Fidelity...Dana Wynter, D-Day 6th of June

[amicus]

A 1956 film, on AMC, I have seen it several times before.

The theme of this film coincides, somewhat with what I saw as the theme of a recent thread by slyc-willy... concerning the same issue.

Dana Wynter, the late, I am sure, somewhat idealized my ideal woman, a long time ago, not that, that matters in the least, but the setting, a war time setting, gave a firm foundation for addressing the important question of marital fidelity, as was proferred in Slyc's thread.

I doubt many know the film or the actress, different generation for sure, but still...

I should have put thoughts such as these in a journal of sorts, if I kept a journal to records such things, which wouldn't be read, but then, neither will this...but..at least they are said...

Amicus...

 

[emap]

Ami your silly and funny.

I know the movie, I have seen it a number of times, heck I am a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock's, not that it has anything to do with this thread, which doesn't really have an idea or statement to it.

Hmmm, doesn't that mean anybody can talk about something else?

So here we go, your favorite horror movie, not the gore ones, well I don't really want to know about those, but the old horrors where they hint at something. Don't always show it but you just know there is something. So I want to hear which ones got you jumping out of your skin and why.

Call it research for a story I am working on now. I already have a pretty darn good idea on what i will do but always good to get other opinions.

 

[Weird Harold]

So here we go, your favorite horror movie, not the gore ones, well I don't really want to know about those, but the old horrors where they hint at something.

I still have occasional nightmares about the "Green Man" aka The Creature From the Black Lagoon" -- I was really too young to be going to see movies like that and my sister's constant teasing for years afterwards didn't help me get over it.

The original Blob was another that left an impression, but I was older and wiser (almost ten) when I saw that one.

 

[R. Richard]

I still have occasional nightmares about the "Green Man" aka The Creature From the Black Lagoon" -- I was really too young to be going to see movies like that and my sister's constant teasing for years afterwards didn't help me get over it.

WH, I think you missed it. I feel that The Creature from the The Creature From the Black Lagoon was easily worthy of an academy award. The acting, the breadth of performance the emotion! It was all there and more. JMHO.

 

[amicus]

the original, "The Thing" got me, about 10 years old, rode my bike into a town about five miles down the road, dark when the movie was over, had to ride the bike all the way...fastest trip I ever made...

ami

 

[emap]

I wasn't all that scared of the creature. Course I was older than Harold when I caught it.

Oh hey you guys are being lazy on me.

I want to know why and what about it scared you.

Perhaps I better start. The original House on Haunted Hill, not all of it and I feel kinda silly about it now, but the stomping feet bit when they are all in one room then the door flexing. Not to mention the later or was it earlier part when the two women are in bed and there are noises, you can see the wall sorta move a little.

 

[Weird Harold]

WH, I think you missed it. I feel that The Creature from the The Creature From the Black Lagoon was easily worthy of an academy award. The acting, the breadth of performance the emotion! It was all there and more. JMHO.

All sarcasm aside, at age eight or nine, the cheezy guy in a scuba suit with a scary mask was more than scary enough for a special effects oscar.

I've watched it many times since then -- mostly on small screen TVs late at night -- and can see the 50's B-Movie "special" effects for what they are, but that's NOT the movie I saw from the very front row, center seat (where I didn't have to look over or around anyone.) That movie had this huge 20' tall monster that could swallow me in one bite.

 

[slyc_willie]

the original, "The Thing" got me, about 10 years old, rode my bike into a town about five miles down the road, dark when the movie was over, had to ride the bike all the way...fastest trip I ever made...

ami

I was about the same age when I saw John Carpenter's remake. Watching it now, the film holds to a feeling of impending doom, especially considering the ending, when Kurt Russel and David Keith are the only two left, slowly freezing to death, suspecting the other of being an alien.

It was only years later that I saw the original. It was a good thing I was an adult when I did; otherwise I would not have enjoyed the subtle tension and suspense throughout the film.

There was a movie, a few years back, starring Michael Douglas. "Don't Say A Word." That was pretty creepy, and continues to give me fleeting shivers. Same with 'Jacob's Ladder." Now that was a masterfully-crafted film.

 

[emap]

Oh dangit, your still not saying what I want to know, why is it scary?

I am writing up a scary story that has sex, but I want to leave ya nervous as all hell to and it's not easy to do that if all I am doing is making sure I am nervous as all hell. We all have different factors that make us nervous as all hell. So come on let it out, what about a scary movie makes you scared? Don't have to tell me why I just want to know what works on other people.

