Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy In Horror

Back in 2009 Michael Mallory’s book Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror was released. The picture-filled book covered the history of the monster movies produced by Universal. Long out of print, a new edition has just recently been released just in time for Halloween 2021.

This article will cover what you can expect within this 268-page tome and whether it is worth your time and money to buy a copy. Note: There are hundreds of pictures included in this book. The pictures in this article represent only a small sample of what can be found between its covers.

Hollywood’s House of Horror

Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff toast themselves as two of the biggest box office stars of the year (1932).

The introductory chapter covers the history of Universal Studios. It discusses such information as the early years of Carl Laemmle, founder of Universal Pictures, as well as his early career in the movie business in the Eastern United States. It goes over the reasons why Laemmle headed west, founding Universal Studios and briefly covering the history of the studio through the late 1940s.

The Rest of the Book

After the introduction, the chapters basically fall into two different categories. The first are chapters about the movies themselves including a synopsis of each movie in addition to details about the production. Next are “Spotlight” chapters (which are very similar to the Scholars’ Spotlight section on this website). These provide a short biography about a specific person connected to Universal Horror films. Even though they are spread across the book, for the purposes of this article they will be covered together at the end.

Silent Nightmares

Lon Chaney and Mary Philbin in “The Phantom of the Opera” (1925).

This chapter provides overviews of the silent era of horror at Universal. The movies covered are:

  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)
  • The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
  • The Cat and the Canary (1927)
  • The Man Who Laughs (1928)
Laura La Plante in “The Cat and the Canary” (1927).

Dracula

This chapter discusses the Dracula franchise of movies from the 1930s and 1940s at Universal Studios. The movies featured are:

  • Dracula (1931)
  • Dracula (The Spanish Version – 1931)
  • Dracula’s Daughter (1936)
  • Son of Dracula (1943)
  • House of Dracula (1945)
Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, and Todd Browning on the set of Dracula (1931)

Frankenstein’s Monster

Similar to the preceding Dracula chapter, this chapter covers the Frankenstein franchise of movies from the 1930s and 1940s at Universal Studios. The movies featured are:

  • Frankenstein (1931)
  • Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
  • Son of Frankenstein (1939)
  • The Ghost of Frankenstein (1939)
Basil Rathbone and Bela Lugosi help Boris Karloff celebrate his birthday on the set of “Son of Frankenstein” (1939).

The Wolf Man

Since the book gives Dracula and Frankenstein their own chapters, naturally the Wolf Man would be next in the pantheon of Universal Monsters. This chapter includes team-up movies between these three characters (regardless of the title). The movies that are discussed are:

  • Werewolf of London (1936)
  • The Wolf Man (1941)
  • Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1943)
  • House of Frankenstein (1944)
  • She-Wolf of London (1946)
Lon Chaney Jr. as the Wolf Man.

The Mummy

Although the Mummy appeared earlier than the Wolf Man, he appears later in the book because he didn’t have any Team-Up movies with those other ghouls. The movies in this chapter are:

  • The Mummy (1932)
  •  The Mummy’s Hand (1940)
  • The Mummy’s Tomb (1942)
  • The Mummy’s Ghost (1944)
  • The Mummy’s Curse (1944)
Tom Tyler in “The Mummy’s Hand” (1940).

The Invisible Man

The next film series to be covered in the book pertains to the H.G. Wells-inspired tales of The Invisible Man (and Woman). The movies featured in this chapter are:

  • The Invisible Man (1933)
  • The Invisible Man Returns (1940)
  • The Invisible Woman (1941)
  • Invisible Agent (1942)
  • The Invisible Man’s Revenge (1944)
Poster for “The Invisible Agent” (1942).

Creatures, Creepers, and Chillers

This chapter covers the lesser-known B-series of the Universal pantheon, with each section discussing a particular series/character. They are:

  • Paula, The Ape Woman
  • The Creeper
  • The Inner Sanctum
Vicky Lane as The Ape Woman in “Jungle Captive” (1945).

Monsters, Madmen, and Freaks of Science

Some Universal movies were not part of any franchise at Universal. These films are covered in this chapter which features:

  • The Old Dark House (1932)
  • Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932)
  • The Black Cat (1934)
  • The Raven (1935)
  • Black Friday (1940)
  • Man Made Monster (1940)
  • Horror Island (1941)
  • Night Monster (1942)
  • The Mad Ghoul (1943)
  • The Strange Door (1951)
  • The Black Castle (1952)
  • Tarantula (1955)
  • The Mole People (1956)
  • Monster on the Campus (1958)
Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi on the set of “Gift of Gab” (1934).

Abbott and Costello

Abbott and Costello were two of the biggest stars at Universal during the 1940s. This chapter covers the movies they made with Universal Monsters in them. It should be noted that this chapter is different from the others, as the movies are not broken down into sections. Rather, they are covered in a more comprehensive essay format.

Lon Chaney Jr. and Glenn Strange having fun between takes on the set of “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” (1948).

The Gill Man

The Creature from the Black Lagoon was the last of the classic Universal monsters to appear, so it should come as no surprise that he appears at near the end of the book. The movies that are given an overview are:

  • Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954)
  • Revenge of the Creature (1955)
  • The Creature Walks Among Us (1955)
Ricou Browning as the Creature.

Monsters Walk Among Us

This chapter gives a basic overview of the Universal horror movies from the late 1950s through the 1960s. It spends a considerable amount of time on the Hammer Films from the UK, which were distributed by the studio. It also focuses on the television series, The Munsters, also a Universal product.

Poster for Hammer’s “The Horror of Dracula” (1958).

The Legacy Continues

This final chapter of the book covers the influence Universal Horror has had on pop culture in modern times. This ranges from everything including the recent Invisible Man movie from 2020, to the Universal Halloween Horror Night events held at the studio’s theme parks. This chapter honestly feels tacked on and doesn’t really fit the rest of the book.

Spotlight Chapters

Makeup artist Jack P. Pierce works on Boris Karloff for his turn as The Mummy (1932).

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, there are several spotlight articles that cover the lives and careers of a variety of people instrumental in the creation of the Universal Horror pantheon. They are:

  • Lon Chaney (actor and makeup artist)
  • Bela Lugosi (actor)
  • Boris Karloff (actor)
  • Curt Siodmark (screenwriter)
  • Lon Chaney Jr. (actor)
  • Una O’Connor (actress)
  • John P. Fulton (special effects)
  • Dwight Frye (actor)
  • James Whale (director)
  • Rogue’s Gallery (various actors)
  • Jack P. Pierce (makeup artist)
  • Hans Salter (composer)
  • Scream Sirens (various actresses)
Lon Chaney working on his character makeup.

Conclusion

If you are a fan of Universal Horror movies and want to have a nice coffee table book filled with great pictures, Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror is worth your time and money. It delivers a wealth of information and is well organized with a nice presentation.

If You Enjoyed This Article We Recommend:

Making The Munsters (Click Here)

The Women of Hammer Films – Part 1 (Click Here)

The Making of The Phantom of the Opera (Click Here)

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