I have seen both 1933's "Mystery of the Wax Museum" starring Lionel Atwill as the insane, burned sculptor and also the 1953 remake "House of Wax", starring the late, great Vincent Price as the mad genius, Professor Henry Jarrod.
I think both movies are wonderful in their own way. Price put his indelible stamp on the character, as only he could. One can't help but feel not only horror but pity for his character. Phyliss Kirk is great in her role as Sue, the young woman who has the misfortune to resemble Professor Jarrod's greatest masterpiece, Marie Antoinette, which was burned in the fire that disfigures him. He becomes obsessed with recreating his greatest sculpture, and using Sue's body to help recreate his masterpiece.
I think the scene where the disfigured monster is chasing Sue through the foggy London streets is one the creepiest scenes in 1950's cinema.
Vincent Price was just a great actor in every role he was in, and this movie is no exception. He is supported by Charles Bronson in one of his earliest movie roles as a deaf and mute assistant, who is creepy in his own right. Watch also for an appearance by Carolyn Jones, who went on to t.v. history portraying Morticia in the Addams Family. She has a small but pivotal role as Cathy, a friend of Sue who get's murdered early in the movie. This movie is everything a good classic horror movie should be!
I think both movies are wonderful in their own way. Price put his indelible stamp on the character, as only he could. One can't help but feel not only horror but pity for his character. Phyliss Kirk is great in her role as Sue, the young woman who has the misfortune to resemble Professor Jarrod's greatest masterpiece, Marie Antoinette, which was burned in the fire that disfigures him. He becomes obsessed with recreating his greatest sculpture, and using Sue's body to help recreate his masterpiece.
I think the scene where the disfigured monster is chasing Sue through the foggy London streets is one the creepiest scenes in 1950's cinema.
Vincent Price was just a great actor in every role he was in, and this movie is no exception. He is supported by Charles Bronson in one of his earliest movie roles as a deaf and mute assistant, who is creepy in his own right. Watch also for an appearance by Carolyn Jones, who went on to t.v. history portraying Morticia in the Addams Family. She has a small but pivotal role as Cathy, a friend of Sue who get's murdered early in the movie. This movie is everything a good classic horror movie should be!