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(FAQ). Film Noir FAQ celebrates and reappraises some 200 noir
thrillers representing 20 years of Hollywood's Golden Age. Noir
pulls us close to brutal cops and scheming dames, desperate heist
men and hardboiled private eyes, and the unlucky innocent citizens
that get in their way. These are exciting movies with tough guys in
trench coats and hot tomatoes in form-fitting gowns. The moon is a
streetlamp and the narrow streets are prowled by squad cars and
long black limousines. Lives are often small but people's plans are
big sometimes too big. Robbery, murder, gambling; the gun and the
fist; the grift and the con game; the hard kiss and the brutal
brush-off. Film Noir FAQ brings lively attention to story, mood,
themes, and technical detail, plus behind-the-scenes stories of the
production of individual films. Featuring numerous stills and
posters many never before published in book form highlighting key
moments of great noir movies. Film Noir FAQ serves up insights into
many of the most popular and revered names in Hollywood history,
including noir's greatest stars, supporting players, directors,
writers, and cinematographers. Pour a Scotch, light up a smoke, and
lean back with your private guide to film noir.
In 1947 and again in 1951, when the queasy wartime alliance of the
United States and the Soviet Union was long dissolved into mutual
suspicion, the House Un-American Activities Committee launched
aggressive investigations of Communist activity in the Hollywood
film industry. If millions of worried Americans became preoccupied
with subversion directed by the many-tentacled "Red Menace,"
Hollywood studio chiefs were absolutely petrified. Fearful of
profit-killing scandal that might be uncovered by Washington's
heavy hand, Hollywood scrambled to display its patriotism by
producing anti-Communist movies. The films came by the score, some
sober and thoughtful, others wildly hysterical. Cold War audiences
were fed anti-Red dramas, melodramas, science-fiction
thrillers-even comedies, westerns, and animated cartoons. In
twenty-one lively essays, sixteen widely published film historians
scrutinize more than forty films from the anti-Red cycle of the
1950s and '60s, including many provocative examples that have
fallen into undeserved obscurity. Concerned equally with the
pictures' aesthetic, political, and social ramifications, the
essays capture the essence not only of some remarkable movies, but
the frightened, agitated historical period that spawned them.
(FAQ). The Wizard of Oz FAQ is a fact-filled celebration of the
beloved 1939 fantasy masterpiece starring Judy Garland. It's all
here from L. Frank Baum and his Oz novels to the complete
background story of the movie's conception, development, and shoot,
with special attention given to the little-known parade of
uncredited directors, casting difficulties, and on-set accidents
and gaffes, as well as more than 75 sidebars devoted to key cast
members, directors, and other behind-the-scenes personnel. You'll
find a wealth of fun facts: How MGM overworked Judy Garland before,
during, and after Oz; why director Victor Fleming had his hands
full with the Cowardly Lion and Dorothy's other friends; what it
was about Toto that really bothered Judy; the physical horrors of
filming in Technicolor; the racial Oz gag that was scripted but
never shot; when the Wicked Witch was going to be beautiful; why
The Wizard of Oz owes a lot to silent-screen star Mary Pickford;
the story of deleted scenes, and a full two weeks of shooting that
had to be scrapped; why MGM star Mickey Rooney was part of the
movie's traveling publicity blitz; how the Wicked Witch was
literally blown off her broomstick one day; the place where lions,
tigers, and bears really do live together; singers you hear but
never see; the day MGM fired Judy Garland; and much more. Just
follow the yellow brick road
From the inception of the science fiction film, writers, directors,
producers, and actors have understood that the genre lends itself
to a level of social commentary not available in other formats.
Viewers find it easier to accept explorations of such issues as
domestic violence, war, xenophobia, faith, identity, racism, and
other difficult topics when the protagonists exist in future times
or other worlds that are only vaguely similar to our own. The 22
original essays in this collection examine how the issues in
particular science fiction films--from 1930's High Treason to
1999's The Iron Giant--reflect and comment on the prevailing issues
of their time. The 16 writers (including such noted contributors as
Ted Okuda, Gary Don Rhodes, Bryan Senn, John Soister and Ken Weiss)
provide insight on how the genre's wistful daydreaming, forthcoming
wonders, and nightmarish scenarios are often grounded in the
grimmer realities of the human condition. Films covered include It
Came from Outer Space, Godzilla, The 27th Day, Alien and Starship
Troopers, plus television's The Adventures of Superman, the Flash
Gordon serials, and vintage space cartoons by Fleischer.
