Treat of the Week: Spooky Spider Edition, 2013

Ah, yes, Halloween.  While most Americans are carving goofy faces on their pumpkins, my parents and I have started a tradition of our own.  Royal Pumpkins.  Or Pumpkings and Pumpqueens.  We've already created King George V and Queen Mary; and King Edward VII  Queen Alexandra.  So, this year, it seemed natural to go back one more reign to Victoria and Albert.

So, here they are...Their Majesties, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

As you can see, Bertie was not impressed at all.  Look to the far right.

But, Bertie did perk up for a dinner of pot roast, cheddar-cheese mashed potatoes and baby Brussels sprouts.  In fact, we all did.  And, there was nothing spooky at all about that.

Spookiness came later in the form of our most longstanding Hallow-ma-ween tradition.  The spooooky spider cake.  Yes, each year, my mother spends an entire day not only baking giant, multi-layered chocolate cake filled with delicious white icing, and then, icing and decorating it, but she also pipes a dozen or more giant orange, smiling, icing spiders on a tasty web.

This is my favorite part of Halloween.  It's also Bertie's least favorite part since this cake is always chocolate--which he can't have.  He's still pouting.  Ha!  Score one for the humans!

Happy Hallow-ma-ween, all!

Halloween Special: The Devil Doll, 1936

Tod Browning and Lionel Barrymore

This 1936 film distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by famed horror director Tod Browning, starred a cross-dressing Lionel Barrymore and, as his estranged daughter, Maureen O’Sullivan.

This is a strange and wonderful film which has only come back into public attention as people have begin to rediscover their appreciation for the superb work of Tod Browning. Brilliantly directed and neatly acted, the film also features special effects which—at the time—were cutting edge. Remember, this was long before images could be manipulated with computers. The effects here are artistic tricks of the cinematographer and the brilliance of the set and prop departments. 

Paul Lavond and Marcel

The story focuses on an escaped convict, Paul Lavond (Barrymore), who had been wrongly accused of killing a night watchman and robbing his own Parisian Bank. After being incarcerated unjustly for seventeen years, Lavond escapes the prison at “Devil’s Island” with a slightly mad friend, Marcel (Henry B. Walthal). Marcel brings Paul to his home where Paul meets Marcel’s peculiar wife Malita (Rafaela Ottiano). Marcel explains that he is a scientist who has been working on an experiment that would ensure that the earth would never run out of food. That sounds like a good idea. Right? Well, it’s not without its costs. You see, Marcel’s idea involved shrinking people and animals to one–sixth their original size. He figures that means there’d be six times more food and resources for everyone. 

Barrymore as Madame Mandelip

During an experiment, Marcel becomes a tad overexcited, has a heart attack and dies. Malita pleads with Paul to help her and Paul agrees to lend the widow a hand. His ideas are far more sinister than those of Marcel and Malita. Paul wants to use this power to shrink human beings as a means of exacting revenge against his former partners who framed him for the theft. He returns to Paris with Malita. However, since he knows he’ll be recognized, Paul goes in disguise—that of one Madame Mandelip, an elderly woman who runs a toy shop. Paul sets his plan into motion and tries to reunite with his mother and daughter. His daughter seems quite fond of Madame Mandelip and shares how she’ll never forgive his father for his crimes. As Paul’s plan continues, he realizes that it’s far too wicked. But, is it too late? Watch and see.

This picture is bizarre. It’s well written, beautifully acted and brilliantly directed. Besides, how could you go wrong with Lionel Barrymore—especially when he’s wearing dangly drop earrings which swing around his head as he speaks?

If you’ve never seen The Devil-Doll, you simply must. It’s the perfect way to end your Halloween.

Happy Halloween!

