BLUEBEARD (1944)

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Some rather lovely young ladies offer supporting roles in this edgy and atmospheric thriller; Jean Parker portrays socialite Lucille who becomes enchanted with Morrell and agrees to make costumes for his puppets. It's her sister Francine (Teal Loring) however, who meets her demise in the trap set by the French police. As Lucille confronts Morrell with her suspicion, and with the authorities closing in, Morrell attempts to flee atop Parisian rooftops, and loses his footing when a plank gives way, plunging to his death in the river below, a graveyard familiar to his prior victims. Had this picture been filmed the same way today, the ending fairly screams "sequel". Gaslight, Rebecca, and Suspicion are classical Hollywood cinema variations on the Bluebeard tale. [63] [64] Vizetelly, Ernest Alfred (1902). Bluebeard: An Account of Comorre the Cursed and Gilles de Rais, with Summaries of Various Tales and Traditions; Chatto & Windus; Westminster, England.

Opie, Iona; Opie, Peter (1974). The Classic Fairy Tales. New York/Toronto: Oxford University Press. Secret Beyond the Door, a 1948 contemporary adaptation directed by Fritz Lang, starring Michael Redgrave and Joan Bennett Anatole France's short story "The Seven Wives of Bluebeard" names Jeanne de Lespoisse as the last wife before Bluebeard's death. The other wives were Collette Passage, Jeanne de la Cloche, Gigonne, Blanche de Gibeaumex, Angèle de la Garandine, and Alix de Pontalcin. The Grand Dramatic Romance Blue-Beard, or Female Curiosity, a 1798 opera by George Colman the Younger, composed by Michael Kelly. Technically Bluebeard looks better than most ultra low budget horror cheapies of the period so at least it has that going for it, having said that it's still not going to win any awards. The acting is better than one might expect from a film of this budget & of this vintage, apparently this was John Carradine's favourite performance that he gave in a rare starring role.

See also

Lucard, Alex (15 November 2013). "Tabletop Review: Ravenloft: Darklords (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition)". Diehard Game Fan.com. Bluebeard", a fairy tale (KHM 62a, dropped from later editions) collected by The Brothers Grimm in Kinder- und Hausmärchen (KHM) (1812) [39] Crimson Peak, a 2015 Gothic horror film, has plot similarities to the tale of Bluebeard in that a woman is taken to her husband's castle where he hides a dark, forbidden secret. Bluebeard's Six Wives, a 1950 Italian comedy film directed by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, starring Totò Le Sixième Mariage de Barbe-Bleue" ("Bluebeard's Sixth Marriage") (1892), a short story by Henri de Régnier

In Machado de Assis’s story "The Looking Glass", the main character, Jacobina, dreams he is trying to escape Bluebeard. Nigel Honeybone of the horrornews.net said that "[The film] is badly in need of a restoration, but as it’s not likely to get one, there’s no point in waiting." [7] When he begins to paint beautiful women, something takes over him and he strangles them. His first victim was jealous of his obvious attraction to Parker at the puppet show and this brings out his fury which results in her doom. Other victims follow, and his mentor, a very good Ludwig Stössel, tries to get him to stop.Bluebeard" Falls Solidly in the "Poverty Row" Category, where Ulmer seemed to Flourish Artistically. Bluebeard announces that he must leave for the country and gives the palace keys to his wife. She is able to open any room with them, each of which contain some of his riches, except for an underground chamber that he strictly forbids her to enter lest she suffer his wrath. He then goes away, leaves the palace, and the keys in her hands. She invites her sister, Anne, and her friends and cousins over for a party. However, she is eventually overcome with the desire to see what the secret room holds, and she sneaks away from the party and ventures into it. Bluebeard is featured in Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics as part of its "Grimm Masterpiece Theater" season. The bride is the peasant teenage girl Josephine, raised by her three woodworker brothers; she is deliberately chosen by Bluebeard for her beauty, her naivete and her desire to marry a prince. The character design for Bluebeard strongly resembles the English King Henry VIII. Also worth noting are the countless references to the German expressionistic style in Bluebeard's set design and cinematography. There are strong shadows throughout most of the film. At times, the angles in the sets are as exaggerated as those in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), and the climactic chase across Parisian rooftops was particularly reminiscent of Caligari.

Francis James Child (1965). The English and Scottish Popular Ballads; v. 1, New York: Dover Publications, p. 47 While some scholars interpret the Bluebeard story as a fable preaching obedience to wives (as Perrault's moral suggests), folklorist Maria Tatar has suggested that the tale encourages women not to unquestioningly follow patriarchal rules. Women breaking men's rules in the fairy tale can be seen as a metaphor for women breaking society's rules and being punished for their transgression. [11] The key can be seen as a sign of disobedience or transgression; it can also be seen as a sign that one should not trust their husband. [12] Bluebeard was released on DVD on April 21, 2000. Mark Zimmer of the Digitally obsessed.com praised the DVD's developer, All Day Entertainment for presenting the film in the "near top-notch form", adding that "[it is] a pleasure for devotees of classic horror films". [8] Blaubarts Traum (""Bluebeard's Dream ) (1961), a ballet by Harold Saeverud, choreographed by Yvonne GeorgiWarner, Marina (Autumn 1989). "Bluebeard's Brides: The Dream of the Blue Chamber" (PDF). Grand Street. New York: Grand Street. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2023 . Retrieved July 23, 2023. Juliette, or Key of Dreams, a 1951 French film based on the 1930 play of the same name, in which a main character is directly inspired from Bluebeard A Must-See for Fans of Ulmer, Carradine, B-Movies, Horror, Serial-Killer Movies, or Anyone that can Appreciate Primitive-Art.