Who is the best in your opinon?
Christopher Lee
Barbara Steele
Ingrid Pitt
Vincent Price
Peter Cushing
Bela Lugosi
Who is the best in your opinon?
Renowned Death Hag
Boris was better than Bela but Lon Chaney was better than both. Bela had one role he played well.Boris was the Mummy and Frankenstein. You could make a argument that Chris Lee was a better Dracula than Bela. I like Lugosi better in the Dracula role
I think Lugosi gave 100% and took his roles so serious I think that is what did him in at times
Like when he refused The Frankenstein role because it wasn't a challenging part in his eyes.
And Karloff sank far lower than lugosi when he appeared in those mexican semi-porn films in the late 1960's.
Between the two of them I'd have to say Boris. Peter Lorre was my favorite. I loved his big eyes.I thought he was sexy and people thought I was strange I could have been Gomez's wife easily
Well, yes...and no. I agree that those particular films weren't exactly A-grade movies (they were pretty tacky).Originally Posted by Danny62
But when you consider that Karloff was paid $400,000 for a few days filming, (and this was in 1968, mind you) perhaps we can agree that he did all right for himself. After Karloff's scenes were filmed at Columbia studios, the rest of the film was shot in Mexico. So these films were definitely made "on the cheap" with Karloff's name used solely for its drawing power.
I don't believe Karloff actually appeared in any of the "semi-porn" scenes, (did he?) but someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this as I 've no way of double-checking at the moment.
The other thing to bear in mind is that when he died a year later, in 1969, the check for the $400,000 he had earned for the films remained uncashed. Surely this is a sign that he wasn't exactly desperate for the money.
Finally, Karloff's estate was worth roughly $2 million dollars when he died. If poor Bela left even a quarter of that to his family, I'd be very surprised.
(Does anyone know the value of Lugosi's estate when he died?)
Finally, Karloff didn't make "the big time" until he was in his 40s (he was born in 1887; Frankenstein was made in 1931). As I understand it, Lugosi had a much longer career, but still didn't realize as much money as Karloff did.
Don't read this wrong: I don't really feel that Karloff was "better" than Lugosi (or vice-versa). It's just that, as far as I know, Karloff started out much later than Lugosi did, yet still ended up a far wealthier man. Admittedly, Bela had more than his share of bad breaks, too.
And let's face it: Karloff didn't end his days in front of the camera with Ed Wood directing, either. I know that Bela had his share of personal problems, but I consider his having to work with Ed Wood a fate worse than death. He just didn't deserve that.
One point of trivia: I do believe that Lugosi outsells Karloff two-to-one in terms of merchandising. Has anyone else heard the same thing?
Well lugosi was in a way his own worst enemy! When He refused the Frankenstein role and Karloff bcame such a big star Bela was always afraid of that happening again and would never turn down a role.
And since he was spending money faster than he could make it he was desperate for money and the studio's knew it and didn't pay him much!
I believe his estate was valued around four thousand dollars when he died...not much!
So my question is karloff didn't need the money. Why did he make those final films? I am surprised he just didn't retire...I heard that if he had stopped working and took better care of himself he would have lived longer?
At one point during the filming of "Son of Frankenstein" Boris and Bela actually became good friends mainly because both their children were born around the same time. Boris went to the hospital in Frankenstein makeup when his daughter was born!
But to give Ed Wood some credit he did at least try to help Lugosi in the final years...some say he was taken advantage of by Ed? But Lugosi had no money and it seemed like Ed was willing to help. I believe Ed truly thought Highly of Bela and he wasn't just using him.
Have you seen all the Lugosi/Karloff movies? My favorite is "The Raven."
It was a great movie but it was one of the few times where Lugosi actually dominated Boris in the movie...well probably the only time!
But they are both Legends!!!!
And in the Lugosi video "Then and now" Buddy Barnett who is a owner of a memorabilia shop in Hollywood says Lugosi outsales Boris's stuff about 10 to 1...to bad Bela isn't around to see it!
Last edited by Danny62; 10-11-2007 at 06:29 AM.
Renowned Death Hag
Wow. mexi-porn? I have to see that. What was the name of the movie? I bet he did the Frankenstein "MMMMMMMMMM!!!!"
I loved Karloff- I think he was his most creepy in the film 'The Black cat'(sordid little film and creepy!)
I believe he did 4 of them! Let me find out and I will let you know. I know you can order then online.
Oh teacher...... how do you make them voter thingy majigs?
Go to the FAQ and it tells you how!!!
Pretty cool!
I can't believe you voted for Karloff!!!
Lugosi rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you!!!!!, I voted against you cause I knew you would say something. LOL
Miss attitude aren't we tonight!!
I would never have an attitude towards you my dear.
That's actually not too bad for 1956. Not a fortune, but it sounds like he was at least eating regularly.
Well, I've rarely heard anyone in Hollywood complain bitterly about the fact that they had "too much money," have you?
Bear in mind that at the time of those films, Karloff was in his 80s. When you're that old, you want to make sure your retirement is well-provided for. Especially when people aren't exactly beating down your door to offer you roles (he was, after all, a very old man).
And as much as I love and respect Karloff, it would be foolish to insist that his heyday lasted much beyond the mid-1950s.
