Movies Books

People remember different things from their youth, and one I remember most fondly is going to the drive-in movie. Because of that, I am drawn to books like this one. Though the text of the book is somewhat limited, it still evokes wonderful memories. It would be on my recommended list for anyone who wants to relive the "good ole days!"

The photos in the book are just great. They made me think back about my great childhood memories of going to the drive-in with my family.

...and hear the crickets. What a trip! Although drive-ins survive today, only a select few go to the trouble to capture the essence of the hey-day of the drive-in theatre. What is lacking in reality has been captured on paper. I didn't know what the Sanders could do to add to their previous book, The American Drive-In Movie Theater, but I was pleasantly surprised. I stayed up until I was finished one night. I simply couldn't put it down. Well done Don and Susan. -Stu Megaw (the Traveling Drive-In Enthusiast)

The Sanders have perfectly captured the essence of the drive-in movie theatre. My own work on the subject has given me the chance to verify that Drive-in Movie Memories is a celebration of outdoor movies! It is even better than their first book.

If you are interested in nostalga and/or drive in theatres, this is an excellent book. You may remember that Don and Susan Sanders came out with an excellent coffee table book entitled: "The American Drive-in Theatre." The original book was packed with previously lost photographs and memories of the drive in theatre.

Don and Susans latest work, "Drive in Memories : Popcorn and Romance Under the Stars," while physically smaller, is full of additional pictures and information about the drive-in theatres of yesterday. The new book is well written and edited. It will make a worthy edition to any one interested in the drive-in theatre.

I use this technique with family business consulting clients very effectively. It provides a great perspective in discussing interpersonal issues in a way which can help depersonalize conflict and promote healthy discussion. The book has been extremely helpful.

German-born Birgit Wolz has had a long-time love affair with movies. As a young girl in Germany, she fondly remembers going to a movie with her grandfather as her first big adventure. "I was absolutely fascinated. For the first time, I experienced being engrossed in a bigger-than-life experience, the colors, the sounds and the story of a big screen motion picture."

This passion for movies sustained Wolz throughout the ups and downs of her young life, eventually overflowing into her professional life as well. "My personal interest turned professional after I began my career as a psychotherapist and first learned about the technique of using movies as a tool for psychological healing and personal growth."

Later, Wolz faced several significant losses, including a serious, disabling illness. "After a time, it became clear that I would live, but the question still remained as to how I would live," she writes. "I learned through this shocking wake-up call that I could never take anything for granted. All possibility of reaching the goals to which I had previously aspired seemed to evaporate. Relationships changed dramatically. My future suddenly appeared a complete blank."

Again, Wolz turned to movies. "During this time, certain kinds of movies seemed amazingly helpful, even transformative. I noticed with surprise that I started crying uncontrollably whenever I saw films that showed characters in tragic experiences. I made a point of going to movie theaters by myself and sitting in the last row. In the protective darkness of this environment all the blocked up tears started flowing in response to watching the characters' pain."

The author presents several interesting theories as to why movies have the ability to heal and transform us, and why they can serve as catalysts for communicating where day-to-day words often fail. One such theory involves accessing what Swiss psychiatrist Dr. Carl Jung coined the shadow.

The term `shadow' refers to those parts of ourselves that we learned to repress or deny. Over the years, our shadow becomes deeply buried in our subconscious mind, sometimes causing us to behave in ways we don't understand. But Jung also believed that the shadow contains a wellspring of strength, power and creative energy. He believed that if we could access our shadow, we could live more fully. Movies, with their inherent detachment, since we are observers only, can court the shadow, bringing it slowly and safely into the light, allowing us entry into those locked areas of our psyche.

E-Motion Picture Magic includes guidelines for watching a film with conscious awareness and an in-depth look at how the emotional distance movies provide can enable us to see how we relate and respond to various circumstances through identifying with a certain character. An extensive film index at the back of the book will help you find films that deal with specific questions or issues. Find movie recommendations for dealing with peer relationships, blended families, chronic illness, divorce, disability, depression, phobias, and more.

When the real world seems overwhelming, when answers or solutions seem out of reach, when you find yourself unable to move beyond your fear, or get in touch with your sadness, why not give the 'reel' world a try?

Clear and concise. Very useful for a professional and also for the average joe.

I thought E-Motion Picture Magic was very straightforward and explained well. My movie watching experience has been enhanced tremendously thanks to the teaching in this book. Near the end of the book I had this urge to run and start a movie group.

