Boris Karloff's Thriller--is it really a chiller?

[yendor1152]

I've already answered that question, if you'd bothered to read through all my posts. But just as a refresher, here are a few more. Oh, and yes, one is from Stephen King. I know his opinion doesn't matter to you. Better switch on that light bulb, Bub!

Amazon:

"Now available for the first time ever in any format, experience the complete series hailed as the most frightening ever created for television."



Website: "the 50 Scariest Shows of All Time":

"Straightforward in its intentions, the anthology-formatted Thriller focused on the macabre, with malevolent ghosts (the awesomely titled "Pigeons From Hell"), inexplicably murderous eyeglasses ("The Cheaters"), witches channeled through hairpieces ("A Wig For Miss Devore"), and serial killers ("Yours Truly, Jack The Ripper"). And for that, Thriller is hands down the best strictly-horror TV series of all time."


Cinefantastique Online:    

"To introduce Boris Karloff's comments on THRILLER, here are some of Stephen King's remarks from his book Danse Macabre. King calls Thriller the best horror series ever made for TV..."

[Robert W]

One more snarky salvo from someone looking for a fight. I never referred to King as a "great artist." I said he was the most popular writer of the 20th century. And if you don't think King ignited a kind of craziness when he was at his popular peak, you're either too young too remember or just playing devil's advocate. He's never been "literary." Stoker wasn't even literary. You need to do your homework, my friend.

You said, and I quote, "... I've never seen any author, even one who isn't in the genre, create the craziness that King has within popular culture."  Would you care to provide some examples of this craziness King has supposedly created within "popular" culture, I mean aside from the Green Goblin used in that genre defining masterpiece Maximum Overdrive, that is. Again Poe invented the detective genre and wrote one of the greatest poems in the English language, Stoker created what is arguably, along with the Frankenstein monster, one of the most iconic horror characters in the history of stage and cinema., and Lovecraft invented his own philosophy and literary genre. In comparison what has King accomplished, other than this instigating this much publicized cultural craziness I keep hearing about.  Really, what specifically has King done that warrants his elevation to such Olympian literary heights that Poe, Stoker, and HPL obtained?

As for King being the most popular author of the 20th century, well let's see who has sold more books than him, shall we? There's Agatha Christie, Barbara Cartland, Danielle Steel, Harold Robbins, Georges Simenon, Sidney Sheldon, Enid Blyton, Dr. Seuss, Gilbert Patten, J. K. Rowling (talk about cultural craziness), Leo Tolstoy, Jackie Collins, Horatio Alger, Jr., R. L. Stine, Corín Tellado, and Dean Koontz.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_fiction_authors

And speaking of the "need to do homework," you're the one who seems ignorant concerning Thriller, not I. Perhaps instead of stumping for King, you ought to go busy your idle hours actually watching episodes of the show rather than demanding predigested opinions regarding it.

[yendor1152]

You said, and I quote, "... I've never seen any author, even one who isn't in the genre, create the craziness that King has within popular culture."  Would you care to provide some examples of this craziness King has supposedly created within "popular" culture, I mean aside from the Green Goblin used in that genre defining masterpiece Maximum Overdrive, that is. Again Poe invented the detective genre and wrote one of the greatest poems in the English language, Stoker created what is arguably, along with the Frankenstein monster, one of the most iconic horror characters in the history of stage and cinema., and Lovecraft invented his own philosophy and literary genre. In comparison what has King accomplished, other than this instigating this much publicized cultural craziness I keep hearing about.  Really, what specifically has King done that warrants his elevation to such Olympian literary heights that Poe, Stoker, and HPL obtained?

As for King being the most popular author of the 20th century, well let's see who has sold more books than him, shall we? There's Agatha Christie, Barbara Cartland, Danielle Steel, Harold Robbins, Georges Simenon, Sidney Sheldon, Enid Blyton, Dr. Seuss, Gilbert Patten, J. K. Rowling (talk about cultural craziness), Leo Tolstoy, Jackie Collins, Horatio Alger, Jr., R. L. Stine, Corín Tellado, and Dean Koontz.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_fiction_authors

And speaking of the "need to do homework," you're the one who seems ignorant concerning Thriller, not I. Perhaps instead of stumping for King, you ought to go busy your idle hours actually watching episodes of the show rather than demanding predigested opinions regarding it.

