tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460474552118769771.post143421963117154506..comments2024-02-28T09:34:58.074-08:00Comments on NATURALISTIC! UNCANNY! MARVELOUS!: THE BAT (1959)Gene Phillipshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495562795211277146noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460474552118769771.post-84373706627052089242019-12-29T02:29:53.339-08:002019-12-29T02:29:53.339-08:00The costumed killer entertained me, Gene, but even...The costumed killer entertained me, Gene, but even as a child it failed to scare me. I've always enjoyed old dark house thrillers,--The Spiral Staircase is one of the best ever--and yet they seldom truly frightened me. Spiral gave me a frisson here and there, and it built up a nice head of steam. It rather played like a horror film,--or an old-style cruise liner--inasmuch as it arrived at its destination nicely, with fun, style, and a literally, dark and stormy night thunder and lightning ambiance. That it was a first rate Selznick-RKO production every step of the way lent it class. Even today it could serve as a template for how to make that particular kind of film.john kenrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00710666533854296630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460474552118769771.post-46791404104613253872019-12-27T14:31:12.782-08:002019-12-27T14:31:12.782-08:00Moorehead in particular does a fine job of making ...Moorehead in particular does a fine job of making her thinly written character come alive. I don't think the dowager-characters in either of the Roland West films is any sort of standout character; the focus is all on how creepy the Bat looks. How did you think Wilbur did with his depiction of the costumed killer?Gene Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11495562795211277146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-460474552118769771.post-11124709745197270442019-12-25T23:42:00.217-08:002019-12-25T23:42:00.217-08:00I like this one, Gene. It's not as good as it ...I like this one, Gene. It's not as good as it could have been, especially with its credentials,--Rinehart, Wilbur, Price, Moorehead--yet it's fun and watchable all the same. I think that where it was made, the studio, I mean, hurt it as to production values john kenrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00710666533854296630noreply@blogger.com