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Original Essays | November 5, 2009

John Buntin: IMG Notes from the (Bibliographic) Underground



For more than 60 years, Los Angeles's origins, its underbelly, and (yes) its blondes have fueled the imagination of writers and directors from... Continue »
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1 Burnside Literature- A to Z
6 Local Warehouse Mystery- A to Z
4 Remote Warehouse Popular Fiction- Contemporary Thrillers

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Flicker

by Theodore Roszak

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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

From the golden age of art movies and underground cinema to X-rated porn, splatter films, and midnight movies, this breathtaking thriller is a tour de force of cinematic fact and fantasy, full of metaphysical mysteries that will haunt the dreams of every moviegoer. Jonathan Gates could not have anticipated that his student studies would lead him to uncover the secret history of the movies--a tale of intrigue, deception, and death that stretches back to the 14th century. But he succumbs to what will be a lifelong obsession with the mysterious Max Castle, a nearly forgotten genius of the silent screen who later became the greatest director of horror films, only to vanish in the 1940s, at the height of his talent. Now, 20 years later, as Jonathan seeks the truth behind Castle's disappearance, the innocent entertainments of his youth--the sexy sirens, the screwball comedies, the high romance--take on a sinister appearance. His tortured quest takes him from Hollywood's Poverty Row into the shadowy lore of ancient religious heresies. He encounters a cast of exotic characters, including Orson Welles and John Huston, who teach him that there's more to film than meets the eye, and journeys through the dark side of nostalgia, where the Three Stooges and Shirley Temple join company with an alien god whose purposes are anything but entertainment.<BR>

About the Author

Theodore Roszak is a professor of history at California State University–Hayward and the author of 18 books, including the international bestseller The Making of a Counter Culture. He has twice been nominated for the National Book Award. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Nation, The Atlantic Monthly, and Harper's.

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
robin.young, July 21, 2008 (view all comments by robin.young)
I read this book when it was first released in paperback and found it absolutely fascinating. If you love old movies, you'll find it compulsive reading that keeps you turning the pages. Donaghy's review brought out the similarities to Dan Brown's plots but as Donaghy said, don't let that stop you from picking up this book. Roszak's a much better writer. Great atmosphere and tension; a dark journey though film history and for movie fans, a new slant on the power of film.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9781556525773
Author:
Roszak, Theodore
Publisher:
Chicago Review Press
Subject:
Thrillers
Subject:
Mystery & Detective - General
Subject:
Missing persons
Subject:
Motion picture industry
Subject:
Suspense fiction
Subject:
Missing persons -- Investigation.
Publication Date:
April 2005
Binding:
Paperback
Language:
English
Pages:
608
Dimensions:
9.00x6.32x1.24 in. 1.76 lbs.

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