Table of Contents
How to Use this eBook
Foreword
Introduction
Vampires
Vampires
In Conversation: Christopher Lee
Werewolves
Werewolves
An American Werewolf in London
In Conversation: Joe Dante
Mad Scientists
Mad Scientists
In Conversation: David Cronenberg
Zombies
Zombies
In Conversation: Sam Raimi
Ghosts
Ghosts
Mummies
Mummies
In Conversation: Guillermo Del Toro
Myths, Legends, & Fairy Tales
Myths, Legends, & Fairy Tales
In Conversation: Ray Harryhausen
Dragons & Dinosaurs
Dragons & Dinosaurs
Monstrous Apes
Monstrous Apes
In Conversation: Rick Baker
Nature’s Revenge
Nature’s Revenge
Atomic Mutations
Atomic Mutations
The Devil’s Work
The Devil’s Work
In Conversation: John Carpenter
Space Monsters
Space Monsters
Monstrous Machines
Monstrous Machines
Human Monsters
Human Monsters
The Monster Makers
Monster Makers
Monster Directors
Make-up Artists
Monster Designers
Stop-motion Animation
Matte Painting
Miniatures
Copyright
HOW TO USE THIS EBOOK
On devices with both portrait and landscape orientation, this book is best viewed in portrait orientation and with the type size set to minimum.
On touch screen devices, you can tap on any movies mentioned in the essays and conversations to go straight to that movie’s photograph and caption. If you double tap on any photograph, it can be enlarged.
The top of each screen features links to the chapter opener and to the table of contents.
FOREWORD
I busied myself to think of a story, which would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature and awaken thrilling horror. One to make the reader dread to look around, to curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the heart.
Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein
Film as dream, film as music. No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls.
Ingmar Bergman, film director
Fantasy, horror, and science-fiction films are where most of the monsters in this book are to be found. These three genres have among the most ardent and faithful fans. Just Google “horror film websites” and see how many people are deeply passionate about this stuff.
There are many books about the movies, and like the movies, most of them are not that good. So I feel the need to clarify that this has been a labor of love and not a class assignment. This book is meant to be fun. It is not some heavy tome on the meaning of violence in the cinema, or a ponderous examination of film theory. This is a book with a lot of photographs of monsters in the movies. The films represented here are included not because they are necessarily good or bad films, but only because of the monsters that appear in them.
Even though this eBook is mostly photographic essays, included are some conversations with a few of my friends that will be of interest. I spoke with people who have made enormous contributions to the cinema, and in particular the cinema of monsters! Let me express my deep thanks and appreciation to Ray Harryhausen, Sir Christopher Lee, David Cronenberg, Rick Baker, Joe Dante, John Carpenter, and Sam Raimi for participating. You will be impressed by what these guys have to say.
Most of what is written here is from my memories of the films, with additional research at the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles Public Libraries, as well as the Internet for fact-checking names and dates. The Internet is an amazing source of information. It is an equally amazing source of misinformation, and often disinformation. The Internet allows literally anyone to say anything, which is a very sharp double-edged sword. Reading the Internet postings of some people, it is clear that the writers have issues far beyond whatever ignorant or hateful bile they are spewing forth. On the other hand, there are often thoughtful and fascinating insights to be found on the web (said the spider to the fly!).
I apologize for any factual errors (blame my editors for not catching them). However, I do take full responsibility for any opinions expressed. Just remember that the quality of anything is entirely subjective. Have a good time. I know I did.
Foreword[ Book Contents]
Michael Jackson’s Thriller [John Landis, 1983]
Michael as a zombie in this all-talking, all-singing, all-dancing horror film.
Foreword[ Book Contents]
Triple-terror thrills
A one-sheet poster advertising a triple feature showing of Frankenstein[1931], Dracula[1931], and The Wolf Man[1941]. In the late ’40s and early ’50s, actor and cowboy Glenn Strange (who played the Frankenstein monster in both House of Frankenstein[1944] and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein[1948] would put on the costume and a rubber mask and, with other performers dressed as Dracula and the Wolf Man, rampage through the theater as the kids screamed with delight.
Boris Karloff and Mae Clarke in Frankenstein[James Whale, 1931].
INTRODUCTION