I was very happy that Dr. Wolz did the detailed exercise using a movie I had actually seen. It helped me to follow the exercise better and experience the benefits. The movie index at the back of the book is very useful, especially if you are looking for movies that address specific issues you wish to explore.

As a psychotherapist I find Birgit Wolz's book to be helpful. I work mostly with teenagers and have found that both music and movies have been the most important ways to reach them. E-Motion Picture Magic offers not only a well written base of theory into the idea of cinema therapy, but provides the reader with a marvelous movie index that can be easily looked at based on the topic needs. Teenagers struggles often with the ability to express their inner selves, but quite easily talk about the plight of others. Movies and their characters provide a safe environment for teens to express their needs. The tools that Birgit Wolz provides in her book enable the therapist to more skillfully navigate with both groups and individuals. I fully intend on maintaining this book as a great guide in my practice.

I enjoyed this story about a cowboy and his girl told as the tale develped and it kept me up way past my bedtime to see how it all turned out. Altogether it was an enjoyable tale and very moving. The loss of a loved one was an undercurrent throughout the book until a new life is born into this world. Good stuff!!

When reading this book you may not realize just how much of Mr. Cord's own life experience influenced the characters. However, by reading this story you'll actually gain insight into his personal life tragedies. In effect, this book is part autobiography and part fiction, truly a labor of love from Mr. Cord.

A Hollywood legend who starred in "Airwolf" (1984-1986), Mr. Cord is perhaps best known for his proficient horsemanship and appearances in high-profile westerns such as "Stagecoach."

This book is absolutely amazing. Having lost a child, I found that Alex Cord captured the true essence of a parent facing the loss of a child. I laughed and cried at the touching force he gives as a greiving parent, finding the love of his life and bringing a new being into the world to love and cherish, but never trying to let him take Damien Zachary's place, just fill the void. The horse language is true in every sense of the word, to imagine the majestic beauty of the Cutting Horse. Truly a book well worth reading. Thank you, Alex!!

As a Radio Talk Show Host I have interviewed 100's of authors. Alex Cords' "A Feather in the Rain" is a MUST READ! To find out about the real Alex Cord, I would recommend that you read this book. Its to bad that there are not more men like him in the world today! If you have ever seen a horse, I say READ THIS BOOK! I would also have to say that, BAR NONE!, also the best Radio interview that I have ever had and, believe me, I have had alot. Without ever meeting Alex in person I consider him a true friend.

If you have suffered loss, some personal healing will be found in the pages of this book. Alex opened up his heart on this one. Just read it!

In writing a review of this book, I must first state that I am probably not one of the greatest fans of the 1960s TV series. With that said, I also confess that I didn't exactly hate it either. It was an entertaining show produced more than forty years ago that was initially hard for me to remember. What I like best about the book is the enthusiasm of its reviewers, and their skill in thoroughly describing and reviewing the good and not so good elements of this old series. Also admirable, is their successful rekindling of my interest in the show. Proof of this rekindling is the fact that after reading Volume I of the series I readily bought the first season DVD offering and have been regularly watching the shows. Volume 2 is probably even better written than Volume 1, and I recommend both books to fans of the series, and anyone wanting to know more about the series. When the episodes for Season Two get released on DVD this book will become even more valuable. For the record, I think the old series was superior to the 1990s movie starring Harrison Ford. David Janssen was very well cast in the show. He was a much underrated actor.

A must read for all Fugitive fans. What is unique about this book is that each episode of season two is reviewed in detail and given a poll rating on a scale of 0-10. Follow Richard Kimble and Phil Gerard along with Bob, Kitty, and Ken. Season two has many classic episodes including World's End, Nemesis, Escape into Black, The End is But the Bginning, The Survivors, and May God Have Mercy. This book will be an excellent reference guide to the DVD collection when released.

Volume II of The Fugitive: Views And Reviews, picks up where volume I left off, with more insightful and fact filled reviews and debate of the second season of "The Fugitive" one of television's greatest dramatic series. Also contains viewer poll results for each episode.This volume covers the second season which ran from1964 to 1965, including many classic episodes like "Man In A Chariot", "World's End", "The End Is But The Beginning", and the all time classic "Escape Into Black" from which the cover photo is derived.A perfect companion piece to Volume I which is currently available and a must have for true Fugitive fanatics.Bobbynear

This is the best episode guide yet on The Fugitive. The authors go into such detail and raise points I would never have thought of. I'd recommend it to all Fugitive fans. I hope another three books will follow, for seasons 2, 3 and 4!

