RKO Radio Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1929–1956

King Kong and The Thing from Another World are among the most popular horror and science fiction films of all time and both were made by RKO Radio Pictures. Between 1929 and 1956, RKO released more than 140 genre features, including The Most Dangerous Game, The Phantom of Crestwood, Before Dawn, The Monkey’s Paw, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, You’ll Find Out, The Spiral Staircase, The Enchanted Cottage, It’s a Wonderful Life, Captive Women and Killers from Space. RKO is remembered for its series of psychological horror movies produced by Val Lewton, including Cat People, I Walked with a Zombie, The Seventh Victim and The Body Snatcher. The studio also produced films in the adventure, comedy, fantasy, mystery and western genres. They released many Walt Disney classics—Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Pinocchio, Cinderella, Peter Pan—as well as several “Tarzan” features. This volume covers these movies in detail with critical and historical analysis, in-depth plot synopsis and numerous contemporary reviews.

Michael R. Pitts has written more than 40 books on motion picture history and entertainment and has also compiled more than three dozen volumes of local history and genealogy. He lives in Chesterfield, Indiana.

Michael R. Pitts
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 408
Bibliographic Info: 111 photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2015
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6047-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1683-4
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Preface  1

Feature Films  7

Selected Short Subjects  366

Chronology  377

Bibliography  380

Index  383