Val lewton s name is synonymous with the subtlest, most mysterious brand of horror filmmaking in hollywoods golden age, and the nine horror classics he produced at rko between 1942 and 1946 constitute the most remarkable cycle of creativity in bmovie history. To learn more about him and hear from several others who know and love his work including his son, val e. But its only relatively recently that collectors have been able to get all of lewtons films in one box set, including the littleseen ghost ship, a movie that lewton probably wished he had never made. When one of his books became a bestseller and was adapted for the cinema. The man in the shadows combines more a subjective love letter to val lewtons work with objective facts.
A superb introduction to val lewton and his cinema. Val lewton dvd chicago public library bibliocommons. I wish i had bought this dvd first, because the shadows of the dark documentary gave the background necessary to fully appreciate isle of the dead, as well as lewton s other movies. Val lewton the man in the shadows, was released in 2007. Dec 16, 2016 a synopsis of val lewton s filmmaking career, highlighting his suspenseful bmovies from the 40s. The man in the shadows also known as martin scorsese presents. Martin scorsese narrates this tribute to val lewton, the producer of a. The man in the shadows, its hard to argue with him. Ive read just about every book and article thats ever been published on the great producer. Val lewton and director mark robson at rko their film noir collaborations. Born in yalta, russia, lewton came to america as a child. By alyson faye val lewton 1904 1951 the sultan of shadows the russianamerican novelist, film producer and screenwriter was the driving force behind the new, low budget, dedicated horror b film unit at rko in the 1940s. Also showing on tcm saturday afternoon is the excellent martin scorcese documentary. The man in the shadows, included as an extra, notes that the most intense moments in lewtonproduced films are only a few seconds in length.
With martin scorsese, elias koteas, orson welles, val e. A look at the life and career of val lewton, an american filmmaker best known for the 9 horror films he produced for rko pictures in the 1940s. Yes, its a story of greed and desire, of mans inhumanity to man, a novel with a message although my guess is that lewton probably subscribed to the oftquoted sentiment that if you want to send a message, go to western union. Courses psychology studentpsychology degreepsychology bookshaunted. Coursespsychology studentpsychology degreepsychology bookshaunted. The val lewton career, points to passages in the bagheeta, such as the following, that clearly presage cat peoples distinctive conjuring of fear and eroticized anxiety through the unseen. Lewton was the producer whose lowbudget unit at rko in the forties displayed the most sensitive movie intelligence in hollywood, according to the esteemed critic james agee. The man in the shadows takes a sensitive approach toward one of hollywoods least flamboyant great artists, repeatedly showing the linkage between the man and his creations, a series of mainly horror films made during the war years. The man in the shadows, that he could use that effect of surprise to satisfy the horror.
The forceful women in val lewtons 1940s rko horror films. The nine horror films which lewton produced for rko between 1942 and. However since lewton s movies are not so much about what happens but how his characters get to where theyre going, then knowing the endings really doesnt matter all that much. He realized, observes alexander nemerov in val lewton. This collection also includes the 2008 documentary val lewton. The val lewton legacy 1943 starring tom conway and jean brooks on dvd and bluray. In martin scorseses excellent 2007 documentary on lewton subtitled the man in the shadows, available for sale on dvd from amazon, lewtons only son, val e lewton, is interviewed. The only drawback is that if you havent seen the films then there are several spoilers here.
Val lewton the man in the shadows nowhere else on television is such a genuine love for filmmaking consistently put on display as added. Oct 30, 2016 kent joness 2008 documentary feature, val lewton. Jan, 2008 he realized, observes alexander nemerov in val lewton. The man in the shadows, that he could use that effect of surprise to satisfy the horror audience which wants to have a sudden shock, and. The show, which contains a lot of information and many impassioned interview bites from notables including lewton s son and robert wise, is too much of a good thing and tends to sag.
Boris karloff stars as grave robber and cab man john gray in robert louis stevensons. Val lewton the man in the shadows 2007 is written and directed by kent jones. Includes extensive interviews with lewtons collaborators and clips from his films. Utilising shadows to disguise the grisly goingson always in black and. In may 2017, the secret history of hollywood, a podcast biopic series, began an elevenpart season on his life and work featuring mark gatiss. Cinema retro was provided with an advanced screener of the documentary, val lewton.
The man in the shadows and we found it to be one of the most unique and informative documentaries about a filmmaker that weve ever seen. Siegel is very good on the biographical narrative and weaving in the innovations and influences of the films that lewton produced. The seventh victim disc contains as a cofeature new waves docu shadows in the dark. Cat people and a gallery of horror predators the new york. Martin scorsese presents val lewton the man in the shadows. After graduating from columbia university, he became editorial assistant for legendary producer david o. Martin scorsese presents val lewton the man in the shadows kent jones, shadow film. The man in the shadows, a fine profile narrated and presented by martin scorsese. Mar 01, 2018 in martin scorseses excellent 2007 documentary on lewton subtitled the man in the shadows, available for sale on dvd from amazon, lewtons only son, val e lewton, is interviewed.
