Happy Bearth Day.

Today's a special day here at the Skull & Pumpkin.

Not because it's Earth Day, though we spent many wonderful hours in the yard yesterday, pulling, pruning and planting in anticipation of today's significance and some long-awaited rain.

No, today is special for two main reasons.

Firstly, my stepdaughter Rebecca is celebrating her birthday! Happy Birthday on Earth Day, Rebecca! Everyone raise a toast!

Secondly, another birthday for another beautiful woman...

In 1935, 75 years ago this very day, was released a film many consider to be the greatest of the entire era of the classic horror films.

She was the first crush of many a Monster Kid, not only because she was beautiful but because she was a monster that was a girl; she was 'one of us' who was decidedly not quite like us... like the first girl you all agreed to let enter the boys-only clubhouse, the secret hiding place, the first girl to whom you ever entrusted a real secret and let slip a kiss on the cheek.

She was a revelation.

The finest neck in horror history.

Now, I could launch into days' worth of plot synopses and analyzing of social subtext and the ever-discussed odd life of director James Whale, but those of you who are students of Classic Horror already know all of that jibber-jabber because you've seen it a dozen times or more, and have read the myriad words written about the significance of this one film to an entire genre (and modern popular culture).

For any of you who haven't seen it, I suggest you try to see it before the weekend's out... and let me add a little nudging elbow to that suggestion with a few words on this unique beauty here...

First... well, just look at her. Sure, she's not in very much of the film, but the fact that she immediately became (and remains) a truly legendary classic horror icon is a testament to her singular screen presence and beauty. For that we must thank make-up pioneer Jack Pierce, as well as director Whale's whimsical vision, and the subtle, unique charms of the delightful Elsa Lanchester.

Second, the film offers another unique, peculiar, dare I say queer experience in the form of one of the strangest, funniest, and outright swishiest villains the movie world is likely to see...

Dr. Septimus Pretorius, portrayed by the inimitable Ernest Thesiger, is a dandy, controlled and controlling, the real forerunner of the modern Mad Scientist in the truest sense -- using reason to corrupt reason, blackmail to force loyalty, death to create life, science to become God. All with a lisp, a sneer and a bit of gin -- it's his only weakness. You will never forget him or his incredible voice, or the way he says 'lever'...

There it is just above and behind his head, the dreaded 'lever' -- only Pretorius and Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive reprising his 1931 role) both pronounce it 'LEE-vuh!' enough times that now I call anything remotely resembling a lever a 'LEE-vuh!'

You don't get to see them all together for very long, but this dysfunctional family

is a treat to behold. Sadly, the seeming calm here only lasts mere minutes,
because the oblivious Bride finally gets a good long look at her Mate...

... and breaks our hearts right along with his!
Oh, that poor Monster, we poor Monster Kid boys -- our only chance of
Monster Love, of finding a girl who 'gets' our Monster geekitude,
has spurned us! Even as a kid I knew the heartache over this moment,
and entirely understood the Monster's need to find and pull that LEE-vuh.

Oh, this is a remarkably dark, funny, quirky film. There's so much stuffed into it, so much that James Whale was able to 'get away with' for 1935 and the Hays Code, so much to explore, that it's no wonder so much has been written about it over these 75 years.

If you have time and $15 or so this weekend, do yourself a massive favor and hit your favorite video store to get this historic and hysterical film. Just buy it, you will want to own it, trust me.

If you already have it, then do as I am about to do, and just run it all day long. That's what's on the screen here at the S&P all day and night.

From Karloff and Lanchester to Una O'Connor and Ernest Thesiger (and Valerie Hobson and Colin Clive and Dwight Frye and...) it will delight and delight and delight.

So, in honor of Her Brideship, I have added the brilliant Franz Waxman theme from The Bride of Frankenstein to the jukebox... give it a listen.

Happy Anniversary, Happy Birthday, Happy Earth Day.

DUMDUMSHREKPEEPS!

(and don't touch that LEE-vuh!)