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ack Pierce—The Man Behind the Monsters is a recording of a multimedia stage play performed on June 17, 2000, in Pasadena. The play is a tribute to Jack Pierce, the head of Universal Studios' makeup department from 1928 to 1945, who created the monsters and character designs in classic films such as The Man Who Laughs, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Bride of Frankenstein and The Wolf Man, among others. The play is narrated by an actor (Shields) playing the elderly Jack Pierce, who looks back over his life and work.
We learn that Pierce's early ambition to become a professional baseball player first brought him from Chicago to Hollywood, and that this ambition was quashed due to Pierce's being too short and slight to play ball at a time when bigger and stronger players like Ty Cobb were changing the game. Pierce discusses his early days as a stuntman and actor in the early silents, and how his knack for doing his own makeup led to his eventual promotion to head of Universal's makeup department just as the studio was considering the production of high-profile horror films.
Scenes and makeup from films Pierce worked on are recreated on stage to accompany the narration. Highlights of these include Colin Clive (Sloane) and Dwight Frye's (Kranin) misapplication of a torch to Frankenstein's monster (Thompson) and the later introduction of the monster to his bride (Shostac); Claude Rains (Huey) confronting Lon Chaney Jr. as the Wolf Man (Meyers); and the awakening of Karloff as the Mummy, Imhotep (DeShan). The play closes with an overview of Pierce's later years, after he had been let go by Universal, when he had been freelancing and working on TV shows such as You Are There and Mr. Ed.
Piercing tribute has "Universal" appeal
Jack Pierce—The Man Behind the Monsters is a tough DVD to assess. Those who know enough about Jack Pierce to be interested in the DVD won't learn that much new, and those who know nothing about Pierce may not have patience with the play's many shortcomings.
The makeup and costumes by Robert Burman and Jennifer McManus recreating Pierce's monsters are simply incredible. But the actors wearing the brilliant makeup and costumes clearly didn't have enough rehearsal time; their delivery is one or two steps above a cold reading. The sound levels of the DVD vary wildly. At certain points, music drowns out the dialogue, and the thumping of stagehands moving props is plainly audible. However good the play may have been live, what comes across on the DVD without the immediacy of a playhouse performance is at times painful to watch. Despite this, the enthusiasm of all involved is obvious and sincere, as is their admiration for Pierce. Though under-rehearsed, the cast are all real troupers to endure the torturous makeup and costuming.
There are some gems among the DVD extras, including a featurette on the creation of the stage makeup that is fascinating, if a bit too short; a detailed timeline of Pierce's life and a very touching clip of Pierce's appearance on a 1957 episode of This Is Your Life honoring Boris Karloff.
Jack Pierce—The Man Behind the Monsters might be worth a casual look for those interested in horror, makeup, theater production or old Hollywood. Even if the execution and recording of the play are deeply flawed, there's enough information peppered throughout the disc to engage die-hard genre fans and film buffs.
I have to tip my hat to producer/writer/director Scott Essman and his cast and crew; this production was clearly a labor of love, and as a lifelong fan of Jack Pierce I was really rooting for them. With more rehearsal time and with more time to block the videotaping of the play, this disc could have been a hands-down winner. — Mike
Also in this issue: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Third Season DVD
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