This year let’s go for the TREAT, shall we? In previous posts I have mentioned My Tales of Terror, and recommended Cat People. This year I am in a rather jovial mood, so I have decided to take a look at the “lighter” side of cinematic Halloween fare …
I Married a Witch (1942) Fun Veronica Lake vehicle.
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) – previously mentioned in Cool Off with the Classics meme. If the word ZANY was ever used in the right way, it would have to be to describe this film.
Ghostbusters (1983) Who ya gonna call? I remember seeing this back in the day 1.5 in the theater. This was at a time when you did not get kicked out of the movie theater. I remember so clearly. Halfway through the second showing my brothers, my cousin and I snuck into see the end of Star Trek: The Search for Spock.
The Little Shop of Horrors (both versions!) The 1950’s version is worth seeing merely for the glimpse of a young Jack Nicholson!
Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) – another one that has gotten a previous mention on my site.
The Devil and Daniel Webster – part of Double Feature Theatre. Lesson: NEVER make a deal with the devil, especially now that Daniel Webster is around to help argue your case!
The Trouble with Harry – this list would not have been complete without a nod to Alfred Hitchcock! This is one of the lesser-known outings from the Master of Suspense. It is equal parts funny and macabre. As the poster explains, this is quite an unexpected offering from Hitchcock.
Then of course there is the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which I will not count because … I have not seen it all the way through in one sitting. But I have seen the Glee episode. Same goes for Shaun of the Dead.
What films for Halloween do you really enjoy (in the fun way)? Please add your comments below.
Nice list curse of the were-rabbit is currently in heavy rotation with Jr. and who doesn’t love ghostbusters. I am going to have to che out The Trouble with Harry I have yet to see that.
Hi, iluv and company:
Great choices this weekend!
‘Arsenic And Old Lace’ is a definite must-see for those who think of Cary Grant as that suave, debonair, man about town in so many Hitchcock films. Superb Comedic timing and pratfalls that will be visited again in ‘Bringing Up Baby’ and ‘His Girl Friday’.
Cannot argue with ‘Ghostbusters’ and Roger Corman’s original ‘The Little Shop Of Horrors’. The first exemplifies seamless ensemble work in bizarre circumstances. While the latter is a text book on how to get the most from a next to nothing budget during four days and five nights of shooting. The first time I saw Nicholson and he rocked out loud as the masochistic dental patient!
‘The Trouble With Harry’ is an intriguing choice. A great looking, whimsical little mystery doesn’t require the usual strict attention to details. One you can just sit back and relax with.
I’m actually watching “Its The Great Pumpin, Charlie Brown” with my daughter. Kinda disappointed that didn’t make the list (jk). Sound list. ‘ihearthereference’ to the “Search for Spock.” 😉
Great list!
ARSENIC AND OLD LACE is, to my mind, the perfect Halloween movie.
But I’d also add:
THE GHOST BREAKERS starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard.
ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN starring you know who, Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney, Jr.
TOPPER RETURNS starring Roland Young and Joan Blondell.
HELLBOY II: The Golden Army – subdued gore, but tons of fun.
I’ll be watching ARSENIC AND OLD LACE as well as THE UNINVITED starring Ray Milland and Gail Russell, for me, the perfect ghost movie. Not so much ‘light’ as scary and moody and non-gory. Another entry in the ‘less is more’ school of scary movie making.
You are too right Yvette!
Yvette I have fond memories of Abbott and Costello. One year while I was in college, we asked a friend to pick up a Halloween film to start the evening off. We were thinking something along the lines of Scream – instead our roommate picked up that title. Granted it is a fun film just not what we were expecting.
The Uninvited was on TCM this past Sunday. I got to see the majority of it but had to run out to finish it off. I had seen it several years ago. When I was rewatching it I forgot how much I did like it.
THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE is another one to add to the list although I have only seen the middle to the end.
Nice post and a nice change of pace from all the supposedly scary movies people keep talking about lately.
Thanks Castor. Yes, Halloween can be fun too! 🙂
I agree with Castor. I’m not a horror fan so I wish Halloween would just be over soon. Ghostbuster is a fun one for any season 🙂
Oh yes, THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE. That is a very frightening film. Probably why I haven’t watched it in a long time. But maybe now that Netflix has it on Instant Streaming (I think) I might take another look.
I recently bought my very own copy of THE UNINVITED. It’s just such a terrific film at any time of the year.