Uncanny bodies : the coming of sound film and the origins of the horror genre / Robert Spadoni.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Spadoni, Robert, 1964-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Horror films--United States--History and criticism.

Horror films.

Sound motion pictures.

United States.

Sound motion pictures--History and criticism.

Physical Description:

xii, 190 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, [2007]

Summary:

In 1931 Universal Pictures released "Dracula "and "Frankenstein, "two films that inaugurated the horror genre in Hollywood cinema. These films appeared directly on the heels of Hollywood's transition to sound film. "Uncanny Bodies "argues that the coming of sound inspired more in these massively influential horror movies than screams, creaking doors, and howling wolves. A close examination of the historical reception of films of the transition period reveals that sound films could seem to their earliest viewers unreal and ghostly. By comparing this audience impression to the first sound horror films, Robert Spadoni makes a case for understanding film viewing as a force that can powerfully shape both the minutest aspects of individual films and the broadest sweep of film production trends, and for seeing aftereffects of the temporary weirdness of sound film deeply etched in the basic character of one of our most enduring film genres.

Contents:

1 The Uncanny Body of Early Sound Film 8

The Shrinking of Personality 11

The Return of the Medium-Sensitive Viewer 13

The Complexion of the Thing 19

Shadows in Three Dimensions 25

A Modality 26

2 Ludicrous Objects, Textualized Responses 31

Films as Mirrors of Viewer Response 33

The Hollywood Revue of 1929 34

Two Ventriloquism Films 36

Svengali 40

3 The Mystery of Dracula 45

Real Emotional Horror Kick 45

The Mystery of Dracula? 48

The Vampire's Hiss and the Madman's Laugh 54

4 Dracula as Uncanny Theater 61

Ground 77

5 Frankenstein and the Vats of Hollywood 93

Strong Meat and Monster Food 93

Frankenstein and the Uncanny of Early Sound Film 97

Frankenstein and the Uncanny of Silent Film 112

From Modality to Monad 118.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 163-177) and index.

Includes filmography: pages 179-181.

ISBN:

0520251210

9780520251212

0520251229

9780520251229

OCLC:

71244008