Flights of Fancy: The Great Fantasy Films [Paperback]

Kenneth Von Gunden (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786412143 | ISBN-13: 978-0786412143 | Publication Date: October 2001

In-depth analyses are presented of 15 superior films, each one representing a subgenre of fantasy cinema-Beauty and the Beast, Conan the Barbarian, The Dark Crystal, Dragonslayer, 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T, It's a Wonderful Life, Jason and the Argonauts, King Kong, Lost Horizon, Popeye, Superman, The Thief of Baghdad, Time Bandits, Topper, and The Wizard of Oz. A chapter is devoted to each film, providing a plot summary and detailed information about cast and crew, special effects (stop-motion animation, miniatures, hanging miniatures, optical effects, tricks of perspective, blue screens, matte paintings, glass shots, reverse projection, slow motion, rear and front projection, etc.), and strengths and weaknesses, as well as explorations of the film's relationship to written fantasy, other films, and cultural myths

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Detailed examination...intelligently analyzed...a useful addition" -- -Film Review Annual

"Exhaustive research...commendable" -- -Variety

"Iin-depth studies of fantasy favorites...plenty of tidbits" -- -Burlington County Times

"In-depth analyses" -- -Sightlines

"In-depth" -- -Quantum

"Thorough analyses" -- -Reference & Research Book News

About the Author

Widely published in the reference and science fiction fields, Kenneth Von Gunden teaches fiction and nonfiction at the Pennsylvania State University in State College. He is also the author of Alec Guinness: The Films (2001[1987], $25).

Product Details

• Paperback: 303 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786412143
• ISBN-13: 978-0786412143
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,564,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read, August 13, 2009

By 

Michael A. Torregrossa (Smithfield, RI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Flights of Fancy: The Great Fantasy Films (Paperback)

Von Gunden's _Flights of Fantasy: The Great Fantasy Films_ highlights fifteen live-action, fantasy films, each reflective of a specific subgenre, produced from the 1930s to the 1980s and includes a number of stills from each production. Each chapter opens with a survey of the film's reception by critics, and this is followed by a summary of the film and then some type of discussion of its creation, which often includes a detailed section offering background information on the cast, crew, source text, and/or subgenre. An appendix offers details on related films.

Contents are as follows:

Acknowledgments
Introduction
1 Beauty and the Beast: The Classic Fairy Tale 1
2 Conan the Barbarian: Sword and Sorcery 14
3 The Dark Crystal: Other Worlds, Other Times 30
4 Dragonslayer: Mythic Beasts/Genrebuster 45
5 The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T: A Child's Fantasy 58
6 It's a Wonderful Life: The Guardian Angel 70
7 Jason and the Argonauts: Ancient Mythology 86
8 King Kong: The Giant Monster 103
9 Lost Horizon: The Hidden Paradise 120
10 Popeye: The Comic Strip Hero 139
11 Superman: The Super Hero 153
12 Thief of Bagdad: Arabian Nights 170
13 Time Bandits: Child as Hero 186
14 Topper: The Ghost Story 200
15 The Wizard of Oz: The Fabulous Journey 211
Filmography: Cast and Crew Credits 231
App: Information on Other Films, Actors, and Awards 245
Bibliography 275
Index 281

1 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars no star was unavailable, May 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Flights of Fancy: The Great Fantasy Films (Paperback)

So bad. How can people write a book about movie this boring. This book will be more useful as kitchen towel than reading. Stronger than any sleep aid And It says he is faculty in PSU, I'm not sure about that I check and he comes out as waged stuff? I do not know what exactly it means but isn't janitor wage stuff too? So boring book.