Ghouls, Gimmicks, and Gold: Horror Films and the American Movie Business, 1953-1968 » (New Edition)

Kevin Heffernan is Assistant Professor in the Division of Cinema-Television at Southern Methodist University. He is the coauthor of My Son Divine and co-screenwriter and associate producer of the documentary Divine Trash, winner of the Filmmakers Trophy at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival.

The history of horror films and the horror film industry in the 1950s and 1960s.

Library Journal

From Nosferatu to Cabin Fever, the horror genre has continued to be a mainstay of movie audiences, grossing profitable returns for its producers. Heffernan (cinema-television, Southern Methodist Univ.) offers a closeup of its commercial success from 1953 to 1968. During that time, the Hollywood studio system underwent drastic changes, and horror movies followed suit. Heffernan analyzes the business of distribution, production, advertising, television syndication, and the new technologies, along with cultural and economic trends. He also considers the transformation of horror movies from Saturday afternoon kiddie matinees to major adult films like Rosemary's Baby-all the while focusing on the way films were released and marketed. A chapter on television syndication is noteworthy and includes a complete listing of syndication packages produced by different companies. Although interesting and thoroughly researched, this book doesn't have a clear audience: it contains more business than horror fans would enjoy and too much horror history to draw business readers. Still, serious film students will like this unique approach to movie and horror history. Consider where there is special interest.-Rosalind Dayen, South Regional Lib., Broward Cty., FL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.