The Big Book of B Movies, Or, How Low Was My Budget

by Robin Cross

A very entertaining, lavishly illustrated look at the low-budget second features of Hollywood’s golden age. Cross traces the B film from its origins up to seventies "B" style movies to the television programs they engendered with a breezy, informative style. Chapters deal with thrillers, series and serials, westerns, horror films, musicals, epics and so on.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Jill H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What fun for the lover of bad and sometimes not-so-bad films. The author looks at those films called B movies which were usually on the bottom half of the double feature format used in the 1940-1950s era. Made mostly by second unit directors of the big studios or by those poverty row film companies such as Mascot, Tiffany, PRC, and Monogram, the budgets were absolutely miniscule and the time set aside for filming was usually about three weeks. Somehow, some way these director put out a product which in most cases were pretty pathetic. They used stock footage,recycled stories, no-name or faded actors, scenes from other films or, as in the case of the talented Edgar Ulmer. lots of shadows and half seen settings to cover the cheap backgrounds and back screening. And every once in a while, some real gems surfaced, such as "Detour" and "Gun Crazy" which have gone on to become cult classics. Even the probably worst film in history, "Plan 9 from Outer Space" still draws an audience and convulses them with laughter at the paper plate flying saucers and the horrible acting. So these films were worth watching, no matter how bad they were and this book gives you some hints to those that might be of interest to the movie buff. Lots of great stills in this book as well.

[Bernard · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of many books about the movies I bought back in the 80's and I still have them.

I'm having fun digging these books out and reading them again.

The book looks at B flicks of the past, the good and the not so good as well.

One B, THE NARROW MARGIN, from the early 50's is just one of many B movies that one should seek out.

[Thomas Muething · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the first film books I bought (in 1985, when I was 17, at a bookshop in Bath that - of course- no longer exists) - and it still is part of my most important library - the loo library. ;) - The book takes a very entertaining look at the history of the Hollywood (not exclusively, but mostly) second features from the early 1930s to their demise in the early 1960s - when they replaced by Tv shows. Lots and lots of wonderful pictures, too. Highly recommended!

[Loki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, irreverent look at (mostly) American low-budget and no-budget cinema from the Thirties through to the Sixties. Has a sympathy for its subject but isn't blind to its faults either.

[Sean Youins-Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for serious movie buffs , lot of great photos , several big name Hollywood stars form beginning of their careers, worth a read

[Aaron Boyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

picked this up from a used book store and love it. not only does this define Horror and Sci Fiction movies as B but also comedies, crime and Dramas. I never really thought of B as outside of a genre. I was lucky to pick up a good hardback copy.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun overview, with lots of stills. Every once in a while the author gets on his critical high horse, but mostly he keeps it low-key and droll throughout, which makes for a quite entertaining read.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author was not kind in his adjective choices. Stills were cool.