Pathé Review: Monsters of the Past

Berlin: Symphony of a Great City

September 1927 •German

A day in the city of Berlin, which experienced an industrial boom in the 1920s, and still provides an insight into the living and working conditions at that time. Germany had just recovered a little from the worst consequences of the First World War, the great economic crisis was still a few years away and Hitler was not yet an issue at the time.

King Kong

March 1933 •English

Adventurous filmmaker Carl Denham sets out to produce a motion picture unlike anything the world has seen before. Alongside his leading lady Ann Darrow and his first mate Jack Driscoll, they arrive on an island and discover a legendary creature said to be neither beast nor man. Denham captures the monster to be displayed on Broadway as King Kong, the eighth wonder of the world.

Mère Ubu

December 1998 •German

Père Ubu

November 1997 •German

The Star Prince

June 1918 •English

The Star Prince has fallen to Earth and because of his cruelty towards a beggar, he is turned into a grotesque pauper. He goes on a quest to find his mother, meeting a wicked witch and princess on his way. He falls in love with the princess, but an evil dwarf tries to force the princess to marry him. The Star Prince rescues the princess and is thus turned back into his original form and marries the beautiful princess.

The Flintstones

May 1994 •English

Modern Stone Age family the Flintstones hit the big screen in this live-action version of the classic cartoon. Fred helps Barney adopt a child. Barney sees an opportunity to repay him when Slate Mining tests its employees to find a new executive. But no good deed goes unpunished.

The Gate

April 1987 •English

Three young children accidentally release a horde of nasty, pint-sized demons from a hole in a suburban backyard. What follows is a classic battle between good and evil as the three kids struggle to overcome a nightmarish hell that is literally taking over the Earth.

The Tale of the Christmas Tree

January 2011 •Russian

New Year's adventure of a little Christmas tree girl.

Snow Maiden

January 2004 •Russian

The tale of the Snow Maiden is well-known, as are its numerous traditional arrangements. However, this version is somewhat different, as is the play by A.N. Ostrovsky, which served as the basis for the film.

Crabs and Shrimp

December 1930 •French

Jean Painlevé is interested here, with the help of Eli Lotar, in crabs and shrimps. He is particularly interested in detailing their anatomy and observing their mating and fighting behavior.

Tengers

October 2007 •English

Whilst working on "the great South African novel," an unemployed writer gets caught up in the harsh realities of life in the city of Johannesburg.

King Kong vs. Godzilla

August 1962 •Japanese

The advertising director of Pacific Pharmaceuticals, frustrated with the low ratings of their sponsored TV program, seeks a more sensationalist approach. He orders his staff to Faro Island to capture King Kong for exploitation. As Godzilla re-emerges, a media frenzy generates with Pacific looking to capitalize off of the ultimate battle.

One Million Years B.C.

November 1966 •English

As the Earth wrestles with its agonizing birth, the peoples of this barren and desolate world struggle to survive. Driven by animal instinct they compete against the harsh conditions, their giant predators, and warring tribes. When two people from opposing clans fall in love, existing conventions are shattered forever as each tribe struggles for supremacy and Man embarks on his tortuous voyage of civilization.

One Million B.C.

April 1940 •English

One Million B.C. is a 1940 American fantasy film produced by Hal Roach Studios and released by United Artists. It is also known by the titles Cave Man, Man and His Mate, and Tumak. The film stars Victor Mature as protagonist Tumak, a young cave man who strives to unite the uncivilized Rock Tribe and the peaceful Shell Tribe, Carole Landis as Loana, daughter of the Shell Tribe chief and Tumak's love interest, and Lon Chaney, Jr. as Tumak's stern father and leader of the Rock Tribe.

Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All

July 1982 •English

Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov travel to the planet Mongo to fight the evil emperor Ming the Merciless.

A Zombie Claymation

May 2011 •English

A couple on vacation raise the dead while playing with an oujia board.

Clay or The Origin of Species

January 1964 •English

Traces the rise of life on earth from primordial ooze to the present.

Hollywood Dinosaur Chronicles

January 1987 •English

Documentary showing how dinosaurs have been used in films. Trailers and scenes from moving about or with dinosaurs are shown.

Corpse Bride

September 2005 •English

In a 19th-century European village, a young man about to be married is whisked away to the underworld and wed to a mysterious corpse bride, while his real bride waits bereft in the land of the living.

The Process

January 2024 •English

In a dystopian society where the only acceptable behaviour is unquestioning conformity, for those unable to adhere to this, there is a specialist rehabilitation centre. Here compliance is the only option. Here begins The Process.