Horror Films of the 1970s (2 volume set)
Independent filmmaker Muir (The Films of John Carpenter; Wes  Craven: The Art of Horror) offers a top-notch overview of  American horror movies of the 1970s, an era rife with social and  political turmoil. Many of the films made at the time reflected  changes in conventional morals and ideals while introducing a  new brand of monsters and new versions of classics. Muir opens  with an entertaining and informative "Brief History," which  discusses actors Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, the  influence of productions by Hammer Films (the most financially  successful British film company), and some of the best, worst,  and most controversial flicks of the period. Part 2, which makes  up the bulk of the book, consists of some 228 chronological  entries on standout movies, including Carrie and The Exorcist.  Each entry covers cast and crew, critical reception (based on  reviews from the 1970s and later), synopsis, direct quotes from  cast when available, and commentary providing further  information on the film's merits or bad points. Muir's  commentaries are well worth reading, especially for those who  have seen the particular film. He closes with five appendixes,  including his pick of the ten best movies of the decade and  memorable ad lines, such as "You have been warned" from The  Omen. An impressive resource for all film collections, this work  complements Mike Mayo's excellent VideoHound's Horror Show: 99  Hair-Raising, Hellish, and Humorous Movies, which covers the  1950s through the 1990s but with less analysis. Highly  recommended.Rosalind Dayen, South Regional Lib., Pembroke  Pines, FLCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.