Smirk, sneer and scream : great acting in horror cinema / Mark Clark.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Clark, Mark, 1966-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Horror films--History and criticism.

Horror films.

Physical Description:

x, 257 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 27 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, [2004]

Summary:

While you may think the old adage about oil and water being unable to mix applies perfectly to the cinema of terror and the craft of great acting, many a grease-painted scare and fluid performance have been combined in the strange alchemy that is the horror film. From the silent mastery of Lon Chaney's The Phantom of the Opera to the cultured cannibalism of Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs, the genre has seen an impressive number of noteworthy portrayals, far removed from the stereotypical leering monster and terrified maiden. Part One of this work highlights the stars of this screen style -- those whose numerous roles and outstanding performances made their names synonymous with horror cinema. Part Two covers actors who, although not normally associated with the genre, still contributed to its history. Part Three covers the great actresses in horror films and highlights their acting achievement. An appendix lists all the Academy Award nominations and winners in the horror genre.

Contents:

Part 1 Horror Stars 5

Lon Chaney 7

Boris Karloff 13

Bela Lugosi 37

Lionel Atwill 54

Dwight Frye 61

Peter Lorre 66

John Carradine 73

George Zucco 79

Lon Chaney, Jr. 84

Vincent Price 90

Peter Cushing 104

Christopher Lee 119

Other Horror Stars 128

Part 2 Mainstream Actors 139

Fredric March in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 141

Charles Laughton in Island of Lost Souls 145

Claude Rains in The Invisible Man 148

Laird Cregar in The Lodger 152

Anthony Perkins in Psycho 156

Duane Jones in Night of the Living Dead 160

Michael Rooker in Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer 164

Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs 169

Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense 172

Other Mainstream Actors 176

Part 3 Leading Ladies 181

Gloria Holden in Dracula's Daughter 184

Simone Simon in Cat People 189

Bette Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 193

Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby 198

Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair in The Exorcist 203

Sissy Spacek in Carrie 209

Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween 213

Kathy Bates in Misery 218

Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs 222

Other Leading Ladies 227

Appendix Horror Cinema and the Academy Awards 235.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 243-247) and index.

ISBN:

0786419326

OCLC:

54865704