"Cheap Tricks and Class Acts"

[Sir Masksalot]

This is one of the books I brought home from Monsterpalooza
earlier this month. Mine is a softcover reprint of the library
bound edition first published by McFarland & Co in 1996.
Chapter One starts out with an in-depth analysis of the giant
squid scene from Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea , surely
one of the author's class acts although he does the director a
disservice by naming him (twice) as "Stanley" Fleischer. There
are several such misidentifications and errors throughout (plus
a continuity lapse over p. 223-4) but overall I really enjoyed
the dizzying hodgepodge of '50s titles as presented. Classics like
War of the Worlds, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and
7th Voyage of Sinbad  butt up against clunkers like Robot Monster,
Plan 9 from Outer Space, and Mesa of Lost Women ; all discussed
in such detail that one might imagine author on the set of every
production (granted, he does quote some impeccable sources).
There's even a little something for us mask collectors as a Tharp
"Thing" can be seen pictured in the makeup/props chapter!

[Mike Scott]

I bought the HC, way back when. Great book!