Boris Karloff - A name synonymous with horror.Drawing on detailed research, previously unpublished letters, and interviews with those who knew him this new biography dispels the often repeated myths associated with the star - many perpetuated by Karloff himself - and reveals a wealth of new information about the private and professional life of Boris Karloff.Although forever associated with his breakthrough role of 'the Monster' in Frankenstein (1931) Boris Karloff had a career that spanned almost 50 years and over 150 movies - from the era of the silent picture through to the days of the 'Swinging Sixties'. His roles in Bride of Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Black Cat, and many others - most now considered classics of the genre - ensured his reputation as 'The King of Horror'.Born William Henry Pratt in Camberwell, South London in 1887 Karloff defied family expectations and rejected a life in Government service. Instead he emigrated to Canada were he finally found work as a professional actor. After years touring Western Canada and the United States he arrived in
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Boris Karloff More than a Monster has won a prestigious Rondo Award. Boris Karloff More than a Monster is author Stephen Jacobs first book, and took him over a decade of research to complete. I am delighted to have received this award, and didnt expect it, Jacobs commented. The 2012 Rondo Awards, named after Rondo Hatton, an obscure B-movie villain of the 1940s, celebrate the best in classic horror research, creativity and film preservation. This year's e-mail vote, conducted by the Classic Horror Film Board, a 17-year old online community, drew more than 3,100 ballots from across the USA and around the world. The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards were created by David Colton and Kerry Gammill at the Classic Horror Film Boards in 2002. The awards are fan-based, and have no connection to any commercial sponsor. "This is the DEFINITIVE biography of my father! I am absolutely delighted to authorise and recommend and praise etc etc etc this book!" -- Sara Karloff 'Boris Karloff' was the subject of a double-page article in the Sunday Express, 31 January 2010, in which his daughter Sara (who authorised this book) talks about her father and her involvement in the book project. Read the full article below! "Karloff: More Than a Monster (Tomahawk Press) is a true labour of love. Featuring previously unpublished letters, interviews and photographs; this new biography by Stephen Jacobs is meticulously detailed thanks to the author's sleuth-like approach in tracking down thousands of documents linked to the actor (it's amazing what he's unearthed). As such, it's choice reading for any horror fan." - whatsontv.co.uk January 2011 Jonathan Melville covered Boris Karloff in his Reel-Time column in the Scotsman, February 2011. Featured in the Canada Post, March 2011 Listed as one of the best Film books of 2011! - "The movie star best known for lumbering and grunting - Frankenstein, The Mummy - was, in reality, an Anglo-Indian gent who adored cricket. This Karloff boasts other surprises including campaigning leftwing sympathies and a non-stop love life. Biographer Jacobs portrays him warmly, readably and in rich detail." - Nigel Andrews, FT film critic - FT.com, December 2011 'Scarlet: The Film Magazine' carries a very intelligent review of 'Boris Karloff' in edition 8, February 2012. I didnt set out to chill anyone. I was just an actor willing to try anything. I had no special interest in terror subjects. My private tastes are still very Catholic, he said. That quote occurs at the very beginning of the book, and captures in essence, the biography of the man. As Jacobs strives to reveal, he was a thoroughly nice bloke who got lucky playing horrific roles, but there was more to his screen and stage personae, and whether playing monsters, old-fashioned but very much human villains, or the good guys, he left them on set when he was done. As for Jacobs and his performance with this biography, he has certainly produced an in-depth and detailed portrait of the mans professional and personal life. At times, it might be heavy going, but he has certainly done his subject justice." Cheshire Today, Sept 2012
About the Author
This is Stephen Jacobs' first book, which has taken 10 years to research. He is regarded by many as the expert on Karloff.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
truly definitive and highly recommended.
Mar 24 2011
By jeremiah harbottle
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
this latest biography of acting legend boris karloff ranks as possibly the most detailed and informative book that you are likely to see and i congratulate the author for interviewing all the right people and not to mention, including all of those photographs of which most haven't been published before. in total, there are approximately 400 photographs throughout.
whilst reading this incredible volume, the author's love for his subject is fully evident judging by his dedication to introduce boris karloff to a new audience of film lovers. every aspect of karloff's life has been covered from his early years to his struggling years as an actor and finally to the beginning of karloff's superstardom. all of his major fims are detailed: frankenstein, the mummy, the ghoul, the black cat, the raven, bride of frankenstein, the invisible ray, the body snatcher, black sabbath and targets but also his more obscure films have been covered which is good. the biography also goes to some lengths to reveal something of boris karloff the man. it was no secret that he valued his privacy and was even regarded as being secretive about his private life and his past. all this is mentioned in this book.
aside from the biography itself, there is also included an exhaustive section that details karloff's career in theatre, film, radio and television. the facts and figures from this section alone makes for fascinating reading.
as the title of the book proves, boris karloff was far more than just a horror star, he was a gifted and versatile actor. long may his legacy continue.
whilst reading this incredible volume, the author's love for his subject is fully evident judging by his dedication to introduce boris karloff to a new audience of film lovers. every aspect of karloff's life has been covered from his early years to his struggling years as an actor and finally to the beginning of karloff's superstardom. all of his major fims are detailed: frankenstein, the mummy, the ghoul, the black cat, the raven, bride of frankenstein, the invisible ray, the body snatcher, black sabbath and targets but also his more obscure films have been covered which is good. the biography also goes to some lengths to reveal something of boris karloff the man. it was no secret that he valued his privacy and was even regarded as being secretive about his private life and his past. all this is mentioned in this book.
aside from the biography itself, there is also included an exhaustive section that details karloff's career in theatre, film, radio and television. the facts and figures from this section alone makes for fascinating reading.
as the title of the book proves, boris karloff was far more than just a horror star, he was a gifted and versatile actor. long may his legacy continue.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Definitive Biography of a Screen Legend!
