Jack Hill: The Exploitation and Blaxploitation Master, Film by Film [Paperback]

Calum Waddell (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786436093 | ISBN-13: 978-0786436095 | Publication Date: January 6, 2009

Jack Hill stands as one of the great B-movie directors and influenced an aspiring filmmaker named Quentin Tarantino. The director who gave the world Coffy, Foxy Brown, Spider Baby, Switchblade Sisters and other exploitation classics broke gender and racial barriers in his low-budget work. He launched the careers of Pam Grier, Ellen Burstyn and Sid Haig and worked with Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney in the twilight of their careers. This filmography covers all of Jack Hill's works. Each entry offers alternate titles, cast, credits, a plot summary, extensive critical information, quotes, and an interview with Jack Hill about that particular film.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Calum Waddell is a free-lance journalist, film producer, and author. His work has appeared in such journals and magazines as Fangoria, Rue Morgue, SFX and VideoScope. He lives in Scotland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: McFarland (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786436093
• ISBN-13: 978-0786436095
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,183,681 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, November 6, 2010

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BronzeHorse - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Jack Hill: The Exploitation and Blaxploitation Master, Film by Film (Paperback)

Being a huge Jack Hill fan, I was really bummed out by this one (even worse, most likely to be the only book ever written specifically on Hill). It was just dull, deadly dull, oh my lord was it dull!The interviews were dull, the writing was dull, etc., etc., etc...Hill deserves so much better than this lame vanity press-style "book" (and this Calum Waddell fella needs to learn how to write in a more entertaining, engaging tone - the whole book feels very, um, robotic, not engaging in the slightest). Skip it, seriously, trust me on this one.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Jack Hill Meets the PC Police!, December 5, 2009

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robert allee (houston, tx United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jack Hill: The Exploitation and Blaxploitation Master, Film by Film (Paperback)

Why would someone who is obsessed with political correctness and has no sense of humor write a book on the great 70's exploitation director Jack Hill? Even after reading this book I still have no idea. It's almost like the author wrote the book because he wanted to make Jack Hill "answer" for all the movies he has done. He grills the director on every "Non-PC" moment in every one of his films. The only good thing about the book is it does have a lot of interviews with Jack Hill and the people who worked with him (even Sid Haig!). You will just wish they had someone who seemed to like Jack Hill's movies asking the questions. Jack Hill deserves a much better book then this and I hope he gets it one day.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate, Essential Jack Hill reference book - a must for cult movie fans, December 3, 2010

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Andrew Lalino (Clearwater, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jack Hill: The Exploitation and Blaxploitation Master, Film by Film (Paperback)

When one decides to purchase - for themselves or as a gift - one of the few if not only books devoted to the life and career of cult filmmaker Jack Hill, be thankful it's authored by Calum Waddell, an obvious exploitation fan and seasoned horror journalist. The intense love for his subject's filmography shines like the gleam off a sister's switchblade. Hill's esteemed career is lovingly documented from his pre-college youth to his last film (1982's "Sorceress") with all his juicy cult movies - "The Big Doll House", "Coffy", "The Swinging Cheerleaders", and more - probed and explored in decadent detail.

Far from being a dry, scholarly effort, Waddell unfolds a gripping series of often humorous, in-depth interviews with Hill himself, and his creative collaborators, such as actor/screenwriter Karl Schanzer ("Spider Baby" "Track of the Vampire") and the great Sid Haig, just to name a few. Actually getting into the mind of Hill during the production phases of his productions is a fascinating study for anyone serious about cult film or motion picture history. And what exploitation junkie doesn't dig cheap thrills? Waddell provides them with a host of shocking, sordid revelations of just went on behind-the-scenes of ALL your Jack Hill favorites. Everything you heard about the early `70s was true!

For Hill and cult movie fans, contained within this book is everything and anything you wanted to know about your favorite Hill films and more. In my case, there were several profound revelations; for example I did not know before the read that Hill had directed portions of "Track of the Vampire" (which I originally viewed as "Blood Bath" back in the `70s) and that Hill was involved in a quartet of Mexican-produced horror and science-fiction films that starred Boris Karloff before he passed. That's but a sample. If you're an aspiring filmmaker, Waddell's book should be a centerpiece for your reference collection. Contained within is a treasure trove of directorial insights and production tips and tricks from a master.

"Jack Hill: The Exploitation and Blaxploitation Master, Film by Film" also boasts a wonderful introduction by Waddell, table of contents for easy reference, chapter notes, index, DVD guide, bibliography, and rare candid photos of Hill and his actors on set of their various classics. Not only did I enjoy the read, but it inspired me to watch the Hill films I had in my collection all over again! It's easy to see why Quentin Tarantino claims to owe so much to Hill. This book delivers that inspiration.