Classic horror films such as Dracula, Frankenstein and The Picture of Dorian Gray are based on famous novels. Less well known-even to avid horror fans-are the many other memorable films based on literary works. Beginning in the silent era and continuing to the present, numerous horror films found their inspiration in novels, novellas, short stories and poems, though many of these written works are long forgotten. This book examines 43 works of literature-from the famous to the obscure-that provided the basis for 62 horror films. Both the written works and the films are analyzed critically, with an emphasis on the symbiosis between the two.

This companion volume to Mystery Movie Series of 1940s Hollywood (McFarland, 2010) focuses on 22 different series and 167 individual films, primarily released during the 1930s. It was a decade that featured some of the most famous cinema detectives of all time, among them Charlie Chan, Nick and Nora Charles, Philo Vance, Nancy Drew, and some lesser known but equally entertaining figures, including Hildegarde Withers, Torchy Blane, Mr. Moto, Mr. Wong, and Brass Bancroft--the last-named character bestowing stardom upon a young Ronald Reagan in a quartet of breezy B-pictures. Each mystery movie series is placed within its historical context, with emphasis on its source material and the changes or developments within the series over time. Also included are reviews of all the series' films, analyzing the quality and cohesiveness of the mystery plotlines. For titles based on literary sources, a comparison between the film and the written work is provided.

Gripping Chapters is much more than a history of the sound motion picture serial. Here you'll find all of the sources for sound movie serials, including comic strips, comic books, the pulps, novels and radio shows. There are chapters analyzing the cliffhanger endings of serial episodes, with information focusing on cheat cliffhanger endings, such as time expansion cheats, "survived through it cheats," and re-shot footage cheats, as well as a study of some of the cleverest and most exciting cliffhanger endings of all time. Other topics include serial sequels and series, the stars who appeared in serials, prolific contributors to serials, and stock footage and bloopers. Plus an appreciation of three very special serials: The Phantom Empire, Flash Gordon and Zorro's Black Whip.