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The Black Cat
In 1934, Universal Pictures released The Black Cat - the first teaming of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, and the darkest, most sinister horror classic in the studio's legendary canon. MagicImage Filmbooks takes you on a time travel trip back into the shadowy soundstage of this macabre milestone - the facts, the figures, the studio politics, the sinister inspirations, the demonic virtuosity of director Edgar G. Ulmer, the censorship troubles, the personal memories of the leading ladies, a sexual harassment saga almost as perverse as the film itself... and the complex, moving, ultimately tragic relationship of the film's two horror superstars. Included are the pressbook, and many rare and striking photos. Plus: "The BLACK CAT: Universal's Symphony of Horrors, The Film's Music" by Randall D. Larson - From Publisher
124 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 1, 2021
This is technically a reread. I read this book some years ago on Kindle and noted that it was the worst formatted electronic book I’d ever read. Photographs were out of place, and a paragraph might finish pages later following other displaced text. It was horrible! This version is a softcover copy and it was a much more enjoyable experience.
The end of the Prologue written by Gregory William Mank states:
“THE BLACK CAT was a real-life melodrama, and its twists were many: Father vs. son enmity, inspiration from a haunted World War I fortress where 679 German soldiers burned to death, a homage to the self-proclaimed “Beast of the Apocalypse” and his “Scarlet Woman,” Pre-Code censorship battles, an outrageously skimpy budget and shooting schedule, a shocking sexual harassment on-set saga, wacky publicity, an emergency day-and-night retake session, exile for its director, a vicious critical onslaught, an amazingly responsive box office ... and the first bewitching union of KARLOFF and BELA LUGOSI, and what became of their complex, tragic relationship.”
If that didn’t raise your curiosity, there is absolutely nothing that I can write to improve the odds!
Although I didn’t like THE BLACK CAT as a child when watching it late on Friday night’s “Double Chiller Theatre” local television program (because I didn’t completely understand it ... and there were no misshapen monsters), it became one of my favorites of the Universal horror classics as I grew up. I’ve probably seen it close to ten times, and I never tire of showing it to friends.
This book (ostensibly edited by Philip J. Riley) has the complete production history provided by Gregory William Mank and a fascinating article by Randall D. Larson about the music used in the movie (and the trend for music in the early sound horror movies in general). Once more, press book information is included and a generous supply of photographs.
Conspicuously missing is the screenplay. Perhaps it wasn’t available. However, so much speculation has arisen about what had been planned and what had been shot that an original screenplay would have made this a perfect book for the classic horror film enthusiast. If GoodReads would allow half-stars, I would have given this one 4-1/2-stars.
Because of its strong reliance on narrative, this entry in the Universal Series of film books might have greater appeal for the casual Reader. It is less a reprinting of archival material and much more a telling of what happened behind the scenes of this most unusual entry. For the fans of the film, this is an essential work.
The end of the Prologue written by Gregory William Mank states:
“THE BLACK CAT was a real-life melodrama, and its twists were many: Father vs. son enmity, inspiration from a haunted World War I fortress where 679 German soldiers burned to death, a homage to the self-proclaimed “Beast of the Apocalypse” and his “Scarlet Woman,” Pre-Code censorship battles, an outrageously skimpy budget and shooting schedule, a shocking sexual harassment on-set saga, wacky publicity, an emergency day-and-night retake session, exile for its director, a vicious critical onslaught, an amazingly responsive box office ... and the first bewitching union of KARLOFF and BELA LUGOSI, and what became of their complex, tragic relationship.”
If that didn’t raise your curiosity, there is absolutely nothing that I can write to improve the odds!
Although I didn’t like THE BLACK CAT as a child when watching it late on Friday night’s “Double Chiller Theatre” local television program (because I didn’t completely understand it ... and there were no misshapen monsters), it became one of my favorites of the Universal horror classics as I grew up. I’ve probably seen it close to ten times, and I never tire of showing it to friends.
This book (ostensibly edited by Philip J. Riley) has the complete production history provided by Gregory William Mank and a fascinating article by Randall D. Larson about the music used in the movie (and the trend for music in the early sound horror movies in general). Once more, press book information is included and a generous supply of photographs.
Conspicuously missing is the screenplay. Perhaps it wasn’t available. However, so much speculation has arisen about what had been planned and what had been shot that an original screenplay would have made this a perfect book for the classic horror film enthusiast. If GoodReads would allow half-stars, I would have given this one 4-1/2-stars.
Because of its strong reliance on narrative, this entry in the Universal Series of film books might have greater appeal for the casual Reader. It is less a reprinting of archival material and much more a telling of what happened behind the scenes of this most unusual entry. For the fans of the film, this is an essential work.
