Product Description
Possessed children, tormented artists, vengeful specters, and hubristic explorers - these are only a few of the characters that populate legendary actor Boris Karloff's exotic world of crime, suspense, and paranormal intrigue.Join him and some of the sixties' most creative and exuberant comics creators for timeless tales of horror and mystery that have continued to shock and terrify to this day!Contains issues #17- #22, originally published from March 1967 to June 1968. ... Read more

Product Description
Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster are horror cinema icons, and the actors most deeply associated with the two roles also shared a unique friendship. Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff starred in dozens of black-and-white horror films, and over the years managed to collaborate on and co-star in eight movies. Through dozens of interviews and extensive archival research, this greatly expanded new edition examines the Golden Age of Hollywood, the era in which both stars worked, recreates the shooting of Lugosi and Karloff's mutual films, examines their odd and moving personal relationship and analyzes their ongoing legacies. Features include a fully detailed filmography of the eight Karloff and Lugosi films, full summaries of both men's careers and more than 250 photographs, some in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

One of the best books ever on the legends of Horror
Their names are synonymous with classic horror films.Together, Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff presented an unbeatable tag team of terror.For over 25 years they dueled for horror superiority with films such as Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, White Zombie, The Bride of Frankenstein, Mark of the Vampire, and dozens of others.Film historian Greg Mank, the foremost expert on classic horror of the 1930s and 1940s, takes horror fans on an incredible journey through the lives of these two icons of the silver screen.

In a volume nearly 700 pages long, Mank looks at their films both individually and together, as well as their personal and private lives and relationships.Over the years Mank has conducted interviews with hundreds of personalities related to classic horror including many surviving stars, crewmembers, and the families of the stars.With Mank's work, you're not so much hearing about it as you are experiencing it yourself as if you were right there as the events took place.This is the incredible and exhaustive detail that Mank brings to his work.No detail is too mundane to relate.

Mank goes step-by-step with each actor's pre-horror career including Lugosi's work in his native Hungary and his winning the role of Dracula first in the stage production, and then in the film.Likewise Karloff's career is traced from his years as a character actor, usually as the bad guy, to his discovery by James Whale for the role of Frankenstein's monster.Every knows that Lugosi screen-tested for the role of the monster and over the years its been stated that Lugosi didn't want the role because of the lack of speaking lines but Mank asserts that it was Whale who didn't want Lubosi, and re-affirmed this a few years later when Lugosi tried for the role of Dr. Pretorious in The Bride of Frankenstein that ultimately went to Whale's buddy Ernest Thesiger.

The pair were teamed for the first time in 1934's, The Black Cat, one of the most macabre and perverse films of the 1930s.A censor's nightmare, the film found Karloff's Satanic cult leader and incestuous rapist Hjalmar Poelzig pitted against Lugosi's avenging angel Dr. Vitus Werdegast who ends the film by skinning Poelzig alive!Were the pair friends?Friendly rivals?Or bitter enemies?It depends on who you ask.Mank provides sufficient evidence to support each claim.Certainly Lugosi had reason to be jealous.Mank provides their salaries for the films they did together and Karloff always earned far more than Lugosi.Karloff did not help matters by often referring to Lugosi with the condescending "Poor Bela".On the other hand, as Mank notes, Lugosi's refusal to learn a better grasp of the English language severely limited the roles we would get.

There are some stunning revelations in the book, such as how actress Lucille Lund of The Black Cat, was left hanging in a glass coffin while the entire cast and crew broke for lunch...her punishment for refusing the sexual advances of director Edgar Ulmer.

Mank covers Lugosi's eventually slide into drug addiction and obscurity in painful detail.Injuries from fighting in World War I would lead to Lugosi's dependency on pain medication and other drugs.Yet even in such a declining physical condition, Lugosi was ever a pro, still giving his best in ultra low-budget films like Ed Wood's Bride of the Monster.

To complement the narrative, Mank includes hundreds of rare photos including publicity shots, behind-the-scenes photos, and candid pictures of the stars relaxing at home and just being themselves.These include many shots of the homes they once lived in and very funny pictures such as both me taking their turns dressed as Santa Claus.

This is an incredible book.I can barely scratch the surface of the information and secrets that Mank has uncovered.Suffice to say that this book is the one book you must own if you are a fanf of Lugosi and Karloff.

Great Read
For any fans of the Universal Horror pictures, and of Karloff and Lugosi, this book is a great read. A book full of anecdotes and tidbits of information that will delight all readers.

Great insight of both actors, their careers and personal lives. The tragic life of Lugosi was difficult to read. He was as much a victim of his success, as well as his substance abuses that eventually claimed his life. His body of work speaks for itself, yet he has remained just in the shadow of his fellow actor, Karloff.

Good reference for finding titles of their movies. I highly recommend this title.

