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Human Monsters: The Definitive Edition

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Having read Forgotten Horrors several times I was so looking forward to
this book and it didn't disappoint. Fans of George E. Turner and Michael
H. Price will know what to expect - loads of amazing film knowledge about
60 movies dealing with "human" monsters. I wasn't sure what to expect but
a quick glance at some of the titles I was familiar with and I knew.
Erich Von Stroheim's masterful performance as an egotistical ventriloquist
who eventually succumbs to madness in "The Great Gabbo" , an early
talkie psychological thriller - with about 7 musical numbers to appease
the public's insatiable (in 1929) desire for musicals. Lionel Atwill is
Eric Gorman, an insanely jealous zoologist, who is always thinking of new
ways to dispose of his wife's lovers, in "Murders in the Zoo" (1933) - the
first scene is unbelievable.
Women are also represented - Anne Baxter in the little known "Guest in the
House" (1944) - it was also known as "Satan in Skirts" - almost a dress
rehearsal for "All About Eve". She plays a "sweet" girl with a heart
condition taken in by her doctor's family - almost too late they realise
she is a psychopath (the audience cottons on much quicker). Laraine Day's
tour de force performance in "The Locket" (1946) - a film that critics and
the public found hard to understand at the time, told as a flashback within
a flashback within a flashback.
Every film has a detailed cast list, a synopsis and an essay about the
background of each film. The book also features films from all studios
major and minor, classics like "The Old Dark House" (1932), "Dragonwyck"
(1946) to unknowns like "Mystery Ranch" (1932), "Who is Hope Schuyler?"
(1942). There are some oddities - "Uncivilised" (1936), an Australian
film, which apparently had a huge influence on Paul Hogan's "Crocodile
Dundee". "Sweeney Todd - Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (1936) - which
brings long over due attention to the career of Todd Slaughter. There
are also 2 appraisals of films I wouldn't have looked twice at - "Broken
Blossoms" (1936) - a British remake of D.W. Griffith's legendary 1919
film, apparently he went to England to direct it but disagreements made
the deal fall through. Also the remake of "M" (1951) - I have never been
interested in seeing this but the article makes me want to.
For people familiar with the authors' work, this book makes compelling reading.