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Hollywood's Maddest Doctors: Lionel Atwill, Colin Clive and George Zucco
Finally a biography on those titans of terror from the Golden Age of Horror Lionel Atwill (Doctor X, Mystery of the Wax Museum), Colin Clive (Frankestein) and George Zucco (The Flying Serpent). Author Gregory Mank delves into the lives and careers of three of the actors who helped shape the modern horror film. A thrilling and involving story as the reader delves into the Hollywood of the 1930s and 1940s and discovers a cast of characters whose tragic lives or distressing careers brought about their downfall. Fans of the golden age of horror films will not want to miss this story of Lionel Atwill, Colin Clive and George Zucco, three of Hollywood's Maddest Doctors.
320 pages, Paperback
Published January 8, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 9, 2023
Not quite as thorough/rigorous as I had hoped it would be, particularly the information on Colin Clive, most of which I had already encountered elsewhere. However, given how much fun I had reading this thing in general, I really can’t give it any less than a 4, though it probably objectively only deserves 3. But I love movies about mad scientists/doctors, so I had a pretty great time with it. And then, if you’re contemplating this book, you’re presumably more than casually interested in them yourself, so fuck it, yeah, 4 unequivocal stars it is!
November 8, 2019
For fans of the American classic horror movies of the 1930’s and 1940’s, HOLLYWOOD’S MADDEST DOCTORS will be an intriguing side trip into the backstories of Lionel Atwill, Colin Clive, and George Zucco. While these three actors are not exclusively “horror film” performers, they are ones who frequently boosted the quality of these shows by their presence. Just as seeing a beloved character actor appear onscreen brought a sense of comfort to the Viewer (as Michael Ripper’s presence would do decades later in the Hammer Films), Viewers would instinctively know that even minor “potboilers” were going to be better when one of these three took the screen.
Surprisingly, I knew much more about Lionel Atwill than I’d imagined when I bought the book. Apparently, the facts of his life (especially the bizarre “Christmas Orgy”) have been well-documented elsewhere. It is a tribute to Atwill’s onscreen professionalism that he gives a very smooth and polished performance in FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN on the day before he was to learn his fate regarding a perjury charge. I’ll never see that film in quite the same way again!
Probably the most disappointing section for me was the investigation into Colin Clive. In many ways, the actor has been an enigma, and I can’t say that I learned much more. (Was he bisexual? Maybe ... and maybe not. What was his “Jekyll and Hyde” behavior that was tied to his drinking? Mostly, the writer mentions episodes when Clive passed out.) This is also the only section in which Mank inserts himself into the story, in sometimes a bizarre fashion, such as dreaming a visitation by Clive’s ghost.
I most enjoyed the section devoted to George Zucco. I’ve enjoyed his work in so many films (particularly his unnerving Professor Moriarty in THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES), yet I knew virtually nothing about him beside his filmography. I reveled in the joy of discovery from his acting advice to Vincent Price (who took it to heart) to his unashamed lesson in acting manners to the great Greta Garbo on set (which she apparently acknowledged). The writer also explores the scandalous lie that was printed about Zucco and his family by Kenneth Anger, providing a touch of nobility to the end of his story.
The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs. I read the Kindle version, and a number of these were disappointingly blurry. As many others were very sharp and clear, I must assume that the fault lies in the originals.
This has been my least favorite of the Gregory William Mank books that I’ve read, yet it is still worthwhile and easily merits four-stars. His writing is clear and his research is impressive. Unlike biography books that rely only on a recitation of facts, Mank includes quotes when possible from people who knew Atwill, Clive and Zucco. Considering the number of years that have passed, I doubt that there will be new revelations forthcoming.
Surprisingly, I knew much more about Lionel Atwill than I’d imagined when I bought the book. Apparently, the facts of his life (especially the bizarre “Christmas Orgy”) have been well-documented elsewhere. It is a tribute to Atwill’s onscreen professionalism that he gives a very smooth and polished performance in FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN on the day before he was to learn his fate regarding a perjury charge. I’ll never see that film in quite the same way again!
Probably the most disappointing section for me was the investigation into Colin Clive. In many ways, the actor has been an enigma, and I can’t say that I learned much more. (Was he bisexual? Maybe ... and maybe not. What was his “Jekyll and Hyde” behavior that was tied to his drinking? Mostly, the writer mentions episodes when Clive passed out.) This is also the only section in which Mank inserts himself into the story, in sometimes a bizarre fashion, such as dreaming a visitation by Clive’s ghost.
I most enjoyed the section devoted to George Zucco. I’ve enjoyed his work in so many films (particularly his unnerving Professor Moriarty in THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES), yet I knew virtually nothing about him beside his filmography. I reveled in the joy of discovery from his acting advice to Vincent Price (who took it to heart) to his unashamed lesson in acting manners to the great Greta Garbo on set (which she apparently acknowledged). The writer also explores the scandalous lie that was printed about Zucco and his family by Kenneth Anger, providing a touch of nobility to the end of his story.
The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs. I read the Kindle version, and a number of these were disappointingly blurry. As many others were very sharp and clear, I must assume that the fault lies in the originals.
This has been my least favorite of the Gregory William Mank books that I’ve read, yet it is still worthwhile and easily merits four-stars. His writing is clear and his research is impressive. Unlike biography books that rely only on a recitation of facts, Mank includes quotes when possible from people who knew Atwill, Clive and Zucco. Considering the number of years that have passed, I doubt that there will be new revelations forthcoming.
February 18, 2019
Enjoyed the hell out of it! Now I need to see how many of the movies are available on YouTube and elsewhere. Mad doctors forever!
September 30, 2012
Being a fan of Atwill and Zucco (less so of Clive, who I've always felt overdid it a bit) and vintage horror movies in general, I was pleasantly surprised to find a copy of this book, which I hadn't even known existed. It's a very enjoyable read if you're into this sort of thing and features many excellent photos and complete filmographies for each actor. It's basically three mini-biographies in one book, with the author occasionally intruding as a sort of private investigator wandering among the ghosts of old Hollywood. Sadly, all three of these actors came to a tragic end.
June 29, 2008
Some great information, but the author tends to wander off the topic and kills some space pimping his other works.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews