The Remarkable Michael Reeves: His Short and Tragic Life [Paperback]

John Murray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2004

Mike Reeves, a public schoolboy in the late 1950s, gets permission from his Housemaster to visit the local cinema every Saturday. There he worships Hollywood movies, especially those made by Don Siegel and Roger Corman, who become his idols. He dreams of emulating them. Ten years later, having directed only three films for a total budget less than £200,000, Mike Reeves is dead. A couple of years later, Roger Corman comes to England to make a film. Actor Nicky Henson, who worked with Mike Reeves, is invited to an interview for a part in the film. As he walks into the room, Roger Corman says, "Tell me about Michael Reeves!" Another couple of years pass. Don Siegel comes to England to make a film. Again Nicky Henson is invited to an interview for a part in the film. As he walks into the room, Don Siegel says, "Tell me about Michael Reeves!" Author John B. Murray does indeed tell film fans about The Remarkable Michael Reeves and His Short and Tragic Life in this intriguing biography of the talented but fragile filmmaker, whose death at an early age assured him eternal cult status among horror film fans.

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Luminary Press; Revised edition edition (July 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887664491
• ISBN-13: 978-1887664493
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,530,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moving story, October 2, 2004

By 

cheekygirl (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Remarkable Michael Reeves: His Short and Tragic Life (Paperback)

A friend gave me a copy of this book and suggested I read it. I had not heard of Michael Reeves before. It is one of the saddest, most moving books I have ever read. The waste of this fragile, brilliant young man is an incredibly moving story, beautifully told.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Achievement!, September 11, 2008

By 

D. M. Warner (south williamsport, pa United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Remarkable Michael Reeves: His Short and Tragic Life (Paperback)

Taking a quote from one of the principal actors, Ian Ogilvy, in the cinematic classic, Witchfinder General, "We've got a job to do and we'll go on until we've done it", the author of this book, John B. Murray, has done just that. This is the story of the brief, remarkable, but tragic life of British Director Michael Reeves, Horror's James Dean. Like Dean, Reeves was to spearhead the new crop of the modern director as Dean would do similarly on the acting side. Both left behind a small but impressive resume of work, but unfortunately, unlike Dean, Reeves left behind no apparent protoges, although some film scholars would argue the point. Both died tragically at a young age, but both accomplished in their brief existence, much more than what any one person would or could hope to accomplish in an otherwise extended lifetime, assuring both a cult status. This book serves as an unauthorized biography of sorts, but were Mr. Reeves alive today, I am sure it would receive his stamp of approval. Through obvious exhaustive research, involving as many of the main players in Michael's life as possible, especially his boyhood friend and lead actor in all 3 of his movies, Ian Ogilvy, Murray has constructed a literary masterpiece. From the opening page to the close, you will be hard pressed to put down this book. Rather than imbue his own personal feelings on the subject matter, Murray, the author instead relies upon the interviews and factual information at his disposal to paint an extroardinary canvas of the Director's life and accomplishments, distancing hisself from a critical but rather instead a casual and informative approach. In closing, Mr. Murray has achieved what many others have strived for but failed in their attempts to achieve. He has successfully documented the life of a great, compelling and visionary genius. In short, this is nothing more than a literary love letter to an immense talent that was taken from the world much too soon. I loved this book, and should you purchase and read it, you will as well. Thank You Mr. Murray.