D: Michael Curtiz. Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Glenda Farrell, Allen Vincent, Frank McHugh, Arthur Edmund Carewe. Vintage horror film strays somewhat into excess "comic relief'' and contrivances, but plot of madman Atwill encasing victims in wax, with Wray next on his list, is still exciting. Filmed in early two-color Technicolor; noteworthy as first horror film with contemporary urban setting. Remade as HOUSE OF WAX.

D: Michael Curtiz. Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Lee Tracy, Preston Foster, Robert Warwick, Mae Busch. Police have tracked the ``full-moon strangler'' to Atwill's experimental laboratory. Ludicrous Grand Guignol chiller (Wray's entrance has her screaming--for no reason at all) is a must for horror-film buffs because of its Anton Grot sets, special Max Factor makeup, and rich use of two-color Technicolor... but it creaks badly and seems much longer than it is.

D: Tod Browning. Lionel Barrymore, Elizabeth Allan, Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, Carol (Carroll) Borland, Jean Hersholt, Donald Meek. Delightful, intriguing tale of vampires terrorizing European village; inspector Atwill, vampire expert Barrymore investigate. Beautifully done, with an incredible ending. Remake of Browning's silent LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT.

D: Erle C. Kenton. Onslow Stevens, Lon Chaney, Jr., John Carradine, Martha O'Driscoll, Jane Adams, Lionel Atwill, Glenn Strange, Skelton Knaggs. Sequel to HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN takes different tack: Stevens tries "real'' science to cure various Universal monsters, but finds that some of their bad habits begin to rub off. Acting, direction, eerie set design compensate for overambitious script, hasty resolution.

D: Edward L. Cahn. Gregg Palmer, Allison Hayes, Autumn Russell, Joel Ashley. Juvenile hodgepodge about zombies guarding diamonds hidden in a sunken ship off the African coast.

D: Jacques Tourneur. Frances Dee, Tom Conway, James Ellison, Edith Barrett, Christine Gordon, Theresa Harris, James Bell. Nurse Dee comes to Caribbean island to treat zombielike wife of troubled Conway, finds skeletons in family closet, plus local voodoo rituals and legends that cannot be ignored. Exceptional Val Lewton chiller with rich atmosphere, mesmerizing story. Loosely adapted from Jane Eyre! Read small-print disclaimer in opening credits carefully.