May 13 2011
By Michael OConnor
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
There are books and then there are labors of love. Stephen Jacobs' exhaustively-researched, meticulously-detailed 568-page biography of William Henry Pratt (aka Boris Karloff) is a true labor of love, a critical yet affectionate tribute to the king of horror films. I've read many show biz biographies over the years but precious few can lay a hand on BORIS KARLOFF, MORE THAN A MONSTER. For so many reasons, it deserves six stars.
As revealed in Jacobs' book, Boris Karloff was much more interesting than many of the characters he played over the years. Judging from all the testimonials in BKMTAM, Karloff was a kind, considerate, self-effacing and gentle gentleman. Truth be told, I have never read a biography filled with so many laudatory comments about the subject. Likewise, Karloff had an incredible work ethic. Despite serious health problems, some of which resulted from his early film work, Karloff kept working in movies, TV, on the stage and other areas right up to his death in February 1969. Yet Karloff was also an intensely private man. An unhappy childhood coupled with his worries about his Anglo-Indian - not Anglo-Russian! - heritage, his mother's mental problems and Karloff's five marriages resulted in a very tight-lipped individual whose statements to the media weren't always accurate.
In terms of his acting career, Karloff never received the credit he was due. Though labeled the 'King of the Horror Film' by the media, Karloff's acting resume, as detailed in Jacobs' book, reveals an actor equally at home on the stage or in front of the camera. He was an actor capable of essaying Frankenstein's monster, Jonathan Brewster in ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, Mord the Executioner in TOWER OF LONDON, Captain Hook in PETER PAN, Chinese detective James Wong, John Gray in THE BODY SNATCHER and so many other roles. Though Karloff's imposing face was often concealed by makeup, nothing could mask those eyes that could be pitilessly cold and dead or sparkling with merriment. Vocally, Karloff had few peers as borne out by his work in DR. SUESS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS.
In short, BORIS KARLOFF, MORE THAN A MONSTER is entertaining, insightful and a great read. By book's end, you'll have learned more about William Henry Pratt the man and the actor than you thought possible. And, along the way, you'll probably have grown terribly fond of that singular gentleman. Highly recommended.
As revealed in Jacobs' book, Boris Karloff was much more interesting than many of the characters he played over the years. Judging from all the testimonials in BKMTAM, Karloff was a kind, considerate, self-effacing and gentle gentleman. Truth be told, I have never read a biography filled with so many laudatory comments about the subject. Likewise, Karloff had an incredible work ethic. Despite serious health problems, some of which resulted from his early film work, Karloff kept working in movies, TV, on the stage and other areas right up to his death in February 1969. Yet Karloff was also an intensely private man. An unhappy childhood coupled with his worries about his Anglo-Indian - not Anglo-Russian! - heritage, his mother's mental problems and Karloff's five marriages resulted in a very tight-lipped individual whose statements to the media weren't always accurate.
In terms of his acting career, Karloff never received the credit he was due. Though labeled the 'King of the Horror Film' by the media, Karloff's acting resume, as detailed in Jacobs' book, reveals an actor equally at home on the stage or in front of the camera. He was an actor capable of essaying Frankenstein's monster, Jonathan Brewster in ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, Mord the Executioner in TOWER OF LONDON, Captain Hook in PETER PAN, Chinese detective James Wong, John Gray in THE BODY SNATCHER and so many other roles. Though Karloff's imposing face was often concealed by makeup, nothing could mask those eyes that could be pitilessly cold and dead or sparkling with merriment. Vocally, Karloff had few peers as borne out by his work in DR. SUESS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS.
In short, BORIS KARLOFF, MORE THAN A MONSTER is entertaining, insightful and a great read. By book's end, you'll have learned more about William Henry Pratt the man and the actor than you thought possible. And, along the way, you'll probably have grown terribly fond of that singular gentleman. Highly recommended.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Extensive but. . .
Feb 11 2012
By John Hourigan
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
No doubt this extensively researched book stands as the definitive biography of Boris Karloff. However, that doesn't make it an easy read as it's more of a detailed chronology of Karloff's life. It reads pretty much like, "He did this, and then he did this, and then he did this, and then he did this. . . " down to the minutiae. It's more like a reference book that one would go to read about a particular film or part of his life rather than a book that one would sit down to read cover to cover. But if you are looking for the ONE book regarding Karloff, this is it.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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