One of the common theories used to explain the horror paradox is that people watch horror movies as a way of coping with actual fears or violence. Since one source of our fears in undoubtedly the world in which we live, I thought it would be interesting to look at the popular horror movies of different decades to see how they reflect the general fears and uncertainties of the times.
The 1940s
If the horror movies of the 1930s looked back to the 19th century for inspiration from its fictional monsters, those from the 1940s looked within. With the horror ban continuing in Britain, horror movies were made primarily for audiences on this side of the pond. Early in the decade, Americans may have felt safe and removed from the war in Europe; however, when the United States joined Word War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, they needed an escape from reality more than ever.
With the popularity of Son of Frankenstein in 1939, Universal Pictures discovered a formula for success and began trotting out sequels based on the iconic representations it had created a decade before. The Invisible Man returned. The Mummy had a hand, a tomb, a curse and a ghost. Frankenstein had a ghost. Dracula had a son. Frankenstein and Dracula had a house. And Frankenstein met The Wolfman.
By the time Abbott and Costello met Frankenstein in 1948, the once frightening monsters had taken supporting roles in slapstick comedies. While this period signalled the decline of horror at Universal, it also introduced its most sympathetic character. Lon Chaney, Jr. played Larry Talbot, who, when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright, transforms into The Wolfman.
The Wolfman was significant because, while the other Universal Monsters had their origins in fiction or mythology, Larry Talbot and his furry alter ego were largely original creations, cobbled together from several different legends as well as new story elements. It would nevertheless become an archetype for lycanthropy in all media that remains with us today.
Two of my all-time favorite horror films came from the 1940s: Cat People and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
While innovation in horror lacking at Universal, it was evolving at RKO. Beginning with Cat People in 1942, producer Val Lewton and director Jacques Tourneur led the way with movies focusing less on visible monsters and more on shadows and atmosphere. In these movies, the fear came not from what audiences saw, but from what they didn't see. And they provided a new template for the horror movies that followed.
Just as it did in the 1930s, the number of horror films decreased at the end of the decade, suggesting a 10-year cycle of popularity for the genre. With World War II over, perhaps the collective mood had lifted and audiences no longer wanted to be scared. Would this cycle repeat in the 1950s? Check back tomorrow and we'll find out...
Other 1940s milestones:
1941. Velcro was invented.
1945. Atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasake.
1945. First Slinky was demonstrated at Gimbles department store in Philadelphia.
1946. Tupperware was developed.
1947. The first microwave oven became commercially available.
1948. The first Frisbees were produced.
Sources:
Horror Film History: Horror Films in the 1940s
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