R.I.P. SANJULIAN

I learned just a few days ago that the great Spanish fantasy artist Sanjulián passed away on October 14 at the age of 85. He led a long life and produced some of the most striking genre art of modern times.

Born on 24 June 1941 in Barcelona, Sanjulián studied at Belles Arts of Saint Jordi. His career began in the early 1960s when he worked for Selecciones Illustradas, an art agency that became Jim Warren's go-to place for illustrators for his various horror magazines. Sanjulián became one of the many Spanish artists that would contribute work to the Warren "monster machine", and as a result, became recognized around the world.

See the Sanjulián archives HERE.

BORIS KARLOFF CASTING AD

Boris Karloff was advertising for work in this edition of THE STANDARD CASTING DIRECTORY (March 1931). His photo is of the character Galloway in THE CRIMINAL CODE released in January. It would not be long until he was discovered by director James Whale in the Universal commissary who cast him as a "damn awful monster" in FRANKENSTEIN.

LADY OF THE RUE MORGUE

 

Monster fans might not know that one of the most iconic stars of Hollywood was once under contract with Universal -- Bette Davis. After seeing her perform in a Broadway play, east coast talent scout David Werner signed her to a $300-a-day six month contract in 1930. When she arrived with her Mother to Union Station the customary welcoming by a studio representative was absent and they had to find their way to their hotel on their own. It turned out that an assistant was there, but when he got back to the studio, he told his boss that no one got off the train that looked like an actress!

Davis was in line to be the lead actress in the comedy STRICLY DISHONORABLE, but Junior Laemmle was not satisfied with her looks and even Jack Pierce couldn't make her up to Junior's satisfaction.

The role ended up being given to the young Sydney Fox. Rumors were flying at the time that the diminutive 4' 11" beauty was in a romantic affair with Junior, which may have explained the switch.

Fox would appear again in 1932 as the love interest in MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE. It is believed that Davis lost out to Fox in several movies (including MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE) and for all intents and purposes Universal gave up on her. While she was on loan to Radio Pictures and Columbia, the studio let her contract expire.

Over the years, Davis would be redeemed as she reached major stardom at Warner Brothers and RKO and became one of the greatest icons in Hollywood history. She ultimately received ten Academy Award nominations as Best Actress during her career, including a record-setting five nominations in five consecutive years and winning twice.

As for Sidney Fox, things didn't work out with Junior, who was a bit of a playboy and never married. Fox married writer Charles Beahan in 1932. Fox died on November 15, 1942 at the age of 34 from an overdose of sleeping pills. The official cause of death was ruled accidental, but rumors persist that she committed suicide.

The following image from SCREEN BOOK (September 1932) shows a photo of Fox that she personally inscribed for Boris Karloff after watching his performance in FRANKENSTEIN. The photo is by one of the Freulich brothers, either Jack or Roman.

Motion Picture Herald, Jan 30 1932 full-page ad.

This photo from SCREEN BOOK (April 1932) shows Sidney Fox being terrorized by the killer ape in MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE. The ape is played by Joe Bonomo.