April 1, 2017
Like Dr. Frankenstein, Universal Studios under Carl Laemmle Jr., brought the monster movie genre to terrifying new life with the 1931 Tod Browning-directed film Dracula starring Bela Lugosi in his most iconic role. The characterizations of Dracula and Frankenstein's monster by Lugosi and Boris Karloff, as well as the studio's costume and makeup design, ensured that Universal's monsters would become the standard representation of these literary monsters in popular culture. In chronological order, historian Neibaur (The Fall of Buster Keaton) details the production and reception of each monster movie produced by the studio between 1931 and 1956, including such classics as Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, The Mummy, The Wolf Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and each of their respective sequels. The author provides insight into the challenges that the actors faced in the roles that made them household names. VERDICT Neibaur's book honors Universal's horror legacy with exhaustive research. The detailed breakdowns of each film makes this an excellent resource for film students and monster movie fanatics.--Amanda Westfall, Emmet O'Neal P.L., Mountain Brook, AL
Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
June 1, 2017
The horror movies produced by Universal Studios from the 1930s to the early 1950s featured some of the most iconic movie monsters in film history. Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, and the Creature have been portrayed more than once since their first appearances on screen, but there are many who prefer these classic movie monsters to today's CGI film fiends. Entries document the initial films as well as their sequels. After a summary with full credits, release date, running time, and availability, there is an essay that provides background information, a plot synopsis, and other details. Studio stills and trade ads for several of the films add a suitably scary touch to this treat for fans and scholars alike(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)