TO BE VERY HONEST with you, over the past year or two, I've found myself getting quite cynical and disappointed, about some of the #PeterCushing, #Hammerfilm, #Amicusfilms 'product' rolling out and claiming our hard earned coffers. Repackaged blu rays with lean extras, books that recycle well worn tales, with the style and presentation of a cheap mag and for all the world is presented like a male order seed cataloge. Documentaries, with the slimmest of threads or themes on which to hang 90 minutes of 'who-he?' talking heads and footage culled from fly blown trailers, where the words claim to be HIS very own, but everyone else's and rarely his. Distributors like #Indicator and #Network seem to be the only companies with a conscience and quality control. Yup, I still purchase, I order and moan. BUT the one thing above all of these gripes, which for me personally, regarding BOOKS, that sort-out the standards of 'worth my lolly, worth re reading and a job well done' is the tight-fisted meanness, bad editing skills of VISUAL content.
FOR ME, maybe I am on my own, film is more so a visual medium. I love or hate the score, but seeing stills, a visual token of a scene or emotive happening in a film, is what sells or includes me in on what's being shared, communicated by the writer or even press book. So, why do so many authors of cinematic tomes, present us with match box size photographs?? The film was made to be presented on the BIG SCREEN. Write you description on the still, present the behind the scenes photograph with coffee cup stain, fine. It's better than nothing. But, give a full size, colour, bleeding off the page vintage press or archive photograph, and you'll make my day. Sadly, by the time I get ten pages into a book, I don't get many happy days. . . .
THAT WAS UNTIL, last week, when I received John Walsh's #DrWhoandthe Daleks' : The Official Story of the Film. The Christmas break, tripped up my postman/woman delivery, so a trek to the sorting office, that should have been taken on a raft or canoe, was quite the adventure, BUT it was very much worth it. Why? I'll tell you . . .
DEPENDING ON your age, the memory of lying on your bed for hours, studying the fine detail of full page colour photograph of Peter Cushing as Arthur Grimsdyle, after crawling out of the grave, now upright and stalking through that gothic Amicus crooked gravestone cemetery, conjured up, in a magical other worldly blue filtered fog... the took the amazing eye of Norman Warwick's cinematography and Tony Curtis, art direction.. was for me, hypnotic. Author Alan Franks four Horror film hardback books, were capable of pulling in me and thousands of other teenage horror film fans, into that world. Such was the power of the photographs. We learned much from the text and critiques, but those photographs, said a thousand words. Walsh's impressive book, is standing in those same foundations. And, I am not the only one who thinks so of the book . .
'John Walsh tells the story behind these movies in a well-pitched and considered style. . . as someone who does know the subject matter, I was quite surprised by the number of things I didn't previously know. However,
where the book excels is the quality and quantity of photographs. Walsh
had access to both the Studio Canal archives and a number of private
collectors, and as such, brings together a great number of previously
unpublished photos. - Amazon Review
'John
Walsh has done it again, finally a book to celebrate the cinematic
adventures of Dr Who. This book is a lavishly illustrated tribute to
Peter Cushing's colourful adventures, fighting the Daleks. I'm old
enough to have caught The first film on it's re-release in the early
seventies with my Brother and late Mum. . .' - J.R. Cook
'Amazing! From the moment I opened the book and was greeted by the original Dalek plans on the end papers I was hooked. The research that has gone into this to pull out fascinating behind the scenes details of not only the filming but the advertising and the merchandise is amazing. I'll be reading, re-reading and reading again. WHOray!' - Lord Andy
'Author and film expert John Walsh
has unearthed a treasure trove of archive material, interviews and
stunning artwork, and takes us through the whole process of translating
the metal monsters from small screen to big. In-depth information on the
production, design, casting and special effects is accompanied by
full-colour illustrations, including props, posters, and
behind-the-scenes photography – making it the perfect gift for fans of
the films.' - Tardis Data Core
THERE ARE MORE, many more just like the above. Reviews and blog appreciations. Walsh has managed to not only present THE book on the history and making of what was, quite a cinematic event. It was no easy task, bringing a concept from the monochrome tv screen, to the full colour big screen and wider audience. Here now, is a book that not only connects with those who are, older fans of the films, factually and visually, but also emotionally. Many of us saw these films as children, in the cinema or at home on tv re-runs with our families, grannies. For many, that's quite a relationship and one that Walsh has bridged across time and memory, to make the perfect and personal connection. Quite a talent and skill. Here's a benchmark, maybe one that future authors of our precious cinematic memories and passions, might want to take a look at too.....
John Walsh is an award-winning London-based filmmaker. He is a double
BAFTA and double Grierson Awards nominee for his ground-breaking work
ranging from television series to feature films. John's documentary on
Ray Harryhausen (Movement Into Life) is held in the Ray and Diana
Harryhausen Foundation's archiveHis books include Harryhausen: The Lost Movies, Flash Gordon: The
Official Story of the Film, Escape From New York: The Official Story of
the Film .
Marcus Brooks
Dr Who and the Daleks: The Official Story of the Films
Hardcover 160 pages
Dimensions: 26.16 x 1.83 x 31.27 cm
ISBN-10
:
1803360186
ISBN-13
:
978-1803360188
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