The Art of Play: A Soft Toy Cat, 1935

Mohair Cat, 1935
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Since today is what it is, I thought I’d show a very Halloween-y German toy from the 1930s which also fits into our theme of the day of rats and rat-killers. This un-jointed black mohair plush cat is standing with an arched back and upright tail. His eyes are green and his nose is pink. The Halloween-i-ness of it is reinforced by the orange ribbon around his neck.


The fuzzy mouse catcher was made by the celebrated German toy manufacturer, Schuco in 1935.

Halloween Special: The Devil Doll, 1936

Tod Browning and Lionel Barrymore

This 1936 film distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by famed horror director Tod Browning, starred a cross-dressing Lionel Barrymore and, as his estranged daughter, Maureen O’Sullivan.

This is a strange and wonderful film which has only come back into public attention as people have begin to rediscover their appreciation for the superb work of Tod Browning. Brilliantly directed and neatly acted, the film also features special effects which—at the time—were cutting edge. Remember, this was long before images could be manipulated with computers. The effects here are artistic tricks of the cinematographer and the brilliance of the set and prop departments. 

Paul Lavond and Marcel

The story focuses on an escaped convict, Paul Lavond (Barrymore), who had been wrongly accused of killing a night watchman and robbing his own Parisian Bank. After being incarcerated unjustly for seventeen years, Lavond escapes the prison at “Devil’s Island” with a slightly mad friend, Marcel (Henry B. Walthal). Marcel brings Paul to his home where Paul meets Marcel’s peculiar wife Malita (Rafaela Ottiano). Marcel explains that he is a scientist who has been working on an experiment that would ensure that the earth would never run out of food. That sounds like a good idea. Right? Well, it’s not without its costs. You see, Marcel’s idea involved shrinking people and animals to one–sixth their original size. He figures that means there’d be six times more food and resources for everyone. 

Barrymore as Madame Mandelip

During an experiment, Marcel becomes a tad overexcited, has a heart attack and dies. Malita pleads with Paul to help her and Paul agrees to lend the widow a hand. His ideas are far more sinister than those of Marcel and Malita. Paul wants to use this power to shrink human beings as a means of exacting revenge against his former partners who framed him for the theft. He returns to Paris with Malita. However, since he knows he’ll be recognized, Paul goes in disguise—that of one Madame Mandelip, an elderly woman who runs a toy shop. Paul sets his plan into motion and tries to reunite with his mother and daughter. His daughter seems quite fond of Madame Mandelip and shares how she’ll never forgive his father for his crimes. As Paul’s plan continues, he realizes that it’s far too wicked. But, is it too late? Watch and see.

This picture is bizarre. It’s well written, beautifully acted and brilliantly directed. Besides, how could you go wrong with Lionel Barrymore—especially when he’s wearing dangly drop earrings which swing around his head as he speaks?

If you’ve never seen The Devil-Doll, you simply must. It’s the perfect way to end your Halloween.

Happy Halloween!

Objects of the Day: This Year's STBE Pumpkins

This year's pumpkins are the work of my mother and me who, having sat down with two nice, fat pumpkins and no idea what to do with them, created this homage to King George V and Queen Mary--complete with rhinestone tiara and Crown of St. Edward.   Bertie approves of this fitting tribute to our two favorite Royals.  All were most amused....

Mary before her sequinned cypher was added.

Happy Halloween!

Treat of the Week: A Spookie Spider Cake

The annual spider cake is a Halloween tradition in our family.  My mother—being a more patient and talented person than I—pipes these lovely orange spiders (complete with smiles and eyes) onto their web of chocolate and white icing.  This year’s cake featured an impressive nine grinning spiders! 

Inside, a dense, fudgy chocolate cake awaits in all of its firm deliciousness.  The hours and artistry that go into these made-from-scratch delights is truly astounding to me.  This Halloween treat is a real work of art.  And, sometimes, the  best way to appreciate art is by eating it.

Happy Halloween!

Many thanks to STBE reader Shawn Cripe for supplying these great vintage Halloween images for us to enjoy on All Hallows Eve.