Amazing True Adventures of Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack: The Creators of King Kong

by George E. Turner

Historian Scott Allen Nollen has been studying, writing and lecturing about Boris Karloff since 1976. Educated in film and history at the University of Iowa, he has written and edited more than 40 books on the history of film, literature and music.  This authorized biography, first published in 1999, is the second of his three books on Karloff.

Genres: Biography, Film, Nonfiction, Media Tie In

96 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2005

About the author

A former editor of American Cinematographer, George Turner has also worked as a production illustrator and special effects artist in films and television. Prior to those experiences, he was a newspaperman in Texas. A graduate of West Texas State University, he attended the Art Institute of Chicago and the American Academy of Art, and took private classes with Ramon Froman, Ben Mead, Stefan Kramar, Bud Biggs and Gerry Pearce. He has written and illustrated numerous books, including The Making of King Kong (with Orville Goldner), Forgotten Horrors (with Michael Price), Murder in the Palo Duro, Panhandle Portrait and Secrets of Billy the Kid. His stories, articles, cartoons, and illustrations have appeared in many magazines. His film credits include Ray Bradbury's Infinite Horizons, One from the Heart, Outland, Zorro and Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author had a self proclaimed obsession with Karloff since childhood. Over the years he managed to interview everyone who had met Karloff either face to face (Karloff’s last wife and his only daughter were huge sources), by letter, by phone or just did massive amounts of research. As an example of his devotion to minutiae, he interviewed Nancy Sinatra by phone and found out that Karloff was a “sweet dear man.” Nancy and Boris had parts in a very forgettable “beach horror film” called The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini. That he took that job shows Karloff’s inclination to accept nearly any part offered, not for need of money but a near mania to keep working. At the time of that particular movie he spent much of his time in a wheelchair and was in constant pain suffering from old back injuries, emphysema, and a heart condition. The book’s subtitle, A Gentleman’s Life, is taken too far.

Of course, no one who picks up this book is going to do so to hear over and over that Karloff was a great gentleman and a dear sweet man. In fact, the book could have done with a lot less of that. As a film and general biography the book is both readable and complete. It also has a very authoritative bibliography, notes and appendix section. I doubt a more complete review of his life and sixty plus year working life in film, stage, recording, television and writing could be done. He had the blessing of Karloff’s daughter and current caretaker of his reputation, Sara Jane Karloff. You might say that could skew Nollen’s assessment of his subject but I don’t really see a problem with that here.

The primary worth of this book is found in the assessment of Karloff’s life and long professional career. He was born in suburban London in 1887 to a family of Anglo-Indian diplomats and professionals. As a young man he left for Canada to go his own way and try to get into acting. He worked alternately in theater and films as well as a variety of laboring jobs until Frankenstein came along in 1931. The monster made his career. Prior to that movie he had been in 81 film parts and was already middle-aged.

Karloff’s professionalism and hard work is obvious. He worked until very near his death in 1969. All of his professional work is covered here. The book is terrific for those interested in all 206 films that he worked in, plus theater, sound recordings, etc. For those who think he was only a portrayer of monsters in heavy makeup this will be very enlightening. His range was quite amazing and I suspect you will be looking for films to view, rent or buy.

[Billy Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tremendously in depth on the career of Karloff for sure but at points this book devolves into a collage of names that the reader doesn't know unless they're an expert on the golden age of Television and Movies. I will say that close to 90% of the names that are added into paragraphs, seemingly for more gravitas, are completely lost on me. I would've liked to have more in depth analyses of his movies and acting itself but it is mostly kept in the broad strokes kind of verbiage.

Boris does come off as an exceedingly lovable man, a fantastic actor and good person in general. The same cannot be said of his final wife Evie, what with how she treats his biological daughter Sara Jane.

Fair warning to readers the print in this book is minuscule, 271 pages mixed with many pictures took me two weeks to finish. If this was set in regular sized print I believe this book would break 400 pages. The writer can get a bit *too* into Karloff at points, sometimes sounding like he is speaking of a Catholic Saint or Messiah-like figure which can get grating and tiring, requiring more than once for me to take a break and read a lighter book for a while.

If you're interested in the acting career of Boris this is a very good book, but if you want to know how people felt about him and his legacy than this is the number one book for that.