 

[TE999]

The movie 'Them' scared the crap out of me when I was 10.

I can still hear that twittering sound as the ants communicated.

The special effects were excellent for the period.

It still works today.

But I ain't scared no more--well maybe a little.

 

[slyc_willie]

Oh dangit, your still not saying what I want to know, why is it scary?

I am writing up a scary story that has sex, but I want to leave ya nervous as all hell to and it's not easy to do that if all I am doing is making sure I am nervous as all hell. We all have different factors that make us nervous as all hell. So come on let it out, what about a scary movie makes you scared? Don't have to tell me why I just want to know what works on other people.

More than anything, it's the tension. The anticipation of doom. Knowing that someone can really fuck someone else up, and wondering if and when they're going to do it. Describing someone doing horrific things to another person is less intense than the impending victim imagining the horrors that will committed upon him or her.

 

[Weird Harold]

Oh dangit, your still not saying what I want to know, why is it scary?

In my case, scary movies were scary because 7-12 year-ol dboys are gullible as hell and willing to endure anythng to keep from being seen as a coward or wimp.

For the most part, as a senior citizen, movies aren't scary because I just don't watch that kind of movie.

What makes a movie "scary" is the same thing that makes a movie "funny" -- Timing and Delivery. The director has to get you looking and thinkng in the direction he wants and then when the time is exactly right, he has to deliver the shock/punchline. Depending on the setup/build-up, being splashed with gore is either horrifying or hysterically funny.

 

[amicus]

Oh dangit, your still not saying what I want to know, why is it scary?

I am writing up a scary story that has sex, but I want to leave ya nervous as all hell to and it's not easy to do that if all I am doing is making sure I am nervous as all hell. We all have different factors that make us nervous as all hell. So come on let it out, what about a scary movie makes you scared? Don't have to tell me why I just want to know what works on other people.

~~~

Geez emap, dangit...you sound like a nagging female...chuckles...but thas okay, I don't mind.

I pretty much agree with wierd harold, scary movies are for kids and, ahem, girls, who seem to enjoy being scared out of their knickers.

I don't watch them, never has and don't use the device in my writing either, so I have really no expertise in answering what makes something scary.

I think perhaps each person must delve into their own psyche to discover those fears that lurk in darkness and mystery.

I don't believe in the supernatural in any way, not ghosts, but the old film, "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" is one of my all time favorite classic films as is a "Portrait of Jenny" and more recent, "Ghost" with Demi Moore, but then I have always had the hots for her anyway.

There are perhaps fears of pain, being ripped apart by a lion or a tigers claws, or dying in a raging fire, or drowing, all of which would be horrible deaths, as would the "Jaws" series, shark attack.

A fear of falling, 'Vertigo" a Jimmy Stewart film and many more. A fear of death and non existence, or continuing on in a dark void absent of all sensory sensations.

The unexpected, the tension, as several have mentioned, the human mind does not like to 'not know' what is around yon dark corner.

I surmise that most fears are irrational ones, see your shrink.

The human mind, in a protective mode no doubt, virtually erases the memory of pain; did it not, no woman would ever give birth to more than one child.

There are those who concentrate on what I call the dark side of life and existence, I do not, I prefer the sunlight to the dark.

Amicus...

 

[emap]

Bad Ami, your not helping much.

I'm going to delve into all the things that make me jump, but i want to know what makes others jump, cause I want to do a scary story that makes everybody jump. Don't worry it was going to be long anyway.

 

[starrkers]

I first saw the original Psycho about 25 years ago. It scared teh bejesus outa me- the tension and not ever totally knowing what was going on, but knowing it was bad and seriously dangerous, while the characters did not, I think was the thing.
I saw it again recently and it didn't hit me at all.

 

[emap]

Oh my, I so remember seeing Psycho the first time. Was hard to go and take a shower for at least a year after seeing it. Did not help my dad had a tendency to sneak into the bathroom and pull the drape back.

I tease him about it now with it being why he doesn't hear very well anymore.

Sadly, I can't use the shower scene, doesn't fit in with the story. Rest of it either, what I am doing doesn't lend itself well to alot of the movies. No I am so not telling anybody, I want to keep it a surprise, when it eventually is done. Got dang three pages written so far and not even to the scary stuff happens part yet. Almost though.