David Pirie's acclaimed A Heritage of Horror was the first book on the British horror movie, and the first to detect and analyse the roots of British horror, identifying it as 'the only staple cinematic myth which Britain can properly claim as its own.' It has long been regarded as a trail-blazing classic, having the force of a revelation , according to one recent study of the subject, and heralded by Michael Powell and Martin Scorsese.Now with A New Heritage of Horror , David Pirie has revised his original work, bringing the story up to date and into the 21st century. Alongside the classic films of the twentieth century, all explored within the full context of their production and appearance on our screens, he examines the latest horror boom, inaugurated by such films as 'The Others' and '28 Days Later'. He has also uncovered fresh documentation from the original files for this new edition, to add more revelations about the history of UK horror and Hammer Films, not least the largely untold story of their desperate battles against censorship. He has further up-dated the original text and added new illustrations. The New Heritage of Horror promises to be one of the key film books of 2008.
ContentsIntroduction to new edition.Introduction to first edition.1 The Characteristics of English Gothic Literature'The Tempestuous Loveliness of Terror'Surrealism and the Gothic TraditionHorror and the Tyranny of Realism2 The Identification of HammerHammers OriginsThe Hiring of Terence FisherThe Press ReactionHammer and CensorshipHammer after FrankensteinThe Personalities of HammerJames Carreras and the American DimensonBray Studios3 The World of Terence Fisher4 Approaches to Frankenstein:Fisher, Francis and SangsterThe Frankenstein TV series.The Last Hammer Frankenstein movies.5 Approaches to Dracula6 Other Approaches to HorrorSadian MoviesThe Amicus Factor7 Three Satellite DirectorsDon SharpJohn GilllingVernon Sewell7 Science Fiction, Exoticism and PsychosisA Note on Comedy Horror9 A Renaissance of Themes and Ideas?Michael ReevesAfter WtchfinderHammer's Last Period10 Towards a New Horror MythologyLater UK HorrorStephen VolkStephen WoolleyClive BarkerThe New BoomFilmography and Index
