Book Review: ANGELS AND MINISTERS OF GRACE DEFEND US!

 

Greg Mank travels down more dark alleys of classic horror cinema with ANGELS AND MINISTERS OF GRACE DEFEND US! This new book is something of a follow up to the author's THE VERY WITCHING TIME OF NIGHT. Like the earlier volume, this book contains 13 chapters, each focusing on a different subject involving horror movies made during the Golden Age of Hollywood. 

In the book's introduction, Mank mentions that his most recent writings dealt with biographies of two tormented souls, actors Colin Clive and Laird Cregar. He then points out that many of the films covered within can be called tormented movies. Ten of the chapters deal with the production history of such titles as MAD LOVE, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, and HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN. These are films that  Mank has written about several times, but he still is able to bring new information, new perspectives, and new angles on horror classics that monster movie geeks know like the backs of their hands. 

No one can document the making of a classic horror film like Greg Mank can, and no other writer has his ability to bring to life the cast & crew members who made these pictures. The result is a number of compelling narratives that are far more dramatic than most vintage Hollywood productions. 

In a couple of chapters Mank steers away from specific films and takes a poignant (and at times tragic) look at two very different individuals. The mysterious and controversial personal life of the actress Acquanetta is covered (she played Paula the Ape Woman in two films for Universal in the 1940s). In this chapter Mank accomplishes one of the most impressive feats of his entire writing career--he makes JUNGLE WOMAN actually sound somewhat interesting! 

Mank also details the last twenty years of the performing career and life of Basil Rathbone, and the sad circumstances which led this fine actor to appear in movies that were totally beneath him. The final chapter delves into the subject of how much money the legendary classic horror films of the 1930s and 40s really made, with some surprising results. 

I've been an unabashed Greg Mank fan for years, so much so that I wonder if my reviews of his books truly do any good, since all I do is rave about his writings. But major classic horror film fans respect and admire Mank--once again at the Monster Bash Conference last weekend his live presentation was met by a large and highly enthusiastic audience. ANGELS AND MINISTERS OF GRACE DEFEND US! is another sterling effort by Greg. If there is one drawback with the book, it's that it's published by McFarland, which means it's going to cost some money.....but in this case you most certainly get what you pay for.