Edward D. Wood, Jr. has been called the "Worst Filmmaker in History." In this hilarious and reverential study, authors Andrew J. Rausch and Charles E. Pratt, Jr. investigate this claim while providing in-depth looks at the 29 existing films written and/or directed by Wood. In doing so, they manage to fully capture and translate the sensation of watching a Wood film in print. With nearly 300 pages, 13 photographs, and 10 original interviews with Wood associates, The Cinematic Misadventures of Ed Wood is a must-read for anyone interested in the films of Edward D. Wood, Jr. Sure to delight the most casual fan to the most knowledgeable of aficionados, this one-of-a-kind book stands as a testament to the misunderstood life and genius of Ed Wood.
Strippers, zombies, fugitives and jewel thieves. These were just some of the characters who inhabited the weird, wild films of director Stephen C. Apostolof in the 1960s and 1970s. But Apostolof's own life was every bit as improbable as the plots of his lurid movies. Escaping the clutches of the communists in his native Bulgaria, he came to America in 1952 and decided on a whim to reinvent himself as a Hollywood filmmaker, right down to the cigars, sunglasses and Cadillacs. He produced a string of memorable sexploitation classics, including the infamous Orgy of the Dead. Along the way, he married three times, fathered five children and forged a personal and professional relationship with the notorious Ed Wood, Jr. Drawing on rare archival material and interviews with those who knew him best, this first biography of Apostolof chronicles the life and career of a cult film legend.
Lefty is a black hitman working for the Chicago mob. Tasked with eliminating a mark, he kills the man and his wife, only to learn they have an infant daughter. Realizing the child is now alone in the world, Lefty takes her in and decides to raise her as his own. Years later, Lefty embarks on a trip across the country to pick up a freelance contract: a once-in-a-lifetime hit with a two million dollar paycheck. Together with two-ex-colleagues and his daughter, they head to Detroit to take on a sadistic mob boss's son. When the stakes get high, can Lefty figure out who to trust - and keep his daughter safe? This book contains graphic violence and is not suitable for readers under the age of 18.
A collection of 20 weird and far-out stories, these unique tales cover a lot of ground. “Searching for Dirty Jesus” follows a live-action roleplayer on a search for his father's killer. In “Chicken Car” a down-on-his-luck man devises a plan to achieve notoriety, through any means necessary. What if a man with a Gila-Monster head decided to try his luck with online dating? What if the government conducted a secret experiment in which they altered the color of people's skin? What if a famous serial killer was hired to kill a Nazi war criminal hiding in the U.S.? What if the corpse of John Wayne was reanimated so he could appear in a low-budget zombie movie? Find out the answers to these and many other questions in Fever Dreams and Drunken Scribbles, a powerful, one-of-a-kind story collection by a master storyteller. “He's got some damn good stuff.” -Joe R. Lansdale, author of the Hap and Leonard series This book contains graphic violence and is not suitable for readers under the age of 18.
Presents brief reviews of more than nineteen thousand films and other videos that are available at rental stores and through mail order, arranged alphabetically by title; also includes actor and director indexes.
In the past few decades, awareness of bipolar disorder has significantly increased, but understanding of the condition remains vague for most of the general public. Though the term itself is relatively recent, the condition has affected individuals for centuries—and no more profoundly than in the arts. The historical connections among manic depression and such fields as literature, music, and painting have been previously documented. However, the impact of bipolar disorder on movie makers and its depiction on the screen has yet to be thoroughly examined. In The Bipolar Express: Manic Depression and the Movies, David Coleman provides an in-depth examination of the entwined natures of mood disorders and moviemaking. In this volume, Colemanlooks at the writers, directors, and actors who have faced the mood swings and behavior that are hallmarks of this condition—from Greta Garbo and Orson Welles to Marilyn Monroe and Jonathan Winters. In addition to recognizing the cinematic contributions of manic depressive filmmakers, the author also looks at movies that have portrayed bipolar disorder—with varying degrees of accuracy—including Citizen Kane, Rebel without a Cause, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Hannah and Her Sisters, The Aviator, and Silver Linings Playbook. From early silents of the twentieth century through critically acclaimed films of today, this book compares depictions of mood swings on screen with clinical examples of actual manic depression, carefully distinguishing real from stereotypical portrayals. This fascinating study is augmented by a concise filmography of more than 400 feature-length films from around the world with themes or characters relating to manic depressive illness. Though aimed at film fans and anyone interested in manic depression, mental illness, or related medical studies, this book will also prove valuable to medical and mental health professionals.
This bestselling video guide to films, serials, TV movies, and old TV series available on video is completely updated with the newest releases. Containing more than 18,000 listings, this revised edition includes 400 new entries that are detailed with a summary, commentary, director, cast members, MPAA rating, and authors' rating.
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 47 photographs are included.
"Rausch's writing is like a serpent. It's lean. It's clever. It coils around you. . .and then it strikes. It's glorious, but be warned-there is no anti-venom." - Chris Miller, author of Dust Reminiscent of Goodfellas, American Trash is a gritty tale of organized crime. Only in this story, it is not the Italian mafia; it is the largest crime organization in the state of Missouri. Running their operation out of Funland - a stationary carnival outside Branson - these violent criminals are carnies by day, killers by night. They are led by a hardened old criminal known as Reverend Sammy, who doubles as a minister, and there seems to be no stopping them. But when things go awry and bodies start piling up, who will be the last man standing?