The authors of this book put in painstaking effort to review each episode of The Fugitive starring David Janssen. They personally watch each episode more than once, research background information, and blend in their views stemming from what they have gathered from the characters and storyline before each episode, as well as real-life parallel history to either confirm or deny plausibility of plot.

I recommend this book very much as a companion to any Fugitive fan who is going through one or all of the episodes.

Mitch

this reviewer's praise comes from the heart when I say "bravo". I am not a huge fan of pop culture or the following it has (having had my gay card twice suspended for possessing a "less-than-acceptable" level of movie, broadway, and Camp knowledge), yet I cannot imagine any other calling for Mr. Zippy Bergund. His knowledge of movies and every detail within them has astounded me for years. Kudos to Jason and Bev for creating an all-in-one guide that even I can understand. Finally - a book that contains humor, camp, guidance, tons of trivia and of course, advice from behind the bar. Cheers!

The Hulk as a gay movie? Hmmmm...wait until those Greek lawyers get a whiff of that. Maybe The Hulk isn't gay per se, but the transformation he undergoes (personally I think Howard Dean is The Hulk in disguise) is something everyone can relate to, gay or straight. I love the way each of these movies, from Mommie Dearest to Norma Rae to All About Eve, can reflect pivotal points in our lives. I also appreciate that Jason Bergund, one-half of the real-life "Will & Grace" team that wrote this book, comes out in favor of social responsibility attacking "Queer as Folk" for only portraying the seamy underbelly of gay life (anonymous sex, drug abuse and endless clubbing aren't something to aspire to in any group). You go, girl!

This book talks directly to our fabulous gay souls. It matches up movies with moods like a perfect date! Aside from really good movie advice, the wit, humor and various fun parts (like recipes)make this book an easy reading experience. Definitely worth every penny!!!

This is an extremely entertaining and amusing book, perfect for anyone who has trouble finding that movie-night-feel-good-rental when you're in the mood for some queer therapy. Not only for gay people, the book lists movies, recipes, and little indulgences that will pamper and pacify even the most stressed out straights on gays. With sections dedicated to Judy, Bette, Madonna, the book streams a wide timeline, so there's something for everyone, from, "Mommie Dearest" (my personal favorite in which you learn some interesting facts about the film - like the fact the studio NEVER intended for it to be such a cult camp classic!) to "The Hours" to "Camp" and so on. Jason's Barmacy brings out the bartender in us all with the same ease it takes Omarosa to be hated, and Bev's pampering rituals will leave you feeling refreshed (and looking hot too!). However, I think the next book should have a cover photo of Mr. Bergund in his alleged "lavaliere - all the way down to his waist"!

Three words: Fun Fun Fun!! A must have for gay movie buffs and novices alike. A great lite read for the summer - it catered to my every ADD need, as I could pick it up and flip around to my hearts desire... I truly enjoyed how co-authors Jason Bergund and Beverly West summed up my personal favorites with wit and hilarity, and then had me rushing to the video store for a few films on my "to-see" list. This manual or "bible", as one may dub, is full of chuckles, fun tips, helpful hints, along with a plethora of random information that had me taking notes in case "Celebrity Jeopardy" ever came a knockin'. ("What is Velma Kelly's real name?" (...)

Long ago, when I was really hooked on the Goonies, I read this book with great zeal. It really does capture the essence of the movie, and I would have to agree with the other reviewers that it may in fact be better than the movie.

Okay, I know I've ranted about novelizations before and how they are totally artless and only enjoyable on a purely pulp level. But The Goonies is the exception to that rule and actually proves to be rather brilliant. Yes, it's totally not George Orwell's Animal Farm or Huxley's Brave New World so a five-star review in comparison to them would seem kind of ludicrous, but on it's own level, The Goonies is the perfect adventure book.

The main thing that makes this book so much better than typical film novelizations is that it's told from the point of view of Mikey Walsh (Sean Astin's character), so we really get inside his head and his early-teenage perspective on things. Second is the fact that writer James Kahn (no, not that one) wastes no time in getting things going and makes every sentence and every paragraph relevant or interesting.

He also nails every character to a tee. Chris Columbus' crazy assortment of Goonies and their eccentric personalities is one of the many things that make the film so great and Kahn gives them all enough space to fully develop among chase scenes, octopus attacks and booby traps. But the best character of the lot has to be Sloth. He's such a cool guy!

Taken from Chris Columbus' complete script, there are a few scenes in here that were cut from the final film (I don't know if they are included in the DVD extras) but I particularly like the extra scenes were Sloth shows off what a misunderstood genius he is and how good he is at impersonating and acting. He and Chunk are the REAL heros of the film.

