Science Fiction Confidential

David Hedison, who plays a tiny human-headed insect menaced by a spider at the climax of The Fly (1958), says the moviemakers spoiled the scene by giving him a squeaky voice. “Imagine if, as the camera moved in closer, you actually heard me screeeeaming for my life. That is horror. That is horror.”
In Tom Weaver’s eighth interview book, Hedison—and 22 other moviemakers—talk about their horror and science fiction movie experiences as part of such films and TV series as The Blob, It Came from Outer Space, Tarzan the Ape Man, Star Trek, The Wild Wild West, Somewhere in Time, The Devil Bat and Forbidden Planet. Among those interviewed are Dan O’Herlihy, Kate Phillips, John Alvin, Anthony Cardoza, Tod Griffin, Alex and Richard Gordon, Suzanne Kaaren, and Warren Stevens. Full credits are provided for the actors, actresses, and producers.

Tom Weaver lives in Sleepy Hollow, New York, and has been interviewing moviemakers since the early 1980s. The New York Times called him one of the leading scholars in the horror field and USA Today has described him as the king of the monster hunters. Classic Images called him “the best interviewer we have today.” He is a frequent contributor to numerous film magazines and has been featured in the prestigious Best American Movie Writing. A frequent DVD audio commentator, he is the author of numerous reference and other nonfiction books about American popular culture.

Tom Weaver
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 320
Bibliographic Info: 124 photos, filmographies, index
Copyright Date: 2010 [2002]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4516-5
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1677-3
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      vii

John Alvin      1

John D.F. Black on The Unearthly      15

Eve Brent      24

Anthony Cardoza on The Beast of Yucca Flats      37

Audrey Dalton      47

Phoebe Dorin      59

Russ Doughten      79

Elaine DuPont      99

Robert Ellenstein      110

Alex Gordon on The She-Creature      122

Richard Gordon on Mother Riley Meets the Vampire      144

Tod Griffin      153

David Hedison      167

Kathleen Hughes      186

Suzanne Kaaren      197

Denny Miller      207

Dan O’Herlihy      220

Kate Phillips      234

Kasey Rogers      247

Jacqueline Scott      263

Warren Stevens      277

Lyn Thomas      287

Darlene Tompkins      296

Index      305

“one of the leading scholars in the horror field”—New York Times; “the king of the monster hunters”—USA Today; “one of our foremost fantasy film historians”— Sight & Sound; “cheerfully upbeat, generously illustrated”—Booklist; “the king of the interviews…something for everyone who loves any kind of film, and it’s never dull…Tom Weaver is amazing, and long may he rule”—Classic Images; “Tom Weaver has enjoyed a lengthy career writing about the horror genre through his reference guides and countless magazine contributions. His interviews are thorough and informative but presented conversationally, as though he is simply visiting with an old friend. Weaver expertly guides the talk in a way that allows him to ask his questions in an informal manner, and likely he received a more detailed answer than if he had approached the subject as a journalist would”—horrortalk.com; “fascinating…genuinely obscure personalities…amazing stories…interesting and informative, while continually unearthing odd tidbits…a terrific read”—Shock Cinema; “addictive”—VideoScope; “Tom Weaver is the king of film historians”—Starlog; “lengthy, comprehensive interviews…Weaver clearly knows his sci-fi films…wonderful still photos”—Hitch; “great…Weaver scores again”—Little Shoppe of Horrors; “you’ll want this one”—Filmfax; “refreshing and welcome…another winner from the genre’s best”—Horror-Wood “his interviews are polished, well constructed and uncommonly professional”—Sci Fi.