Movie books don't get much better
Greg Mank's BELA LUGOSI AND BORIS KARLOFF is a sensational book.The original version was great in its own right, but this enormously expanded re-do (I think it's about twice as long as the first edition)is beyond great. The research that went into this book is obvious and mind-boggling.And Mank's eminently readable style carries you through what might seem trivia effortlessly.
Anyone who loves movies should treat himself to this terrific book.Anyone who loves HORROR movies MUST have this book. It is indispensible.

Kudos to Gregory William Mank!
I have read other books by Gregory William Mank.He has never failed to please.I have his book of Karloff and Lugosi: The Story of a Haunting Collaboration which was published in 1990.It was a well written review of the films of Karloff and Lugosi.This recently published Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff: The EXPANDED Story of a Haunting Collaboration is an excellent upgrade of his first book.

Let us now look at the data on those two books:

Karloff and Lugosi: The Story of a Haunting Collaboration (1990)
9.2 X 6.2 X 1.2 inches
384 pages

Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff:The Expanded Story of a Haunting Collaboration (2009)
10.3 X 7.2 X 1.7 inches
701 pages

As you can see, this expanded book is precisely what its title says...it is indeed E X P A N D E D.It now provides for much updated information on the films of Karloff and Lugosi with fascinating background information on the two actors.The book has many wonderful photos of their films and behind the scene involvements.It is superbly written.I noticed that Greg Mank's opinion of the work of Bela Lugosi has raised since the publication of his original book in 1990.This parallels Bela's rising star during the past twenty years among fans of those golden age Universal horror films.Today, we can safely say that both Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi are basically equal insofar as their cinematic importance, ability, and impact goes.

Kudos to Gregory William Mank for producing this excellent and very readable book about Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi and the eight films they worked together in!

Absolutely Wonderful
I've got most of Mr. Mank's books, and I can tell you that each new one is like Christmas morning to me.I own a first edition of Karloff & Lugosi, and when I learned that an updated version was in the works, I immediately placed an order.I have worked in a library for many years, and most of my reading tends to be non-fiction.Mr. Mank represents the best of non-fic writing.K&L II is not only a great reference...it's also a great read!You'll quickly find out that you're not READING about your favourite films...you're actually THERE...right on the set.

Grab this gen for Halloween while you can, because it will quickly become a cherished collectible.

on a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 10

Joy ... Read more

Product Description
A modern gambling cheat is punished by spirits of centuries-old playing cards. Three adventurers in pursuit of evil find the greatest evil ever spoken, heard, and seen. An enchanted telephone booth brings success to a simple man, but when greed gets the better of him, his good fortune comes to an end. A mirror that reflects an antique dealer's heart's desire does more than just show him what he wants. Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery Archives Volume 3 features tales of suspense, crime, intrigue, horror, and irony, hosted by the renowned actor Boris Karloff and featuring art from some of the finest comics storytellers from the sixties. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

continuing quality
This is the third volume of the Boris Karloff anthologies and again Dark Horse has hit a home run.The whole package is there.So why only 4 stars?As a collector of EC products the stories are just not the same quality as the EC(ie tales from the Crypt, Haunt of fear etc).However I can recommend this anthology wholeheartedly.

It is no mystery why these are good.
Well Dark Horse Comics does an excellant job at bringing these long not forgotten but fondly remembered comics back for former fans and a new gerneration of possiable fans. I am an old comic book fan in both sense of the word. So I like to just be able to pick up a comic and sit, read, and enjoy. The stories here are clever, entertaining and even a little amusing at times. Art is by some of the great comic book artists from a previous time. After reading volume one I had no problem ordering volume two. And after reading volume two I had no problem ordering this wolume. And will continue till the series end.

For kids and adults.
I loved this book as much as the first 2. Only one thing's wrong. Everything's there except they reversed some of the covers. Can't see how they could mess this up. No big deal. Waitin' for the next book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Biography by A Friend
Cynthia Lindsay was born in Great Neck NY and moved to California for school. She worked as a swimmer, skater, actress, and author. She was in "Footlight Parade" (p.83). Boris Karloff was a close and beloved friend, his daughter is her godchild (p.ix). Boris was a passionate gardner. "Dear Boris" was what his friends called him. Researching Boris' life was difficult, family records were destroyed in the London Blitz. Boris migrated from England to Canada in 1909 at age 21, the records of this era are lost (p.xi). But she found sources from fans and Boris' widow. Boris kept working until he died, he never wanted to retire (p.175). He died in February 1969 and had a small private funeral (p.177).