The last, but certainly not least, advantage this book has is the deeper insight into the metaphysical connection between Mikey and One-Eyed Willie. It was present, to some effect, at the end of the movie but I always thought it could be taken further and Kahn manages to create an inspiring character out of a dead guy.

If you are a Goony, then you must get this book. It's such a shame that it's out of print because I think a new edition, marketed as a teen-adventure novel would be very popular.

Goonies are forever. Goonies never say die!

I liked the book a lot better than the movie because you see the peoples feeling so much better. This also has scences that explain what happens a lot better. This is a must read book!

Last time I checked, the book comes before the movie......so the movie would be the one changed, not the book.......correct me if I'm wrong......

I just bought the book on e-bay, and have already read it!!! i highly reccomend this book! as a child i think its better than the movie!!

This book was purchased as a gift. The recipient was delighted with it.

It's a great book overall, well written and researched, full of
really interesting facts and trivia. I can heartily recomend it to anyone with an interest in the movies.
Brilliant stuff!!!

This is an absolute must have for any fan of classic film who refuses to let all those great facts disappear into obscurity. An absolute hit at any party!

This is the type of book, that once you pick it up, you get lost in it and can't put it down for hours. It's really fun for movie buffs and anyone else who has ever enjoyed watching movies..(and that's all of us!). The stills bring back so many memories and you feel as though you're enjoying the movie all over again. The book makes a great gift (for yourself!) or someone you love. I highly recommend it!

The Guess Who What When & Where Picture Trivia Book Series
Dave Cutler
GreyCore Press 2004
2646 New Prospect Rd., Pine Bush N.Y. 12566
$17.95
Hardcover with spiral binding - 320 pg.'s
ISBN# 0-9742074-4-6
Reviewed by: Christina Francine
http://www.CFrancine.bizland.com

You say you know movies? Can you name a film by a single photograph with a bit of trivia to boot? Okay, how about specifics? Can you remember the actors? The title? When it was released? Who was the director? Well, Cutler's book will find out. What about your friends? Can they remember film specifics better than you?

This book is incredibly easy to use. A large spiral ring binding allows for fast flipping and the pages stay put. Each movie's picture and trivia questions are neat and organized. This makes instant quizzing and reference a breeze.

For each movie presented, Cutler provides two pages. On the left is a photograph from that particular movie and on the right; is the trivia. The trivia is broken into four sections. One section features `PICTURE TRIVIA' WITH FOUR questions (who, what, when, who) and are worth certain points. Another is titled `BONUS TRIVIA' WITH three questions, worth ten points each. The largest area covers interesting anecdotes and is titled, `ABOUT THIS MOVIE.' To the far right of the page and sitting at an angle, the answers to the questions; all in small print of course.

Book Mechanics:

*150 favorite movies
*Easy-to-hold, easy to pass 6x6 format with large spiral binding.
*Color and black and white photographs (depending upon film being color or black and white).
*Snappy colors, pictures, and questions.
*Protective sturdy cardboard case enabling quick and easy slide in and out use.
*Back matter that includes a listing of all the films featured with the companies that filmed them.

Book Excerpts:
(actual picture examples of outside cover, film photographs and trivia questions available at http://www.picturetrivia.com)

Who are the actors in this film?
What is the title of this film?
When was this film released?
Who is the director of this film?

Bonus Trivia
What classic rock song did the lead characters belt out in the "mirthmobile"?
In what city and state did they live?
To whose concert did they have backstage passes?

About This Movie
Before Austin Powers and Dr. Evil, there was Wayne and Garth, one of the more successful "Saturday Night Live" sketches to be parlayed into a feature film. The stars of this comedy about a pair of friends with their own local public access show have indelibly made their mark on popular culture with the catchphrase "Excellent!" and "Party On!"

The creator of this book, Dave Cutler, is an award-winning freelance artist. His images have appeared in leading publications and corporate literature for 18 years. His fascination for moviemaking began as a little boy and continues today. He's also published a children's book titled, `When I Wished I Was Alone,' Oct. 2003.

The publisher, GreyCore Press, says "This book is the first in a unique series of picture-based trivia books that use great b & w and color photographs to test reader's knowledge of their favorite entertainment pastimes." Their next in the series will be PICTURES TRIVIA: SPORTS EDITION, scheduled to release in 2005.

My Rating

*Quality - excellent
*Style of presentation and authenticity of facts, sources, etc. - excellent
*Ability to prove points - excellent
*Target audience or age group - anyone, especially movie buffs of all ages.
*Usage - easily used as a game for one or more.

