Comic books in 'Universal Filmscript Series'

1st printing.

By Philip J. Riley and Gregory Wm. Mank .

In 1934, Universal Pictures released The Black Cat - the first teaming of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, and the darkest, most sinister horror classic in the studio's legendary canon. MagicImage Filmbooks takes you on a time travel trip back into the shadowy soundstage of this macabre milestone - the facts, the figures, the studio politics, the sinister inspirations, the demonic virtuosity of director Edgar G. Ulmer, the censorship troubles, the personal memories of the leading ladies, a sexual harassment saga almost as perverse as the film itself... and the complex, moving, ultimately tragic relationship of the film's two horror superstars.

Included are the pressbook, and many rare and striking photos.

Plus: "The BLACK CAT: Universal's Symphony of Horrors, The Film's Music" by Randall D. Larson.

Hardcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 124 pages, B&W.

Cover price $29.95.

1st printing.

By Philip J. Riley and Gregory Wm. Mank .

In 1934, Universal Pictures released The Black Cat - the first teaming of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, and the darkest, most sinister horror classic in the studio's legendary canon. MagicImage Filmbooks takes you on a time travel trip back into the shadowy soundstage of this macabre milestone - the facts, the figures, the studio politics, the sinister inspirations, the demonic virtuosity of director Edgar G. Ulmer, the censorship troubles, the personal memories of the leading ladies, a sexual harassment saga almost as perverse as the film itself... and the complex, moving, ultimately tragic relationship of the film's two horror superstars.

Included are the pressbook, and many rare and striking photos.

Plus: "The BLACK CAT: Universal's Symphony of Horrors, The Film's Music" by Randall D. Larson.

Softcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 124 pages, B&W.

Cover price $19.95.

1st printing.

By Philip J. Riley and John L. Balderston .

When Dracula and Frankenstein became box office hits for Universal, Carl Laemmle Jr. immediately ordered that sequels be written for both films. Scripts were prepared, but Junior's choice of director, James Whale, had enough of monster films and was doing everything he could to avoid them.

Finally in 1935, after getting out of shooting Dracula's Daughter, Whale agreed to direct The Return of Frankenstein. In this volume is the final shooting script by John L. Balderston. He added more scenes from the novel, such as the monster hiding in a peasant's hut and learning to read and speak, but Whale thought his version of the Monster's personality too brutish and evil.

He wrote a new script with screenwriter William Hurlbut, added new characters, such as Mini and Dr. Pretorius, keeping Balderston's script as just an outline. Most historians and fans feel that when Return of Frankenstein was renamed Bride of Frankenstein that it became the most beloved film in Universal's Classic Monster films.

Softcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 212 pages, B&W.

Cover price $24.95.

1st printing.

By Philip J. Riley. Introduction by Richard A. Ekstedt.

". . . and as the Baron Frankenstein has been adjudged responsible for the actions of the monster which he created . . . you are charged to carry out sentence of death by beheading. . . " - So read the instructions on the warrant— but Frankenstein did not die!

This is the gruesome, horrific story of Frankensteins revenge which took the form of an operation to remove the brain from one man, and transplant it in another. Karl, the unfortunate victim of the Barons machinations, comes to a tragic end, tormented by his new-found freedom and, finally, destroyed by it.

Karl, the unfortunate victim of Baron Frankensteins experiments, is tormented by his new-found freedom. But his tortured brain cannot grasp the fact that he is merely the tool of the Baron and his assistant. And finally, Frankensteins gruesome work destroys the brain he has transplanted. . .

A Hammer Film Production, Ltd. horror-drama The Revenge of Frankenstein was distributed by Columbia Pictures. Starring Peter Cushing, Eunice Gayson, Francis Matthews and Michael Gwynn. It is produced by Anthony Hinds and Directed by Terence Fisher, Screenplay by Jimmy Sangster.

Softcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 156 pages, B&W.

Cover price $14.95.

1st printing.

By Philip J. Riley. Foreword by Robert Florey.

With the success of Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, Universal Pictures was quick to capitalize on creating a new Lon Chaney in Bela Lugosi. Chaney had been the original choice to portray a duel role as both Dracula and Professor van Helsing, Dracula's adversary. Before production could begin, Chaney died, suddenly leaving Carl Laemmle Jr. without a star.

Laemmle Jr. had seen Dracula on the stage in New York City, although he could not recall if he had seen Lugosi or Raymond Huntley in the role of Count Dracula. However, Lugosi was performing in the touring company that happened to be in Los Angeles at that time. Was he the new Lon Chaney?

