Flights of Fancy

The Great Fantasy Films

Add to my list

by Kenneth Von Gunden

Type

Film Reviews

Subject

Genre > Fantasy

Keywords

fantasy, film selection, classics

Publishing date

2001

Publisher

McFarland & Co

1st publishing

1989

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 303 pages
6 x 9 inches (15 x 23 cm)

ISBN-10
ISBN-13

0-7864-1214-3
978-0-7864-1214-3

User Ratings

(0 vote)

X

Average rating:

0	rating	= We can do without
0	rating	= Good book
0	rating	= Excellent book
0	rating	= Unique / a reference

Your rating: -

Book Presentation:
In-depth analyses are presented of 15 superior films, each one representing a subgenre of fantasy cinema—Beauty and the Beast, Conan the Barbarian, The Dark Crystal, Dragonslayer, 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T, It’s a Wonderful Life, Jason and the Argonauts, King Kong, Lost Horizon, Popeye, Superman, The Thief of Baghdad, Time Bandits, Topper, and The Wizard of Oz.

A chapter is devoted to each film, providing a plot summary and detailed information about cast and crew, special effects (stop-motion animation, miniatures, hanging miniatures, optical effects, tricks of perspective, blue screens, matte paintings, glass shots, reverse projection, slow motion, rear and front projection, etc.), and strengths and weaknesses, as well as explorations of the film’s relationship to written fantasy, other films, and cultural myths.

About the Author:
A retired Penn State University professor, Kenneth Von Gunden is the author of multiple books, including film scholarship and science fiction novels. He lives in State College, Pennsylvania.

Press Reviews:
"enjoyable"—Classic Images; "very thorough"—Rue Morgue; "exhaustive research…commendable"—Variety; "detailed examination…intelligently analyzed…useful"—Film Review Annual; "thorough analyses"—Reference & Research Book News; "detailed"—Science Fiction Chronicle; "in-depth studies of fantasy favorites…plenty of tidbits"—Burlington County Times.

See the publisher website: McFarland & Co