scary

[justineo]

I've obviously got nothing better to do than post inane questions, this morning but I've just heard a reference to the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and was wondering what other fictional characters frightened people when they were younger.  I can vaguely remember a character in the Julie Andrews film Thoroughly Modern Millie, who gave me nightmares.  An oriental woman with her hair in a bun with knitting needles sticking through the hair.  I think she kidnapped girls and sold them into slavery.  (Was this a good subject for a young girl to be exposed to?) thanks

[Kishimo]

When I was younger my parents took me to the theatre to watch Dick Whittington and apparently I cried whenever King Rat came on stage!  I don't remember it, but oh well.

[jno]

TMM wasn't meant as a kids' film, it was a 60s spoof of the 20s. Still, I hope Beatrice Lillie scared you so much you never allowed yourself to be sold into slavery, in which case it served a socially responsible purpose.

[philandlil]

alice in wonderland scared me i still won't watch it, i don't even know why tho! i didn't like the wheelie men from return to oz either. oh and the skeletons from jason and the argonauts!

i think clowns are evil, i was devestated when ronald mcdonald brought out my birthday cake i was only about 7!

[acw]

The first (and last) time my parents took me to the cinema was to see Snow White.  Apparently I balled every time the witch came on and had to be removed by my mum each time.  I wonder why they never took me back to the cinema! :-)

I don't like the wheelie men either, but I LOVE return to Oz. But it is NOT a kids film in my opinion - far too dark for little ones. 

[landie]

In the 50's Flash Gordon was the staple diet for saturday morning picture houses (cinemas).

The stone creatures that lived against the walls of caves, and emerged as if from nowhere, really did the job for me.

[sglazier]

The first film I ever saw at the cinema was the cartoon version of Lord of the Rings at Marble Arch Odeon.

The Black Riders terrified me.

Parents, take your children to see Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and they too will have nightmares just like us!

[Peri]

The child catcher in the film was so scary and the music he danced to made it even worse.  I think it was Mrs. Meeks in Thoroughly Modern Millie and she used to say 'sad to be all alone in the world'. 

[Sasha13]

Philandlil and acw - I was thinking about the wheelers from Return to Oz before I saw your posts! My mum took me to the cinema to see it when I was little and I ended up crying in the toilets cos I was so scared! My mum came and found me eventually and took me straight home - bless, I think she was quite upset that I was so upset!

[ludwig]

How about the evil dwarf from 'The singing ringing tree'. He used to scare the bejaysus out of me. Still does as a matter of fact.

[thikasabrik]

When I was little I watched the old b&w version of King Kong on TV and I had nightmares for ages afterwards. I watched it again about a year ago and again had a nightmare but I think this time it was because the ape was a dead ringer for my first husband.

[JinxtheCat]

I'm embarrased to admit that I was scared of the Phantom Flan Flinger from Tiswas!!!!

[evertonsue]

Wow I was thinking of the Wheelie freaks from Oz too before I saw the other posts, they really were scary!

Having since grown up and watched countless horror films without being scared I do admit the Gentlemen in Buffy's 'Hush' episode truly freaked me out !

[annavc]

Worzel Gummidge terrified me as a kid - have never like the actor in anything else as a result.  Same goes for Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka - he still gives me the creeps!

[justineo]

Ludwig, I remember the whole programme being a bit scary.  In Jason and the Argonauts (1963 version with Honor Blackman), there's a scene where a blind man is trying to eat some fruit and 2 horrible flying creatures come down and keep pecking him,I was really frightened when I first saw that. Also, the cybermen in Doctor Who.

[delboy3]

As a small kid c.1970 I went to the Saturday matinees (Flash Gordon, Mighty Mouse, etc) and there was this thing called Danny The Dragon. Even though it was a friendly dragon, it terrified me!

[justineo]

However scared I was I still loved watching the Hammer films on a Friday night with my dad, brother and sister.  Most times I'd end up having to sleep with my parents much to my embarrassment.  The original film 'The Haunting' meant at least a week of having to keep the light on all night.  Going up to the toilet on your own was a terrifying experience.  Our lavatory had an overhead cystern and I would pull the chain and run like mad down the stairs, as if something would come out of it, after me.