Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters (2015)

• 63%
• 2015
• Documentary
• Strephon Taylor
• Jack Pierce
• Lon Chaney Jr.
• Boris Karloff

In today's cinematic world of digital effects, telling what is real from what was created in a computer is impossible. But there was a time when Hollywood relied on nothing more than an artist's ability to create a boogie man with grease paint, cotton, glue, hair, and a few simple materials to draw people into the theater to be chilled and thrilled. When we think back to these talents of the silver screen most people think of "The Man of a Thousand Faces," Lon Chaney. But Universal Studios had its very own Phantom creating the world's most memorable creatures lurking in its substages. His amazing ability to create makeups that can still stand toe-to-toe with today's multimillion dollar effects is worth a closer look. Jack Pierce was the man who brought us Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, The Mummy, The Wolfman, Bride of Frankenstein, and countless other monsters that have stood the test of time. Drawn from recorded interviews, historical footage, hundreds of photos including Jack Pierce's personal scrap book, and news clippings we meet "The Maker of Monsters," Jack P. Pierce. Join his journey from Greece to the budding film industry in Los Angeles in the early 1900s to his rising star as a freelance film hand, eventually becoming the head of Universal's makeup department and creating the monsters that we all grew up with and still love. This 82-minute documentary covers his entire career and life including the surprising hand Pierce had in American Olympics history. Plus, all the classic monsters your heart can stand!