James Whale: A New World of Gods and Monsters

by James Curtis

Book Overview

The definitive biography of this innovative and influential director

James Whale directed some of the most stylish movies of the 1930s, but he was most successful in a genre he virtually invented. Most famously in Frankenstein, but also in The Invisible Man and The Bride of Frankenstein, Whale created a new type of horror film--sophisticated, tragic, and morbidly humorous.

Whale made grim...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0816643865
• ISBN13: 9780816643868
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: University of Minnesota Press
• Length: 455 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.3" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Definitive Biography

After seeing the film "Gods and Monsters" I was anxious to read a biography of James Whale. This book by James Curtis certainly fits the bill of a complete biography of its subject. Mr. Curtis was a close friend of David Lewis, who lived with James Whale for several years and saw to it after the director's death that his memory lived on. Mr. Curtis gives us a lot of detail about James Whale's life and I sometimes found myself skimming a bit, particularly in the beginning of his career as an actor. We get a lot of information about the films Mr. Whale directed, including the story behind the fascinating effects in The Invisible Man. The book is illustrated with numerous photographs spread through the book and is well written, particularly when Mr. Curtis speaks of James Whale in his years of retirement. The book is a must for fans of the Frankenstein movies and people interested in Universal Pictures but for the person who knows James Whale only thought his horror films, this book with bring a much needed perspective on his life. I found myself wanting to see the James Whale films as I was reading, including Show Boat and his lesser known films. In sum, this is an interesting portrait of who James Whale was and what Hollywood was like in the 1930s.

Great Biography

I bought and read this biography after seeing the film "Gods and Monsters" and reading the novel Father of Frankenstein. I've always been a fan of Hollywood stories--especially from the thirties and forties--and this book gave me tons of interesting information. Whale was quite a character, and I'm glad I got to know him better through this excellent biography.

Early Master of Horror Films-Great Biography!

I grew up enjoying Whale's great films, "Frankenstein," "Invisible Man," & "Bride of Frankenstein." I didn't really know about him until the film "Gods and Monsters." James Curtis' book "Gods and Monsters" is a hard book to put down. It starts with Whale's rough childhood, interest in theater, and break into films. There is a chapter devoted to each of his major films with behind the scene insight. The book gives an honest account of Whale's triumphs and disappointments.It's a must read for any fan of classic films of Hollywood!

Excellent Bio!

I just finished this book this morning, and I really enjoyed it. Having watched "Gods and Monsters" and read Father of Frankenstein last year, I was eager to learn more about James Whale and his films. This detailed biography offers more than the facts of Whale's life and works: it provides insight into the machinations of the Hollywood of the 1920's and 1930's. Highly recommended by this reader.

DEFINITIVE BIO OF A GREAT ARTIST

James Curtis's biography of James(Jimmy) Whale is completely satisfying as both biography and cinema history. Whale was one of the greatest-and most underrated-directors of all time. Many filmmakers who are widely considered the greatest do not have as many classic films to their credit as Whale. His ouevre is a testament to artistry that seldom exists today. His work, especially "Bride of Frankenstein" and "Showboat", deserve much greater recognition and should be theatrically restored and reissued. Curtis's book is thoroughly rewarding, and would be a good place for a major rediscovery of Whale to begin.