William Henry Pratt was the youngest of a large family (p.2). A legacy allowed Boris to migrate to Canada (p.11). He worked as a laborer until he joined a stock company (p.15). He picked "Boris Karloff" as a stage name. After a few years with stock companies he went to Hollywood and worked as an extra (p.27). Boris kept his secrets (p.33). Little is known about his 2 or 3 marriages in the 1920s (p.37). Boris' part in "Frankenstein" made him famous (Chapter 10), he was a character actor for years. "Many children's fairy tales are far more frightening that `Frankenstein'" (p.64). Boris felt sorry for Bela Lugosi (p.710. [Two exclamation points represent rabbit tracks - page 75.] Cynthia tells how she met Boris, and about life in the 1930s. Boris was an early supporter of the Screen Actor's Guild (pp.90-97). Boris "sang" in "Charlie Chan at the Opera" (p.101).

The remaining chapters cover Boris' life on stage and on screen. He was liked by many but kept his secrets. His daughter Sara learned of his death from the news on TV (p.141). Boris appeared on TV shows in the 1950s. In his last years he suffered from emphysema and arthritis (p.150). But he still worked. "Targets" was his last American film (Chapter 21). Boris played an old horror movie actor who earned a living by guest appearances. It was stitched together from left-overs (p.168), like Frankenstein's Monster. It is a low-budget message movie that wasn't as successful as "The Night of the Living Dead". This is followed by photos for Boris from his many films from 1916 to 1972, and a catalog of the films (pp.235-273). Note how many times he played a villain in his early films.

A tender and insightful look into a craftsman's life.
William Henry Pratt aka Boris Karloff was perhaps one of the most underated and illused actors in film history. Cynthia Lyndsay's book provides a most personal and loving journey into this gentleman's life. Included too in her portrait is a concise history of acting in the early 20th century as well as a detailed portrait of the actor's craft. Karloff was the consumate professional on stage and screen and off. This book is highly reccomended for any interested in the craft of acting. ... Read more

Product Description
A circus performer terrorized by mysterious powers from beyond. A jade idol of a monkey that carries a curse on a South Pacific island drives a man to the brink of madness. An art gallery haunted by paintings that come to life at night. A dictator who sees enemies around every corner, but who can't see the threat right before his eyes. For nearly twenty years, the comic-book series Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery wove stories of intrigue, suspense, and macabre drama. Hosted by renowned actor Boris Karloff, the comic featured contributions from some of comics history's most well-known creators: Alex Toth, Joe Orlando (EC Comics artist and editor), Mike Sekowsky (Justice League of America artist), Frank Thorne, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Arnold Drake, Len Wein (co-creator of Swamp Thing and Wolverine), Al Williamson, Jerry Robinson (creator of the Joker), Dan Spiegle, and many others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A Magic Carpet Ride

I hesitated to purchase at first due to the rather steep cover price.
After some deliberation, I went ahead and bought the product to my ultimate delight.

The publication is FIRST CLASS.

The nicely drawn images have never looked better than on the pages of this DARK HORSE
publication. I don't remember them looking this clear and bright on the 1962-63 "comic"
copies. It certainly helps that they are printed on high quality paper meant to last
for decades.

This reader was instantly transported back to a time in 1962 when a quick ride on his "STINGRAY"
bicycle brought him to the corner drugstore to buy the latest edition of this series.

If you owned any of the early originals, you will certainly appreciate these well-made copies.

Deserves a place in any graphic novel library
Tales of Mystery Volume 1 gathers the two-issue run of BORIS KARLOFF THRILLER, unavailable since 1962, and the first two issues of the comic that continued the series for the next two decades, packaging all in a book packed with lovely full-color panels throughout. The result is a 'must' for any fan of Karloff in particular and graphic novels and comics. It does an outstanding job of gathering Karloff masterpieces that might otherwise be lost to time, and deserves a place in any graphic novel library.

Back in Print!!!
My Cheers to Dark Horse and other publishers for getting these old Gold Key comics back into print. I love horror comics, esp those of the early 70's. While the quality of Karloff Tales of Mystery is not up to par against the classic EC horror comics, the DC horror comics of the 70s or even the Warren Publishing magazine, they're still a goofy kind of fun to be had here. The art is a bit sub-par with it's trademark Gold Key look. The cover paintings are amazing, of course. The writing is decent. This is mostly for avid Gold Key fans and horror comic buffs. Other will be disappointed. Lovely job at the packaging, as is expected from Dark Horse.

Classics in the EC Vein
Once again Dark Horse has come to the rescue of a comic series that may have been lost to obscurity.This time its Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery.In the 1960s, the aging horror icon lent his name for this anthology series from Gold Key Comics.This second volume presents issues #5 - 10 in their entirety, originally published in 1963 - 1965.In much the way that the Cryptkeeper or Uncle Creepy introduced the stories in "Tales from the Crypt" and "Creepy" magazine, Karloff introduces readers to the stories within.

