A Sci-Fi Swarm and Horror Horde: Interviews with 62 Filmmakers

by Tom Weaver

Overview

In this jam-packed jamboree of conversations, more than 60 movie veterans describe their experiences on the sets of some of the world's most beloved sci-fi and horror movies and television series. Including groundbreaking oldies (Flash Gordon, One Million B.C.); 1950s and 1960s milestones (The War of the Worlds, Psycho, House of Usher); classic schlock (Queen of Outer Space, Attack of the Crab Monsters); and cult TV favorites (Lost in Space, Land of the Giants), the discussions offer a frank and fascinating behind-the-scenes look.

Among the interviewees: Roger Corman, Pamela Duncan, Richard and Alex Gordon, Tony "Dr. Lao" Randall, Troy Donahue, Sid Melton, Fess Parker, Nan Peterson, Alan Young, John "Bud" Cardos, and dozens more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476678283
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	03/06/2019
Pages:	412
Sales rank:	691,677
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.82(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Tom Weaver of Sleepy Hollow, New York, has been interviewing moviemakers for 35 years. The New York Times called him a leading scholar in the horror field and USA Today has described him as the king of the monster hunters. Classic Images said he was “the best interviewer we have today.” A frequent contributor to film magazines, he has written many books about American popular culture and is also a Blu-ray audio commentator.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments      viii
Preface     

1. Jimmy Lydon on Robert Armstrong     
2. Joanne Fulton on John P. Fulton     
3. Memories of Serials House Peters, Jr., on Flash Gordon (1936)     
Frankie Thomas on Tim Tyler’s Luck (1937)     
4. Jean Porter on One Million B.C. (1940)     
5. Memories of Boris Karloff Jo Ann Sayers on The Man with Nine Lives (1940)     
Herbert Rudley on On Borrowed Time (1946)     
Tommy Ivo on On Borrowed Time (1946)     
Henry Corden on The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and The Black Castle (1952)     
Fintan Meyler on Thriller’s “Well of Doom” (1961)     
6. Michael A. Hoey on Dennis Hoey     
7. Memories of Bela Lugosi Earl Bellamy on The Return of the Vampire (1943)     
Alex Gordon on Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952)     
Herman Cohen on Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952)     
8. Memories of Lon Chaney, Jr. Karolyn Grimes on Albuquerque (1948)     
Mickey Knox on Of Mice and Men (1948)     
Irving Brecher on The Life of Riley (1949)     
Barbara Knudson on Born Yesterday (1950)     
9. Richard Kline on Sam Katzman     
10. Sid Melton on Lost Continent (1951)     
11. Memories of Five (1951) William Phipps     
Arthur L. Swerdloff     
12. Marilyn Nash on Unknown World (1951)     
13. Diana Gemora on The War of the Worlds (1953)     
14. Fess Parker on Them! (1954)     
15. Rosemarie Bowe on The Golden Mistress (1954)     
16. Memories of Bel-Air Productions Paul Wurtzel     
John G. Stephens     
17. Pamela Duncan on The Undead (1957) and Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)
18. Marsha Hunt on Back from the Dead (1957)     
19. Herbert L. Strock on Blood of Dracula (1957)     
20. Peggy Webber on The Screaming Skull (1958)     
21. Lisa Davis on Queen of Outer Space (1958)     
22. Troy Donahue on Monster on the Campus (1958)     
23. Nan Peterson on The Hideous Sun Demon (1959)     
24. Richard Erdman on Face of Fire (1959)     
25. The Calvin Beck–“Norman Bates” Connection     
26. Roger Corman on House of Usher (1960)     
27. Alan Young on Jack P. Pierce     
28. David Whorf on Thriller’s “Pigeons from Hell” (1961)     
29. Alex Gordon on The Underwater City (1962)     
30. Arch Hall, Jr., on Ray Dennis Steckler     
31. Arnold Drake on 50,000 B.C. (Before Clothing) (1963)     
32. Tony Randall on 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)     
33. Frederick E. Smith on Devil Doll (1964)     
34. Memories of Tickle Me (1965) Edward Bernds     
Merry Anders     
35. Ib Melchior on Lost in Space (1965–1968) and Lost in Space (1998)     
36. Memories of The Wild Wild West (1965–1969) Whitey Hughes     
Richard Kiel     
Kenneth Chase     
37. Burt Topper on Space Monster (1965)     
38. Peter Marshall on Edgar G. Ulmer     
39. Tom Reese on Murderers’ Row (1966)     
40. Richard Gordon on Protelco Productions     
41. Nick Webster on Mission Mars (1968)     
42. Gary Conway on Land of the Giants (1968–1970)     
43. Memories of Nightmare in Wax (1969) John “Bud” Cardos     
Martin Varno     
44. Jan Merlin on The Twilight People (1973)     
45. Robert Pine on Empire of the Ants (1977)     
46. Ken Kolb on Sinbad Goes to Mars     

Index     

Editorial Reviews

another fabulous interview book by Tom”—Classic Images; “Weaver steps back and simply lets the memories flow. These are not Q and A interviews, but lengthy, fascinating essays compiled by Weaver based on the lengthy, detailed comments of the subjects. It is most effective...this reviewer can offer his highest recommendation”—Rogue Cinema; “I recommend this book enthusiastically”—Monsters from the Vault; “a winner”—Classic Images; “Tom Weaver has enjoyed a lengthy career writing about the horror genre through his reference guides and countless magazine contributions. His interviews are thorough and informative but presented conversationally, as though he is simply visiting with an old friend. Weaver expertly guides the talk in a way that allows him to ask his questions in an informal manner, and likely he received a more detailed answer than if he had approached the subject as a journalist would”—horrortalk.com; “one of Weaver’s best books to date—jam-packed with penetrating conversations about movies we love”—Western Clippings; “62 Interviews!! When you think how long ago many of the films and television series covered in this book were made, it’s hard to believe that many people would still be around? And if anyone can find them, Weaver can. And it seems like with each new edition, the illustrations are even better and rarer. No one does these interviews books as well as Tom Weaver. Can there be more? Knowing TW, the answer is probably yes!”—Little Shoppe of Horrors; “Tom Weaver has long been the doyen of writers about the more esoteric areas of genre cinema, and his single minded devotion to tracking down many a neglected talent has borne impressive fruit in recording the reminiscences of creative personnel otherwise neglected by interviewers. A Sci-Fi Swarm and Horror Horde is a highly entertaining collection which covers many years and many filmmakers and is crammed full of piquant anecdotes”—Crime Time.

From the Publisher

I recommend this book enthusiastically

Monsters from the Vault

Weaver steps back and simply lets the memories flow. These are not Q and A interviews, but lengthy, fascinating essays compiled by Weaver based on the lengthy, detailed comments of the subjects. It is most effective...this reviewer can offer his highest recommendation

Rogue Cinema

another fabulous interview book by Tom

Classic Images