Earth Vs. The Sci-fi Filmmakers: Twenty Interviews [Hardcover]

Tom Weaver (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786422106 | ISBN-13: 978-0786422104 | Publication Date: July 6, 2005

Back in the era of black-and-white horror and sci-fi movies, “we didn’t have special effects, or the money for ’em,” says Peter Graves, one of the genre’s most popular stars. “But in those days, an unlimited amount of money wouldn’t have gotten us much better special effects, because they didn’t exist. We had to go with the stories and try to make them as believable as possible, and flash the outlandish things by quickly, so the audience never got a good, in-focus look at them!” Perhaps no films attracted more rabid fans and less critical acclaim than the genre movies of that era. The men and women who made the characters come to life are interviewed here, talking about their work, the behind-the-scenes action, and the impact the movies had on their careers. The interviewees are Gene Barry, Gary Clarke, Gary Conway, Merian C. Cooper, Robert Dix, Donnie Dunagan, Alex Gordon, Peter Graves, Gary Gray, Arch Hall, Jr., Stephen Kandel, Carolyn Kearney, Ken Kolb, Robert L. Lippert, Jr., Jan Merlin, Mary Mitchel, Elliott Reid, Stanley Rubin, Frankie Thomas and Burt Topper. Extensively illustrated.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“One of the leading scholars in the horror field” --New York Times

“The king of the monster hunters” --USA Today

About the Author

Writer Tom Weaver lives in Sleepy Hollow, New York, and has been interviewing moviemakers since the early 1980s. He is a frequent contributor to numerous film magazines including Fangoria, Starlog, Monsters from the Vault and Video Watchdog, and one of his articles was featured in the prestigious Best American Movie Writing 2001. He is also the author of It Came from Horrorwood (2004), Science Fiction and Fantasy Film Flashbacks (2004), Double Feature Creature Attack (2003), Eye on Science Fiction (2003), Science Fiction Confidential (2002), I Was a Monster Movie Maker (2001), Return of the B Science Fiction and Horror Heroes (2000), John Carradine (1999) and Poverty Row HORRORS! (1999).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 396 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company, Inc. (July 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786422106
• ISBN-13: 978-0786422104
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,618,433 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ANOTHER WINNER FROM WEAVER!, July 26, 2005

By 

Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Earth Vs. The Sci-fi Filmmakers: Twenty Interviews (Hardcover)

When it comes to horror and sci-fi, there is no better writer than Tom Weaver, and his latest book "Earth Vs. the Sci-fi Filmmakers" is further proof. Similar to his "I was a Monster Movie Maker" Weaver this time presents 20 interviews with some of the men and women who worked on some of the great sci-fi films, primarily of the 50's and 60's. Actually Sci-fi is a bit of a misnomer since the interviews are conducted with people who have worked not only on sci-fi films, but also on horror and fantasy as well. The acknowledgements at the beginning of the book is like a who's who of these genres including Ted Bohus and Kevin Clement of Chiller Theatre, Jim Clatterbaugh of Monsters from the Vault, Buddy Barnett of Cult Movies, collector Bob Burns, and film historian Rudy Behlmer.

Weaver's knowledge of these films and the actors makes for interviews that are in-depth and informative, not the typical throwaway reviews you may get with some writers. Some of the actors you'll know, some you may not, but you're sure to know the films they helped to immortalize.

Gene Barry, who starred in the original "War of the Worlds" is the subject of the first interview and is actually probably the weakest of the group. You get the feeling that he didn't want to expound to much on that film and says quite candidly that he didn't care much for science fiction. Barry would go on to do numerous TV shows including "Bat Masterson", "Burke's Law" and "The Name of the Game"

Gary Conway is a great example of a guy whose name you might not know, but you know his role in "I was a Teenage Frankenstein" from the 1950's under that hideous mass of makeup. Conway talks about the ordeal of getting done up everyday and how hot and uncomfortable the mask/makeup was. He also discusses the lesser known sequel "How to Make a Monster" as well as his time working with Roger Corman on "The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent". How's THAT for a title. Conway provides one of the stronger interviews in the book.

The interview with the late Merian C. Cooper wasn't conducted by Weaver, obviously. The interview was taken from an audio tape from 1964 provided by Bob Burns who attended a small gathering of friends that turned into an impromptu Q & A session with the legendary writer/director of "King Kong". Cooper discusses the various armatures and different style heads used for Kong in the movie as well as the animation process among many other topics. The most interesting tidbit is that Cooper had an associate sign his contract for the film while he was out of town and it left Cooper without a financial cut of the film.

Donnie Dunagan is one of the most interesting interviews in the book. Dunagan played the much-maligned role of Basil Rathbone's son Peter Von Frankenstein, in "Son of Frankenstein". For years fans have argued how Dunagan's performance was the worst thing about the film so it was interesting to get his take on the performance and to also realize that he was five years old at the time. Dunagan would also share his thoughts on Karloff, Rathbone, and Lionel Atwill, although curiously, Lugosi is not mentioned. Dunagan would go on to become a career U.S. Marine, achieving the rank of Major and having three tours of Viet Nam.

Peter Graves is known to most people as the star of "Mission Impossible" and as one of the hosts of A&E's Biography. But before that, Graves starred in a number of great Sci-Fi "B" movies including "It Conquered the World", "Red Planet Mars', and "Killers from Space".

Other interviews include Arch Hall Jr. who starred in the cult films "Eegah!" and "The Sadist"; writer ken Kolb who wrote the fantasy epic "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad"; Mary Mitchel who starred in such "B" movie gems as "Panic in Year Zero", "Spider Baby", and "Dementia 13"; and Frankie Thomas who played Space Cadet Tom Corbett in one of TV's very first outer space shows from 1950 - 1955.

What I love about Weaver is that he never minimizes the contributions of his interview subjects. Most of these people have not been active in film or TV for decades but Weaver never handles them as if they were a novelty. He asks the right questions and the subjects seem generally surprised and delighted at his familiarity with their work. Throughout the book vintage photos from the films are included as well as many current photos of the actors today. This is a "B" movie fan's dream!

Another great title from McFarland Publications who puts out so many fantastic books on film and TV. Check them out!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars another 5 star gem, September 24, 2005

By 

A. Grossman (Florence, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Earth Vs. The Sci-fi Filmmakers: Twenty Interviews (Hardcover)

Tom Weaver is running out of people to interview but that doesn't stop him. He continues digging and digging and comes up with with more amazing interviews. The Donnie Dunnagan interview is worth the price of the book alone. Hopefully Mr. Weaver will interview Amy Carter and - especially - Patricia Breslin. And Homicidal deserves a chapter all of its own. How was this most convoluted film ever made and how did William Castle get novice "Jean Arless" to give the most frightening and upsetting feminine performance in film history? Perhaps Ms. Breslin would know.