I Am the Monster Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lon Chaney, Sr.

Lon Chaney, Sr. (1883-1930) portrayed the title role in "The Phantom of the Opera". As with many of his roles, Chaney designed and applied his own makeup to suggest the death-mask appearance of the Phantom's face. Viewers of the film in 1925 were said to have screamed and/or fainted when the Phantom's face was first shown on the screen.

Initially issued as a silent film in 1925, the film was re-released in 1930 with sound effects and a music score and dialogue (though, ironically, without any spoken dialogue by Chaney.

The film made $2 million in its initial release. Lon Chaney also appeared in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923) and "London After Midnight" (1927).

Answer: Forrest Stanley

Based on a 1922 comedy play "The Cat and the Canary", as a film, gave greater emphasis to the horror/thriller elements. The Cat is the name given to an escapee from an insane asylum who is said to be hiding on the grounds of the house where much of the movie's action takes place.

In the end, the Cat turns out to be a disguise for Charlie Weaver, who is attempting to secure an inheritance by driving the rightful heir insane. Actor Forrest Stanley (1889-1969) portrayed Charlie Wilder. Late in his career, Forrest Stanley would appear in episodes of the television series "Gunsmoke" and "Death Valley Days".

Answer: Bela Lugosi

Bela Lugosi (1882-1956) portrayed Count Dracula on the stage before portraying him in "Dracula", which was based more directly on the stage play as opposed to Bram Stoker's novel. Though Dracula was from Transylvania, Lugosi would speak with his his natural Hungarian accent in this early talkie. Lugosi complained about the role limiting the range of parts he was offered in other films, though he had a number of roles in horror films in the 1930s and 1940s.

Interestingly, Universal Studios considered several other actors before they offered the part of Dracula to Lugosi. Bela Lugosi's final role was in the 1956 film "Plan 9 From Outer Space".

Answer: Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff got the role of the monster in part because Bela Lugosi did not want a role with no spoken lines. For the film, Karloff was required to wear extensive makeup (designed by Jack Pierce) and a bulky, heavy costume. His boots alone weighed 11 pounds. Posters that advertised the film before opening night did not mention Boris Karloff (1887-1969) to maintain the mystery.

The film made $12 million in its initial release. Boris Karloff was known to another generation for narrating the 1966 television special "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas".

Answer: Boris Karloff

In this film, Boris Karloff portrayed the mummy of Imhotep in extensive makeup. In other scenes he disguised himself as Ardeth Bay, a modern Egyptian. Transforming Karloff into the mummy required eight hours in makeup and wardrobe. Removing the effects at the end of the day required another two hours. Understandably, a significant portion of the film had Karloff as Ardeth Bay or Imhotep in flashbacks before his death.

The movie was inspired by the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922. Boris Karloff's birth name was William Henry Pratt.

It is thought that he may have chosen a stage name out of fear that his career as an actor might embarrass his family.

Answer: Claude Rains

Claude Rains (1889-1967) gained the part of Dr. Griffin in part because Boris Karloff did not want a role where he would not be seen on the screen for most of the film. Compared to sequels featuring the Invisible Man, the 1933 film remained relatively close to the spirit of the H. G Wells book "The Invisible Man".

In many of his appearances, Dr. Griffin is fully covered in bandages/clothing. A matte process was used in shots where Griffin is not fully clothed and he appears to be somewhat invisible. Rains was a World War I veteran who during the course of the war lost most the vision in his right eye.

Answer: Lon Chaney, Jr.

Lon Chaney, Jr. (1906-1973) would portray many monsters as well as other characters in his career, but he is best known for his dual role of Larry Talbot/the Wolf Man. (Interestingly, the werewolf whose bite infects Talbot was portrayed by Bela Lugosi.

It is mostly in the final portion of the film where the full use of "dissolve" shots to shows Talbot's transformation from man to wolf was used. Chaney would spend five-six hours in makeup to be transformed into the Wolf Man. The fur of his wolf persona was made of yak hair.

Answer: Rondo Hatton

Rondo Hatton (1894-1946) was both an actor and a journalist. His case of acromegaly gave him his unique-looking features. He would play the character of the Creeper in both "House of Horrors" and "The Brute Man" (also 1946). Sadly, Rondo Hatton's untimely death led to both of his appearances as the Creeper being released posthumously.

In the film, a sculptor who has befriended the Creeper uses him to eliminate critics of his work. Earlier in his career, Rondo Hatton served as a sportswriter for "The Tampa Tribune".

Answer: Ben Chapman/Ricou Browning

Ben Chapman (1928-2008) portrayed Gill-Man in scenes on land while Ricou Browning (born 1930) portrayed him in underwater scenes. "Creature from the Black Lagoon" was one of the films made in 3-D during popularity of that method in the 1950s. The Gill-Man is meant to represent a descendant of a prehistoric fish-like biped.

The body suit that Ben Chapman wore as the Gill-Man did not allow him to sit down during a day's filming. The film made $1.3 million in its initial release. Ben Chapman was a veteran of the Korean Conflict. Ricou Browning would later direct the underwater scenes in the 1965 movie "Thunderball".

Answer: Eddie Parker

Scientist Donald Blake (Arthur Franz) is infected by the blood plasma of a coelacanth. The radiation from the blood can cause an animal to revert to a more primitive state. In this case, Blake transforms into a Neanderthal. Stuntman Eddie Parker (1900-1960) would portray the caveman.

The makeup used to portray the caveman was described as "unconvincing". This may explain why full body shots of the Neanderthal occurred relatively uncommonly in the film. This film is one of the last in the classic series of monster movies from Universal Studios. Earlier in his career, Eddie Parker served as the stuntman for the titular character in the 1943 "Batman" movie serial.