They had more in common than just a scream, whether they faced Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Mummy, Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, King Kong, the Wolf Man, or any of the other legendary Hollywood monsters. Some were even monsters themselves, such as Elsa Lanchester as the Bride, and Gloria Holden as Dracula’s Daughter. And while evading the Strangler of the Swamp, former Miss America Rosemary La Planche is allowed to rescue her leading man. This two-book (each one completely stand-alone) set provides details about the lives and careers of over 40 of these cinematic leading ladies, femmes fatales, monsters, and misfits, putting into perspective their contributions to the films and folklore of Hollywood terror—and also the sexual harassment, exploitation, and genuine danger they faced on the job. Veteran actress Virginia Christine recalls Universal burying her alive in a backlot swamp in full “mummy” makeup for the resurrection scene in The Mummy’s Curse—and how the studio saved that scene for the last day in case she suffocated. Filled with anecdotes and recollections, many of the entries in both books are based on original interviews, and there are numerous old photographs and movie stills.
- ISBN13 9780786405800
- Publish Date 31 December 1998
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 24 April 2009
- Publish Country US
- Imprint McFarland & Co Inc
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 820
- Language English