Halloween at FilmPhiles...: The Tell-Tale Heart

Hi everybody, I just graduated college, so I've been super busy trying to get my portfolio in shape. So I'm really sorry I've been so long in writing this, I've just been so busy trying to get things done, in addition to trying to finish my Halloween costume (I'm being Ursula from Disney's The Little Mermaid).

Anyway. One day, a n

umber of years

ago, I was on the youtube (lol) and I typed in "James Mason." I came across the 1953 Columbia animated short The Tell-Tale Heart, and I just

freaked out. A brilliant combination of elements was presented to me: animation, Edgar Allan Poe, and

James Neville Mason. I have never seen animation quite like this as early as 1953, truth be told. It is creepy, haunting, disturbing, and absolutely beautiful. James Mason narrates the tale, and couldn't be more perfect at doing so. While the words vary slightly from the actual tale, nothing is really changed from the story. I found very little information on this film. It was apparently nominated for an Academy Award for best animated short, and was also supposedly the first cartoon to receive an X rating from the British Board of Film Censors. Wikipedia says that it was originally going to be 3-D, but it never actually happened. If so, it explains a lot of the animation, but I think it makes it that much more amazing that it's not. The surreal imagery is absolute magic to behold. You have to watch it to love it, so here's a link: The Tell-Tale Heart.

Also, here's a picture of the scarecrow I made for a local contest. It won 3rd place in its category! Edgar Allan Crow.

The Raven

The Raven
by Edgar Allan Poe
(published 1845)

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-
Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;- vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow- sorrow for the lost Lenore-
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;-
This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"- here I opened wide the door;-
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"-
Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore-
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;-
'Tis the wind and nothing more!"

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door-
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door-
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore-
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door-
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered-
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "Other friends have flown before-
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore-
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never- nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore-
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee- by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite- respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted-
On this home by Horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore-
Is there- is there balm in Gilead?- tell me- tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us- by that God we both adore-
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting-
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted- nevermore!

5 comments:

veejayOctober 29, 2009 at 12:39 AM
hey smitty,
that is one cool scarecrow! the art behind it is eye catching too. you have real artistic talent. have you considered opening your own gallery? heck, just work out of your home if a gallery would cost too much. ... now, i must check out that link to the tell tale heart. catch you later, meester veester
ClassicBeckyOctober 29, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Smitty, I'm going to check out the link today. You have really intrigued me about this little movie that I have never seen. Thanks so much for the interesting review and giving us the ability to see it!
ClassicBeckyOctober 29, 2009 at 8:33 AM
I just watched it, and it is wonderful! But I must have missed something. I didn't see anything in there that would have made it rated X. Was there something there that was taken out. I just wondered if you knew.
disneyprincesswdwOctober 29, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Hmmm.. Never seen this. Nice work on that scarecrow! Very awesome!
Smitty39October 30, 2009 at 9:04 AM
It was considered X-rated I think due to the creepiness and the whole murder theme... basically, it was a cartoon, but they felt it should only be seen by adults... too scary for kids! :D And thanks for the compliments on the scarecrow, everybody!

Halloween at FilmPhiles...

The Tell-Tale Heart

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