Tom Weaver (1)

This is definitely a book for the serious movie buff, or series fan of the Creature movies. The sheer depth of knowledge and trivia in this book is mind boggling, the author clearly knows this topic from front to back and his love of the Creature movies shines through on every page.
There are behind the scene stories, histories of all of the major players both before, during and after the movies were filmed, many, many photographs, detailed descriptions of the filming and reactions to the show more films. This is an incredible all inclusive look at not just The Creature From The Black Lagoon movies but at Hollywood at the time they were made as well.

While I say that this book is for the serious movie fans that does not mean it isn't accessible to the casual movie history fan as well. The writing is very engaging and inviting and never feels stuffy or elitist, like it was written only for knowledgeable film fans, just the opposite, it felt as though this book was written to appeal to as many as possible to better spread the authors enthusiasm and love for the topic. And overall it works very well. There were a few sections that felt a bit overwhelming, the section on how the first movies score was created and how Universal reused music from movie to movie got to be a bit of a challenge to get through and once in a while I did feel as if I was being given to much information but overall this did not detract from the rest of the book.

I haven't seen any of these movies since I was a child and I deliberately decided to not watch any until after I had read the book to see how well this would hold of up someone who wasn't a major fan and it held up quite well, in fact it made me even more interested in seeing these movies and it gave me a deeper respect for the work and creativity that went into these movies. show less

In The Creature Chronicles: Exploring the Black Lagoon, Tom Weaver, David Schecter, and Steve Kronenberg examine the three films of the Black Lagoon trilogy. Though I have always enjoyed Creature from the Black Lagoon, prior to reading this book I hadn’t known it was the first in a trilogy of films. Of course, I quickly looked up and watched the other two films so I could better enjoy the book. From the beginning, it’s clear that Weaver, Schecter, Kronenbeg thoroughly and exhaustively show more researched each film over a number of years.
The book is divided into two parts, with the first part containing lengthy sections on each film. In these chapters, the authors organize their research from pre-production and scriptwriting, to casting, to the process of filming itself, ending each section with a description of distribution and the process of providing the films’ musical accompaniment. They draw upon extensive primary sources such as production notes, photographs from the sets, copies of original scripts, and, best of all, numerous interviews with persons involved in the making of the three movies: writers, directors, actors, stuntmen, production assistants, and even the musical staff from Universal-International. In an odd parallel, the chapter on each film is slightly shorter than the one that preceded it, seemingly mirroring the declining production quality of Creature from the Black Lagoon’s sequels.
In the second section, Weaver, Schecter, and Kronenberg chronicle and examine knock-off films or those inspired by the Black Lagoon trilogy, document the attempts to remake the film from the 1980s through the end of the last decade, feature longer interviews, and discuss a well-loved fanzine about the film series. Though this section of the book is the weakest (containing, for the most part, marginalia and trivia), it’s still packed with interesting information sure to entertain the reader who, by this point, is thoroughly educated about the films themselves.
Weaver, Schecter, and Kronenberg’s The Creature Chronicles not only examines these particular films, but also chronicles the film industry in the early 1950s (and the authors make it clear that Universal-International was an industry). There are a few puns and phrases that appear to be in-jokes among the monster movie fan community, but they don’t interrupt the book’s flow and are part of its charm. Perhaps the best thing about this book was the opportunity it affords the reader to reexamine a classic science fiction/horror film series and better appreciate the extensive work involved its creation and how it fits into the pantheon of Universal’s monsters. show less

I received this book as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program.

To say that this book is extensively researched and written is an understatement. "The Creature Chronicles" by film historian and interviewer, Tom Weaver, is a wonderfully written, all-encompassing, behind-the-scenes look at the three movies in the Creature from the Black Lagoon series. Weaver, who in my humble opinion is one of the greatest sci fi and horror film historians working, has compiled hundreds of pictures, show more inside stories, production documents, and tidbits about the three films that will appeal greatly to readers.

Those of you (like me) who grew up with these movies will love the in-depth look at the three films. Of primary interest will probably be the information surrounding the first film, "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" since that's the one most people are familiar with. An introduction from one of the stars of the movie, Julie Adams, sets the stage for Weaver to share all types of info with the reader. Plenty of production stills, comments from the writers and director, and especially from the "backstage" characters, make this book a treat to read.

The care and accuracy of reporting that Weaver puts into his view of the first film, is equally present in the material written and displayed on the second and third films, "Revenge of the Creature" and "The Creature Walks Among Us", respectively. The book also contains interesting stories about other "Creature-type" films produced during the 1950's, possible modern-day remakes, and interviews with cast and family members.

While, probably too much to digest at one time, I'm pretty confident that fans of the Creature trilogy will find the time needed to investigate the process of Creature creation from concept to world premiere for these films an enjoyable journey. show less

If you long for the nostalgic days of the Universal Monsters, then The Creature Chronicles: Exploring the Black Lagoon Trilogy by Tom Weaver is a must for your library.

Though the Creature movies came well after such staples as Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolf Man, fans have always held a special place in their hearts for that misunderstood scaly Gill Man from the ancient world. And what The Creature Chronicles does is give you deeper insight into the entire production of each show more of the three movies. From production notes to filming schedules to insider looks at the actors, The Creature Chronicles is a historical step-back that will make you feel as if you were there when each movie was being filmed. There is also an introduction by Julie Adams, who starred in the original film, “The Creature From the Black Lagoon,” and even detail about the movie soundtracks.

McFarland books went all out for this 408 page coffee-table hardcover by giving it a beautiful book jacket loaded with fantastic art and 295 pictures. While the price is high, if you are a Universal Monster lover, you won’t be able to resist and will be wanting a volume just like this for Dracula, the Wolf Man, and the rest of their pals. show less