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OK, so you've planned your menu and you've invited your guests for Halloween. Now it's time to make an important decision: What to watch. Classic horror movies are much less graphic than their current counterparts, and the pace is slow enough that you can talk during it without missing much. Also, the special effects are so archaic that they're actually funny. For a nostalgic (or wise-cracking) crowd, try one of these:
"Dracula" (1931; NR): This is the original, with Bela Lugosi in the title role and Dwight Frye stealing the spotlight as the giggling, mad Renfield. Watch as Dracula becomes a bat, flapping up and down on a visible string.
"Frankenstein" (1931; NR): Everyone will recognize the line, "It's Alive!" as Frankenstein, portrayed by Boris Karloff, comes to life, outfitted with a criminal's brain and lots of makeup.
Perhaps your party needs something a little more rousing. These picks are a whole lot scarier:
"Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992; rated R): Francis Ford Coppola directed this rich, sensual rendition of the classic tale, with Gary Oldman as the haunting and seductive Dracula.
"Shadow of the Vampire" (2000; rated R): Starring John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe, this is a movie about the making of a classic horror movie. Confused? Don't be -- as the plot of the larger movie unfolds, you'll find a story line that's both disturbing and intriguing.
If you don't enjoy scary movies, get into the spirit of Halloween with one of these:
"Beetlejuice" (1988; PG): A young ghost couple tries to scare the new occupants out of their house with the help of a Beetlejuice, a hysterical and unorthodox spirit played brilliantly by Michael Keaton.
"Addams Family" (1991; rated PG-13): Based on the television series, this movie is more fun than one might imagine; Christina Ricci does a darling job of her role as the sullen daughter named Wednesday.
"Practical Magic" (1998; rated PG-13): Lovely leading ladies Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman star in this chick flick about three generations in a family of witches as they struggle with their gifts -- and one pesky curse.