Karloff had also chosen to focus on TV work from the 50s onward which simply didn't pay as well as the movies. In addition, he returned to live in the UK, which meant that he couldn't hope to earn as much money as he could in the US.
Finally, Karloff had a daughter (Sara) to provide for.
So when you have someone waving a check for $400,000 at you for a few days work, you're in your 80s, and you've a daughter to support, well.......you get the picture.
Karloff might indeed have lived longer if he had retired earlier. But bear in mind that he didn't hit the big-time until he was in his 40s. And up until then, he'd had to do some pretty strenuous things to pay the bills.
So while film and tv work is somewhat arduous, it must have seemed like a vacation to someone who was used to, say, driving trucks and manhandling huge bags of cement (both jobs that Karloff had done to keep eating).
I have a book called Great Monsters of the Movies by Edward Edelson. On page 38, there's a picture of Karloff and Lugosi wearing tuxedos and sitting together, smiling at the camera.
If you ever come across a poster of that, please let me know. I would love to have that up on my wall!
It's a great picture because both men look so happy and at ease. Good Times...
I hope so, too. And I do think it was good of Ed Wood to offer Lugosi work that late in Lugosi's life, regardless of the exact motivation for him doing so.
The part I feel bad about is the fact that because that was Lugosi's last work, his name and Wood's will always be intertwined. And for someone as unquestionably talented as Lugosi was, and who worked as hard as he did, I've always felt bad that he ended his days working with someone of Wood's "caliber."
I guess I consider it tantamount to Laurel and Hardy ending their days opening for Andrew Dice Clay.
Last edited by ST Moron; 10-12-2007 at 03:18 AM.
Loved them both... for different reasons!!! Loved Karloff when he did the narration for How the Grinch Stole Christmas...
Okay for the new Death hags vote on who was the best, Lugosi or Karloff?
Lou Costello was the best. No one did scared like him
Don Knotts did scare pretty well in "The Ghost and Mr Chicken"
I love them both, but Karloff takes the cake.
Like I mentioned on another thread, I named my little Boris-baby after him.
I just looked it up in Arthur Lennings Biography on Lugosi I was wrong he had a wopping $1900 in the bank not $4000!!
Bela, hands down. Not only was he scary, he was also very sexy.
The Frankenstein movies with Boris are my all-time favorites, so he gets my vote. Those movies scared the crap outta me when I was a kid. My kids aren't impressed, not enough intensity and action. Too bad kids today don't get the great horror movies of yester-year.
Here is a dusty one from The FAD archives!!!
Did I miss Bela in that pic someplace? LOL
Definitely Bela - He was a masterful actor - He got Pigeon-holed after Dracula. And he had much integrity.
I like Boris, Peter Lorre - I'm such a sucker for old Horror Movies - Love Them.
Someone Mentioned "The Raven" - Peter Lorre -vs- Karloff - it was absolutely Great - love that movie.
Actually "The Raven" starred Karloff & Lugosi. It was the only pic where Lugosi clearly dominated Karloff in the film. One reason why I love it...plus its a GREAT FILM!!!!!!!
A must see!!!
Unless you are talking about the one from the 60's?? I think Lorre and Karloff did do a movie called "The Raven" in the 60's together?
Okay all the newer death hags can vote.
Renowned Death Hag
umm Bela, Danny... Bela hands down!'it reminds me of the broken battlements in my home in transylvania.....' 'to die... to be truly dead....'
pull the string!
I concur. And from what I hear Bela's stuff outsale's Boris's by like 10 to 1. To bad Bela isn't around to see it.umm Bela, Danny... Bela hands down!
Renowned Death Hag
dang if he was alive now, i would have taken him into my home and taken care of him. gladly!
pull the string!
Bela definitely, just for the fact he was the first Dracula I saw and the image still burns brightly in my mind.
Karloff was good too, but I don't think he would have made quite so effective a Dracula.
I like Boris better. That voice! But I agree with Jef, Lon Chaney was better than both. Man of a 1000 faces
Lon was great, as was his son Lon jr - arrogant and often drunk but a great actor!I like Boris better. That voice! But I agree with Jef, Lon Chaney was better than both. Man of a 1000 faces
I like both of them, but in my opinion I thought Boris Karloff was a little more versatile. It is only my personal opinion. I thought both of them were great!
With all due respect to the Bela lovers (esp. Danny and Rosemary--you know I love Bela too!)--I have to go with Boris...and you'll laugh when I tell you why....
Renowned Death Hag
I'd have to go for Boris Karloff also., he is just more memorable for me .. Although Lugosi and Chaney are right up there also ..
There's more to the truth than just the facts. ~Author Unknown
Bump
"No one gives a fuck for Bella" Martin Landau as Lugosi in "Ed Wood".
Boris by a long shot.....boy this one is close
From the choices given (I know what some of you are like!) who is your favourite Horror performer and why?
Boris Karloff
Ick. None of them.
Anthony Hopkins.
I'm with Ruby, but having to pick someone from the list, I'd choose Bela and Vincent.
Ah! Off to a good start!
Good one! Yes, Hannibal Lector yup, seriously creepy
Death Hag of Legend
How about choices that arent boring and outdated?
Id have to go with Vincent price from the list. I like Dr. Pheebes.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
I love vintage horrors Ichy, hence my choices!
Where is Karloff? Hrumpf...
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