In the Nick of Time: Motion Picture Sound Serials

By William C. Cline

Book Overview

By the famous Big Reel columnist: the story of serials from Universal's 1930 The Indians Are Coming to Columbia's 1956 Blazing the Overland Trail. Fifteen fascinating chapters explain the importance... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 089950101X
• ISBN13: 9780899501017
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: McFarland Publishing
• Length: 293 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

NOT A REFERENCE BOOK BUT A BOOK OF LOVE

For this too thin book, the 57 pages filmography (only the talkies)with chapters titles was not indispensable. Other books are more detailed. We could have wished for Cline, an erudite and devoted fan, to give some subjective assessments of the serials. The text is on the dense side and the index is very useful. The great interest of the book (rather pricey) is the constantly affectionate evocation of the world of serials.It's not a dry scholarly study. Cline writes about directors, writers and cinematographers, paying due tributes. The special effects (visual) were often impressive, with not much money. The actors are lovingly evoked at length. It's the merit and the charm of the book. To remind us of past pleasures, near ones (thanks to the work of VCI) and tantalizing unseen things. Highly recommended for browsing.

Hurry Up and Read This Book

Great reference book. Concentrates on the people who made the serials rather than the serials themselves. One fifth of the volume is devoted to Filmography listing serials released from 1930 through 1956 as well as background information. Excellent index. Fantastic photos from films. Some typos. Don't read this volume until after you see the serial as the secret identity or plot twist is sometimes given away. Appreciation of the motion picture serial is greatly enhanced after reading this monograph.