Customer Reviews

Serials and Series: A World Filmography, 1912-1956

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You get 321 action-packed pages here! And I do mean "packed"!
There are 754 actual entries here, so the print is small, but quite readible on good quality paper stock. And there's nothing wrong with my binding as this book has been getting frequent use on a daily basis for several months now.
Author Rainey gives us a complete alphabetical listing of all known silent and sound serials made throughout the world circa 1912-1956. Most (85%,guess) were made in the USA. Series are also included. Not series like the B-Western Range Busters, but those (usually silent) which were serial-like in format and ran mostly 2 reels with continuing characters and/or plotlines, but with no cliffhangers at the end of each episode.
This is the perfect reference book, period. While most serial books concentrate on a selection of serials with the author commenting on his choices, Rainey's listing is complete with all production notes; year, producer, director, cast, chapter listings, plot summary,etc., etc. Weiss' book TO BE CONTINUED (1972) attempted the same but was far too sketchy and incomplete on several entries.
So for action fans of the old time movie serials I can't recommend this book enough. It's about as complete a book of this type as you'll ever see, and it's also loaded with hundreds of rare photos of lobby cards and serial scenes, all of which are nicely reproduced, most of which I haven't seen before.
A definate armchair companion. Buy, enjoy.

I recently purchased "Serial Film Stars", which was also written by Mr. Rainey, and was very pleased with it. I felt it was well worth the nearly $100 I spent for it. My satisfaction with this book led me to purchase this second book written by him which also cost about $100. I found it much less interesting than the prior book. My mild dissatisfaction with this book is based mainly on it's cost. My rating would certainly go up if the book had cost in the $50 range. In addition, the binding could be better. The cover is already starting to warp a little.

Veteran film historian Buck Rainey should be heartily commended for this long-awaited book, which, for the first time, lists all serials (and most of the related series) in one volume. Liberally sprinkled with illustrations, this handsome and well-researched volume ought to be mandatory reading for film scholars everywhere! And thank you, Mr. Rainey, for providing a detailed index and an extensive bibliography.