Rating: 
Summary: A sad but addictive trip through Hollywood's dark corners
Review: Nightmare in Ecstacy is an oral history of Edward D. Wood, Jr., the infamous filmmaker who has somewhat unfairly become known as the worst filmmaker of all time. The book's author, Rudolph Grey, tells Wood's story through the recollections of Wood's associates, a motely crew of dreamers, self-promoters, and minor celebrities who -- while clear-eyed about Wood's lack of talent -- all seem to retain a rather touching loyalty to the memory of the hapless friend. Through their recollections, we get a sad but strangely uplifting story of a professional misfit (amongst his many eccentricities, Wood's most notorious hobby was wearing women's clothing and developing a fetish for angora sweaters) who sought the approval of society the only way he could imagine -- by making it big in Hollywood! What's truly amazing is that Wood managed to produce a recognizable oevure of films that are still watched and tracked down by film lovers today. Grey's book shows how Wood managed to accomplish this while also giving us a warts-and-all portrait of one of the most unique men to ever find himself living in the usually unexplored dark corners of Hollywood. Along with revealing the true Ed Wood, the book also gives us fascinating character portraits of the gang of eccentrics that surrounded Wood -- everyone from wrestler Tor Johnson, psychic Criswell, the delightfully caustic Vampira, to the tragically declining Bela Lugosi. Grey's book becomes a valuable, vivid record of the underside of Hollywood; a portrait of the side of the entertainment capitol of the world that the rest of the world is rarely allowed to see.Edward D. Wood, Jr. specialized in making movies that weren't really all that good. In fact, the majority of them have recieved a sort of fame based on the assumption that they represent the worst films ever to come out of Hollywood. As his films have recently achieved a sort of camp appreciation, so has the late Mr. Wood. In fact, he has become such a legendary figure of incompetent amusement that it is easy to forget that, at one time, Ed Wood was no different than any other aspiring filmmaker -- he wanted to make films, he had next to no money or important connections in the film industry, and nobody took him all that seriously. Yet, unlike the majority of others who come to Hollywood without a prayer, Ed Wood actually succeeded in making a sizeable number of films (regardless of their quality) and ultimately, died a rather tragic, early death as a result of pursuing his dream. It's easy to forget that before he became a figure of camp amusement, Ed Wood was an actual human being and that's why we're lucky to have Rudolph Grey's humorous yet ultimately melancholy biography Nightmare in Ecstacy to remind us of that.
Rating:
Summary: A sad but addictive trip through Hollywood's dark corners
Review: Nightmare in Ecstacy is an oral history of Edward D. Wood, Jr., the infamous filmmaker who has somewhat unfairly become known as the worst filmmaker of all time. The book's author, Rudolph Grey, tells Wood's story through the recollections of Wood's associates, a motely crew of dreamers, self-promoters, and minor celebrities who -- while clear-eyed about Wood's lack of talent -- all seem to retain a rather touching loyalty to the memory of the hapless friend. Through their recollections, we get a sad but strangely uplifting story of a professional misfit (amongst his many eccentricities, Wood's most notorious hobby was wearing women's clothing and developing a fetish for angora sweaters) who sought the approval of society the only way he could imagine -- by making it big in Hollywood! What's truly amazing is that Wood managed to produce a recognizable oevure of films that are still watched and tracked down by film lovers today. Grey's book shows how Wood managed to accomplish this while also giving us a warts-and-all portrait of one of the most unique men to ever find himself living in the usually unexplored dark corners of Hollywood. Along with revealing the true Ed Wood, the book also gives us fascinating character portraits of the gang of eccentrics that surrounded Wood -- everyone from wrestler Tor Johnson, psychic Criswell, the delightfully caustic Vampira, to the tragically declining Bela Lugosi. Grey's book becomes a valuable, vivid record of the underside of Hollywood; a portrait of the side of the entertainment capitol of the world that the rest of the world is rarely allowed to see. Edward D. Wood, Jr. specialized in making movies that weren't really all that good. In fact, the majority of them have recieved a sort of fame based on the assumption that they represent the worst films ever to come out of Hollywood. As his films have recently achieved a sort of camp appreciation, so has the late Mr. Wood. In fact, he has become such a legendary figure of incompetent amusement that it is easy to forget that, at one time, Ed Wood was no different than any other aspiring filmmaker -- he wanted to make films, he had next to no money or important connections in the film industry, and nobody took him all that seriously. Yet, unlike the majority of others who come to Hollywood without a prayer, Ed Wood actually succeeded in making a sizeable number of films (regardless of their quality) and ultimately, died a rather tragic, early death as a result of pursuing his dream. It's easy to forget that before he became a figure of camp amusement, Ed Wood was an actual human being and that's why we're lucky to have Rudolph Grey's humorous yet ultimately melancholy biography Nightmare in Ecstacy to remind us of that.
