Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr.

Rating:
Summary: A great oral history. Read it, re-read it.
Review: A fascinating study of a man nobody thought was important when he was alive. There are stories and contradictions and a lot of reading between the lines. It's a kind of mystery, and not only worth reading, but re-reading.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful, but sad book.
Review: A wonderful book about Edward D. Wood, Jr., better known as just Ed Wood. Based on interviews with friends and family and people who worked with him. It's a sad book about his alcoholism, desperate searches for investors for his films, about people cheating him on money and about his work in the pornindustry. The sad thing is there is no hope for Ed. He starts by directing lowbudget westerns and exploitation pics and then it goes straight to hell. We follow him drinking up investors money, directing and writing porn, losing his home and drinking himself to death. Never any hope in sight. But it's at the same time a wonderful book about a man desperate to fulfil his dream about being a big director. A must for everyone to read.

Rating:
Summary: The sad, strange, and bitter story of Edward D. Wood Jr
Review: Forget the movie, that was a pack of Hollywood lies, this is the true story of the man told by those who knew him. You can't help but read this book with a combination of shocked amusement and outright horror. If this had been a novel no one would have believed it possible, as it is David Lynch could make a movie about the guy (and Tim Burton did).

Rating:
Summary: The sad, strange, and bitter story of Edward D. Wood Jr
Review: Forget the movie, that was a pack of Hollywood lies, this is the true story of the man told by those who knew him. You can't help but read this book with a combination of shocked amusement and outright horror. If this had been a novel no one would have believed it possible, as it is David Lynch could make a movie about the guy (and Tim Burton did).

Rating:
Summary: Compelling and Strangely Moving.
Review: It' sad to see someone pay such a high price for following his dream. Ed Wood Jr. was not a talented director/writer but he set out make films anyway. And, boy, did he pay the price. This "oral" history goes behind the scenes and gives us an insiders view of what Ed Wood's life really was like. Along the way, we're introduced to the colorful and often bizarre people he surrounded himself with. I'm reminded of the Ed Wood film (which was based on this book) in which the actress playing Dolores Fuller screams, "This is not real life! Ed, you've surrounded yourself with weirdos!" This is, of course, right before she leaves him. Now in Ed's real life, he was fortunate enough to have found Kathy Wood, a woman who stuck by him till the tragic end. I could go on about this book, but it has to be read to be believed. It's just very touching and sad and beautiful because it reminds us how fragile life is. Ed Wood is a kind of mutant saint: someone who never gave up, no matter how bad his luck was! Along with Nightmare of Ecstasy, I'd like to recommend two other Amazon quick picks: American Spendor by Harvey Pekar, The Loser's Club by Richard Perez. This review is dedicated to all the hopeless dreamers!

Rating:
Summary: Compelling and Strangely Moving.
Review: It' sad to see someone pay such a high price for following his dream. Ed Wood Jr. was not a talented director/writer but he set out make films anyway. And, boy, did he pay the price. This "oral" history goes behind the scenes and gives us an insiders view of what Ed Wood's life really was like. Along the way, we're introduced to the colorful and often bizarre people he surrounded himself with. I'm reminded of the Ed Wood film (which was based on this book) in which the actress playing Dolores Fuller screams, "This is not real life! Ed, you've surrounded yourself with weirdos!" This is, of course, right before she leaves him. Now in Ed's real life, he was fortunate enough to have found Kathy Wood, a woman who stuck by him till the tragic end. I could go on about this book, but it has to be read to be believed. It's just very touching and sad and beautiful because it reminds us how fragile life is. Ed Wood is a kind of mutant saint: someone who never gave up, no matter how bad his luck was! Along with Nightmare of Ecstasy, I'd like to recommend two other Amazon quick picks: American Spendor by Harvey Pekar, The Loser's Club by Richard Perez. This review is dedicated to all the hopeless dreamers!

Rating:
Summary: Compelling and Strangely Moving.
Review: It's truly sad to see someone pay such a high price for following his dream. Ed Wood Jr. was not a talented director/writer but he set out make films anyway. And, boy, did he pay the price! This "oral" history goes behind the scenes and gives us an insiders view of what Ed Wood's life really was like. Along the way, we're introduced to the colorful and often bizarre people he surrounded himself with. I'm reminded of the Ed Wood film (which was based on this book) in which the actress playing Dolores Fuller screams, "This is not real life! Ed, you've surrounded yourself with weirdos!" This is, of course, right before she leaves him. Now in Ed's real life, he was fortunate enough to have found Kathy Wood, a woman who stuck by him till the tragic end. I could go on about this book, but it has to be read to be believed. It's just very touching and sad and beautiful because it reminds us how fragile life is. Ed Wood is a kind of mutant saint: someone who never gave up, no matter how bad his luck was! Along with Nightmare of Ecstasy, I'd like to recommend two other Amazon quick picks: American Spendor by Harvey Pekar, The Loser's Club by Richard Perez. This review is dedicated to all the hopeless dreamers!

Rating:
Summary: Compelling and Strangely Moving.
Review: It's truly sad to see someone pay such a high price for following his dream. Ed Wood Jr. was not a talented director/writer but he set out make films anyway. And, boy, did he pay the price! This "oral" history goes behind the scenes and gives us an insiders view of what Ed Wood's life really was like. Along the way, we're introduced to the colorful and often bizarre people he surrounded himself with. I'm reminded of the Ed Wood film (which was based on this book) in which the actress playing Dolores Fuller screams, "This is not real life! Ed, you've surrounded yourself with weirdos!" This is, of course, right before she leaves him. Now in Ed's real life, he was fortunate enough to have found Kathy Wood, a woman who stuck by him till the tragic end. I could go on about this book, but it has to be read to be believed. It's just very touching and sad and beautiful because it reminds us how fragile life is. Ed Wood is a kind of mutant saint: someone who never gave up, no matter how bad his luck was! Along with Nightmare of Ecstasy, I'd like to recommend two other Amazon quick picks: American Spendor by Harvey Pekar, The Loser's Club by Richard Perez. This review is dedicated to all the hopeless dreamers!

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly researched oral history of a fascinating person
Review: Like many, I became interested in Ed Wood in the late 1970s when Plan 9 From Outer Space was named "Worst Movie of All Time" by film critics. This book uses the oral history form to flesh out the life of this very strange but somehow likeable man. This book is scrupulously researched, edited and assembled from interviews and documents. It's an entertaining and interesting read. The book was the basis of the Tim Burton film "Ed Wood."

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly researched oral history of a fascinating person
Review: Like many, I became interested in Ed Wood in the late 1970s when Plan 9 From Outer Space was named "Worst Movie of All Time" by film critics. This book uses the oral history form to flesh out the life of this very strange but somehow likeable man. This book is scrupulously researched, edited and assembled from interviews and documents. It's an entertaining and interesting read. The book was the basis of the Tim Burton film "Ed Wood."