Cliffhanger : A Pictorial History of the Motion Picture Serial [Paperback]

Alan G. Barbour (Author), Linda Stirling (Introduction)

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Citadel Press (May 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806506695
• ISBN-13: 978-0806506692
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,028,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not the definitive book on the serials, but one that is excellent, extremely entertaining and brings back fond memories, July 17, 2010

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Cliffhanger: A pictorial history of the motion picture serial (Hardcover)

When I was young, a local television station has a children's show called "Dr. Max" that aired at 4 PM Monday through Friday. At one time, an old-time serial that featured trash-can robots, a battle between two forces that were quite naturally good and evil and a small team of adventurous interlopers that fought desperately on the side of the good was run. Decades later, I still remember some of the scenes and how my brother and I eagerly awaited the portion of the show when the segment of the serial appeared.
That serial was called "Undersea Kingdom", starred Ray "Crash" Corrigan and I rediscovered this information when I was reading this book. It contains brief descriptions of most of the most significant if not the highest quality of the serials produced in the first half of the twentieth century. After each description there is a series of still photos from those serials that often demonstrate how absurd they really were. Especially the costumes, no better demonstration exists than in the photo from "Batman and Robin" made in 1949 that starred Robert Lowery and John Duncan. Batman's mask is so poorly fitting that it is surprising that he could even see well enough to pursue the evil ones.
One of the best aspects of this book is when a future star appears in an image. Actors such as John Wayne, Bela Lugosi, Clayton Moore, Milburn Stone and Lloyd Bridges got their start in the business in the serials and they appear in these images.
Finally, there is also a photo of a man and a woman trapped in a stone cavern with the ceiling descending on them. Spikes protrude from that ceiling, a precursor to the scene from "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." Steven Spielberg and George Lucas openly admitted that they used the old-time serials as a model for their Indiana Jones series and it is evident.
This book is an extremely entertaining look back at an important era in visual entertainment, when millions of people, mostly young, went to the movie houses nearly every Saturday in order to see their heroes in action. Perhaps, as was the case with me reading it will bring back fond memories of a younger day. Within hours of learning the name of "Undersea Kingdom" I was online buying a copy.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book made me a serial fan!, July 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cliffhanger: A pictorial history of the motion picture serial (Hardcover)

Mr Barbour's book is a loving look back to the exciting days of the movie serial. The book is lavishly illustrated with rare photgraphs and lobby cards. Chapters look at different genres of the serial and the elements that made them great: the stunt men, the villains and the two- fisted leading leading men and women. If you want to discover what inspired the " Indiana Jones" movies (and Zorro) , seek out this book!

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference & Source Guide, February 1, 2002

By 

Edward Lee "Trekscribbler (NCC1205)" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cliffhanger : A Pictorial History of the Motion Picture Serial (Paperback)

Barbour's book (probably not the definitive on the subject of the classic movie serials) is an outstanding reference compendium and source guide for cinema's golden age. The edition clearly outlines an entire host of serials that appeared on the silver screen during the motion picture business's infancy, and the author even goes to great length (where the information is available) to credit the serials various inspirations throughout the ensuing years. Additionally (a great pleasure for this movie viewer), CLIFFHANGER is replete with black and white photos (excellent reproductions from the original negatives) of major characters and serials from this vintage era. A truly wonderful and inspiring book, penned clearly by an author with a love of the subject material.