Ghosts (1915)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
This early feature film was advertised under the tagline: One of the first authentic horror movies! but this plays more as melodrama today and contains very little of what we'd think of horror. Henry B. Walthall plays a rich writer who comes down with syphilis due to his partying ways. This disease eventually kills his wife and slowly begins to take away the writers mind, which leads him to madness. This film was produced by D.W. Griffith but one only wishes that the director actually directed the film but he was off promoting The Birth of a Nation so it's doubtful he spent much time as producer on this either. The main thing worth watching is the performance by Walthall who really was one of the first great actors. He's slow decent into madness comes off very well. The supporting players aren't as impressive but Al W. Filson is also good as the doctor who tries to warn the writer of his ways. Erich von Stroheim did the costumes and also does a cameo but I couldn't spot him.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
This early feature film was advertised under the tagline: One of the first authentic horror movies! but this plays more as melodrama today and contains very little of what we'd think of horror. Henry B. Walthall plays a rich writer who comes down with syphilis due to his partying ways. This disease eventually kills his wife and slowly begins to take away the writers mind, which leads him to madness. This film was produced by D.W. Griffith but one only wishes that the director actually directed the film but he was off promoting The Birth of a Nation so it's doubtful he spent much time as producer on this either. The main thing worth watching is the performance by Walthall who really was one of the first great actors. He's slow decent into madness comes off very well. The supporting players aren't as impressive but Al W. Filson is also good as the doctor who tries to warn the writer of his ways. Erich von Stroheim did the costumes and also does a cameo but I couldn't spot him.
