Let's Scare 'Em!: Grand Interviews and a Filmography of Horrific Proportions, 1930-1961 [Hardcover]

Rick Atkins (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 078640373X | ISBN-13: 978-0786403738 | Publication Date: August 1997

Leading producers, directors, and actors (e.g., Kenneth Strickfaden, William Castle, John Carradine) discuss the genre, their colleagues, directing styles, business deals and moviemaking secrets. There is a 251-item filmography.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Written by a longtime fan, this work will presumably leave film scholars cold but appeal to vintage horror buffs. At its heart are interviews with notable horror figures like producer Carl Laemmle Jr., actor John Carradine, and special-effects wizard Kenneth Strickfaden; lesser-known talents are interviewed as well (e.g., character actor Ian Wolfe). Two chapters sketch an overview of the genre from 1930 to 1961, and lavish photographs animate the rather lumbering contents throughout. A filmography of 251 titles gives credits. Atkins's knowledge of horror lore conveys a generous amount of trivia, and his interviews yield insights about historical and biographical contexts. Overall, though, the volume reads like a resurrected assemblage of several issues of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. Given the horrific, hardcover price tag of this book, libraries might consider a year's subscription to Fangoria instead.?Neal Baker, Ball State Univ., Muncie, Ind.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"fascinating...well written" -- Samhain

"for horror buffs, loaded with illustrations" -- Classic Images

"interviews with notable horror figures...lavish photographs" -- Library Journal

"the eclectic mix really does encapsulate the horror genre from 1930 to 1961...loaded with wonderful photographs" -- Filmfax

"wistful and charming reminiscences from Carroll Borland, Gloria Stuart, and Rose Hobart" -- Monsters from the Vault

Product Details

• Hardcover: 260 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078640373X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786403738
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,773,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fan's heartfelt tribute, February 1, 1999

By 

DoctorJekyll77 (Sunrise, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let's Scare 'Em!: Grand Interviews and a Filmography of Horrific Proportions, 1930-1961 (Hardcover)

Since the 1980s, a renaissance in vintage horror films has supported a spate of books recounting the lives and careers of stars Karloff, Lugosi and the Chaneys, not to mention new information about stalwart co-stars John Carradine, Dwight Frye, Lionel Atwill, Colin Clive and Ernest Thesiger. Now comes Rick Atkins' admittedly star-struck volume. At age 17, he began researching and interviewing the people who made horror happen in the talkies -- Universal Studios' Carl Laemmle Jr., who produced Dracula and Frankenstein (both 1931), The Old Dark House and The Mummy (in 1932), The Black Cat (1934) -- plus actors Carradine, Ralph Bellamy and Alan Napier, actresses Gloria Stuart, Evelyn Ankers, Zita Johann, director William Castle and special effects man Ken Strickfaden, among others. While Atkins' writing is a bit sketchy in places, the roundup of personal reminiscences, photographs and a comprehensive filmography and bio-glossary of personalities make this little tome an odd and specialized delight.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest book of its kind, September 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Let's Scare 'Em!: Grand Interviews and a Filmography of Horrific Proportions, 1930-1961 (Hardcover)

Mr. Atkins should be extremely proud of this book. With interviews with such film legends as Gloria Stuart, it serves as a great textbook for lovers and students of film history.