Uncanny Bodies - by Robert Spadoni (Paperback)

About the Book

"Through meticulous historical research, Spadoni in "Uncanny Bodies" provides a fine understanding of the aesthetic and cultural context in which the original Universal film version of "Dracula" appeared. Through analyses of films that came before and after, he successfully restores "Dracula"'s strangeness for a contemporary audience, a strangeness that reflects the rapidly evolving conventions of the early sound film. A significant contribution to reception studies, "Uncanny Bodies" makes us see why "Dracula, " while holding little terror for subsequent audiences, is nevertheless both a foundational work for the horror film, and also, paradoxically, an anomaly, one effectively overshadowed by "Frankenstein.""--William Paul, author of "Laughing Screaming: Modern Hollywood Horror and Comedy"
""Uncanny Bodies" is a pleasure to read. I know of no other work that has looked as closely at early sound and horror films to make a persuasive argument about horror's relation to the beginnings of sound film. Given the voluminous literature on Universal horror films, Spadoni presents some very original ideas and frames his inquiry in an interesting way."--Jan-Christopher Horak, editor of "Lovers of Cinema: The First American Film Avant-Garde, 1919-1945"

Book Synopsis

In 1931 Universal Pictures released Dracula and Frankenstein, two films that inaugurated the horror genre in Hollywood cinema. These films appeared directly on the heels of Hollywood's transition to sound film. Uncanny Bodies argues that the coming of sound inspired more in these massively influential horror movies than screams, creaking doors, and howling wolves. A close examination of the historical reception of films of the transition period reveals that sound films could seem to their earliest viewers unreal and ghostly. By comparing this audience impression to the first sound horror films, Robert Spadoni makes a case for understanding film viewing as a force that can powerfully shape both the minutest aspects of individual films and the broadest sweep of film production trends, and for seeing aftereffects of the temporary weirdness of sound film deeply etched in the basic character of one of our most enduring film genres.

From the Back Cover

"Through meticulous historical research, Spadoni in Uncanny Bodies provides a fine understanding of the aesthetic and cultural context in which the original Universal film version of Dracula appeared. Through analyses of films that came before and after, he successfully restores Dracula's strangeness for a contemporary audience, a strangeness that reflects the rapidly evolving conventions of the early sound film. A significant contribution to reception studies, Uncanny Bodies makes us see why Dracula, while holding little terror for subsequent audiences, is nevertheless both a foundational work for the horror film, and also, paradoxically, an anomaly, one effectively overshadowed by Frankenstein."--William Paul, author of Laughing Screaming: Modern Hollywood Horror and Comedy

"Uncanny Bodies is a pleasure to read. I know of no other work that has looked as closely at early sound and horror films to make a persuasive argument about horror's relation to the beginnings of sound film. Given the voluminous literature on Universal horror films, Spadoni presents some very original ideas and frames his inquiry in an interesting way."--Jan-Christopher Horak, editor of Lovers of Cinema: The First American Film Avant-Garde, 1919-1945

Review Quotes

"Contributes substantially to the history of film sound as well as the history of classic horror cinema. . . . Lucid, accessible prose."-- "Hist Journal Of Film, Rad, TV" (4/29/2009 12:00:00 AM)

"Profoundly original ... Thanks to Robert Spadoni we can now see and hear Dracula and Frankenstein in a fresh light."-- "Music, Sound & The Moving Image" (9/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)

"Spadoni's analysis is intriguing."-- "Metro Newspapers" (12/5/2007 12:00:00 AM)

"Original and stimulating."--Anneleen Masschelein "Image & Narrative" (3/1/2009 12:00:00 AM)

"Readers interested in the transition from silent to sound film will find Uncanny Bodies intriguing for its focus specifically on horror films. . . . [He offers a] tight argument and detailed background information on the period."--Steffen Hantke "Film Criticism" (9/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)

"Rich, insightful book. . . . A poetic and clever analysis, presenting impressive historical scholarship with panache."-- "Choice" (3/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)

"Well-researched and persuasive. . . . Uncanny Bodies impressively persuades one to think anew about films."-- "Film Quarterly" (7/2/2010 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Robert Spadoni is Associate Professor in the English Department at Case Western Reserve University.