Like classic EC Comics, the stories generally featured ironic twists at the end or had a moral message to relate.In "Possessed" a group of friends who have a `black magic club' foolishly play with a Quija board and end up trapped by evil spirits.In "A Cage for Hassan" a greedy and paranoid Arab merchant has the tables turned on him at the end leaving him trapped in a prison of his own mind's making.In "The Terrible Dark Glasses" a man murders a wealthy Optician in order to marry his wife and steal his fortune.But the dead Doctor's mysterious eyeglasses reveal imagery, which is too terrifying for the murderer to bear.

Each issue of the comic also included a one-page text story and a Key of Knowledge feature, which featured various topics such as archaeology, or understanding weather.The main difference between theses stories and those of EC Comics or Warren magazines lies in the art.The quality of art in Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery was simply not on a par as those other magazines.Occasionally there would be art by people like Joe Orlando, Frank Thorne, or Wally Wood, but more often than not, the art was by capable but mediocre journeymen artists and thus these stories lack that extra appeal.Still, the stories are a fun read and its great to see these in print after nearly fifty years.

Finally! Some well deserved recognition.
Time had a funny way of creating a rosy memory of certain people, places and things of childhood. I can honestly say that this is one instance in which the memory was spot on. While other kids thrilled to reading the exploits of Marvel and DC comic superheroes, I was mesmerized by the Whitman/ Gold Key comics. The titles of Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery, Twilight Zone, Ripley's Believe it or Not! and the countless other TV and movie tie-ins. The art was great, stories were fascinating and the lush, paintings that adorned the covers really sucked you in as a kid. This deluxe, hardbound edition 1 of BK Tales of Mystery is nothing short of stupendous. The first 4 issues are here in full color with front and back covers reproduced as well. No more hunting down "reader copies" of old , musty comics or paying through the nose for high grade issues that you would have to keep in a bag. This volume was an obvious labor of love by the folks at Dark Horse. Learn about the artists and writers( mostly uncredited originally). You'll be amazed at some of the talent that worked on these( Frank Miller!). If you loved these comics as a kid, this is a great opportunity to visit with an "old friend" that has certainly aged well. Enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description
Being able to know and work with Sara Jane Karloff on this project has been a highlight of my career.Hopefully this book is the most thorough, accurate and entertaining chronicle of her father, Boris Karloff''s, fascinating life.Perhaps a few Karloff mysteries have been solved.—Scott Allen Nollen ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

"To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die"
"Boris Karloff: A Gentleman's Life" is one of a myriad of books on the late artist, but makes up for its later presence by being very intricate - it was written with the cooperation of Karloff's only child, daughter Sara Jane - and well done, offering a few insights in his life that have not been discussed as in depth in other biographies.

Although Karloff's English childhood (spent under the name of William Henry Pratt) does not get as much attention as one might hope, it gives an otherwise deft account of his family and ancestry, including his previous-to-now somewhat glossed over Indian heritage. The book is rather succint in the beginning, covering his early steps in Canadian theater, silent films, and Hollywood talkies up to the obvious mile marker, Frankenstein, in 1931. It is after that film that a lot of the book's detail kicks in - relationship with the SAG, that to his daughter, his latter two wives, Dorothy and Evelyn, that of Evelyn and Sara Jane, his disregard of the ever-increasing accolades (he had his Grammy award used as a doorstop) and a great deal of detail on his performance in and the history of Arsenic and Old Lace (he got the job when he promised to not "to eat the baby in the last act"), even his impish sense for pranks. The persons involved are shown as genuine people with their own issues, especially Evelyn I think, something not done as much as in the otherwise stellar "Dear Boris" by Cynthia Lindsay. The book is illustrated with photos that are a bit grainy at times but are of a great variety, as is the appendices on Karloff's roles.

Grateful to have work and delighted for it to be something he loved, Karloff was the quintessential English country gentleman who, as his daughter once said, "made a living scaring children and little old ladies."Although it his role as the Frankenstein Creature that made him a star, it was truly Karloff's patience, dedication, talent and kindness that endeared him to so many.

A very well researched portrait of the gentle craftsman
The author has done a most commendable job researching and developing his central thesis: That Mr. Karloff was indeed not only a fine actor who was truly dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in his craft, but also aconcerned and active gentleman who pursued a dignified union to protect theprofession he loved. This book is highly reccomended for not only theexisting fans (who will already know much of the information present inthis volume) but also to the new Karloff fans as well as anyone interestedin the history of acting and Hollywood. The author also makes a strong casethat Karloff needs to be rightly placed along side the other greats ofHollywood and Broadway history. A good entertaining and enlightening read.

This is what BIOGRAPHY should be!
I long have been a fan of the great actor Boris Karloff, but I now have an entirely different perspective of him as a HUMAN BEING after reading Scott Allen Nollen's BORIS KARLOFF: A GENTLEMAN'S LIFE.One always thought of such stories as rumor, but Nollen's book PROVES what a WONDERFUL manKarloff was, while simultaneously scaring the hell out of us!Anyoneinterested in the power of film should read this book.What a fascinatinglife, as well as film career!

