Monsters: A Celebration of the Classics from Universal Studios [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Roy Milano (Author), Jennifer Osborne (Editor), Forrest J. Ackerman (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 2006

“When the bats fly low and night’s in the sky, Universal Studios are at their best.” That’s how a critic in the 1930s described the magic of Universal monster movie. This was a genre that the studio essentially invented - enabling it to survive and thrive–and that led to cinematic classics that continue to influence entertainment of all kinds.

Now, from Universal itself, comes a lavishly illustrated book that provides the words and images behind these legendary films–plus heartfelt tributes from some of Hollywood’s most famous fans. Here are beautiful on-screen and behind-the-scenes photos from the studio’s vaults; the background stories of Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Wolf Man, and the other classic characters that scared audiences and scared up profits; the makeup secrets; the censorship battles; and words of praise from friends, family, and fans.

With today’s fantasy and horror films ruling the box-office–and special edition DVDs available of Universal’s masterpieces–Monsters is an invaluable guide for a new generation. It shows where the “creature feature” began, from the twenties silent classic The Phantom of the Opera to fifties favorite Creature from the Black Lagoon. Frightening and fun, this splendid volume is perfect for monster fans of any age.

For more than ninety years, Universal Studios has been bringing unique entertainment experiences to millions of people around the world. Through their motion pictures, home videos, theme parks, television networks and programming, they are in the business of thrills and chills as well as tears and laughter. And with their extensive library of legendary films they have set the standard for inspiring wonder and ultimately transforming moments into lasting memories.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (September 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345486854
• ISBN-13: 978-0345486851
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BRILLIANT PHOTOGRAPHY HIGHLIGHTS THIS FANTASTIC BOOK!, October 14, 2006

By 

Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Monsters: A Celebration of the Classics from Universal Studios (Hardcover)

I have been a fan of Universal Horror films for as long as I can remember. My earliest memories are of a local channel here in the Detroit area that used to show a different Universal horror film every afternoon in the week leading up to Halloween. And then there was local horror host Sir Graves Ghastly who played the old classics every Saturday afternoon from the late 60's and into the early 80's. The past 10 years have seen a big renewed interest in these classic horror films with so many being released on DVD and with toys, sculptures, and great new books such as this one from Ballantine/Del Rey books.

Monsters: A Celebration of the Classics from Universal Studios is a fantastic new hardcover book celebrating Universal's classic horror films. The book doesn't cover all of the Universal Horrors but does spotlight the major ones such as Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Wolf man, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the silent version of The Phantom of the Opera. The book features essays on each of these films by either noted actors or directors as well as the family members of the horror film stars.

Sara Karloff and Bela Lugosi Jr., each take their turn writing about their famous fathers and the roles which made them stars. Ron Chaney discusses his great-grandfather Lon Chaney, Director John Landis provides an essay on the Wolfman, and actress Gloria Stuart talks about the Invisible Man, a film she co-starred in over 70 years ago! In addition, makeup master Rick Baker looks at the Universal Monster movie makeup and the legendary Jack Pierce, who designed the look of the Frankenstein Monster, The Mummy, The Wolfman, and many more terrors. There is also a look at the Abbott and Costello monster films, a Universal horror film chronology, and a detailed bibliography.

Now all of this would more than make the day of any fan of classic horror films but there is even more to be found in this fantastic book. Forrest J, Ackerman, Uncle Forry himself, longtime editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland provides the book's Foreward and a better person could not have been chosen. After all, who else could make the claim to have seen Phantom of the Opera when it opened in 1925, not to mention being friends with Karloff, Lugosi, and Wolfman writer Curt Siodmak? Ackerman even owns one of the capes worn by Lugosi in Dracula.

But perhaps the greatest feature of the book is the photography. The photos are simply dazzling! I was surprised to find many photos that I had never seen before in previous books or horror magazines, such as Lugosi taking a break from filming and resting his foot on a stage light or the magnificently shadowed photo of Karloff sitting in his actor's chair and reading his script from The Mummy. The photos are simply breathtaking!

Ballantine/Del Rey has produced a book that any fan of Universal's Classic horrors will be rising out of their tombs to own!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!What great fun!, November 7, 2006

By 

Nicholas A. Ziinojr (ridge, new york United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Monsters: A Celebration of the Classics from Universal Studios (Hardcover)

Universal Pictures has long been famous for making the greatest horror classics of all time,and this beautiful book shows why.The people who made these beloved films knew how to do it best,and here we see them at their peak.The makers of today's so-called "horror films" would do well to look at this book and see how to do it right.Universal's people,from
talented directors like James Whale and Tod Browning to others like art director Charles D.Hall and legendary makeup guru Jack Pierce,all knew that restraint is key in a horror film(You don't have to show somebody being brutally murdered every five seconds).Often,it's not what you see in these films,but what you DON"T see that really scares you.Granted,they didn't have the technology available today.But they knew how to do more with less.That's not the case today,which is why all those gorefests that
call themselves "horror films" are so bad.
Back to the book.The photographs,many never seen before,are excellent.
There are wonderful tributes from such notable fans as Rick Baker and
John Landis.I loved Gloria Stuart's article on "The Invisible Man".
There are wonderful tributes to Boris,Bela,and both Lons from their children.All the boys and girls are here in their glory.What a delight!
Enjoy!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Universal's Monsters reign supreme...even with a few mistakes!, January 6, 2007

By 

Daniel Siciliano (henderson, nevada USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Monsters: A Celebration of the Classics from Universal Studios (Hardcover)

As the previous reader's posts have mentioned, this book is packed with excellent pictures from the universal archives. The articles are very interesting and insightful. HOWEVER, there are clearly SEVERAL mistakes in the book that any avid monster fan can spot. For instance, a picture's caption of Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein in "Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man" states that it is Lon Chaney! A second caption on a picture reads " Gwen Conliffe and her Fiance "Glenn Talbot". Glenn Talbot? Not even a character in the film! Gwen's fiance was named Frank Andrews! Many other mistakes plague the book as well, such as when they quote Maria Ouspenskaya's Chilling epitath of the Doomed Larry Talbot, they state it as saying".....evil enters the sea"! What!! It's correct transcript should be "..as the rain enters the soil, the RIVER enters the sea"! This is an unexcusable mistake on a VERY famous quote! Another has a Mummy sequel as having music from "Son of Frankenstein" when it was music taken from "Frankenstein meets the wolf man" and/or "The Wolf Man! (the musical ques are very evident).and , Finally a mistake on page 123, the film "Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man, states it as having ALL three monsters in it ( Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolf Man). The film did NOT have Dracula in it. So the text itself has several mistakes that slightly tarnish an otherwise amazing book. I still reccomend it to all those who love the classic Universal monsters as i do, and at $19.99 it's a bargain!