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.