Revealing the man beneath the makeup.
Much has been written about Boris Karloff in terms of the characters he played. Until now,very few have known, much less understood, Karloff's passion for the craft and vocation of acting, his profound work ethic, andthe dedication, depth and humanity he brought to even his least celebratedroles. Until now, virtually nothing was known about the man's personal lifeand loves.

Scott Allen Nollen fills a deep gap in the legacy left to usby the distinguished British actor, who was instrumental in theestablishment of the horror genre of film, the Screen Actors Guild, andeven the popularization of television as an entertainment medium. And hedoes it beautifully.

"Boris Karloff: A Gentleman's Life" takesus behind the outlandish makeup jobs, the B-movie schtick and the"official" histories, to the place from which the essentialhumanity of Frankenstein's "creature" comes. It reveals a trulygentle - and genteel - soul, whose love for the theatre and for film wasthe source of both his greatest joys, and greatest sorrows.

This is avery important book for Karloff fans, film buffs, and readers whoappreciate solid biography tastefully done. A breakthrough book for anemerging author whose time has come. ... Read more

Product Description
The result of nearly 15 years of research, this comprehensive analysis of Boris Karloff's life and career, incorporates criticism, in-depth production information, discussion of major cinematic themes and characters, and a look at the historical periods and events depicted in the films. Extensive biographical and career information is dovetailed with a discussion of the classic Hollywood era in order to examine Karloff's overall contribution to American cinema.

Each of Karloff's horror films is examined at length, as well as his contributions to other media. Over 100 posters, portraits, film scenes and candid photos illustrate the text, and numerous contemporaries (Evelyn Karloff, Laurence Olivier, Henry Brandon, Ian Wolfe, Zita Johann, others) are quoted throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Thorough look at Karloff's best work!
This is the first of Nollen's books that I read--a comprehensive discussion of the best work of the great Boris Karloff, including all his major "terror films." Written over two decades, with the participation of Karloff's widow and many colleagues, this is the best scholarly critique of Karloff's films, plus an excellent general biography. For THE BEST biography of Karloff, see Nollen's second Karloff book, BORIS KARLOFF: A GENTLEMAN'S LIFE, soon to be reprinted by Luminary Press. Karloff and classic film films, get both Nollen books--THIS ONE is the best one on the films, and GENTLEMAN'S LIFE is the best on the life + great stuff on the films. This book is massive, has many great and rare photos from the author's collection, and is beautifully bound. McFarland books are a bit expensive, but this one is worth every penny. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

First rate book on the filmography of Hollywood's Gentle Monster.
Superb book from the Citadel press Actor's series, detailing the films and life of Boris Karloff.
All of Karloff's films are covered from the early silent days where he was a bit actor, through his transitional period in the 30s and through his ensuing stardom as the greatest of all Horror actors.
Loaded with rare photographs and behind the scenes anecdotes on his classic films, this along with the same author's "Films of Bela Lugosi" are essential in any Horror fan's book collection.

Note of sadness: The author of this book passed away earlier this month. Thank you, Mr. Bojarski for the wonderful book. May it continue to entertain further generations. ... Read more

Product Description
Since his death in 1969, Boris Karloff remains one of Hollywood’s most famous figures. He is still revered for his talent, his many qualities that earned him admiration and respect,and,of course, his landmark role as the Monster in the 1931 movie classic Frankenstein.This biography, the result of many years of interviews and extensive research, examines Karloff the person, as well as the actor. His work (which lasted more than half a century) in films, radio, television, and the theater is covered in detail, highlighted with accounts by many who knew him and worked with him. Among the contributors are Robert Anderson, Peter Bogdanovich, Ray Bradbury, Julie Harris, Tony Randall, Ronald Reagan, Eli Wallach, and Jonathan Winters. With the support of the Karloff family, Gordon Shriver pays tribute to this much-loved performer who will never be forgotten. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Not What It should Have Been
The best thing about this book is the cover photo, an early portrait of Karloff, probably from about 1920. (The photo reappears in the section of the book devoted to photos, but no date is given.) Other than that, I can't say I'm too impressed. The writing is very poor and amateurish, with lots of typos, incorrect punctuation (there are sentences inside parentheses within another sentence...like this), and very cursory writing. Some things seem lifted right out of other books or articles. There is, for just one example, mention of a play Karloff did on Broadway, but then for three paragraphs the author rattles on about other people in the play. Let's save that for books about them, shall we? We're focusing on Karloff here!

