Halloween Heroine: Mary Carlisle

Published October 31, 2024 by biggayhorrorfan

Fresh as golden brass, actress Mary Carlisle was a ’30s Ginger Rogers type, enlivening many a movie musical with a zestful attitude and an ebullient sense of pep. Nicely, Carlisle also utilized this charisma in a few creaky gothic extravaganzas, as well.

1935’s One Frightened Night found her playing (The Second) Doris Waverly, a sassy vaudeville-style actress who pays a visit to her long-lost millionaire grandfather. Her arrival signals the murder of another femme claiming to be Doris and soon everyone is not only in danger…. but a potential suspect, as well.

This fun throwback is further notable for the casting inclusions of Hedda Hopper as hopeful heir Laura Proctor and Charley Grapewin as the curmudgeonly Jasper Whyte. Hopper went on to become one of Hollywood’s most celebrated/dreaded gossip columnists while Grapewin would find celluloid immortality as Uncle Henry in MGM’s classic The Wizard of Oz.

In celluloid coincidence, 1934’s Murder in the Private Car, a more comic take on the formula, also featured Carlisle as an abrupt blonde who discovers that she is an heiress…with equally dangerous results, as well.

Surprisingly, after marrying James Edward Blakely in 1942, Carlisle made only one more film. Thankfully, for celluloid junkies, this feature was the oft-circulated Dead Man Walk. Featured on multiple, cheaply made horror DVD compilations, this spooky yarn features Mary as the potential victim of horror king George Zucco. Interestingly, not only was this programmer filmed in only 6 days, but it also has the unique distinction of being released on Valentine’s Day in 1943, as well.

Happily married for decades, Carlisle became a favorite of autograph collectors in her final years. This was a role that she, seemingly, embraced, leaving behind many heartbroken admirers upon her passing at the truly impressive age of 104 in 2018.

Holiday Horror History (Valentines Day) : Dead Men Walk

Published February 15, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

Dead Men Walk was released on Valentine’s Day in 1943. It features a skilled dual performance from refined terror legend George Zucco. Other significant participants include Frankenstein’s Dwight Frye and under appreciated character actress Fern Emmett, who turned up in many minor roles in the classic Universal horrors. For a poverty row production, there is plenty of misty moodiness and fun vampiric action here. Thus, this easily accessible public domain title is well worth checking out.

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Fern Emmett: The Grand, Uncredited Dame of Old School Horror!

Published February 19, 2013 by biggayhorrorfan

Hanging out on the sidelines while everybody else is seemingly having the major fun – this is a situation that Big Gay Horror Fan knows well.

Of course, awesome individuals like veteran character actress Fern Emmett (1896-1946) are able to rise, grandly, above such situations. With over 200 films to her credit, Emmett often made a strong impression in small (and frequently uncredited roles) in the golden age of horror.

Dying far too young from cancer, Emmett provided hysterical back-up to Monty Wooley during the final year of her life in 1946’s big budget exploration of Cole Porter in Night and Day. In an office setting, Wooley references her secretary character every time he sings the word Madame in the song “Ms. Otis Regrets”. Emmett’s arched eye acknowledgements of his gesture secure this sequence’s place as the fictionalized film’s highlight.

But, while she often decorated big budget projects with calculated humor, one of Emmett’s largest roles was in the PRC’s poverty row production of Dead Men Walk in 1943. Featuring horror regulars George Zucco and Dwight Frye, Emmett played Kate, a woman well aware of the undead experimentation occurring in her village. Of course, locals doubt her observations, chalking them up to grief stricken cries for help – until it is too late!

Thirteen years before this film, Emmett appeared in Majestic Pictures’ similar outing The Vampire Bat (1933), starring the elegant Lionel Atwill and the ever humbled Frye. Best known as one of the films that secured lead actress Fay Wray’s title as the original scream queen, Emmett has a couple scenes as Gertrude, the concerned companion of the film’s first female victim, an elderly woman of status.

Smaller roles in the Universal classics came towards the end of her life. In 1942’s fun and atmospheric The Mummy’s Tomb, Emmett plays dressmaker to the beautiful Elyse Knox’s Isobel, the film’s endangered heroine.

In 1943, Emmett achieved grand victimhood by taking one for genre goddess, Evelyn Ankers, whom was portraying Beth in Captive Wild Woman. As Aquanetta, in savage ape form, storms Beth’s room with murder on her mind, Emmett’s neighbor emerges from her room. Soon Emmett’s concerned citizen is meeting her squealing fate at the hairy hands of Aquanetta’s re-focused fury.

But, whether appearing just to enact a frenzied death throes or to offer up some quick comic goodness, Emmett always made a memorable presence – proving, that while her name may not rank up with there with the Garbo’s and Dietrich’s of her era, it certainly should.

Be sure to check back often as Big Gay Horror Fan frequently examines the glorious wonders of women in horror.

Meanwhile, Big Gay Horror Fan is always welcoming friends of the towering femmes of terror at http://www.facebook.com/#!/BigGayHorrorFan, as well!

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!