They sold sin and sensation with the magic words "Uncut! Uncensored! Adults Only!" and the most happily shameless of them all was David F Friedman, the emperor of "exploitation" films. Friedman perfected the fine art of sleaze and delightfully admits that he has hurled more garbage at the public than anyone else before or since. This book is as much his story as it is the history of an idea that in recent times has enjoyed a remarkable rebirth. Friedman writes with gusto of the glory days when there were taboos to be broken and untold amounts of money to be made. He fondly remembers his cinematic forebears, who sold titillation under the guise of moral instruction.Friedman brought the genre to new highs (and lows), producing such films as "She Freak", "Blood Feast", "The Defilers", "Scum of the Earth", "Space Thing", "Color Me Blood Red", and the classic "Two Thousand Maniacs". Whether sexy, gory, or merely shocking, these films played for years to packed theatres and drive-ins. This book captures the core of basic integrity, the wicked sense of humour, and the unerring sense of showmanship of this American original. "A Youth in Babylon" is the definitive book on the history of American "exploitation" films and a unique contribution to motion picture history.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
As one might expect, "trash" filmmaker Friedman's memoir, written with freelancer DeNevi, has about as much subtlety as a Las Vegas bump-and-grind. In this entertaining, self-indulgent confession, he chronicles his entry into show biz as a press agent for "educational" sex-hygiene reels, to his later work as creator/promotor of smuttier, more gruesome celluloid fare including Boin-n-g! and Blood Feast . Adventures with exploitation-movie producers such as Herschell Lewis and Kroger Babb are recounted, as are promotion schemes; we're told about the investments and brainstorms behind low-budget productions and see the huckster's talent for turning censorship boycotts into publicity hype. Though Friedman is often condescending and macho, he proves himself here to be resourceful; and his enchantment with the carney tradition is infectious, making even the book's unrelenting, ring-masteresque alliterations ("circulating salesmen of cinema sleaze") bearable. "America's Most Notorious Carpetbagger of Cinemadom" gleefully proves H. L. Mencken's axiom: "Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." Photos not seen by PW . 40,000 first printing; $40,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
King of the Carnival Barkers,
By Mike Boas "maddogmovies.com" (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Youth in Babylon: Confessions of a Trash-Film King (Paperback)
David Friedman made his mark on exploitation cinema in the 50s and 60s with partner H.G. Lewis, but his roots go back to roadshowing and carnivals. His stories about Kroger Babb and the 40 Thieves are priceless. The book is kind of all over the place structurally, but it's worth reading.
I had the opportunity to talk to H.G. Lewis recently about Friedman and Babb recently -- check out the MAD DOG MOVIES Podcast #7 to hear more!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tall tales but true!,
By A Customer
This review is from: A Youth in Babylon: Confessions of a Trash-Film King (Paperback)
You can't help but love this book if you have any appreciation for trashy cinema and exploitation. Friedman lays out his whole life story and then some, giving a hilarious insight into the birth of low budget and sleaze cinema in the US. As another reviewer noted, it is impossible to tell what percentage of tales in the book are fact. Nevertheless it makes for a great read on a neglected area of modern culture, as well as providing a fascinating profile of a very interesting character!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
With it and for it!,
By Make Them Look (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Youth in Babylon: Confessions of a Trash-Film King (Paperback)
How factual is A Youth In Babylon? Considering Friedman is one of film's sweetest talking showmen, that's hard to say. But you're not going to get a first-hand account of working with Kroger Babb and H. G. Lewis, no matter how puffed up it may sound, anywhere else. In the end, like any well delivered Elliott Forbes routine, you'll feel inspired! It may be bull, but it's still quite entertaining.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
