The Classic Movie Monsters Collection (aka, Classic Monsters of the Movies) is a British periodical (published by Stripey Media) which caters to precisely what its lurid label promises (in particular Universal and Hammer creations), but this ongoing series also probes spinoff avenues, namely investigative mystery coupled with psychological horror, as demonstrated by two of the title's recent releases.
And as with other Classic Monsters editions, writers/researchers/editors Nige Burton and Jamie Jones are responsible for these adroit submissions and perform an extraordinary service delivering the devilish goods on Psycho 1960 and The Wicker Man 1973. To enhance their presentations, their texts are adorned by stylish graphics and crisp photographs: pleasing additives through and through.
The Psycho tribute just hit print, and its bloody (ha ha) contents do much justice to Alfred Hitchcock's masterful adaptation of Robert Bloch's 1959 Ed Gein-ish novel. As such, screenwriter, Joseph (The Outer Limits) Stefano's reimagining of Bloch's frightful fable is detailed, as well as the movie's apt casting: Anthony Perkins as anguished mama's boy, Norman Bates; Janet Leigh as wayward Marion Crane; Vera Miles as Marion's concerned sister, Lila Crane; John Gavin as Marion's equally concerned gentleman friend, Sam Loomis; and let's not forget Martin Balsam as persistent detective, Milton Arbogast; plus several significant others.
Burton and Jones also cover the behind-the-scenes geniuses who abetted Hitch in making Psycho so significant. As such, there's Bernard Hermann, who composed the movie's most memorable (and harrowing) score, as well as Saul Bass, who created one of the finest opening-design sequences ever rendered.
To commemorate another chilling venture (also with strange, behavioral roots), Burton and Jones pay homage to the original The Wicker Man, a fiendish, folkish gem that grows fresher with each passing harvest.
For their collector's overview, the authors cater not only to director Robin Hardy's handling of David Pinner's novel, Ritual, as scripted by the skillful Anthony Shaffer, but the production's stellar headliners: Edward Woodward as pious Police Sergeant Howie and Christopher Lee as the sly Lord Summerisle, as well as the movie's splendid supporting players: Britt Ekland, Ingrid Pitt, Lindsay Kemp and Diane Cilento, to name but a few.
The movie's magnificent music composer, Paul Giovanni is highlighted, accompanied by cinematographer Harry Waxman and producer Peter Snell, all of whom helped give The Wicker Man its melodious, sexual vim.
The Wicker Man is a pagan-vs-Christian triumph that can't help but be (re)discovered, and Burton and Jones drive home that point from start to finish.
I love both Psycho and The Wicker Man to death (ahem), and I appreciate and admire Classic Movie Monsters for producing such respectful salutes.
To learn more about The Classic Movie Monsters Collection and its many in-depth volumes, visit
https://www.classic-monsters.com/shop/
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