Bela Lugosi - Dreams and Nightmares [Hardcover]

Gary D. Rhodes and Richard Sheffield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 20, 2007

A scholarly, yet thoroughly entertaining study of Lugosi's entire life, focusing on the period between 1952-56 - his career, his marriages, his politics, and his close friendship with Richard Sheffield. This insightful hardcover edition contains previously unpublished research, interviews and hundreds of rare photos, many unseen until now. Includes details of newly discovered stage, newsreel, radio and TV work, as well as a filmography with new entries.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Collectables Press; 1st edition (February 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977379817
• ISBN-13: 978-0977379811
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #768,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I HIGHLY recommend this book! * * * * *, February 20, 2007

By 

K. Dewey "Lugosi's Girl" (Under the Iron Sea) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bela Lugosi - Dreams and Nightmares (Hardcover)

Having followed the books of Gary Rhodes for quite a long time, I must say that he has outdone himself on this effort! Rare photos never before published of Lugosi's wives and early stage career make this book probably the most complete book on Lugosi's life ever published save for Rhodes' first book on Lugosi. It is clear that he put a lot of effort into this book (20 years worth!) Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down! I highly recommend Mr. Rhodes' new book. You will not be disappointed at all! Not to mention the insight given from Mr. Sheffield, what a delight! If you have never read any of Mr. Rhodes' books, pick up this one it is sure to knock you over with all of the new information. You don't know Lugosi until you have read this book from cover to cover!
Well done Mr. Rhodes!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DREAMS!!, February 22, 2007

By 

Jack E. Dowler (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bela Lugosi - Dreams and Nightmares (Hardcover)

Having read all of Mr. Rhodes books, and they all have been 5 stars,this is the best.Not to many people know about this part of Lugosi's life as well as Mr. Rhodes. This was truly a labor of love and dedication. All that is left is BRAVO, authario,BRAVO. Mr. Sheffield also deserves kudo's on all his knowledge of Lugosi. The stills and other bits of entertainment pieces make this a great read. HIGHLY RECOMENDED.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Visual and Verbal Masterpiece!!!, May 30, 2007

By 

Richard Masloski (New Windsor, New York USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bela Lugosi - Dreams and Nightmares (Hardcover)

Wow! I've read lousy books with great covers and layout. I've read great books with lousy covers and layout. Here we have a book that is both visually stunning (one of the best book cover designs ever!)(lavishly seasoned with illustrative delight after delight) and a book that is superbly written: entertaining, informative, deeply moving and highly evocative of a time and place in the life of the legendary Lugosi - primarily covering the final decade of his days. I never wanted this book to end! Alas, I have just finished reading it...and was moved to tears at Mr. Rhodes' poignant description of the death and subsequent removal of Bela Lugosi's body from his home. All great things come to an end! Lives - and books! (One morbid and vague part of the book - and a few typos here and there - are the book's only flaws. The morbid and vague part of the text is the description of Richard Sheffield's unearthing of a corpse and the keeping of its skull. We never learn whose grave is desecrated and the reason why!!! Is an avid love of horror films enough of a reason to commit such a Norman Bate-ish act of vandalism? It may be poorly excused as a folly of youth, however as a lover of horror films from pre-school on I had, myself, as a teen, contemplated doing a Dr. Frankenstein on some stray gravesite...but never really could...or would! Apparently, Mr. Sheffield had no qualms about desecrating some poor, unfortunate's grave...and polishing up the gold tooth of the stolen skull. The recounting of this teen "prank" did, I must admit, leave me somewhat angered. The book could well have done without it. Is nothing sacred?) But back to the work at hand: Bela Lugosi must be smiling that wonderful smile of his down upon Gary Rhodes from that Castle Dracula in the sky!