Tobe Hooper's Salem's Lot: Studies in the Horror Film Paperback – April 8, 2014

Terrific, detailed document of an underrated film.Anyone who's intrigued with the original 1979 T.V. Miniseries is going to be very pleased with this book.It's Tony Earnshaw's interest and general love for the film that makes this book impossible to put down the moment you pick it up.Not only the photos from the film including outtakes make it worth the purchase, it's the very detailed interviews with the existing cast, producers, etc. that makes you want to watch the film again through it's entirety.You won't be disappointed!One can only hope that a deluxe DVD/Blueray edition of the film will surface someday with the same level of labor and commitment that this book offers.Let's cross our fangs...

Fantastic book. The only other Centipede Press film book I've read was for "Videodrome," and this volume is twice as big. Pretty much everyone involved was interviewed, except for Bonnie Bedelia.Excellent photos and artwork throughout, but a few of the interviews were redundant in the stories told. The most surprising thing is that "Salem's Lot" was filmed between July 10 and August 29, 1979 - then broadcast later that same year.The worst interview is with Stephen King. He didn't like Barlow becoming a Nosferatu-like creature. Of course, that's one of the things that made this so scary for a made-for-TV movie, and Barlow is one of the reasons we're still talking about "Salem's Lot." Just like the (original) films "The Shining" and "Carrie," "Salem's Lot" outshines it's source material.

The Ultimate guide to the making of the 1979 miniseries "Salem's Lot". Salem's Lot is one of my all time favorite vampire films and is pretty close to the overall events depicted in the Stephen King novel, so when I found out about this book I was really excited. Author Tony Earnshaw has really done his homework and dug up a treasure trove of information on the production as well as the cast of this cult classic. This book is also loaded with rare photos from behind the scenes. If you're a die hard fan of the 1979 version of "Salem's Lot" then this is a must have book. My only small nitpick is that this book's price tag is a bit on the expensive side for a softcover. That being said! If you are a horror film enthusiast and enjoy vampire films then I highly recommend picking this book up while you can.

I am probably Salem's Lot biggest fan..of .the movie. The casting was probably the best I've seen in any motion picture. Everyone became the character. Over the years I have searched for behind the scenes stories about the making of the film, but not much is out there. Then I heard about this book coming out and I was so excited to finally get the details on the film and get to see behind the scenes photos of cast members and so forth. When I got the book it was good to see that there were several interviews which were enlightening, such as David Soul's take on the movie, a small paragraph by Lance Kerwin, an interview with Geoffrey Lewis and a few others. Many of the main cast are gone now and of course, unable to share their thoughts. There were a few interesting pictures in the book, such as Geoff Lewis getting bitten by Danny Glick in his coffin. There they were, in the Burbank studio, surrounded by cameras and the director. I always wondered if the scene was actually filmed in a grave and how they filmed the scene. It was so realistic, but - nope - it was done in the studio.Good stuff to learn.Kerwin claimed the film was "fun" and that James Mason, the epitome of evil, was really very funny and nice Old World gentleman. Soul went all the way with his compliment about working with his idol, Mason, and how intimidating it was at first. But he ended up becoming friends with Mason and his wife, Clarissa, who played the vampire Danny Glick's vampire mother. They trio would play cards in Mason's trailer between scenes. THIS is the stuff I wanted to know about, but there isn't much of that behind the scenes information there. I did find out that Susan (Bonnie Bedalia), Soul's love in the movie, was dating him for a while, then moved on to Hooper. That is what I want to know! Give me the gossip any time!I was disappointed that there was no interview with Tobe Hooper. While scouring the Net I see many interviews given by Hooper, but he always talks about his Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which is far inferior to Salem's Lot, in my opinion. In the Seventies before the blood and gore movies and plastic monsters and special effects, horror was more subtle, left more to the imagination.More fun and frightening. You never saw blood in Salem's Lot or people getting hacked up. But just the look on Soul's sweaty face as the monster's henchman Mason, walks by him in the dark driveway of the Marsten House and after a dramatic pause, then issues a terse, "Good evening" is the stuff of nightmares. I don't have to add, do I, Ralphie Glick's tap tap tap on the window pane, as he tries - and succeeds - in attacking his brother. That is one of the most frightening scenes ever filmed in a motion picture. One last thing: the book did show Ralphie Glick (Ronnie Schribner) being hooked up to the dolly that he rode on in that frantic bedroom scene. The eerie floating affect where you see Ralphie come through the window was filmed in reverse. They explain it in the book, and it is very interesting. Would I buy the book again? Yes. I guess I just wanted a little more red meat..........and the all informative interview by Hooper, which was not forthcoming.

I have loved Tobe Hooper's mini-series "Salem's Lot, based on the Stephen King novel, since it first aired in 1979. I was 5 years old when the film initially aired in November of 79 on CBS and it was the first film that ever terrified me in every sense of the word. Everything about the film is perfect in my opinion. It has a stellar cast, amazing make-up and special effects, haunting soundtrack and very effective scares that stay with you long after the film ends. It is my favorite horror film of all time and always has been. Even as a young boy I wanted a book on the film. One that offered insight into the making of the film. Tony Earnshaw has delivered and given fans like me the definitive book on the making of this amazing film. It collects new and old interviews from people that worked on and starred in the film, still shots from the film and behind the scenes and even a excerpts from the original teleplay with deleted scenes. It is the crown jewel for lovers of the film. Anyone who is a fan of the film owes it to themselves to buy this book.

Scariest T.V. mini series indeed. I remember seeing 'Salem's Lot when I was a kid and was terrified but fascinated. I have been obsessed with this movie since then. Fascinating book.