(FAQ). This entertaining and informative study of the Three Stooges
focuses on the nearly 190 two-reel short comedies the boys made at
Columbia Pictures during the years 1934-59. Violent slapstick? Of
course, but these comic gems are also peerlessly crafted and
enthusiastically played by vaudeville veterans Moe, Larry, Curly,
Shemp, and Joe arguably the most popular and long-lived screen
comics ever produced by Hollywood. Detailed production and critical
coverage is provided for every short, plus information about each
film's place in the Stooges' careers, in Hollywood genre
filmmaking, and in the larger fabric of American culture. From
Depression-era concerns to class warfare to World War II to the
cold war to rock-and-roll the Stooges reflected them all.
Seventy-five stills, posters, and other images many never before
published in book form bring colorful screen moments to life and
help illuminate the special appeal of key shorts. Exclusive
sections include a Stooges biographical and career timeline; a
useful, colorful history of the structure and behind-the-camera
personnel of the Columbia two-reel unit; and personality sidebars
about more than 30 popular players who worked frequently with the
Stooges. Also included is a filmography that covers all 190 shorts,
plus a bibliography, making this the ultimate guide for all Three
Stooges fans
The Palgrave Encyclopedia of American Horror Film
Shorts chronicles for the first time over 1,500 horror and
horror-related short subjects theatrically released between 1915,
at the dawn of the feature film era when shorts became a
differentiated category of cinema, and 1976, when the last of
the horror-related shorts were distributed to movie
theaters. Individual entries feature plot synopses, cast and
crew information, and – where possible – production histories
and original critical reviews. A small number of
the short subjects catalogued herein are famous; such as
those featuring the likes of Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, The
Three Stooges, Bugs Bunny, and Daffy Duck; but the bulk are
forgotten. The diverse content of these shorts includes ghosts,
devils, witches, vampires, skeletons, mad scientists, monsters,
hypnotists, gorillas, dinosaurs, and so much more, including
relevant nonfiction newsreels. Their rediscovery notably
rewrites many chapters of the history of horror cinema, from
increasing our understanding of the sheer number horror films that
were produced and viewed by audiences to shedding light on
particular subgenres and specific narrative and historical
trends.Â
From their first pairing in Hamlet (1948) to House of the Long
Shadows (1983), British film stars Christopher Lee and Peter
Cushing forged perhaps the most successful collaboration in horror
film history. In its revised and expanded second edition, this
volume examines their 22 movie team-ups, with critical commentary,
complete cast and credits, production information, details on
cinematography and make-up, exhibition history and box-office
figures. A wealth of background about Hammer, Amicus and other
production companies is provided, along with more than 100
illustrations. Lee and Cushing describe particulars of their
partnership in original interviews. Exclusive interviews with
Robert Bloch, Hazel Court and nearly fifty other actors, directors
and others who worked on the Lee-Cushing films are included.
The Palgrave Encyclopedia of American Horror Film Shorts chronicles
for the first time over 1,500 horror and horror-related short
subjects theatrically released between 1915, at the dawn of the
feature film era when shorts became a differentiated category of
cinema, and 1976, when the last of the horror-related shorts were
distributed to movie theaters. Individual entries feature plot
synopses, cast and crew information, and - where possible -
production histories and original critical reviews. A small number
of the short subjects catalogued herein are famous; such as those
featuring the likes of Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, The Three
Stooges, Bugs Bunny, and Daffy Duck; but the bulk are forgotten.
The diverse content of these shorts includes ghosts, devils,
witches, vampires, skeletons, mad scientists, monsters, hypnotists,
gorillas, dinosaurs, and so much more, including relevant
nonfiction newsreels. Their rediscovery notably rewrites many
chapters of the history of horror cinema, from increasing our
understanding of the sheer number horror films that were produced
and viewed by audiences to shedding light on particular subgenres
and specific narrative and historical trends.
The darkly handsome man gazes deeply into her eyes. She finds him
irresistible, wants to experience the passion of the moment. He
grins-the movie audience can see his lengthened lateral
incisors-and bends to her neck. The eroticism is horrible, and
compelling. Audiences are drawn to horror cinema much as the
surrendering victim. Afraid to watch, but more afraid something
will be missed. Since the horror film is the most primal of all
movie genres, seldom censored, these films tell us what we are
about. From the silent era to the present day, Dark Romance
explores horror cinema's preoccupation with sexuality: vampires,
beauty and the beast, victimization of women, "slasher" films, and
more. Separate chapters focus upon individuals, like Alfred
Hitchcock and Barbara Steele. Entertaining, and thought-provoking
on the sexual fears and phobias of our society.
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