Down from the Attic

<p> Much has been written (and rewritten) about classic horror and science fiction films like <I>Nosferatu</I> and <I>Metropolis</I> as well as not-so-classic pictures like <I>Bride of the Monster</I> and <I>The Hideous Sun Demon</I>. Yet some genre films have fallen through the cracks. The 24 films--some elusive some easily found on YouTube--examined in this book all suffered critical neglect and were prematurely stacked in the attic. The authors bring them back into the light beginning with <I>Der Tunnel</I> (1915) about the building of a transatlantic tunnel and ending with <I>The Emperor's Baker--The Baker's Emperor</I> (1951) a bizarre Marxist take on the Golem legend.</p><p> A variety of thrillers are covered--<I>Fog</I> (1933) <I>Return of the Terror</I> (1934) <I>Forgotten Faces</I> (1928)--along with such sci-fi leaps into the future as <I>The Sky Ranger</I> (1921) <I>High Treason</I> (1929) and <I>Just Imagine</I> (1930). Early adaptations include <I>The Man Who Laughs</I> (1921) <I>The Monkey's Paw</I> (1923) <I>Hound of the Baskervilles</I> (1937) and <I>Sweeney Todd</I> (1928). Rare stills and background material are included in a discussion of Hispanic vintage horror. The career of exploitation auteur Bud Pollard (<I>The Horror</I> 1933) is examined.</p>