Time For A Halloween Horror Classic!
On this 30th day of “Shocktober 2016”, I want to share the second greatest horror film ever made.
One of the greatest films of all time began as a Stephen King novel – his first novel in fact, and still the greatest film ever made from one of his books!
Classic “Carrie!”
In 1976, Director Brian DePalma took a very young cast – including Sissy Spacek, John Travolta and Nancy Allen – and made a classic film that will stand the test of time:
It’s not just a great horror film – it’s a great movie – classic cinema from a master filmmaker – let’s look first at the trailer for “Carrie”:
“Carrie” is a master class in filmmaking. I mean, how can you top this opening credits sequence, when Carrie takes a shower after gym class and discovers an unknown horror…
After her class mates taunt her about her horrified reaction to her totally unexpected first period, the story takes a dual path: both “good” and “bad” girls at school have plans for Carrie, while she discovers that she is “gifted”, and you really don’t want to get her angry.
Casting “Carrie” – AND Princess Leia!
Here’s great trivia: George Lucas and Brian De Palma held a joint audition for “Carrie” and “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”. There is a long-standing rumor that originally, Sissy Spacek was cast as Princess Leia, and Carrie Fisher as Carrie, but when Fisher refused to appear in nude scenes and Spacek was willing to do them, they switched parts.
Princess Leia Says “NOT TRUE!”
However, Fisher refuted this story in a Premiere magazine article called “The Force Wasn’t With Them,” about actors who auditioned unsuccessfully for “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.” That article got into the “switched roles” legend, and quoted Fisher as saying:
“Not only do I love being nude, I would’ve been nude then… But anyway, it’s total bullshit that Fisher refused to play Carrie.”
Spielberg’s Set Visits!
In a 2010 interview with “The A.V. Club”, Actress P.J. Soles said that Steven Spielberg often came to the set at Brian De Palma’s invitation – because DePalma told him that there were “a lot of cute girls down here.”
Soles said that Spielberg asked out most of the women on the set, Soles included, and Amy Irving was the only one who accepted. Irving and Spielberg were married from 1985-1989 and had one son together.
Travolta’s Smarmy Supporting Role!
John Travolta broke out big in as small role as Billy Nolen, a punk who just wants to make his girlfriend, Chris Hargenson, happy. Chris is played by DePalma favorite Nancy Allen. Their big dramatic scene takes place underneath the stage where Carrie White is about to be crowned homecoming queen:
Billy Nolen: “Keep the light straight!
Chris Hargenson: [blood drops onto the flashlight] Watch it, you stupid shit, you’re getting blood all over the place!
Billy Nolen: [starts laughing] Who are you calling a stupid shit? I mean you can’t even keep that fuckin’ light straight
Chris Hargenson: [whines] Just hurry up, I wanna go home!
Billy Nolen: [drawls] Yes, Ma’am! We’re doing the BEST we can, we sure are!
Billy Nolen: Just keep your tits on, and I’ll let you pull the rope!
Chris Hargenson: I intend to!
Billy Nolen: I know…”
Piper Laurie was Oscar-noiminated as Carrie’s crazy, religious Mom…in a virtuoso performance that was central to the film’s success…
“Carrie” is a masterpiece, and brilliantly directed by a master filmmaker – check out all of the special editions DVD’s and Blu-rays that delve into much more great behind-the-scenes trivia about the making of the film…
Here is another low-budget cult film that changed horror forever – because “Black Christmas” created the eerie POV camera shot of the killer that was knocked off by every horror film since!
“Black Christmas” is a classic horror film – see the creepy movie trailer here:
https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/28/shocktober-day-28-the-classic-sorority-horror-of-black-christmas/
One of the most revelatory horror films ever released was an ultra-low budget black’n’white shocker from 1968:
There would be no “Walking Dead” if it wasn’t for Director George Romero’s classic shock fest, which came at a time of huge changes in our culture – and in the level of gore allowed in film. Read all about it here:
It’s been a horrific Shocktober 2016 so far – any month that brings Stanley Kubrick and Jack Nicholson together is perfect in my book!
Yes, these two want to welcome you to the Overlook Hotel, where Jack Nicholson and Stanley Kubrick hung out for a few months and created “The Shining”:
See the iconic trailer – an elevator full of blood – by clicking here:
Another classic horror film is from the great John Carpenter – yes, the Director of “Halloween” took it one step further in the 80’s with this horror classic:
See some amazing special effects by clicking here:
If you missed some of my Shocktober countdown, well you missed some neglected classics like this:
Here is a list of ten great scary movies to enjoy this weekend:
https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/24/shocktober-2016-ten-more-horror-classics-for-halloween/
I plan to watch “Carrie” again this Shocktober, hope you do too!
