New Horror Reference Books Cover Cinema's Golden Age

Author Chris Fellner has released two volumes compiling horror films from Hollywood's Golden Age. The books are published by McFarland and Co.

Promising to be Films of the Goden Age of Hollywood Horror, the first volume, covers 1931-1939, and the second from 1940-1946. The author features every horror movie to come out during these years, with 74 listings in the first book and another 113 in the second.

This is not merely a thumbnail reference with titles and credits. Each entry is given its own spotlight where the author provides background info, period reviews, historical background, a critical assessment, and other fascinating facts and discussions. Each book is packed with information.

While the first volume includes such towering classics of horror cinema as Dracula, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein and King Kong, there are also interesting entries on films like Mad Love, The Invisible Ray, and The Man They Could Not Hang. One of the more interesting chapters is about a "horror drought" in 1937-1938 where a bizarre comedy like Sh! The Octopus was about the only entry that had a tangential connection to the genre, the author explaining that a revival double feature of Frankenstein and Dracula re-ignited interest.

The second volume is even more fulfilling as many low budget horror movies were released from poverty row studios. Bela Lugosi flourished in B-movie efforts like The Corpse Vanishes and The Ape Man. This volume also includes the Universal horror sequels like House of Frankenstein and The Mummy's Ghost, and the classic The Wolf Man.

Both books are nicely illustrated, enhancing the fascinating text.

While each book is sold separately it is recommended that both books be purchased, as each is an indispensible reference for horror cinema during a most fertile period, where timeless classics were being produced, and low budget campy films were popular second-features.

Volume 1 can be purchased at this link: https://a.co/d/hCA4dux

Volume 2 can be purchased at this link: https://a.co/d/bQuU5fu