Wild Beyond Belief!: Interviews with Exploitation Filmmakers of the 1960s and 1970s

by Brian Albright

Exploitation filmmakers played a significant role in revolutionizing American cinema during the 1960s and early 1970s, churning out a string of independent Westerns, biker films, nudie-cuties and horror flicks in record times and often on shoestring budgets. With titles like Horror of the Blood Monsters, Cycle Savages and The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant , these films pushed the boundaries of acceptable on-screen violence and nudity and kept the American theater industry afloat as several major studios teetered on the brink of financial collapse. This work tells the story of that "other" Hollywood through interviews with 16 directors, performers, screenwriters, and stuntmen who helped bring these zero-budget films to the screen against incredible odds. The interviews give insights into exploitation filmmaking from the perspectives of pioneering directors Al Adamson and Jack Hill, actors Jenifer Bishop and Robert Dix, and stuntmen Gary Kent and Gary Littlejohn, and others. The work includes more than 50 photographs, including many rare behind-the-scenes images of the filmmakers on set.

Genres: Film

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 9, 2008

Reviews

[Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit repetitive due to the incestuous nature of independent filmmaking in Southern California in the 1960s-70s.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 60s and 70s were rather wild and colourful decades in film. This book is relatively tame with the picture selection. You'll meet many guys you may never heard of in interviews: Al Adamson (psycho a go-go), Jenifer Bishop (blood monster babe), Robert Dix (wild wheels), Halloween Hellcat, The Tough Guy and many more. Interesting read for in between but nothing too extraordinary. Recommended for movie buffs anyway!