Karloff's early career is pretty much glossed over, I suppose falling outside the purview of this work. The most in-depth coverage is of his last few years, but even then it's hit or miss. The author apparently found a few details about some things and included them, but simply skipped over whole sections where he didn't have that information. Much space is devoted to comments from various people who knew or worked with Karloff in his later years. And too much space is devoted to reviews of plays and movies he did that concentrate on the quality of the plays/movies or other actors with only passing mention of Karloff's performance in them.

Much of the final portion is taken up with a filmography, a list of theatre and TV appearances, recordings, and an index. In fact, the actual text starts on page 5 and ends at page 142. And 15 of those 137 pages are photos. So out of 208 pages, you're actually getting only 122 pages of text. In other words, only 59% of the book is actual text! For a man who lived to be 81 and worked nearly to the end of his days, that's a pretty slim summary of his life! And at $17.00 for a paperback, this wasn't a cheap book, either. Can you spell rip-off?

Actually, those appendices -- the filmography, TV appearances, theatre work, recordings, etc. -- constitute the most informative part of the book. One ventures to guess that the author probably copied these from some other source. Whatever their genesis, they and that cover photo are the true values here.

The author lists among his writing credits Famous Monsters of Filmland, a magazine I remember well from my high-school years when it was first published. I think perhaps that's where his growth as a writer halted. Quite disappointing.

Karloff Biography
A beautifully written biography, the author explores with much affection the actor whose personal life was juxtaposed to "the monster" he is best known for portraying.A must-read for horror/terror fans as well as theatre/movie buffs.

A Man to Remember
This is a detailed review of the life of Boris Karloff by an author who performed a vast amount of research and who has a true fondness for the person he was writing about.The picture of Karloff presented in this book changed my perception of the man greatly. Very well done.I recommend it highly to anyone who is only vagurely familiar with Mr. Karloff and his work.

A Must For Karloff Fans
The other day I was fairly well sure I was going to be having a bad day. I had an afternoon appointment to see a medical specialist for an exam; I was on pins and needles with anxiety. (Turns out I'm fine.) But did I have a bad day? No. I had just gotten in the mail a new book that cheered me and entertained me--Gordon F. Shriver's BORIS KARLOFF: THE MAN REMEMBERED. I read it all the way through the same day I got it! The basic facts of Karloff's life won't be new to anyone who has read other bios on The King Of Horror. But Mr. Shriver has painstakingly assembled a large gathering of anecdotes and details of Boris' personal and professional life that WILL be new to fans of Karloff, and has provided as well as a few photos that won't be familiar at all to Karloff aficionados.

Any Karloff kompletist will want this next to his/her copy of Cynthia Lindsay's DEAR BORIS. (I think of them as companion volumes.) You will know Boris better. You will also get a better sense of what Evie Karloff, Boris' last wife, was like, and for that we can be grateful as well. Really--if you like classic horror films, and enjoy biography, do yourself a favor and get this book!

A Lifetime Labor of Love
Evidently, Gordon Shriver has been a big fan of one of the greatest actors (not to mention human beings, as we discover) of the 20th Century. Apart from a few too many typos and other printer's errors, this book is an easy to read and thoroughly indexed work for your movie masters' shelves. I was alternately thrilled and awed by the sheer number of people Karloff touched - professionally and personally. Gordon Shriver managed to meet or otherwise correspond with literally dozens of them; their kind and candid obseervations and charming anecdotes bring a fresh perspective to a movie star much maligned. In light of the most recent retrospective of Boris' work, shown at the Film Forum, NYC, this loving tribute will be most welcomed by karloff fans old and new everywhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

S T O R I E S....A N D....S P O O K I N E S S.....F O R....T H O U G H T
This small, unobtrusive paperback contains 124 numbered pages, and 26
delightfully spooky and wonderfully terrifying stories.Each story is preceeded by a full-page, on which is written only the title of the story, and whose story it is, (for instance, "The Man In The Raincoat" -- The story of Sylvester Dodge, "The Deadly Dress" -- The story of Delores Martinez", are the first two.) Each title has, after it, "The story of...", and is written in such a style as to make the reader believe that these strange stories actually did occur.

I am privileged to have been able to watch the TV show "Thriller", starring Boris Karloff, when it first appeared on TV. All of the stories are told in the same matter-of-fact, easy-to-understand, yet chilling manner, with which Mr. Karloff introduced the stories on his TV show.Many of the stories start with a question in the first few sentences, which invite the reader to suspend disbelief, and become involved -- totally involved -- in the short stories, (none of them over five pages in length), given.For instance, the first paragraph of "The Graveyard Nine", (The story of the Ravenswood Rangers), goes like this:
/
/
/
/

Terror knows no one peculiar country, no native ground.Nor
does it discriminate against men because of their race,
color or religion.Terror has invaded all countries, all
homes, all professions.....and possibly, therein lies the
lawful fright of Terror.Now, would you ever believe that
Terror could infiltrate upon the placid, green fields of
baseball?Come, sit yourself beside me, and look out upon
the playing field, while I tell you the eerie and uncanny
history of the Ravenswood Rangers...a baseball team like
no other.
/
/
/
/