Lugosi was not Carl Jr.'s first choice for the role. However, he eventually won the part, and now they needed more ideas for him. Murders in the Rue Morgue, Cagliostro, The Invisible Man, and Frankenstein were top on the list.

One day in March 1931, Robert Florey, recently returned to Hollywood from Europe, was having lunch at the Musso and Frank Restaurant on Hollywood Boulevard. He was approached by an old acquaintance, Richard Schayer, head of Universal's story department. Schayer told him that his studio was looking for ideas for a new horror film to star Bela Lugosi and he knew Florey was involved with The Théâtre du Grand-Guignol de Paris, (a small theater, in an obscure alley in Paris that specialized in sadistic, shocking, explicit, violent melodramas and became known as the "Theater of Horrors." It opened in 1897 and closed in 1962.)

They both agreed on Frankenstein as the best choice. Schayer suggested that Florey would stand a better chance at being assigned the writer and director if he was to present the idea to Carl Laemmle Jr. We present now the script for Frankenstein as it would have been had Bela Lugosi starred and Robert Florey directed.

Softcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 206 pages, B&W.

Cover price $24.95.

1st printing.

By Philip J. Riley.

Following Phantom of the Opera (1943), in the middle of the Silver age of Universal Studio's monster movies, a new sequel to Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman was considered for a Technicolor production: Wolfman vs Dracula!

Lon Chaney Jr., who was the only actor to portray Universal's four classic monster roles; Dracula, frankenstein's monster, the mummy and the wolfman. At first Chaney was to play both roles, as his father Lon Chaney Sr. had done in several of his famous silent films. But Larry Talbot in his human phase would look exactly like Count Dracula so the role of Dracula was given to it's originator Bela Lugosi.

A script was prepared by Bernard Shubert, who had written the screenplay for Tod Browning's London After Midnight (MGM 1927) remake Mark of the Vampire (MGM 1935). Shubert kept the settings very tight in its scenes, to keep the cost down to balance out for the extra expense of technicolor. But by 1944 Bela Lugosi was in his 60s and would have had to play part of his role as a giant bat much like in the Copolla Bram Stoker's Dracula in the 90s - and that would have been too much for him. And they couldn't have the Wolfman fighting an animated bat much like John Carradine's depiction of the Count or even Lugosi's portrayal in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. So they decided to make one of their Arabian Nights film on the Technicolor contract and all that remained of Wolfman vs Dracula are some color 8x10s of Chaney in both parts.

This volume has a short biography of screenwriter/TV producer Bernard Shubert and comments from Shubert and special effects cinematographer David Stanley Horsley.

Softcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 138 pages, B&W.

NOTE:

"Anyone who cares about classic monster movies will find a treasure trove of information, rare photos, and meticulous detail in these books. They are obviously a labor of love." — Leonard Maltin

"Each page is filled with documented information that will change a few history books. The student of writing for the screen has an opportunity to see the development of screenplays under every possible condition." — Ray Bradbury, Author

Cover price $24.95.

1st printing.

By Philip J. Riley and Gregory Wm. Mank.

For the first time in its history, Universal Studios has opened its vaults and is allowing us to view these rare artifacts of filmmaking. Previously seen only by the stars and technicians, we now have the opportunity to review the complete original shooting scripts from these classic motion pictures. Each book also contains the complete story of the making of the film, many rare behind-the-scenes photos, interviews with the people in front of and behind the camera, and complete pressbook.

Hardcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 200 pages, B&W.

NOTE:

I shall treasure my copy of the script, and many thanks for your splendid contribution to its preservation. - Franklin Coen (screenplay author, This Island Earth)

Ive been seeing Univrsal pictures since 1923. The Universal Filmscripts Series is unique, and a highly prized portion of my collection of 40,000 books. - Forrest J Ackerman

As they say in the Coming Attractions -- Dont Miss It - Robert Bloch

The Ackerman Archives provide another treasure for posterity. - Ray Bradbury

Cover price $34.99.

1st printing.

By Philip J. Riley and Gregory Wm. Mank.

For the first time in its history, Universal Studios has opened its vaults and is allowing us to view these rare artifacts of filmmaking. Previously seen only by the stars and technicians, we now have the opportunity to review the complete original shooting scripts from these classic motion pictures. Each book also contains the complete story of the making of the film, many rare behind-the-scenes photos, interviews with the people in front of and behind the camera, and complete pressbook.

Softcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 200 pages, B&W.

NOTE:

I shall treasure my copy of the script, and many thanks for your splendid contribution to its preservation. - Franklin Coen (screenplay author, This Island Earth)

Ive been seeing Univrsal pictures since 1923. The Universal Filmscripts Series is unique, and a highly prized portion of my collection of 40,000 books. - Forrest J Ackerman

As they say in the Coming Attractions -- Dont Miss It - Robert Bloch

The Ackerman Archives provide another treasure for posterity. - Ray Bradbury

Cover price $24.95.

1st printing.

By Philip J. Riley.

The vampire has always had audience appeal. What is amazing is that Hollywood shunned the King of Vampires for years fearing the story was too gruesome of any movie audience's palette. When Universal finally decided to make a screen production of the classic novel and successful Broadway play, they were not originally going to pursue Bela Lugosi for the part even though he had stunned audiences with his performance in the Broadway role for years. This MagicImage Filmbook traces the long trail of the classic 1931 production from legend to screenplay to film. Includes treatments, preliminary scripts even, for the first time anywhere, reproductions of some of Bram Stoker's original handwritten and typed draft manuscript for the novel.

Special Introduction by Bela Lugosi and Preface by Carla Laemmle.

Hardcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 290 pages, B&W.

Cover price $34.95.

1st printing.

By Philip J. Riley.

The vampire has always had audience appeal. What is amazing is that Hollywood shunned the King of Vampires for years fearing the story was too gruesome of any movie audience's palette. When Universal finally decided to make a screen production of the classic novel and successful Broadway play, they were not originally going to pursue Bela Lugosi for the part even though he had stunned audiences with his performance in the Broadway role for years. This MagicImage Filmbook traces the long trail of the classic 1931 production from legend to screenplay to film. Includes treatments, preliminary scripts even, for the first time anywhere, reproductions of some of Bram Stoker's original handwritten and typed draft manuscript for the novel.

Special Introduction by Bela Lugosi and Preface by Carla Laemmle.

Softcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 290 pages, B&W.

Cover price $24.95.

1st printing.

By Philip J. Riley and Gregory Wm. Mank .

For the first time in history, Universal Studios has opened its vaults and is allowing us to view these rare artifacts of filmmaking. Previously seen only by the stars and technicians, we now have the opportunity to review the complete original shooting scripts from these classic motion pictures. Each book also contains the complete story of the making of the film, many rare behind-the-scenes photos, interviews with the people in front of and behind the camera, and complete pressbook.

Includes:

Production Background!
Pressbook!
Rare behind-the-scenes photographs!
Biographical notes on the cast & crew!

Softcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 166 pages, B&W.

NOTE:

"I shall treasure my copy of the script, and many thanks for your splendid contribution to its preservation." - Franklin Coen (screenplay author, This Island Earth)

"I've been seeing Universal pictures since 1923. The Universal Filmscripts Series is unique, and a highly prized portion of my collection of 40,000 books." - Forrest J. Ackerman

"As they say in the Coming Attractions-'Don't Miss It!'" - Robert Bloch

"The Ackerman Archives provide another treasure for posterity." - Ray Bradbury

"A fascinating addition to magical movie lore." - Vincent Price

Cover price $24.95.

1st printing.

By Philip J. Riley and Gregory Wm. Mank .

For the first time in history, Universal Studios has opened its vaults and is allowing us to view these rare artifacts of filmmaking. Previously seen only by the stars and technicians, we now have the opportunity to review the complete original shooting scripts from these classic motion pictures. Each book also contains the complete story of the making of the film, many rare behind-the-scenes photos, interviews with the people in front of and behind the camera, and complete pressbook.

Includes:

Production Background!
Pressbook!
Rare behind-the-scenes photographs!
Biographical notes on the cast & crew!

Hardcover, 8-in. x 11-in., 166 pages, B&W.

NOTE:

"I shall treasure my copy of the script, and many thanks for your splendid contribution to its preservation." - Franklin Coen (screenplay author, This Island Earth)

"I've been seeing Universal pictures since 1923. The Universal Filmscripts Series is unique, and a highly prized portion of my collection of 40,000 books." - Forrest J. Ackerman

"As they say in the Coming Attractions-'Don't Miss It!'" - Robert Bloch

"The Ackerman Archives provide another treasure for posterity." - Ray Bradbury

"A fascinating addition to magical movie lore." - Vincent Price

Cover price $34.95.