Talk: Gothic Film

Part of our Gothic Season

An introductory talk on the origins, themes and history of Gothic on screen, followed by a screening of Albert Lewin's powerful version of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) with George Sanders on terrific form.

The season also includes two double bills. Bride of Frankenstein (James Whale, 1935) is in many ways superior to the original, with the added bonus of a youthful Elsa Lanchester, accompanied by the famous 1931 version of Dracula (Tod Browning) featuring a score by Philip Glass and Bela Legosi's definitive interpretation.

Our second double bill features Roger Corman's stunning colour version of The Masque of the Red Death (1962) along with Hammer's erotic version of Sheridan le Fanu's Carmilla, The Vampire Lovers (Roy Ward Baker, 1970) with Ingrid Pitt and Madeline Smith .

Tim Burton was also strongly influenced by gothic themes and we will screen his excellent Sleepy Hollow (1999) with a crazed Chris Walken. Completing the season are Robert Wise's stunning adaptation of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting (1963) and the wonderfully scary version of Susan Hill's gothic masterpiece The Woman in Black (2012).