FAY WRAY'S CHAMBER OF HORRORS

The fetching Fay Wray was a busy actress between the years 1932 and 1933. If fact, with the exception of BLACK MOON in 1934 her entire output of horror/thrillers were filmed in those two years:

• DOCTOR X (1932)
• THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME (1932)
• THE VAMPIRE BAT (1933)
• MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM (1933)
• KING KONG (1933)

This issue of BROADWAY AND HOLLYWOOD MOVIES (April 1933) covers two of them in their "Two Pictures of the Month" feature. The unknown author accurately points out that "beyond a doubt she is the most capable actress we know of for the exacting role of a young woman reacting to fear and the menace of horror," and goes on to discuss THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM and KING KONG.

CALLING DOCTOR X!

Warner Bros./First National Pictures' DOCTOR X (1932) starring Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray and Lee Tracy is a horror film although it was also promoted as a romantic comedy. Made during the pre-Code Hollywood years, elements such as murder, rape, cannibalism and prostitution are included in the story that the Hays Code would have surely wanted excised. Wray would of course star as Ann Darrow in KING KONG the following year.

Movie heralds were handouts that were an inexpensive way to draw customers to theaters:

Fay Wray studio portrait for DOCTOR X:

DOCTOR X trailer:

DOCTOR X adaptation from BOY'S CINEMA (February 25, 1933):

DOCTOR X filmbook from MONSTER WORLD #8 (May 1966):

Cover painting from DOCTOR X by Ron Cobb.

See my post of THE RETURN OF DOCTOR X HERE.

FAY WRAY BY GENE ROBERT RICHEE

Eugene Robert Richee (1896-1972) was one of the most famous studio photographers to come out of Old Hollywood. Noted for his use of light, mirrors and imaginative use of props, he shot hundreds of photos for Paramount, Warner Brothers and MGM. Among the stars that he showcased with his work were Marlene Dietrich, Gloria Swanson, Gary Cooper, Veronica Lake, and his most famous, Louise Brooks. Miriam "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" Hopkins liked his work so much that she would only work in front of his lens.

Scream Queen Fay Wray was also one of his subjects while she was working for Paramount. This set of photos are from the 1920's and 1930's.

FAY DAY!

[A very young Fay Wray photographed by William Mortenson in the mid-1920's.]

Come back later today for more!

FAY DAY!

Without question, Canadian-born Fay Wray was the fairest of them all -- Scream Queens, that is -- and her screams at the first sight of King Kong still resonate down the hallowed halls of horror.

The trio of photos shown here today are of Fay in her many guises. First is a keybook photo of Fay from KING KONG (RKO 1933). A keybook photo is recognizable from the two-hole punch on the side of the print. These were used as studio masters are are considered more collectible than just prints. Second is a publicity shot of Fay in her role as Consuelo in the western, THE TEXAN (Paramount 1930). And lastly is a photo of Miss Wray all dressed up, photographed in the 1930's by A.L. Schafer.

FAY DAY!

The lovely Fay Wray is best known for her role as Ann Darrow -- the original Scream Queen -- in RKO's KING KONG (1933). Before that, she had starred in a string of horror/thrillers: MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM (1933), THE VAMPIRE BAT (1933), THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME (1932) and DOCTOR X (1932).

The first photo shown below is a promo portrait from MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM (Warner Brothers). The other three are by famed portrait photographer Gene Robert Richee when she was under contract with Paramount.

BEFORE THEY WERE SCREAM QUEENS: FAY WRAY!

The lovely Fay Wray began her film career in the 1920's. These two portraits are from that era, while she was under contract with Paramount, quite a few years before she made her mark as the ultimate Scream Queen in RKO's King Kong (1935). The first of the two is by photographer Eugene Robert Richee.

FAY DAY!

Today's photos of the fabulous Fay Wray are from her appearances in LEGACY, VIVA VILLA!, HERO, and BLACK MOON. Great studio portraits of a great actress.