reference

In the many chroniclings of the history of the Golden Age of Horror, women have always been horribly short shrifted. Tomes have been written about Karloff and Lugosi. Even directors Whale and Browning have enjoyed volumes written on their lives and films. But aside from an occasional story on Elsa's turn as the Monster's "mate", or Carroll Borland's life-long infatuation with Lugosi, the history of women in our genre is pitifully lacking. Until now. Author Gregory Mank takes a huge step to rectify this situation by shining a well-deserved and much-overdue light (torch?) on the women whose contributions to the early horror classics have been both overlooked and under-appreciated for far too long. Concentrating on the classics of the 30s, Elsa Lanchester, Helen Chandler, Gloria Stuart, Carroll Borland, Fay Wray, Zita Johann and even high-pitched screamer Una O'Connor, join a long, dis- tinguished list of actresses who have their lives and careers presented to us by Mank. Each artist receives a mini-bio, which includes stage and screen appearances. Of particular interest (and a highlight of the book) is a detailed and engaging look into each actresses' "signature" horror film, revealing dates, salaries, production notes and stories of co-stars and directors. Punctuated into this are insights and other information provided by research done by the author or the reminiscences of the subject herself. These wonderful personal

anecdotes were culled from interviews with Mank by a surprising (to this reviewer) number of the actresses who were (and some who happily still are) with us at the time of the author's research. Mank's skill lies in pretty much allowing each subject's life to tell its own story. So doing, each actress takes on a new life for the reader, a life whose existence had previously only been hinted at. They emerge from being known as simply labels: "the victim", the "hapless heroine" or "the monster" to be revealed as real flesh and blood women. Women who are intelligent, opinionated, witty, hard-working and passionate. Not merely characters... but three-dimensional character actresses. A wonderful and deserving achievement indeed. With this book (and a companion volume, which chronicles our favorite ladies of the 40s), Mank adds yet again to his already formidable legacy as THE chronicler of the Golden Age of Horror, this time adding the heretofore missing point-of-view (and warmth) of the distaff players. Always an interesting read, generously illustrated with many wonderful (and unique?) photos, this book is well worth the (usual) hefty McFarland price tag, and is an essential addition to any classic horror film buff's collection.