Customer Reviews

An Illustrated History Of Horror And Science-fiction Films

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Like another reviewer, I first read the '67 edition of Clarens' book when I was in high school. Already a horror movie fan, I needed context and appreciation of the genre, and that's exactly what this wonderful book provided, then and now. This is a book for the serious fan in search of a history of both the technique and ideas behind horror films. Clarens' observations about specific films' production, actors' performances, and even camera tricks will stay with you and help you to enjoy horror movies, old and new, even more than you did before. It is illustrated well, but it's an illustrated history, not an annotated photo catalog. Thus this is a book with terrific words and ideas, plus images--it's not intended to be a glossy fan mag with captions. Approach it with an expectation of ideas plus a few images, and let your imagination work its magic. Read the book to understand the big picture--not just to savor a few illustrations. I'm thrilled with the re-issue, and expect the book to support intelligent fans as well as cinema scholars. It's a book to keep, appreciate, and savor.

I read this in its original 1967 edition when I was very young, and it inspired a life-long love of horror films (at that time the Science Fiction content was not in the title, though it was found in the book). Clarens' effort is clear and concise-- not too much on any one thing, but he manages to hit all the necessarys and high spots. It's really indispensible for the fan who's starting out in a serious study of the subject-- or who just loves horror.

Carlos Clarens pioneering book,"A History of Horror and Science Fiction Films",has never gone fully out of print since it's publication in 1967.

An absolute classic,this was one of the only books at the time to give an in depth,intelligent view of the genre.
This and Drake Douglas'"Horror!" were the only books on the subject at the time.

Clarens gives a close examination of the Fantastic film,providing an entire chapter on the genre's godfather,the great George Melies and moving on to the impact provided by the German film industry and Lon Chaney.

Of course,the Universal classics are than covered and there contemporaries,but what made this book unique was also it's appraisal of neglected classics like Freaks(1932),White Zombie(1932),Island of Lost Souls(1933) and an entire chapter(The Dead Next Door) dedicated to Carl Dreyer's Vampyr(1932).

Clarens even goes over the Science Fiction films and Hammer films of the 50s and 60s.
These films were never recieving any such critical assessment at the time,and it made this work that much more commendable.

Ironically,over forty years have passed since it's inital publication,but Claren's views on the genre still remain very relevant and true,making this history an essential part of any Film Studies and any Film lover's collection.

A truly important book,well worth seeking out.

If your looking for a book that has the plots and story lines of the horror and science fiction movies of the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, this ISN"T it. If your looking for a lot of old prints from the same movies, this ISN'T it. The word "ILLUSTATED" in the title must be an error, in a book of 256 pages there are 135 pictures (mostly small, most on the same pages)