The Book of Lists: Horror
An All-New Collection Featuring Stephen King, Eli Roth, Ray Bradbury, and More, with an Introduction by Gahan Wilson
Chapter One
Six Stars Who Turned Down Famous Horror Movie Roles
1. Bela Lugosi as the Monster in Frankenstein (1931): Coming off the title role in the hit 1931 film version of Dracula, Bela Lugosi seemed like the natural choice to star as the creature in Frankenstein. While make-up tests with Lugosi were indeed conducted and shot, ultimately he did not play the role, although accounts differ as to why. Lugosi claimed that he "read the script and didn't like it. So I asked to be withdrawn from the picture." However, Jack Pierce, the film's makeup designer, was quoted as saying that the star "had too many ideas of his own that didn't correspond with those of the producer, Carl Laemmle. Lugosi thought his ideas were better than everybody's." Whatever the case, the part went to a forty-four-year-old character actor named Boris Karloff, and the rest is horror history.
2. Shirley MacLaine as Chris MacNeil in The Exorcist (1973): Author William ... read full excerpt from: The Book of Lists: Horror ebook
