starring Max Schreck as
Count Orlock, Nosferatu represents
the most frightening depiction of all
the films on Bram Stoker's subject,
not the least of which is the bizarre
appearance ofthe vampire, complete
with bat-like ears, clawed hands and
spectral movement.
While other screen Draculas--from
Bela Lugosi's 1931 definitive charac
terization to Christopher Lee's nu
merous appearances (beginning in
1958) in those Hammer Studio films
to Frank Langella's 1979 recreation of
his Broadway stage interpretation to
Gary Oldman's 1992 depiction as the
Stoker conceived antihero--all have
romantic bents, Schreck's rendering
is the only one that is truly
monstrous and terrifying.
2. The Uninvited: This 1944 ghost
story is also a mystery thriller which
stars Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey
as brother and sister who purchase a
haunted house on England's Cornish
Coast, and soon discover an
unwelcomed presence. This film has
the atmospheric feel of Alfred
Hitchcock's Rebecca (1940), and it
succeeds on two levels: as a haunt
ing (with disembodied crying, cold
spots, unexplained aromas, appari
tions and a staircase "to die for"); and
as a detective story (piecing together
clues as towho the ghost really is and
trying to save a person before it is too
late). The Uninvited is exciting and
scary.
3. Dead of Night. This 1945 British
chiller has strangers gathering at a
country innwherethese guests share
their nightmares with one another.
Each nightmare sequence is
helmed by a different director, and
just when you think one nightmare
cannot be topped, another director
presents an even more frightful tale.
Dead of Night is considered to be a
classic by many. Viewing it in relation
to other horror anthologies of recent
years--such asthe George A. Romero
and Stephen King collaboration,
Creepshow (1982), Tales From The
Darkside (1990)--one might draw the
conclusion that there is no compari
son as to which one will send the
shivers down one's spine.
4. The Haunting: This 1963 extremely
unnerving film from the director of
such renowned films as The Day the
Earth Stood Still (1951) West Side Story
(alongwithchoreographer Jerome
Robbins (1961); The Sound Of Music
(1965)--Robert Wise--brings novelist
Shirley Jackson's hair-raising story of
the supernatural to horrifying heights.
With Wise utilizing dark lighting and
off center camera angles to suggest
the slowly enveloping danger of the
house, and having such consum
mate actors as Julie Harris, Claire
Bloom, and Russ Tamblyn portray
ing the assistants to Richard
Johnson's parapsychologist investi
gating ghostly activity in a New Eng
land country mansion, the filmis most
effective becausethe hauntingis sug
gested; the phantoms are heard but
not seen, which is far more disturb
ing.
If you watch this one in the dark,
make sure you are not alone (hint: a
pet will not do).
Lest you think that this writer is not
fond of any scary films that are in
color, let me suggest for your viewing
pleasure The Changeling (1979) with
George C. Scott and his wife, Trish
Van Devere; and the low-budget
Witchboard (1985) both of which have
a similar feel to the two-level, The
Uninvited. These set the mood for
more than a few "Goosebumps."*
*Children's book author, R.L. Stein, has
several of his "Goosebumps" stories on
FOX video, which are also shown on the
FOX independent network.
Alumna to Shine at
ODV's 50th
Celebration
LaJuan Carter
Singer/Songwriter/Producer LaJuan
Carter has been a working artist since the
age of 13. Like many young artists she
began singing around the house doing
her renditions of songs fromthe "Wiz." She
began piano lessons at the age of eight
and classical vocal lessons at the age of
12. LaJuan continued vocal lessons in the
disciplines of Jazz, Broadway, Pop and
R&B.
Laduan financed her way through col
lege at Rutgers University, receiving a de
gree in Journalism by working with club
date bands and improving her skills and
learning literally thousands of songs along
the way. She also worked the night club
scene, local contests and gong shows
and all of the venues that would help her
enhance her performing. Eventually she
made an appearance on "Star Search" at
the tender age of 18.
LaJuan is a two-time graduate of the
Ophelia DeVore (ODV) Programs. First
graduatingfromthe "Little Ladies Program"
when she was eight years old, and then
fromthe ODV "Teen Program" atthe age of
15. She has continued the family tradition
of working in the ODV business as a
teacher/instructor, show coordinator and
commentator.
She currently has many "jingles’ running
on local and national radio and TV. She
continues to produce and write indepen
dently and with collaborators. Her primary
goal is to continue to perform, and write
and produce for herself and others. Hit
songs are her mission. She sincerely be
lieves, "Help the people and you will help
the world.'
Currently the featured vocalist for the
Doug Winter's Orchestra, LaJuan sings
the National Anthem for the Knicks and
Nets basketball teams and does many
studio and live performances all over the
country.
LaJuan is another example of role model
development at the ODV Studio.