April 15, 2016
A Warning To Kindle Readers: This is the worst formatted eBook I have ever encountered. Paragraphs are broken and combined with other paragraphs, only to be continued several paragraphs later. Footnote numbers provide no links to access their content. After a while, I could begin to see a pattern in some of the formatting errors and could automatically skip back and forth through the pages, but that wasn’t always the case. The edition I read was available through Kindle Unlimited, so I can’t be TOO annoyed. However, if you plan on paying for your own copy, buy a paperbound one. It is astonishing to me that the publisher didn’t pull it and correct these errors.
All of that said, my review will only be on the content, and not on the dismal formatting.
I have been a huge fan of the original Universal release of The Black Cat for many years. It is such a quirky, subversive film, yet it has an elegance that was missing from many horror films of the time. Then there are the delightful performances of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi who seem to be genuinely enjoying their work together.
So, the opportunity to learn more about this most beloved production was quite a draw. Fortunately, the “story behind the story” doesn’t disappoint at all. Here are all of the studio politics, the individual intrigues, the amazing approval from the Breen office, some truly horrendous harassments that should have spawned legal action, the rewrites, the highly atmospheric musical score, the illicit romance that brought down a Hollywood luminary, behind-the-scenes views of the performers, the reshoots to tone down some lurid moments (and make Lugosi’s character more sympathetic), and the widely diverse critical reaction.
I had not known the true backstory behind the setting of the modernistic mansion built on the ruins of a military fort, and that adds a great deal of eeriness to an already unsettling film. Also, the desire to make the most horrific story of all time was rife with possible scenes that may … or may not … have been shot. (Will there be a restored version one day?) The glass display cases that exhibit former wives, the suggestion of an anticipated orgiastic celebration among Satanic worshipers, and the behaviors that heighten sexual tension always cause me to shake my head in amazement. This is a mid-1930’s studio release?!
Formatting issues aside, the writing style is very accessible and easy to follow, along with delightful interview segments about what was going on behind the screen. Also included are beautiful photographs from the production and press book pages.
In short, this is a gem for the fan of the early Universal horrors, and the production of The Black Cat in particular.
All of that said, my review will only be on the content, and not on the dismal formatting.
I have been a huge fan of the original Universal release of The Black Cat for many years. It is such a quirky, subversive film, yet it has an elegance that was missing from many horror films of the time. Then there are the delightful performances of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi who seem to be genuinely enjoying their work together.
So, the opportunity to learn more about this most beloved production was quite a draw. Fortunately, the “story behind the story” doesn’t disappoint at all. Here are all of the studio politics, the individual intrigues, the amazing approval from the Breen office, some truly horrendous harassments that should have spawned legal action, the rewrites, the highly atmospheric musical score, the illicit romance that brought down a Hollywood luminary, behind-the-scenes views of the performers, the reshoots to tone down some lurid moments (and make Lugosi’s character more sympathetic), and the widely diverse critical reaction.
I had not known the true backstory behind the setting of the modernistic mansion built on the ruins of a military fort, and that adds a great deal of eeriness to an already unsettling film. Also, the desire to make the most horrific story of all time was rife with possible scenes that may … or may not … have been shot. (Will there be a restored version one day?) The glass display cases that exhibit former wives, the suggestion of an anticipated orgiastic celebration among Satanic worshipers, and the behaviors that heighten sexual tension always cause me to shake my head in amazement. This is a mid-1930’s studio release?!
Formatting issues aside, the writing style is very accessible and easy to follow, along with delightful interview segments about what was going on behind the screen. Also included are beautiful photographs from the production and press book pages.
In short, this is a gem for the fan of the early Universal horrors, and the production of The Black Cat in particular.
August 16, 2015
There’s information aplenty, entertainingly written by Greg Mank. However this is little more than the slightly revised chapter dealing with THE BLACK CAT in Mank’s Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff: The Expanded Story of a Haunting Collaboration, with a Complete Filmography of Their Films Together . You might be better served shelling out a few more bucks for the latter volume.
However, what you will be missing by not nabbing this volume is Randall D. Larson’s excellent, long overdue essay on the scoring of the movie.
However, what you will be missing by not nabbing this volume is Randall D. Larson’s excellent, long overdue essay on the scoring of the movie.
January 22, 2016
Please note - this is specifically a review of the Kindle version.
Nearly unreadable as the formatting is terrible, including parts of the book misplaced within the middle of paragraphs.
Nearly unreadable as the formatting is terrible, including parts of the book misplaced within the middle of paragraphs.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews