Rhapsody in 35MM

In episode 11 we discuss cinema's first Dracula film - the lost Austrian film, Drakula halala, or Dracula's Death (1921). This little-known film predates Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922), cinema's earliest surviving depiction of Dracula, by one year. Directed by Hungarian director Károly Lajthay, the story is written by him and a young Michael Curtiz. Be sure to visit our website https://www.rhapsodyin35mmpodcast.com/ to view credits for this episode, as well as transcripts and tons of supplemental content. Please subscribe, rate, and comment.

In episode 10 we discuss a particular episode in the American film serial The Exploits of Elaine (1914) and Lilith und Ly (1919) directed by Erich Kober and written by a young Fritz Lang.  Be sure to visit our website https://www.rhapsodyin35mmpodcast.com/ to view credits for this episode, as well as transcripts and tons of supplemental content. Please subscribe, rate, and comment.

In episode 9, we explore the fascinating life of American dancer Loie Fuller, a pioneer of both modern dance and theatrical lighting techniques. She stars in the 1902 Pathe film, Loie Fuller, where she turns into a vampiric bat. Or does she? Is this even Loie Fuller? Listen and find out! Be sure to visit our website https://www.rhapsodyin35mmpodcast.com/ to view credits for this episode, as well as transcripts and tons of supplemental content. Please subscribe, rate, and comment.

Join us as we learn about the origin of the word vampire; discuss the Slavonic legend of the "unclean dead"; and delve into the histories of two legendary creatures, the vetalas of Indian mythology, and the vrykolakes of Greek mythology, and their influence on the modern vampire—especially the work of Richard Burton and Lord Byron. So join us … if you dare! Be sure to visit our website https://www.rhapsodyin35mmpodcast.com/ to view credits for this episode, as well as transcripts and tons of supplemental content. Please subscribe, rate, and comment.

It's Ladies First! We begin Season 02 with an exploration of the origins of the female vampire - from Greek mythology to English poet John Keats. From where exactly did the vampiric traits found in such characters as Lucy Westenra from Dracula (1931) and Countess Mary Zelenska from Dracula's Daughter (1936) come? Listen to find out. Cover your necks and don't go out at night - the vampires are here! Be sure to visit our website https://www.rhapsodyin35mmpodcast.com/ to view credits for this episode, as well as transcripts and tons of supplemental content. Please subscribe, rate, and comment.

Episode 6, the final episode in what ended up being a mini-series of Old Dogs, New Tricks, ties a bow around the various stories in the past 4 episodes. We follow Georges Melies and G. A. Smith through the end of their filmmaking careers and ultimately their own lives; we finish up the story of the Society of Psychical Research and all those involved, especially regarding the Blackburn confession; we finally try to solve the mysterious death of Frank Podmore; and much more! Be sure to visit our website https://www.rhapsodyin35mmpodcast.com/ to view credits for this episode, as well as transcripts and tons of supplemental content. Please subscribe, rate, and comment.

In Episode 5, we delve head-first into the film output of G. A. Smith and the many advances in filmmaking for which he was responsible. We discuss films such as Old Man Drinking a Beer, Photographing a Ghost, A Seen Through a Telescope, Kiss In the Tunnel, and Santa Claus, among others. We continue to trace the development of film technology with advances such as the Biokam and Kinemacolor. Along the way we become obsessed with x-rays, just like the Victorians; briefly discuss English filmmaker James Williamson and Indian filmmaker D. G. Phalke; trudge through the messiness of copyright and distribution in the Victorian film business; and much more! Be sure to visit our website https://www.rhapsodyin35mmpodcast.com/ to view credits for this episode, as well as transcripts and tons of supplemental content. Please subscribe, rate, and comment.

In Episode 4, we continue with the life of director George Albert Smith. Along the way we revisit the Society for Psychical Research and its contributions to early feminism; discuss Pepper's Ghost; explore Smith's wife Laura Bayley's contributions to his film work; discuss Smith's pleasure garden, St. Ann's Well Gardens in Hove, as well as the history of limelight. Be sure to visit our website https://www.rhapsodyin35mmpodcast.com/ to view credits for this episode, as well as transcripts and tons of supplemental content. Please subscribe, rate, and comment.

In Episode 3, we explore some aspects of Victorian culture, specifically mysticism, mesmerism, spiritualism, and their relation to scientific thinking of the time. We offer a brief and interesting history of Franz Mesmer, a fascinating character who laid the groundwork for much of the spiritualism movement that was so popular in the Victorian era. We also wander right into the middle of a murder mystery plot regarding the Society for Psychical Research. How does this relate to film history? This is the world inhabited by director George Albert Smith (1864-1959). Many would say he rivals Melies in importance to the early development of the film industry. Be sure to visit our website https://www.rhapsodyin35mmpodcast.com/ to view credits for this episode, as well as transcripts and tons of supplemental content. Please subscribe, rate, and comment.

In Episode 02, we begin with a discussion of what exactly makes a horror film. We cover everything from the etymology of the word horror, and the biological differences in how we respond to horror, to how directors, cinematographers, composers, and editors scare us. Plus, much more. In our main discussion, we question if certain early Méliès films, which some have deemed horror films, actually are horror films at all. Some of the Méliès films we cover in this episode, which pre-date last week's main film The House of the Devil (Le Manoir du Diable) (1986) are A Terrible Night (Une Nuit terrible)(1896) and The Vanishing Lady (Escamotage d'une dame chez Robert-Houdin) (1896) Be sure to visit our website https://www.rhapsodyin35mmpodcast.com/ to view these films and others we will discuss in this episode.

In Episode 01, we discuss the beginnings of film horror which lie in the age of the magic lantern and phantasmagoria. We also briefly discuss early versions of the movie camera. Our main discussion centers around George Melies' 1896 film Le Manoir du Diable (The House of the Devil).