To honor what would have been Bela Lugosi's 139th birthday, I urge you to check out Gary D. Rhodes' latest two nonfiction books (written in collaboration with Bill Kaffenberger), BECOMING DRACULA: THE EARLY YEARS OF BELA LUGOSI VOL. 1 and BECOMING DRACULA: THE EARLY YEARS OF BELA LUGOSI VOL. 2. Read together, these books form a nearly 900-page magnum opus that delves into Lugosi's formative experiences as a struggling actor from 1882 to 1930 (the year before the release of Tod Browning's DRACULA) with infinitely greater depth than any previous attempt by film historians. I highly recommend reading both books in a row.
PRAISE FOR BECOMING DRACULA:
“Dracula left his native land and crossed the waters by ship in search of fresh killing fields. Bela Lugosi headed for America not looking for blood but for a fresh start. Gary D. Rhodes and Bill Kaffenberger, with their usual precise and careful scholarship, chronicle Lugosi’s attempts to establish himself on stage and screen in his new homeland. While fans might think they are familiar with this period in Bela’s life, this excellently written book will provide them with many surprises and an astonishing amount of detail.”
--Henry Nicolella, author of FRANK WISBAR and MANY SELVES: THE HORROR AND FANTASY FILMS OF PAUL WEGENER
“By presenting a staggering wealth of well researched details, Gary D. Rhodes and Bill Kaffenberger create not only the context but the humanity of Lugosi becoming Dracula. Their portrait-in-words is nuanced, revealing and sympathetic, but still preserves the mystery and majesty of this most charismatic of actors. They introduce the reader to the Hungarian-American subculture in which Lugosi found himself when he arrived on the shores of the United States. Lugosi was initially the big fish in that small pond, but the authors portray his emergence into the vast ocean of Broadway and Hollywood and the fascination Lugosi created with his unique presence there.”
--Steve Haberman, screenwriter of DRACULA: DEAD AND LOVING IT and
author of SILENT SCREAMS: THE HISTORY OF THE SILENT HORROR FILMS
If you're not completely Lugosied out by that point, take a deep dive into BELA LUGOSI AND THE MONOGRAM NINE (coauthored by Gary D. Rhodes and Yours Truly), an in-depth analysis of the nine Poverty Row films in which Lugosi starred during World War II. You can hear Gary and I discussing this book at great length during the October 22, 2019 episode of Roejen Razorwire's PROJECT ARCHIVIST. Click HERE to listen to the entire discussion.
PRAISE FOR BELA LUGOSI AND THE MONOGRAM NINE:
"BELA LUGOSI AND THE MONOGRAM NINE,
by Gary Rhodes and Robert Guffey, critically and wonderfully examines a
series of no-budget films made by no-budget Monogram Studios in the
1940s featuring Lugosi that are among the most wonderfully odd cinematic
follies ever made--surrealistic, straight from the subconscious,
sometimes stupid, at moments seeming to spring from the mind of Bunuel,
and in the next, an idea Ed Wood would have discarded as too
unbelievable. But, movies always unlike any others, and at their best
seeming like fever dreams through which Lugosi calmly walks in evening
clothes carrying a flaming blowtorch. I highly recommend this book."
--JACK WOMACK, author of RANDOM ACTS OF SENSELESS VIOLENCE and LET'S PUT THE FUTURE BEHIND US
"Gary
Rhodes has become my favorite nonfiction author, while the subject of
some of his writings, Bela Lugosi, has long been one of my favorite
actors. Now Gary has teamed up with co-author Robert Guffey to present,
for the first time, a collection of in-depth and insightful essays
evaluating those lesser ‘classics’ that comprise the so-called ‘Monogram
Nine.’ If you are a Lugosi fan and also a fan of old ‘B’ horror films,
you will love this book."
--DONALD F. GLUT, filmmaker, Marvel Comics writer, and author of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK novelization
"An
extraordinary volume. Rhodes and Guffey refract these films through
the lens of surrealism, detailed genre study, auteurist-informed close
readings, star studies, and vigorous historicism to name a few of the
kaleidoscope of methods employed. This book provides a breakthrough
model for serious work on films that have to date received very little
scholarly attention.”
--MICHAEL LEE, Ph.D. (University of Oklahoma), editor at the journal HORROR STUDIES
"It
would require an enthusiastic writing team such as Gary Rhodes and
Robert Guffey to bring respect and probing inquiry to these Lugosi films
from Monogram Studios. Are the films minor miracles or minor
masterpieces? This book is food for thought in that area. For too long,
'the nine' was considered throw-away entertainment. Watch it once, then
forget it. The authors of this book demur [...]. I
encourage every monster fan to get this book. You’ll love it. The
treasure chest of Monogram classics is shown knowledgeable evaluation
and context at long last."
--MICHAEL COPNER, MONDO CULT ONLINE
"Containing
several chapters offering different variations on its subject matter,
Rhodes and Guffey explore the films Lugosi made at Monogram with an
open-minded approach, an intelligent appreciation, and a historical
knowledge. Even those of us long familiar with these films will be
enlightened by the further information provided in these essays [...].
The reader's understanding of film history, production, and promotion
will be enhanced by this exceptionally intelligent text.
"BELA
LUGOSI AND THE MONOGRAM NINE is a book that needs to be included in any
library, research center, or personal collection that even hopes to be
considered at all comprehensive. For fans of film history, of Lugosi, of
the horror genre, or of B movies, BELA LUGOSI AND THE MONOGRAM NINE is
an absolute must."
--JAMES L. NEIBAUR, author of THE MONSTER MOVIES OF UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
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