Cutler's trivia book is a treat for those bitten by the movie madness bug. A playful way to test movie knowledge and memory. Perfect on a coffee table, a desk, or as a gift.

I have used this resource in my ministry on a regular basis since purchasing an earlier edition in 1976. I have found it to be informative and helpful in understanding the scope of Christianity in the United States. This is a valuable resource for those wanting a beginning point for research and for reference.

I had access to older editions of this book in our public library, and finally found one in a used bookstore. I was thrilled to find out it had been updated. I was disappointed to a degree, however. The older editions had many small bodies listed in it, which are nowhere to be found in this edition. I really enjoyed reading about some of these churches (I remember one was down to a single church). On the other hand, I think it is a plus that more coverage is now being given to non-Christian groups as these have grown in recent years in this country.

I still give it five stars, I just wish they had left some of the smaller groups in the book.

Our church pulled out of the United Church of Christ in 2001, and our denomination search committee needed a resource to get more information. We were very happy to find this book. At your finger tips are brief sketches of practically every major religious group in the United States. Some of the essays are very brief in nature, while others are pages long. Still, it is an excellent starting point, and for most people who just want the basic facts, it is all the information a person could want on the religious movements in the country. And one of the other things I like about the book is that as far as it it is possible, the authors take a very objective position. No trace of bias or sectarian coloring mars the book, as far as I can tell. There is no way of discerning which denominational perspective the authors write from, and that's the way I like it.

Islam, Judaism, Gnosticism and more are included along with Christianity within the ever-expanding scope of this classic reference book. Supposedly selection is limited to those groups within the "Abrahamic-monotheistic tradition," but that's arguable, since it includes for ex: Mormonism (multiple gods throughout universe), Nation of Islam (succession of gods thru time), Unitarian-Universalism (not required to believe in any particular religious belief), and pantheistic groups. Other inclusion/exclusion oddities: Native American Church--in; Voodoo and Santeria--out. Spiritualism--in; Hinduism and Urantia--out. Unification Church--in; Taoism--out. Nation of Islam--in; Scientology--out. There are also inconsistencies regarding where within the book groups are listed: Messianic Judaism is not listed in Christianity, but in Judaism, yet Church of God and Saints of Christ ("Black Jews") are under Christianity and not Judaism. Sufism is listed under Islam, but Nation of Islam is not. Including such incompatible religions under the title of "Handbook of Denominations" implies theological (as opposed to social) toleration and some underlying fundamental agreement, which perhaps risks contributing ever so subtly to the psychological preparation for acceptance of an ecumenical religion that sacrifices biblical truth for the sake of societal unity. Fortunately, the authors say "future editions of the Handbook may require a different title" (though they do not suggest the possibility of narrowing the book's scope). Other books have used titles that more accurately convey their contents--"Dictionary of Cults, Sects, Religions and the Occult" or "Encyclopedia of American Religions," no problem.

The Handbook's strength remains its Christianity section, which makes sense of over 100 denominations by organizing them in families (31 alone in Baptist family) and goes beyond mere statistics (self-reported, by the way) to convey interrelationships in a historical narrative style. Even so, some groups get scanty treatment, for ex, Christian Identity groups are only hinted at by including minor groups like Branch Davidians, while others, like a certain nationwide TV ministry, are not even mentioned. Given both Identity's track record as a starting point for domestic terrorism and its increasing acuumlation of followers thru TV/internet, I wish the Handbook would mention prominent ID groups and their [...] serpent seed doctrine. One modern phenomenon this 12th edition has included, though, is "Community and New Paradigm Churches," saying that these "mega-churches" are "congregations that actually function as small denominations." Overall, despite concerns, the Handbook is now more up-do-date, and I strongly recommend it, but exhort discernment, as it not only displays subjectivity in terms of inclusion and self-reporting, but also in narrative description, for ex: Islam is "subject to unfair stereotyping," and "it seeks to build a just and peaceful society based on a rational moral code."

Extremely helpful when researching various group's beliefs. Unbiased, and fair to the individual Christian denominations that number in the hundreds here in America. So many churches. So many groups you may never have heard of. For example; when a certain minister in my church gave testimony that he once served in the Church of the Living God denomination as a pastor, a group formerly unheard of to me, I used this handbook for research into that group's background. I love studying the different beliefs that are a part of this nation's freedom to practice them, according to the dictates of our hearts.

The book started with Guillermo del Toro (GdT) recounting how Hellboy went from being one of his favourite comic books to become a Hollywood movie he would direct.

Major characters in the book have their own biography pages, providing a little background for readers, like me, who didn't read the original comic book series. That was helpful.

