The document summarizes three early horror films from before 1920: London After Midnight (1927), The Cat and the Canary (1927), and House of Wax (1953). London After Midnight is a silent mystery film set in 1920s London involving the investigation of a murder. The Cat and the Canary is also a silent film based on a play about a greedy family gathering to hear the will of their recently deceased wealthy relative. House of Wax is a 1953 film starring Vincent Price about a wax sculptor who has his museum burned down by his partner.

1. Pre 1920 Horror Films By Vanessa Obeng

2. ‘London After Midnight’ (1927) London After Midnight (1927) is a silent .mystery film with horror overtones. The setting of the film is (then contemporary) 1920s London. Synopsis . The setting of the film is (then contemporary) 1920s London. Sir Roger Balfour is found shot to death in his home. Inspector Burke (Lon Chaney, Sr.) of Scotland Yard is called in to investigate. The suspects are Williams (the butler), Sir James Hamlin (Henry B. Walthall) and his nephew, Arthur Hibbs (Conrad Nagel). A suicide note is found and the case is supposedly closed. Five years later, the old residence of Balfour is taken up by a man in a beaver-skin hat, with large fangs and gruesome, sunken eyes. His assistant is a ghostly woman, with flowing robes and raven black hair. Could it be Balfour, returned from the dead?

3. ‘The Cat and the Canary’ (1927) The Cat and the Canary (1927) is an American silenthorror film adaptation of John Willard's 1922 black comedy play of the same name. In a mansion overlooking the Hudson River, millionaire Cyrus West approaches death. His greedy family descends upon him like "cats around a canary", causing him to become insane. West orders that his last will and testament remain locked in a safe and go unread until the 20th anniversary of his death.

4. House of Wax (1953 film) House of Wax is a 1953Americanhorror film starring Vincent Price. Professor Henry Jarrod (Vincent Price) is a devoted wax figure sculptor with a museum in 1910s New York. When his financial partner Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts) demands more sensational exhibits to increase profits, Jarrod refuses. In retaliation, Burke deliberately sets the museum on fire, intending to claim the insurance money. He fights off Jarrod in the process, and splashes kerosene over his body, leaving him to die in the fire. Miraculously, Jarrod survives with severe injuries, and builds a new House of Wax with help from threatening deaf-mute sculptor, Igor (Charles Bronson).