Into each story, the reader thus is drawn. The print is large and
well-spaced, the stories short, and ....shuddery, and to the, er...point.
Yes, these stories are just MADE to be read by those in the Baby Boom
generation and later....as they are each short enough to be read through, even by us -- we who have, all too often, had our attention-spans shortened, and often, almost obliterated, by constant exposure to ten minute segments between tv commercials.No -- there is NO excuse, and (yipes!) just about no way out.Once a pe4son starts reading one of these terrifying and, (for the moment, anyway), totally believably real stories, one must, perforce, continue for the three or three and a half more pages, till the end of the tale.And then, mayhap...start another?

It is stated on the back cover that Boris Karloff recorded the stories in this book, TALES OF THE FRIGHTENED, on Mercury Records. So, if you cannot read the print, or the candles or electricity blow out, or are just too frightened to hold the book open and read it....you still vcan know these stories, if you wish!

None of these stories is diappointing.All will give you thrills and chills....and perhaps a bad dream or two.I wish more of them had happy endings...but they all do make you think.Expanding one's consciousness by reading of things most probably undreampt-of by most people, is the "raison d'etre" for most ghost stories, as far as I'm concerned.And there is most truly, much "food for thought", in this slim volume!

The text here is by a gentleman named Michael Avallone, but I am quite sure that Boris Karloff himself must have given Mr. Avallone much inspiration on how the tales are to be told, and, perhaps, the very stories of these tales, themselves.True or not, they all have the knowing, laid-back style I remember so well from Mr. Karloff's spoken words on "Thriller".When I first saw the show, in fact, I was SO young I knew nothing else about Mr. Karloff except that he was the host of this TV show.He seemed to be very intelligent, and very much the gentleman....and I had no idea at all why my parents were apprehensive about my watching him, and his show.My paperback copy states the original date of copyright of this volume as 1847...hah, hah, little joke there! No, no -- the real original copyright date is given as 1963, by Lyle Kenyon Engle,1963 was also about the time that the "Thriller" program was on TV.A later copyright date, 1973, is above the 1963 date, and seems to have superceded it.Underneath is a message stating, "This book is......."Well, maybe I won't tell tell you the exact words, but it does say whether this is a fiction or non-fiction book!

All in all, a small, perhaps overlooked classic of twenty-six terrifying tales.Because of the copyright dates, a reader can be sure that this is a "PG" rated volume -- gore is kept to a true miniumum, and descriptions of same is left mainly to the reader's imagination.Sex is even less in evidence -- it is allurement, and the beauty of a woman which is described here, not the sex act itself.There is no need, of course, for prolonged sex or violence in a book like this.Terror and trepidation are largely left up to the reader to imagine.To me, this is all for the good -- expanding the imaginationm and allowing a reader to draw pictures in his or her own mind, of what is happening, are what stories like these should do.Or -- as I once descibed the difference between modern, all-too-graphic movies, and the old-fashioned kind, "There are horror stories -- and then there are horrIBLE stories!" These are DEFINITELY
simply horror stories.And all of them are good ones!

In his last movie, Boris Karloff played an ageing horror movie actor.A young man, making present-day "R" and "X" rated horror movies, told Mr. Karloff's character, "YOUR MOVIES REALLY BLEW MY MIND!"Mr. Karloff's character looks, slowly and disapprovingly, at the young man before him, before summing up his, (and paranthetically, my own), feelings in one, magnificient word: "OBVIOUSLY"! (Yayyyyyyy!!!! Thanks Mr. Karloff!!!!)

A good horror story, well-told, leaving the reader and the reader's imagination to fill in the details.No excess blood.No excess gore.Just a story that allows a person to think on good, and on evil, and why there is a difference, and what that difference is.In stories, and in titles like: "You Can Take It With You", "The Phantom Soldier", "Say Good Night To Mr. Sporko", "Portrait In Hell", "Terror In The Window", "The Barking Dog", "Terror In The Window", "The Barking Dog",....and many others, there is much to think about and ponder on.As you read these stories....and ever afterwards, as well!

p. S. WARNING: Read them yourself, before giving it to a super-sensitive child -- or adult.And be SURE to read the copyright page first....which tells the real truth, as to whether these are merely fiction stories, made from someone's imagination,...or not!

... Read more

Product Description

Everyone knows Rudyard Kipling's animals are the ones most worthknowing anywhere. This collection—beautifully performed by Boris Karloff—includes Kipling's Just So Stories (where we meet the animals when the world was new—so new, in fact, that the Rhinoceros had not yet losthis buttons!) and stories from his timeless classic, The Jungle Book.