Rating:
Summary: Ed Wood's Hollyweird
Review: Once you open the pages of this fine book, you are taken into the world of one interesting man and the wild and wacky and, ultimately, sad world he lived in. Of course, I'm talking about Edward D. Wood, Jr. This is the man who gave us "Bride Of The Monster", "Glen Or Glenda?", and the ultimate classic, "Plan 9 From Outer Space", among others. There was no one else in the film business, or in the world, like Ed. This interesting, page turning book, by Rudolph Grey, is written in a much differnt way than the usual autobiography. The whole book, and Ed's whole story, is told in interviews from his friends, co-workers, wives, family, and even Ed Wood himself. This book, written in a different fashion, is very suiting to Ed, because he was quite different himself. Ed was accused of being the worst filmmaker in the world and made the worst films to ever be captured on film. Were they bad?. Yes. But you see, to Ed, they were masterpieces. This is what he wanted to do. Ed was just like any other person who dreamed of one day getting into the movie business and living his dream. He went to the movies all the time and even made his own. He was just like everybody else. Well, I guess not like EVERYONE else. Ed liked to wear angora sweaters and dress up in other women's clothing. He wasn't gay, it was just something he liked to do. The parts in the book dealing with how he got to like it and how he would ask and beg women for their angora items is funny. He was a real ladie's man. He loved them. He was married quite a few times. Besides Ed's life, the book also tells how the movie industry was and what it took to get movies made. Since Ed was a nobody and didn't have money, his movie making days were not the same as an actual star's. The book gives great insight into the art and money making side of the industry. Ed's struggles to find money and get his fillms made are intriguing. The guy might not of been a businessman or an all together competent filmmaker, but he knew what he wanted and how to get it. People might laugh nowadays about how cheep things looked, or how certain things were made out of any ordinary thing, but that was the genius of Ed. He was always thinking. In between shots he could make a tombstone or a coffin and have it ready to go. This is more inspirational than any young, hot shot director of today working with the top of line CGI effects. That may be cool and fun, but Ed was a real director. He made what he wanted. As with the usual 'infamous' type celebrity, the happy story quickly goes downhill. Ed's last years were awful and dreary. No money, no nothing, and no health. It was sad to see this guy who seemed to be filled with joy, even if everything he did was laughed at and ridiculed, turn into such a sad character. This is a book that will have you flipping to each page to read more about Ed's crazy life and his incredible time in the biz. This is a great book. Yoou need to get it.
Rating:
Summary: A Fine Compendium
Review: This oral biography of the late Mr. Wood states things nicely, entertainingly, and with the humor AND respect it requires. The basis for the Burton picture, it is actually a deserved appreciation of a man derided as a hack who, though it was true, loved the busines, and thus deserves our aforementioned respect. OK--you can laugh now--as he would have. Buy this.
Rating:
Summary: A Fine Compendium
Review: This oral biography of the late Mr. Wood states things nicely, entertainingly, and with the humor AND respect it requires. The basis for the Burton picture, it is actually a deserved appreciation of a man derided as a hack who, though it was true, loved the busines, and thus deserves our aforementioned respect. OK--you can laugh now--as he would have. Buy this.
Rating:
Summary: A Cult Figure Brought To Life
Review: When I saw the movie Ed Wood and learned the film was based on his biography, I had to check out a copy from the library. Grey brings Wood to life in a series of interviews by those who knew him, each of course with their own view of Wood (which I think is the best way to do a biography). The different glimpses we get of Wood add up to a whole picture of a man we can make our own judgements about. If the author had just given us a litany of biographical facts (he served in the army on these dates, he graduated from this high school, etc) we would soon be bored and want to close the book. But Ed Wood was anything but a boring man. The author in fact does gives us all the biographical details of Ed Wood, through the interviews over the course of the book. I was saddened to find out he had a much sadder life than the movie indicates, and his death was even sadder. But what emerges most clearly from the book, as well as the movie (and I wonder if this is what appealed to Tim Burton), was that Ed Wood, an alcoholic who couldn't seem to escape writing porn for a living to make ends meet, cared very much for his tight circle of friends (nicknamed "Wood's Spooks" by outsiders), which included a giant Swedish wrestler, a psychic who loved to sleep in coffins, an aged and addicted Bela Lugosi (whose story is even sadder than Wood's), Vampira, and many others. Wood never judged his friends, and they never judged him, even when he directed them in his movies while dressed in a baby pink chiffon dress. This undercurrent throughout the book is what makes it endearing and worthwhile to read; how many of us have nonjudgemental friends like this? (and we don't even sleep in coffins.) The other best facet of this book is that Wood didn't give a damn what people thought of his work; he did what he loved to do, the way he wanted to do it. In that, the book has something to teach the reader. I'm glad I checked out a copy rather than bought it, however. The book is addictively re-readable, but there are too many painful and sad moments in the book to have it in my bookshelf.
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