The man in the shadows, 2007, directed by kent jones, with val lewton, martin scorsese, val e lewton, at turner classic movies. Book is a val lewtons novelized version of charles macarthurs screenplay, produced in 1932 for mgm and starring john, ethel, and lionel barrymore. The films of val lewton shadows and suspense youtube. Oct 24, 2012 in remembrance of val lewton this october. The man in the shadows 2007 which he wrote and directed, and. Pm est, turner classic movies premieres a major tribute to producer val lewton followed by an eight film marathon. I wish i had bought this dvd first, because the shadows of the dark documentary gave the background necessary to fully appreciate isle of the dead, as well as lewtons other movies. Man in the shadows, narrated by filmmaker and fan martin scorsese. The val lewton horror collection cat people the curse of the cat people i walked with a zombie the body snatcher isle of the dead bedlam the leopard man the ghost ship the seventh victim shadows in the dark. The val lewton legacy 2005 and martin scorsese presents val lewton the man in the shadows, or any of.
He immigrated to the united states in 1909 with his mother and sister and they. The val lewton horror collection cat people the curse of. Lewton, i would highly encourage you to watch the two documentaries that have been made about him, shadows in the dark. Berg perhaps some sort of transference had occurred between the two artists, because bedlam was the beginning of the end for val lewton.
Lewton worked as a writer for the new york city mgm publicity office, providing novelizations of popular movies for serialization in magazines, which were sometimes later collected into book form. The man in the shadows aug 10, 2008 overview of the career of the legendary producer who reluctantly made some of most poetic horror movies of the 1940s for rko. Oct 16, 2015 lewton worked as a writer for the new york city mgm publicity office, providing novelizations of popular movies for serialization in magazines, which were sometimes later collected into book form. The film, which debuted on turner classic movies in january 2008, adds considerable perspective to lewton s collected work, and was written and directed by kent jones. Two of its scenes are among the very best of the horror genre, reaching the poetic heights. In the end, theres a hell of a lot in the leopard man to admire, even if lewton himself wasnt that keen on it, and even if its 65 minutes dont feel quite complete and some of them seem a bit rushed, as if the screenplay needed a final pass over. Val lewton was born vladimir ivanovich leventon in yalta, imperial russia, which is now in the ukraine, in 1904.
Originally named vladimir ivan leventon, lewton immigrated with his sister and mother to the united states in 1909. The commentary includes insightful remarks by val lewton s son, as well as modern horror masters like guillermo del toro, william friedkin, kim newman, neil gaiman. Lewton, as the man who rescued him from the living dead and restored, so to speak, his soul. However since lewtons movies are not so much about what happens but how his characters get to where theyre going, then knowing the endings really doesnt matter all that much. Jan, 2008 val lewton the man in the shadows nowhere else on television is such a genuine love for filmmaking consistently put on display as added. Val lewton dvd vancouver public library bibliocommons. Martin scorsese narrates this tribute to val lewton, the producer of a series of memorable lowbudget horror films for rko studios. Val lewton discussion historic hollywood october 16th.
Mar 14, 2019 in it, louis berg wrote a touching sentence. He admits that his father had a number of phobias and one of them ironically was ailurophobia, the fear of cats. Green street booksemployment for adults with special needs. Splendid montages and an intelligent and probing script go the heart of rkos most individualistic. Plus 10 pages of ads for other books from the publisher. The man in the shadows 2008 is also presented here in its entirety and makes ones knowledge of. One of his earliest works, a book entitled the cossack sword 1926 caught the attention of film producer david o.
The man in the shadows elegantly encompasses the work. Classic film noir, classic films, movie shots, movie tv, shadow film, creepy. Yes, its a story of greed and desire, of man s inhumanity to man, a novel with a message although my guess is that lewton probably subscribed to the oftquoted sentiment that if you want to send a message, go to western union. One of the great and mysterious figures in hollywood history is revealed in val lewton. A peerless film portrait of a major if underrecognized hollywood moviemaker, val lewton. Please visit the host sites for many great entries that discuss the life and work of. Please visit the host sites for many great entries that discuss the life and work of the horror film master. Siegels great little book the reality of terror came along and. Includes extensive interviews with lewton s collaborators and clips from his films. The show, which contains a lot of information and many impassioned interview bites from notables including lewtons son and robert wise, is too much of a good thing and tends to sag. The dissection of lewtons work put a new perspective on it for me and forced me to rediscover its genius and innovation. Nov 14, 2007 a peerless film portrait of a major if underrecognized hollywood moviemaker, val lewton.
A synopsis of val lewtons filmmaking career, highlighting his suspenseful bmovies from the 40s. Feature the forceful women in val lewtons 1940s rko. He admits that his father had a number of phobias and one of. Val lewtons name is synonymous with the subtlest, most mysterious brand of horror filmmaking in hollywoods golden age, and the nine horror classics he produced at rko between 1942 and 1946 constitute the most remarkable cycle of creativity in bmovie history. The first half of the book is biographical and analytical. The film, which debuted on turner classic movies in january 2008, adds considerable perspective to lewtons collected work, and was written and directed by kent jones. With films such as the leopard man, i walked with a zombie, the body snatcher, bedlam, the seventh victim and isle of the dead, lewton created an oeuvre unique in film history. Val lewton the man in the shadows is a documentary tribute to val lewton, the producer of a series of distinctive lowbudget horror films for rko radio pictures, presented and narrated by director martin scorsese. The man in the shadows elegantly encompasses the work and career of a producer who doggedly.