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Poll

What's your favorite film by Tod Browning?

haven't seen any
5 (22.7%)
don't like any
1 (4.5%)
other
0 (0%)
The Wicked Darling
0 (0%)
Outside the Law
0 (0%)
The Unholy Three
0 (0%)
The Blackbird
0 (0%)
The Road to Mandalay
0 (0%)
The Show
0 (0%)
The Unknown
1 (4.5%)
London After Midnight
0 (0%)
West of Zanzibar
1 (4.5%)
The Big City
0 (0%)
Where East Is East
0 (0%)
Dracula
2 (9.1%)
Iron Man
0 (0%)
Freaks
12 (54.5%)
Fast Workers
0 (0%)
Mark of the Vampire
0 (0%)
The Devil-Doll
0 (0%)
Miracles for Sale
0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 22

Author Topic: Browning, Tod  (Read 2427 times)

Dave the Necrobumper

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Re: Browning, Tod
« Reply #10 on: February 28, 2021, 06:06:31 AM »
I have now seen Freaks and Dracula. Freaks is the better of the 2 films.

1SO

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Re: Browning, Tod
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2022, 11:55:21 PM »
Updated Ranking

The Unholy Three (1925)
★ ★ ★ – Okay
The first of 8 Browning films starring Lon Chaney would be a career highlight for both of them, and solidly superior to the 1930 talkie also starring Chaney. Unusual con/crime plot is impossible to believe on any level, and yet Browning effectively drips the nonsense with pathos, making for a surprisingly satisfying journey with a beautiful final scene.


The Thirteenth Chair (1929)
★ ★
Murder-mystery and mysticism make for a whole lot of hooey. Early sound film that demonstrates the importance of good casting by having thick-accented Bela Lugosi play the inspector asking all the questions.


Outside the Law (1930)
★ ★
Sentimental gangster film where a hug from a child has a gangster’s girl questioning her entire life. Mostly of interest to watch Edward G. Robinson take a first crack at his Little Caesar gangster.


Miracles for Sale (1939)
★ ★ ★ – Okay
Murder Mystery set in a world of magicians and fake psychics is my kind of fun. (Not to mention Mrs. 1SO who is going to Love this come Shocktober.) Reminded me of the 80s thriller F/X where revealing movie magic is a nice, nougaty center. Robert Young is his usual bland self, but there’s also Henry Hull, the hammiest ham of this era, and the always dependable William Demarest.