Book Review -- P.R.R. Poverty Row Royalty: The Films of Producer Sigmund Neufeld and his brother Director Sam Newfield

Film historian Thomas Reeder’s latest book from Split Reel is a very deep and thorough study of over 500 pages that explores the work of the producer/director brothers.  It is a fascinating look at long careers that cover so many aspects of cinema that are too often unfairly overlooked.

Some of the most interesting chapters are the first ones that detail how the brothers got into film work, the initial connections they made, and their work in silent comedy.  So much of silent comedy study focuses on the mainstream, so the details Reeder provides from his research are quite enlightening.  The chapters covering their work during the 1930s discuss their efficiency in working with lower budgets for small poverty row studios. They continued with comedies (including Lloyd Hamilton’s final film) and began doing westerns with stars like Tim McCoy, Kermit Maynard, and Bob Steele.

The westerns of the 1940s are perhaps what are best known from the brothers, especially those featuring former ex-Olympian Buster Crabbe and his sidekick, former silent screen comedian and stunt man Al St John, billed as Fuzzy in these films.  This is another one of the book’s highlights, the author providing great detail about the series, the actors, and presenting fascinating assessments that allow for a greater appreciation for these films. 

The brothers worked into television in the 1950s, and covering many genres and methods, and Reeder discusses all of them in detail. The consistent point in the book is how films were brought in under budget and shot with efficiency but were always entertaining and popular with audiences.  It is really the key to all B movie production during the 30s and 40s but Reeder focuses on the most notable producer-director team and carefully explores the entire process.

This is one of the most important film history books of the year, an absolute must for libraries, research centers, and film historians.  Fans of classic cinema who want to explore the bypaths beyond the mainstream A pictures would benefit greatly from this brilliantly presented and completely thoroughgoing study.

The book can be ordered at this link:  PRC