You honestly think Sidney Sheldon--of I Dream of Jeannie fame--has sold more books than King? Now I KNOW you haven't done your homework.

[Robert W]

If you are in possession of information that can refute that which I posted then please print it for the edification of us all.

Also, please provide an example of the cultural craziness that King is supposed to have generated.

[Mord]

Wow, I'm amazed that a little 50 year old TV show can still inspire such passion.

[Haunted hearse]

My guess Sheldon has. So Yendor, rather then waste your time trying to watch "Thriller", which you don't enjoy, you could watch a Stephen King marathon instead. You can see the greatest horror films that have ever made it to the screen (both large and small)!  Start with "Maximum Overdrive" all the "Children of the Corn" movies, and be prepared to scarred s***less!  Meanwhile, what do you want Amazon to say about something they're trying to sell?  That the series they want to sell ISN'T worth you're time?  When was the last time you ever saw promotional material for any film(outside of John Waters) letting you know how lame the film is?  We'll  maybe the movie "Battleship", but I don't think that's what they were trying to do with their ads. Obviously there are people who love "Thriller", maybe even find it to be a great series.  That you don't share their opinion, is just something in time you'll have to accept, as painful as that might be to you.

[Haunted hearse]

About the above post, to any fans of the cinema of John Waters.  John Waters himself, has said he set out to make the worst films ever.  Sadly, some of the films based on King's works have out done Waters in that respect.

[Robert W]

About the above post, to any fans of the cinema of John Waters.  John Waters himself, has said he set out to make the worst films ever.  Sadly, some of the films based on King's works have out done Waters in that respect.

I take umbrage at such comments! The Running Man is quite obviously the great motion picture ever filmed!

[yendor1152]

If you are in possession of information that can refute that which I posted then please print it for the edification of us all.

Also, please provide an example of the cultural craziness that King is supposed to have generated.

I've yet to see a Sidney Sheldon book or Danielle Steel or Jackie Collins tome adapted to film by Stanley Kubrick, Brian DePalma, and John Carpenter. Frankly, I have very little time to waste arguing with people who use Wikipedia for their fact-checks.

[Robert W]

I've yet to see a Sidney Sheldon book or Danielle Steel or Jackie Collins tome adapted to film by Stanley Kubrick, Brian DePalma, and John Carpenter. Frankly, I have very little time to waste arguing with people who use Wikipedia for their fact-checks.

Again, if you are in possession of verifiable sales figures that contradict those appearing in the Wiki link I posted then please post them.

Also, I'm still waiting for that example of cultural craziness that King was supposed to have engendered.

And btw, neither Kubrick, DePalma, or Carpenter has ever filmed an adaption of Shakespeare or Tolstoy either. So does that fact make either of these two authors any less culturally relevant?

[Haunted hearse]

I've yet to see a Sidney Sheldon book or Danielle Steel or Jackie Collins tome adapted to film by Stanley Kubrick, Brian DePalma, and John Carpenter. Frankly, I have very little time to waste arguing with people who use Wikipedia for their fact-checks.

I've seen "Maximum Overdrive" adapted to the screen by the author.  I also know how upset King was by Kubrick's adaptation of "The Shining".  How dare Kubrick delete such essential elements of horror as hoses that have big gaping mouths with teeth, or moving shrubbery!
Monty Python-The knights who say Ni!!

[Robert W]

And let's not forget the King approved tv adaptation of The Shining.

[Haunted hearse]

And let's not forget the King approved tv adaptation of The Shining.

Of course not.  That TV adaptation had moving shrubbery.   Initially, the Network executives told King the moving shrubbery from the book had to be deleted from the screen play.  In an act of desperation, King called forth the Knights who say NI!.  I understand the Knights then had a meeting with the network Executives, where they said the word, until it was agreed to include the moving shrubbery from the book in the TV adaption.

[Robert W]

If I remember correctly that version had glowing, Scooby-Doo-esque ghosts at the end of it as well, just like King wanted.

[Haunted hearse]

If I remember correctly that version had glowing, Scooby-Doo-esque ghosts at the end of it as well, just like King wanted.

You know the way the hotel manager ghost was thwarted by the little boy, and his future self, you just know he wanted to say "And we would have gotten away with it, if it wasn't for those darn kids!"