Just curious.
Claude Rains
Boris Karloff
Yeah, if we're talking my favorite it's Karloff. But if we're talking acting chops, gotta go with Claude
Karloff.
He did everything from monsters to upper class characters to Christmas cartoonery. He could be horrific or dignified.
Chaney, Jr. looked uncomfortable in high society. Bela was hampered by his accent. Would Raines have made a convincing homeless alcoholic? In some ways his distinctive voice was a limitation.
For believable range alone, I would pick Karloff.
Karloff
JP
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on August 04, 2023, 05:15:53 PM
Would Raines have made a convincing homeless alcoholic?
https://youtu.be/4JEYfvHYTgg?t=399
Quote from: Mike Scott on August 04, 2023, 08:47:51 PM
https://youtu.be/4JEYfvHYTgg?t=399
OK.
But he is playing an ex-judge who speaks like a down and out Shakespearean actor. Not quite what I had in mind.
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on August 04, 2023, 09:07:01 PM
Not quite what I had in mind.
Who says all homeless alcoholics have to be morons? ;D
This is so hard to say. I think that Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi gave their best performances in The Black Cat (1932).
I may be in the minority on this one, but I think Lon Chaney Jr. was an amazing Count Alucard (or Count Dracula or Count Dracula's son).
Lugosi's greatest performances
The Black Cat
Dracula
Son of Frankenstein
Murders in the Rue Morgue
Mark of the Vampire (not Universal)
Karloff's greatest performances
The Black Cat
Bride of Frankenstein
House of Frankenstein
Frankenstein
The Invisible Ray
It is really a toss up for me.
Lon Chaney Sr.
He only had two movies actually considered Universal Monsters movies, but it still stands.
Based on the monster legacy collections alone, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., and Bela Lugosi showed the most versatility. Karloff can pull off a mute monster (Frankenstein), complex character development (Bride of Frankenstein), a dynamic mad scientist (House of Frankenstein), and an absolutely diabolical protagonist who has complex qualities of a love interest (The Mummy). Chaney Jr. can pull off nonspeaking intimidating monsters (The Ghost of Frankenstein, The Mummy character, The Wolf Man character), sympathetic tormented characters (Larry Talbot human character), and diabolical villains (Son of Dracula). Last, but not least, Lugosi can pull off menacing protagonists (Dracula, Son of Frankenstein, The Ghost of Frankenstein), silent intimidating monsters (Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man), and sympathetic and caring characters (Bela the Gypsy in The Wolf Man).
Claude Rains should also be mentioned. He could pull off an absolute madman with a touch of dark comedy (The Invisible Man), a sympathetic yet revengeful character (The Phantom of the Opera), and a loving yet stubborn patriarch (The Wolf Man).
While not the "best actor", I find Bela Lugosi to be very entertaining.
I'm going to go with Karloff. He was entertaining in the UM movies. I loved his voicing of the Grinch, and fondly remember watching him introduce Thriller ( the tv show, not the music video for you youngsters out there-lol).
RF
While I think Lugosi was very talented, Karloff takes the crown IMHO
Karloff. Just go watch The Body Snatcher for proof.
Quote from: Rex fury on March 09, 2024, 05:47:05 PM
I'm going to go with Karloff. He was entertaining in the UM movies. I loved his voicing of the Grinch, and fondly remember watching him introduce Thriller ( the tv show, not the music video for you youngsters out there-lol).
RF
As I think about it, Karloff would have done an excellent job with the narration in the Thriller video/song.
Another vote for Karloff here. Have you guys ever seen one of his last movies, Targets? Even in ill health, he gave a helluva performance.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063671/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_8_act (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063671/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_8_act)
Karloff was capable of subtlety and nuance that seemed beyond the reach of Lon, Jr. and Bela. Their performances were wonderful, but always pretty broad.
I love them all. They were an important part of my cinematic enjoyment as a kid.
Here is another opinion:
https://tinyurl.com/3frjwnp3
My favorite actor of all time is Bela Lugosi, he is just fantastic in every role and gives each performance his very best. That being said, objectionably speaking, I'd have to go with Karloff. He was such a good actor, very versatile, and could play or do anything...and did!
I love them all, but my vote is for Boris. He really could do anything.
"Digging up" an older topic here, but I would say Lon Chaney Jr. He was a good actor, just never got the parts to really show his acting chops off. Just watch Of Mice And Men.
Quote from: GeekDragon on November 22, 2024, 01:05:07 AMJust watch Of Mice And Men.
"Tell it, again, about the rabbits, George!"
Lon Chaney, Sr.