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America in the 1950s was a cauldron of contradictions. Advances in
technology chafed against a grimly conservative political
landscape; the military-industrial complex ceaselessly promoted the
""Communist menace""; young marrieds fled crumbling cities for
artificial communities known as suburbs; and the corporate cipher
known as ""The Organization Man"" was created, along with stifling
images of women. The decade, huddled under the fear of nuclear
holocaust, was also dedicated to all things futuristic. Science
fiction was in its salad days, in magazines and novels and in
motion pictures, trying every trick in the book to lure customers
back from television, including reliance on monster movies. All of
these forces collided in 1957, when an astounding 57 movies of the
science fiction, horror and fantasy variety were shown in the
United States--a record unmatched to this day. Each of these
beloved and memorable films addressed and reflected some of the
many socio-political topics of the day, and several are exceptional
examples of their genres. This book is a critical discussion of
this unique one-year collection of cultural artifacts.
Filmmaker Ed Wood was controversial and critically maligned, even
labeled 'the worst director of all time', yet he achieved cult
status and remains of great interest today. This book frames Wood's
work, such as the cross-dressing themed ""Glen or Glenda?"" and the
haphazard ""Bride of the Monster"", as reflections of the culture
of their era. Wood invariably worked with infinitesimal budgets,
shooting at breakneck speed, incorporating plot twists that defied
all logic. Yet there was a tangible if unfocused thematic thrust to
Wood's films, which meditate fitfully on gender, religion and
society, revealing a 'holy trinity' of fixations - sex, death and
resurrection. Wood's infamous ""Plan 9 From Outer Space""
encapsulates the fixations and flaws that were his hallmarks, and
with 22 other films, is explored here. A filmography and 51
photographs are included in this title.
Films such as ""The Naked Witch"", ""Zontar"", ""The Thing From
Venus"" and ""Mars Needs Women"" gained large cult followings, and
movies like ""A Bullet For Pretty Boy"", ""Free, White and 21"" and
""Goodbye Norma Jean"" became box office hits. Still, no other
independent filmmaker of the latter 20th century may elicit such a
disparity of responses from general movie audiences and cult film
buffs alike as the late, legendary Larry Buchanan. This study, the
first serious examination of Buchanan's body of work, addresses
consistent themes such as the end of suburbia, the rebel outsider,
the oppressive establishment, the curse of fame, and creatures of
destruction. The highly political subtext found in virtually every
one of the filmmaker's projects is also explored. Chapters are
devoted to more than 20 of Buchanan's films; information on some of
the unfinished, unreleased (and in at least one case), deliberately
destroyed projects is offered, as well. Photographs illustrating
nearly all the films are also included.
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