Conceptual art was plentiful and are accompanied by the movie script. Short captions by artists explained how the art was created to fit into the vision of GdT. This book's main subject is most probably artistic direction with function. From the captions, every thing drawn has form, function and purpose. Here's a little quote from GdT:

"Let me make something abundantly clear --- in case you've been on Mars --- NO RED!!! --- Except for Hellboy or the atmospheres that are intimate/related to him: BROOM, LIZ, GRIGORY, and/or colors in WWII. - GdT"

This book was heavy on character design, set design, movie story boards and props design. Movie frame stills were hard to find.

For Hellboy fans, getting this book is a no brainer.

I've some pictures from the book. Do an internet search on "parka blogs hellboy"

Mike Mignola's HELLBOY is no longer a obscure character enjoyed by unwashed comic geeks thanks to Guillermo Del Toro & Revolution Studios.
A full finished script of the film is included, as well as some background stories on some key characters.
The book's preproduction art from Wayne Barlowe, Mike Mignola, Simeon Wilkins, & TyRuben Ellingson is no less than phenomenal. Creature, Prop, & Location designs are found throughout each page. Arguably, some of Wayne Barlowe's best designs can be found here. Even Guillermo Del Toro's sketches find their way into the book. This book makes for an excellent introduction to one of modern fiction's most unique characters.

Besides a complete shooting script and lots of commentary, this has tons of illustrations and concept art done by all the artists involved in the movie. It's wonderful to see Mike Mignola's and Wayne Barlowe's sketches following the development of all the various Hellboy monsters, characters and environments, and lots of stuff that didn't make it into the movie. A must for any fan of the film.

I was unfamiliar with the world of Hellboy prior to seeing the movie. When I did and when I ordered this book, I was blown away by the wealth of visual richness that inhabit the Hellboy universe. Being a collector of "Art of..." books, I realized that the strength of Hellboy lies in the visual galore. The book is fully detailed with drawings from every level of production as well as the closeness of working atmosphere between the filmakers and the creator of the original material not commonly known in Hollywood.

My only gripe in this book is that the structuring is kinda messed up and confusing, since the book mixes up the art section with the script.

A must have for art, comic and production design lovers, has lots new designs by Mignola Barlowe and other great artists including the prop makers. Includes beautiful pages illustrating both concept and the picture of the final prop supported by the commentaries and thinkings of the artist involved in the creation of that specific prop. It also includes the final shooting script, and images from Guillermo del Toro's notebook which are nice sketches and annotations depicting the first idea behind the final design of each character. Great!!! one of the best, just do not read it before watching the movie.

I first heard of David Skal from the Universal Classic Monster series of DVD's. David was on the accompanying documentary and did the audio commentary for Tod Browning's 1931 classic, Dracula. If you own the set and have run the documentary and, particularly, the commentary, then you've already experienced about three chapters of this book. What remains is a rich mine of details about every aspect of Dracula, the book, movies, and culture. And what a lot there is.

David's writing, like his speech, is precise, educated, and loaded with literary allusions. While no dilettante, I consider myself well read and was still left with the occasional "what the hell is talking about?" moment. The language is rich and occasionally reminds me of the mental images drawn by Anne Rice at the height of her powers. However, David is no snob and is not merely parading his impressive intellect - it's just that he knows so darn much about the subject.

And if I had any criticism of the book that would be it - David seems driven to exhaustively document every possible aspect of Dracula's existence. The detailed (and seemingly never ending) battles between Florence Stoker and the makers of "Nosferatu" is described in such detail that I wanted to scream "OKAY!! We get it! Nosferatu was a Dracula rip off and Flo didn't like it!!" But eventually the tale moves on and sets the stage for intricate negotiations between the Stoker estate and Universal. In retrospect (and considering how handsomely the studio profited) it's interesting to see that Universal bought almost unlimited use of the vampire for the paltry sum of $25,000.00 and is still making oodles of money hand over fist today. David covers all aspects of vampire lore from Byron's "The Giaour" (1813) to Mel Brooks' "Dracula, Dead and Loving It" (1995). And everything in between. Trust me, if it can be construed to be in any way connected with Dracula, it's in this book.

If you have any interest in gothic culture, or the movies that spawned it, this is a must have. Reading it is like enjoying an evening of conversation with a much beloved, if slightly eccentric, old friend, preferably over brandy in front of a glowing fireplace on a cold, cold night.

Down deep, we all agree with the fly-eating Renfield. That's why we can't get his Master out of our system. David J. Skal's book Hollywood Gothic explains a lot of the reasons why.

