MovieChat Forums > House of Wax (1953) Discussion > a few questions

a few questions

posted 20 years ago by st_moose
15 replies | jump to latest

First Vincent Price had a stunt double (clearly seen at the beginning of the movie when the first house of wax is burning) surely he is not the first to have a stunt double, anyone know the actor/actress who needed a stunt double?

There was an intermission (rather short on the DVD, I am sure it was longer in the theaterical release) anyone have a list of movies that featured intermissions?

The performer at the opening of the second house of wax 'turns to the camera' and addresses the audience for some of his dialogue, the line about don't worry about the popcorn anyone have a list of movies where the performer 'turns to the camera' and addresses the audience?

thanks

[–] The-Silent-Photoplayer 20 years ago

Stunt doubles were used since the 1910s. The list of actors that used them are endless, however, I don't think Vincent Price used one in HoW.

Intermissions also go back to the silent era. HoW had an intermission because since both projectors in the booth were used for the 3-D format, they could only hold 6000' of film (roughly 60 minutes). When the filmmakers made these movies, they kept this in mind and usually put the intermission after a big "cliffhanger" in the film.

The man with the paddle-balls was a gimmick that was usued to "satisfy" audiences of 3-D movies who were looking for that "coming out at you" effect. However, this is not true of even most of the films made in the 3-D boom of 1953/1954. Most of them are surprisingly subtle and effective in how they portray the third dimension, with shots having more depth than having things come out at you.

-J. Theakston
The Silent Photoplayer
http://www.thephotoplayer.com/

[–] glemay25 19 years ago

On intermissions I know that the Ten Commandents and Gone With The Wind had them. I recall in the Marx Brothers comedy Animal Crackers had Groucho's
character speak directly to the audience. I hope this helps some

[–] moviebuffarino92 19 years ago

That is so weird! i watched this movie last night and i saw the scene. my dad explained that scene is only made for the 3-d glasses. it was rerealeased in the 1970's and my dad saw it in 3-d then.

[–] Lekavichs 19 years ago

One Movie that has a intermission it was West Side Story.

[–] jimrobbins 19 years ago

I don't have a list of movies with intermissions, but I know that Lawrence of Arabia ( 1962 ), Cleopatra ( 1962 ), and 2001: A Space Odyssey ( 1968 ) are films with intermissions. The movie 4 For Texas ( 1965 ) features an audio intro by Dean Martin, who plays a major character in thie film, but he does not look into the camera until he introduces the 'bad guys' and the 'good guys' in the film. Hope this helps.

jimrobbins

[–] Harold_Robbins 19 years ago

There's a very obvious stunt double for Lionel Atwill in the earlier scenes of MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM.

I just watched the DVD again - I didn't notice the "Intermission" card the first time around - it was certainly unusual for an 88-minute film to have an intermission half-way through - it's possible that in the case of HOUSE OF WAX the intermission was necessary to re-load the projectors, as I believe two were necessary to project this film in its original 3-D format.

Intermissions were usually reserved for longer films (presented in what were known as "road-show" versions, particularly musicals such as THE SOUND OF MUSIC, WEST SIDE STORY, and MY FAIR LADY. But, as has been mentioned, longer dramas such as GONE WITH THE WIND, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA and BEN HUR were originally presented with intermissions as well.

Those of you who think you know everything should politely defer to those of us who actually do!

[–] scotbpens 16 years ago

. . . it's possible that in the case of HOUSE OF WAX the intermission was necessary to re-load the projectors, as I believe two were necessary to project this film in its original 3-D format.

Until the multiplex boom of the 1970s, ALL movies that ran more than one reel (a standard 35mm reel is 1000 feet of film, or approximately 11 to 12 minutes of running time) were shown using two projectors. The projectionist would thread up reel 2 on the second projector while reel 1 was running, then wait for the round "blip" in the upper right corner of the frame that signaled the end of the reel. That would be the cue to start up the second projector. A typical feature-length film would require 7, 8, 9 or more change-overs between projectors. One reel would be rewound while the next was being shown. A skilled projectionist could switch smoothly and instantly from one projector to the other so the showing appeared to be continuous.

Nowadays, most commercial theaters no longer project from reels, but from huge horizontal "platters" that hold the entire program on a continuous film loop. Only the smaller neighborhood cinemas and art houses still require the skill of a traditional projectionist.

If the 3-D format used for House of Wax required two projectors running in synchronization, one for the left-eye image and one for the right, then changeovers would have been impossible except at intermission time. Assuming the intermission took place approximately halfway through the movie, that means one reel would have held 44 minutes of film. That's a hell of a big reel!

All the universe . . . or nothingness. Which shall it be, Passworthy? Which shall it be?

[–] jimbo-38 16 years ago

There was an intermission (rather short on the DVD

You can actually press the "pause" or "stop" button on your DVD's remote and make the intermission last as long as you'd like. Admittedly, you won't hear any music or anything, but you could turn your stereo on or just hum yourself.

[–] Harold_Robbins 16 years ago

With an intermission 44 minutes or so into the film there was undoubtedly a mad rush for the restrooms...

"Stone-cold sober I find myself absolutely fascinating!"---Katharine Hepburn

[–] TuxKamen27 15 years ago

Another movie not mentioned below that had an intermission was Paint Your Wagon. When viewing it on videotape, the intermission happens at the end of tape one, when they get the women to No Name City and the movie kicks in again when the preacher gets to the town. The intermission's pretty long, also, enough for several instrumentals of the songs that have come in the movie before this part.

As for film characters breaking the fourth wall and talking to the audience, I can think of two: Ferris Bueler's Day Off and Cuffs. I suppose Wayne's World 1 and 2 did something similar in their endings, but can't remember if they talked to the camera or not. I can name a couple TV shows also that had it, one was a Simpsons episode, the first part of the Who Shot Mister Burns? cliffhanger, where Hibbert says, "Well, I couldn't possibly solve this case. Can you?" and points towards the "camera"... which then pans back to show he's actually pointing at Chief Wiggum. The other is Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, on several occasions (including the episode that introduced the older kid playing the youngest son on the show, where the kid had been a baby the previous season... Will kind of turned to the camera and made a shrugging motion, followed by a motion to show he grew fast).

[–] virgiltx 14 years ago

Re intermissions: The last movie I recall that had one is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), although there was a fake, gag intermission in The Simpsons Movie (2007).

____________________

[–] BoyScoutKevin 11 years ago

There have probably been films with intermissions since then, but the last film I saw in the theater that had an intermission was "Gettysburg" in 1993. And was I glad for that intermission, as I really, really had to use the restroom at that moment.

[–] bradford-1 11 years ago

Characters who directly address the audience go back to ancient Greek theater. So the device was around for centuries before anyone thought about movies.
SHIP OF FOOLS (1965): The dwarf actor Michael Dunn speaks to "us" at the beginning and end of the picture. First, to hint at what may follow, and last, to add an ironic epilogue.
HIGH SOCIETY (1956): Louis Armstrong, who plays himself in the film, appears in the first and last scenes. He also speaks to the audience maybe three times in the rest of the movie as the proverbial "Greek chorus." He sings his dialogue in sort of an early rap if you will.

"May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?"

[–] jpw43 9 years ago

I remember an intermission when I saw "The Godfather" in the theater.
I sure was wishing they had one in the first "Lord Of The Rings" but I guess they got rid of them so they could have more show times every day.