May 5, 2010

Jack Pierce, 1889-1968


Today, May 5th, marks Jack Pierce’s 121st birthday.

Bela Lugosi’s Ygor, Boris Karloff’s Monster and director Rowland V. Lee gang up on the legendary makeup man in a delightful, atmospheric gag shot from late 1938, on the set of Son of Frankenstein (1939).

The photo, erroneously dated “1940”, comes from Jack Pierce's personal scrapbook.


Related:
The Make-Up Man: Jack Pierce
Posts about Jack Pierce


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11 comments:

  1. Prof. GrewbeardMay 5, 2010 at 1:12 AM

    what a great shot!

    and speaking of Universal craftsmen, i'd love to see a Frankensteinia feature on John P. Fulton, the special effects master who worked on Son Of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man and so many other Universal classics. He even parted the Red Sea for Charlton Heston's Moses!...

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  2. Martin PowellMay 5, 2010 at 1:23 AM

    Fantastic! Yet another photo I've never seen before! You're amazing, Pierre!

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  3. Pierre FournierMay 5, 2010 at 1:26 AM

    Noted, Prof. I'll see what I can do. I need to read up and cogitate. I also want to do something on art director Charles D. Hall at some point.

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  4. Pierre FournierMay 5, 2010 at 1:27 AM

    Thanks, Martin. I found this one on the Heritage Auctions site a while back when they sold off Pierce's scrapbook.

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  5. Joe JuskoMay 5, 2010 at 11:45 AM

    Happy birthday, Jack! Your work defines my childhood1

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  6. Jose CruzMay 5, 2010 at 5:43 PM

    Great shot of history you've captured here, Pierre! I love how Bela looks particularly sinister in this photo.

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  7. RickMay 6, 2010 at 1:11 PM

    Thanks, Pierre, for another great post. Jack Pierce was a genuine genius at what he did. Only Chaney's Phantom ranks with Pierce's Monster, Mummy, Wolf Man, Bride as true cultural icons. Thank God he was there when he was.

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  8. UnknownMay 6, 2010 at 7:00 PM

    fantástico!! Pierce es unos de mis héroes del maquillaje, que buena fotografía.

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  9. ChristopherMay 6, 2010 at 11:24 PM

    wow..they just keep coming..I've been seeing rare behinds scenes stills since the 60s,heres another one I've never seen..

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  10. AnonymousMay 7, 2010 at 11:17 AM

    Technology and its invasion into modern life is one of the themes in the book Frankenstein. To think that over 100 years ago there was no phone, no computer, no internet, and no video games, nothing like what is available in 2010.

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  11. AnonymousMay 7, 2010 at 4:45 PM

    I love the look on Bela Lugosi's face. Ygor can't even smile without looking like he's plotting gruesome fates for all his enemies.

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