Hollywood Gothic is like David Skal's Screams of Reason: Mad Science and Modern Culture. Hollywood Gothic and Screams of Reason both take horror motifs we know mostly from movies and trace them back to literature, where they originated.

Screams of Reason looks at the mad scientist figure in fiction, from central European vivisectionists like Dr. Frankenstein to postwar American A-bomb scientists. Hollywood Gothic is more narrow - - it covers Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, the plays adapted from it, and then the movies inspired by it - - F.W. Murnau's silent film Nosferatu, then the Universal and Hammer horror films.


Skal goes into detail about Bela Lugosi's career as Dracula on stage and film. He also digs up a lot of interesting information about the Spanish-language Dracula made simultaneously with the Bela Lugosi movie by producer Paul Kohner and cinematographer George Robinson - - who was responsible for the look of later Universal horror films like Dracula's Daughter and House of Dracula.

Kohner fell in love with and married the real star of the Spanish-language Dracula, Lupita Tovar as Eva - - the Mina Harker character - - and who could blame him. Skal calls her a "truly ingenuous ingenue." In Mexico she could barely go out in public without being mobbed.

Except for Bela Lugosi himself, almost everything about Kohner's Spanish version is better than Browning's. (That's my opinion from watching the movies, not just reading Hollywood Gothic.) Skal quotes people who worked on Tod Browning's Dracula that Browning was barely paying attention to the movie he was making.

For instance, when Dracula welcomes Jonathan Harker to his castle from the top of the staircase, in the English version a huge spider web is off to the side behind Dracula, but in the Spanish version Dracula is framed in the center of the web. We see Dracula rise from his coffin in the Spanish version where Browning just shows him suddenly standing there. (Seeing Christopher Lee rise from his coffin, or be destroyed in it, was always a high point of the Hammer movies for me.) Every night Kohner's director George Melford looked at the film Browning's crew shot during the day and improved on it for their version.

But there was (and is) something in the idea of the vampire that makes readers and audiences forgive hack storytelling.

If you haven't seen them already, you should watch the films before reading Hollywood Gothic. The Universal Legacy Collection of Dracula contains the Lugosi film, the Spanish-language version, Dracula's Daughter, and Son of Dracula. (There's more, but those are the best. Universal's release of the Legacy Collections of Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man are the only good thing to come from the marketing of the movie Van Helsing.)

Hollywood Gothic has a lot of illustrations, many of which are theatrical and film ephemera from Skal's personal collection. (Yesterday I saw The Aristocrats - - Penn Gillette's documentary about the world's filthiest joke - - and one of the comedians was wearing a T-shirt with Dracula's face from the cover of the first Modern Library edition of the novel. SIDE NOTE: See The Aristocrats - - it's about how to tell a story and keep an audience hooked as much as it is about the history of blue humor.)

Reading Hollywood Gothic made me finally read Bram Stoker's novel. Because I've seen so many movies that tell the story I never read the book. While the writing style isn't great, at least it moves along, and you're introduced to Dracula right away.


I read over half of the 600-page novel The Historian - - apparently foredoomed to be a bestseller and a blockbuster movie - - and the character Dracula still hadn't made an appearance. I skimmed to the end and read the climax, but I was disappointed. When you build Dracula up as such a powerful being, it's hard to destroy him in a way that doesn't seem anticlimactic. (That's one of the reasons Kim Newman has given for why he started writing his Anno Dracula series - - if Dracula is such a terrible force, how could he be tracked down and killed so easily by an insane Dutch doctor and three upper-class twits who belong in the Drones Club with Bertie Wooster?)
And why do characters in The Historian struggle to find copies of Bram Stoker's novel at university libraries? It's been out in paperback all over the world since the early 1900s. Go to any W.H. Smith.

Filmmakers who've told the Dracula story understand something novelists sometimes don't - - Dracula shouldn't be just a menace offstage, he's the protagonist of the story. Dracula is the hero. He's the one we want to see - - and be. That's why our mothers were displeased when they caught us watching monster movies on TV when we were kids. Mom knew what we were thinking. The reason Stoker's novel works at all is because we're introduced to Dracula at the beginning, when Harker comes to Translyvania. What makes the novel disappointing is that we hardly see Dracula again after that.

