Serials and Series: A World Filmography, 1912-1956 (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Prolific film reference writer Rainey adds another title to his credit with this treatment of more than 750 movie series (unrelated episodes about the same characters) and serials (cliffhangers that were eagerly followed from week to week). About 75 percent of the films are American, with the rest from European countries. Emphasis is on melodrama and action-oriented titles; comedy and feature film series are omitted, because they are well-covered in other sources, according to the author.

Entries, which are arranged alphabetically by series title, note the country (if foreign), studio, beginning date, number of chapters or episodes, number of reels per chapter, and director, screenplay, producer, and story credits. Each has a brief summary of plot and characters, followed by actor credits and episode titles (when known). Some of the more familiar titles are the silent The Perils of Pauline (think damsel in distress tied to the tracks or the mill saw!), as well as The Lone Ranger, Flash Gordon, Dick Tracy, Batman, The Phantom, The Yellow Menace, and Buck Rogers. Attractive black-and-white stills, cards, and poster reproductions grace almost every spread. A bibliography and comprehensive name and title index conclude the book. Most of the information here is not found elsewhere, so this volume merits a place in any comprehensive film reference collection.

Review

"collects together documentation from a variety of sources and is easily usable" -- Classic Images

"the photographs alone are a treasure, with Buck and McFarlands unearthing some rare treats. I thoroughly recommend this publication.... Nobody interested in serials should be without it" -- Nostalgia Westerns

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 321 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786404493
• ISBN-13: 978-0786404490
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,334,828 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Comments on "Serials and Series", October 1, 2005

By	Philip A. Freeman - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A book that includes all serials, silent and sound., April 9, 1999

By	Hans J. Wollstein (Denmark) - See all my reviews

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.