It’s time once again to explore our horror roots, starting with the content restrictive ’40s and into the genre explosion of the ’50s.
Episode 44: ORIGINS OF HORROR (1940s and 1950s)
In this episode, we return to our Origins of Horror series where we look at the history of horror and its development throughout the decades while discussing how current events shaped it.
Last time, we discussed the beauty and magic of the 1920s and 1930s, and this time we are heading into the 1940s and 1950s.
In the 1940s, known as the Lost Years of Horror, creators were fighting censorship brought on by the Hays Code and growing up alongside the film noir genre. While in the 1950s, the horror genre exploded due to the Cold War and technological advancements that came out of it. Films now focused on the fear of nuclear annihilation, the catastrophic results of the h-bomb, and the invasion of the “Other”.
The films we discuss for the episode are The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945), Cat People (1942), The Creature from The Black Lagoon (1954), and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956).
We also touch on what was happening with horror internationally with a focus on a very influential and important film, Gojira (1954).
Enjoy and welcome to our dark side…
EDITOR'S NOTE
We’re sad to announce this is the last episode of “I Spit On Your Podcast” which will be hosted on the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. However, you can still listen to the show wherever you get your favorite podcasts. We are so proud of how much this amazing podcast has grown and, while we will miss them, we’re thrilled for all their success and can’t wait to see them continue to thrive as they branch out to their own network!
ABOUT THIS PODCAST
Original podcast artwork by Brandon Mercer
Jess and Kelly co-host the well-produced, highly entertaining, and insightful monthly podcast known as I SPIT ON YOUR PODCAST. Every month, they explore the world of horror entertainment, with each episode centering around a particular theme. This is a time once a month when Jess puts down her bloody knitting needles and Kelly steps away from the TV to discuss horror movies and other horror mediums with thoughtful analysis, research, and passion.
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