6. Ben Chapman/Ricou Browning As The Gill Man In Creature From The Black Lagoon
Millicent Patricks design of the Creature in Creature from the Black Lagoon was the aquatic nightmare that made people fear in taking a dip in any body of water. The movie was originally shot in 3D which made for an even scarier experience when the Creature appeared on screen. It was brought to the life by Patricks artistic make-up skill and the acting talents of Ben Chapman and Ricou Browning. Ben wore the make-up when it was time to shoot the action scenes on dry land while Ricou wore a lighter version of the suit when it was required to shoot scenes in the water. The Creature resembled a humanoid fish covered in scales with webbed fingers and toes that were tipped with sharp claws. It wasnt hard for the other stars of the film to react in horror when the Creature pursued them nor was it hard for the audience to react in the same manner. The Creature has become a staple to Universal Studios that, along with Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Dracula and The Mummy, they have been known since as the Universal Monsters. 5. F. Murray Abraham As Antonio Salieri In Amadeus
Released in 1984 Amadeus,was a masterpiece that won 8 Academy Awards, including one for best make-up. After first viewing the movie for the first time when I was younger, I really didnt understand what made it so special since my introduction to Mozart was done so with this movie rather through his music. As I became older, I had the chance to watch the movie again and realized how great of a movie it was. What stuck with me more than anything from the movie was F. Murray Abrahams portrayal of Antonio Salieri as a jealous and hateful composer. You can really love to hate him even at the end of the movie when his character finishes telling his story about Mozart. You would never have guessed that it was Abraham under that make-up when his character had aged so much by the end of the movie that not much time is left for him. Only a few old age make-up jobs have been done so convincingly and almost all have been done by Dick Smith. From the blood shot eyes to the wrinkles on the neck, face and hands, Dicks compelling effort in creating an actual old person surpasses anything that has been done by anyone else at that point in time. His well-deserved Oscar win is a testament to his genius and ingenuity in creating a make-up masterpiece that it is only fitting it is included in a movie about a masterful musician.