But Skal reminds us that "La sangre es la vida." Dracula isn't going anywhere.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION: Check out Vampires: Los Muertos (see my review), the sequel to John Carpenter's Vampires, and an underrated movie. To me, it's a vampire movie that shows the monster as a Third World victim of globalist Van Helsings. (A rich white American woman can get the medicine she needs to stay alive (un-undead), while the brown vampire, stolen from her peasant family by a rich landowner, has only one way to get the sangre she needs. (I also like vampire movies that show how vampires might experience time differently than mortals - - Queen of the Damned also does this in an interesting way.) There's a scene of slow-motion slaughter in Los Muertos that the monstrous child in me responded to. Los Muertos also has the most sexist line I've every heard in a vampire movie, but you still identify with the female master vampire.

David J. Skal is as readable as ever is this newly revised edition of the definitive Hollywood Gothic as he covers the history of Dracula from his creation by Bram Stoker to the various and multiple version on screen and stage. The thrust of the story is, of course, on the novel and the iconic Bela Lugosi movie, with an additional nice, but smaller, chunk on Nosferatu. The author is particularly effective in combining, in an interesting fashion, the creative, financial, and legal elements. His analysis is always clear and interesting and will definitely send the reader on a viewing frenzy. Vampire movies seem always to be streaming forth from Hollywood and Dracula is and always will be the most tempting of the bunch. This book brings this fascination to life, as it were. A very good job.

In "Hollywood Gothic" David Skal tells the story of "Dracula" that came after the classic of gothic horror was published in 1897. It's a fascinating, fact-filled tale of colorful personalities, legal battles, Hollywood politics, and a culture still captivated by the King of Literary Vampires. The book's seven chapters begin with author Bram Stoker, end with the Count's recent incarnations on stage and screen, and include the most insightful analysis of "Dracula"'s origins that I have read in the course of my minor obsession with the novel.

Chapter 1 explores "Dracula"'s literary and theatrical predecessors before moving on to discussion of the intellectual and sexual climate into which the book was published in 1897, the life and elusive character of its author Bram Stoker, and how the novel was received in its own day. David Skal does an impressive job of pulling together the relevant details, from diverse perspectives, of the novel's birth.

Chapter 2 details the legal battle waged by the Bram Stoker's widow, Mrs. Florence Stoker, to suppress the first cinematic adaptation of her husband's novel, 1922's "Nosferatu", the unauthorized German production directed by F.W. Murnau, now recognized as a masterpiece of silent cinema. Chapter 3 sees Mrs, Stoker finally authorize an adaptation to British dramatist Hamilton Deane, whose wordy, plodding "Dracula" play nevertheless achieved great financial success, attracting the attention of American theatrical producer Horace Liveright. Liveright enlisted journalist John Balderston to rewrite the play for Broadway and make it a smash hit on this side of the Atlantic.

Chapter 4 moves to Hollywood for the protracted negotiations over "Dracula"'s film rights. "Dracula"'s path through the early 20th century was mined with legal battles, and it is a credit to author David Skal that he is able to make interminable and constantly mutating negotiations into absorbing drama. Chapter 5 follows the winding road to the production of the first Hollywood "Dracula", the 1931 film starring Bela Lugosi, which, although made cheaply and lazily, was the first horror talkie and a financial life preserver for Universal Studios. Happily, Skal has dedicated Chapter 6 to the superior Spanish language version of "Dracula" that was filmed simultaneously, on the same sets, as the English version of the 1931 film, but with a different producer, director, cinematographer, and cast.

Chapter 7 tells us what became of the principle person's associated with the two 1931 films. Then it follows the legacy of "Dracula" from the 1930s forward, through its incarnations in film, plays, musicals, ballets, and other performances. Appendix A is a list of notable stage performances of "Dracula", 1897-2003. Appendix B is a list of about 200 films, 1921-2004, which feature the "Dracula" character or name. Thankfully, there is an index.

In outlining the contents of "Hollywood Gothic", I may have made the book seem dry. But the story of "Dracula"'s continuing life in film and on stage is as lively as the novel that inspired it -and it is written a good deal better. David Skal's tireless research and engaging style never fail to impress. "Hollywood Gothic" is an absorbing literary and cinematic history that "Dracula" fans shouldn't miss.

I read this book years ago. It's good to see it's coming back into print.

Skal charts the history of Stoker's book, beginning with early drafts extant, following the tangled film history, including the legal battles over Murnau's "Nosferatu", Universal Studio's struggle to get the rights for the Lugosi pic, and everything that happened after.

It won't change your life, but its fascinating stuff. Skal's style is quick, clean, and to the point. This book is a lot of fun, giving insights into publishing, film, theater, and the audience reaction to and participation in all of those mediums. A must for all vampire buffs, film students, and those who are curious about the inner workings of popular culture.