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Universal Terrors, 1951–1955

Eight Classic Horror and Science Fiction Films

by Tom Weaver, David Schecter, Robert J. Kiss and Steve Kronenberg

Type
Encyclopedias
Subject
StudioUniversal
Keywords
Universal, horror, science fiction
Publishing date
2017
Publisher
McFarland & Co
Language
English
Size of a pocketbookRelative size of this bookSize of a large book
Relative size
Physical desc.
Paperback • 440 pages
8 ½ x 11 inches (21.5 x 28 cm)
ISBN
978-0-7864-3614-9
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Book Presentation:
Universal Studios created the first cinematic universe of monsters—Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy and others became household names during the 1930s and 1940s. During the 1950s, more modern monsters were created for the Atomic Age, including one-eyed globs from outer space, mutants from the planet Metaluna, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and the 100-foot high horror known as Tarantula.

This over-the-top history is the definitive retrospective on Universal’s horror and science fiction movies of 1951–1955. Standing as a sequel to Tom Weaver, Michael Brunas and John Brunas’s Universal Horrors (Second Edition, 2007), it covers eight films: The Strange Door, The Black Castle, It Came from Outer Space, Creature from the Black Lagoon, This Island Earth, Revenge of the Creature, Cult of the Cobra and Tarantula. Each receives a richly detailed critical analysis, day-by-day production history, interviews with filmmakers, release information, an essay on the score, and many photographs, including rare behind-the-scenes shots.

About the authors:
Tom Weaver, Sleepy Hollow, New York’s, favorite son, has been interviewing moviemakers since the early 1980s. The New York Times called him one of the leading scholars in the horror field and USA Today has described him as the king of the monster hunters. Classic Images called him “the best interviewer we have today.” A frequent Blu-ray audio commentator, he is the author of numerous reference and other nonfiction books about American popular culture.
David Schecter has been a writer for more than three decades, and also produces soundtrack recordings for his Monstrous Movie Music CD label, which operates out of Chatsworth, California. He lives in Chatsworth.
Robert J. Kiss is a film researcher and translator whose work has been published by the British Film Institute, Cinegraph and Routledge. He lives in Heidelberg, Germany, and has lectured extensively in Britain, Germany and at the Library of Congress.
Steve Kronenberg is the managing editor of Noir City, the e-magazine published quarterly by the Film Noir Foundation. He lives in Millville, New Jersey.

Press Reviews:
"[Weaver is] one of the leading scholars in the horror field"—New York Times
"[Weaver is] the king of the monster hunters"—USA Today
"[Weaver is] one of our foremost fantasy film historians"— Sight & Sound
"McFarland hits another home run with Universal Terrors. This over-the-top history is the definitive retrospective on Universal’s Horror and Science Fiction Movies of 1951–1955…all I can say is, ‘Wow.’ You must have this book…fascinating…. I can’t imagine any stones have been left unturned…the definitive resource for anything and everything about Universal Pictures during this era…the information in this volume is unsurpassed"—Classic Horrors
"Addictive entertainment"—Video Scope
"[Weaver’s] books are always so informative, giving a ton of details about the movies and their production, as well as the people that worked on it, from the directors and writers to the actors…if you want to learn about as much as you can about these eight films, then this book is definitely a must…highly recommended"—Kitley’s Krypt
"another Whale of a Weaver Book"—Greenbriar Picture Shows

See the publisher website: McFarland & Co

> From the same authors:

Creature Feature Creators:Conversations with Genre Greats of the 1940s–1970s

Creature Feature Creators (2025)

Conversations with Genre Greats of the 1940s–1970s

by Tom Weaver

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A Sci-Fi Swarm and Horror Horde:Interviews with 62 Filmmakers

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Interviews with 62 Filmmakers

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Subject: Genre > Science Fiction

Universal Horrors:The Studio's Classic Films, 1931–1946

Universal Horrors (2017)

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by Tom Weaver, Michael Brunas and John Brunas

Subject: Studio > Universal

They Fought in the Creature Features:Interviews With 23 Classic Horror, Science Fiction and Serial Stars

They Fought in the Creature Features (2014)

Interviews With 23 Classic Horror, Science Fiction and Serial Stars

by Tom Weaver

Subject: Genre > Horror

Attack of the Monster Movie Makers:Interviews With 20 Genre Giants

Attack of the Monster Movie Makers (2014)

Interviews With 20 Genre Giants

by Tom Weaver

Subject: Genre > Horror

I Talked with a Zombie:Interviews With 23 Veterans of Horror and Sci-Fi Films and Television

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I Was a Monster Movie Maker:Conversations with 22 SF and Horror Filmmakers

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by Tom Weaver

Subject: Genre > B-movies

Science Fiction Confidential:Interviews with 23 Monster Stars and Filmmakers

Science Fiction Confidential (2010)

Interviews with 23 Monster Stars and Filmmakers

by Tom Weaver

Subject: Genre > Science Fiction

John Carradine:The Films

John Carradine (2008)

The Films

by Tom Weaver

Subject: Actor > John Carradine

Eye on Science Fiction:20 Interviews with Classic SF and Horror Filmmakers

Eye on Science Fiction (2007)

20 Interviews with Classic SF and Horror Filmmakers

by Tom Weaver

Subject: Genre > Science Fiction

Science Fiction Stars and Horror Heroes:Interviews with Actors, Directors, Producers and Writers of the 1940s through 1960s

Science Fiction Stars and Horror Heroes (2006)

Interviews with Actors, Directors, Producers and Writers of the 1940s through 1960s

by Tom Weaver

Subject: Genre > Science Fiction

Interviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie Makers:Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Moguls and Makeup

Interviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie Makers (2006)

Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Moguls and Makeup

by Tom Weaver

Subject: Genre > B-movies

It Came from Horrorwood:Interviews with Moviemakers in the SF and Horror Tradition

It Came from Horrorwood (2004)

Interviews with Moviemakers in the SF and Horror Tradition

by Tom Weaver

Subject: Genre > Horror

Poverty Row Horrors!:Monogram, PRC and Republic Horror Films of the Forties

Poverty Row Horrors! (1999)

Monogram, PRC and Republic Horror Films of the Forties

by Tom Weaver

Subject: Genre > Horror

> On a related topic:

Of Gods and Monsters:A Critical Guide to Universal Studios' Science Fiction, Horror and Mystery Films, 1929–1939

Of Gods and Monsters (2005)

A Critical Guide to Universal Studios' Science Fiction, Horror and Mystery Films, 1929–1939

by John T. Soister

Subject: Studio > Universal

City of Dreams:The Making and Remaking of Universal Pictures

City of Dreams (2021)

The Making and Remaking of Universal Pictures

by Bernard F. Dick

Subject: Studio > Universal

Universal Sound Westerns, 1929–1946:The Complete Filmography

Universal Sound Westerns, 1929–1946 (2011)

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Universal Women:Filmmaking and Institutional Change in Early Hollywood

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The Universal Silents:A Filmography of the Universal Motion Picture Manufacturing Company, 1912–1929

The Universal Silents (2009)

A Filmography of the Universal Motion Picture Manufacturing Company, 1912–1929

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Subject: Studio > Universal

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