Customer Reviews (72)

A book every child should know
Kipling is criticized nowadays for his imperialism and jingoistic views, but his two major children's books (this one and The Jungle Books: Complete and Unabridged (Puffin Classics)) remain undying classics that every kid should know.His eloquent and often original language also make them delightful read-alouds.The twelve Just-So Stories were originally told to his little daughter Josephine (and in fact three of them feature "little girl-daughters" and their daddies) and are for the most part pourquoi tales in a traditional folkloric style--explanations of how the whale got "his tiny throat," the camel his hump, the rhinoceros his wrinkly skin and terrible temper, the leopard his spots, the elephant his trunk, the kangaroo his shape; how armadillos came to be, how the tides began, how the cat became a part of humanity's world, how the first letter was written and the alphabet invented.(The last story, "The Butterfly That Stamped," is "quite different from the other stories--a story about the Most Wise Sovereign...Solomon the Son of David.")Every kid should own some edition of these tales and have them read aloud as soon as he's old enough to understand them.They've been among my favorites since I was very young, and even now I wouldn't be without a copy.

Lost love rediscovered!
I love this recording.I listened to it for hours when I was little and now my son can too.My lp recording was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, so was thrilled to find it on CD.Mr. Karloff's voice is distinctivly captivating and the stories contain timeless wisdom.

A favorite for life
My mother enjoyed this book when she was a child, probably not long after it was first published, and she read it to me, over and over again, when I was a child.Kipling's use of language is unsurpassed anywhere, in my opinion.He taught me to love the sound of words..."the great grey green greasy Limpopo River all set about with fever trees..."-- who cannot, dearly beloved, be enchanted by that.It actually took my mother and me on a quest years ago to see that river and those fever trees.But that aside, there is no better book for teaching children to love books, reading, language, and the sound of words well placed and absolutely delicious.There is no dumbing down, and any silliness is whimsical and sophisticated.Anyone of any age who has not read this book should do so immediately.

Great Idea!I love this for bedtime
My kids love to listen to stories or music at bedtime and I think this is an especially good CD for developing their vocabulary and love of language.It keeps them engaged and they love it.I also do product reviews on my website [...]

The stories never grow old...
These stories have been a joy in my life from childhood to now in my 7th decade.A great deal of the pleasure is in the reading aloud.Children love the alliterations, the completely fanciful ideas.Parents adore the superb English -- even the crazy made-up words!Don't waste a minute and read these to your children and grandchildren.You will enjoy them as much as the little ones do... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book for Boris Karloff fans.
For nearly 40 years Boris Karloff was the King Of Horror. Although there are several books on Karloff, author Paul Jensen spent years researching this study of this great actor.Meticulously detailed and illuminated with candor and affection. Includes many photos not found in other books, quotes from sources ignored in other biographies and a comprehensive filmography. A very nice tribute-- I would recommend it to his fans. ... Read more

Product Description
This reference work on Boris Karloff presents a comprehensive record of the life and career of this famous performer. The volume begins with a biography, which succinctly presents the facts of Karloff's life. A chronology of his significant achievements follows. The remaining chapters overview Karloff's broad career. Chapters document and comment upon his film, stage, radio, and television performances. A discography is included as well. The book concludes with an annotated bibliography of books and articles about Karloff, along with a comprehensive index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Fitting Academic Study
Beverly Buehrer's book is a well written academic text on the subject.Similar to others in this series of biographies, published by Greenwood Press, the first part is devoted to a snapsnot account of the actor's life and works.
Beverly is generous in allowing the reader to draw his own conclusions on certain aspects of Boris's life, such as his birth origin or the confusion in names of the various stock companies where he is said to have performed. Often she is able to make a willing argument as to why "facts" have been jumbled and muddled along the years.
His films, stage, radio, television, and recordings are all listed in an exhaustive (for 1993 !other accomplishments have surfaced since this book was written) index with items cross referenced.
I am a collector of Karloff, and appreciate the number of entertainment reviews she includes with each film-highlighting in particular those where Boris's name is mentioned.
Extra text and information is devoted to his major films such as the FRANKENSTEIN trilogy and the MUMMY.
There are a few editing errors scattered throughout (such as listing MAD GENIUS as Boris's final film for Warner Brothers--five more were to follow over the years) but for the average reader they are nothing of consequence. Biographers of Boris since Beverly's book, and those to come will check and cross-check their references so her mistakes will be rectified.
Although, since Scott Nollen's excellent books BORIS KARLOFF, A CRITICAL ACCOUNT... and BORIS KARLOFF, A GENTLEMAN'S LIFE, have been written, I doubt there is much more to say about the man !

I highly recommend this book for the academic minded person researching Boris Karloff. Performing Arts schools are encouraged to include this in book in their library. A fitting tribute to a very distinguished actor.
Those readers looking for a more biography-type book, may want to consult Scott Nollen's books. ... Read more