Product Description

Scheduled for December 2024 shipping.

Ultra-limited edition – there are only 15 copies of this title worldwide. This luxury hardback is signed by both editors and hand-numbered, and ships in a black foil presentation pouch with a FREE art print of the cover and certificate of authenticity.

The Classic Monsters of the Movies Issue #33 Legacy Edition Hardback brings you more of the classic chills you love, taking you back to the world of vintage horror as only we know how. Whichever age of horror films is your favourite, there’s so much here to enjoy, as we journey through the genre with a combination of factual information, thought-provoking commentary, gorgeous imagery and an enduring love for all things cinematically monstrous. This issue is no exception, showing you just why we’re the 2023 Rondo Award winners in the Best Classic Magazine Category – from the origins of the genre, to the modern classics that have turned familiar concepts into all-new experiences, we share your passion for horror cinema. This hardback edition of Classic Monsters of the Movies #33 is the perfect starting point for a rewatch of some favourites, and the discovery of myriad new terrors.

REMEMBER – THERE ARE ONLY 15 COPIES OF THIS TITLE IN THE WHOLE WORLD!

The beginning is always a very good place to start, and Daniel Horne’s nightmarishly moody cover painting of Lon Chaney junior in 1942’s The Ghost of Frankenstein is your doorway to the Classic Monsters of the Movies #33 Legacy Edition Hardback’s lead feature. Nige Burton’s reassessment of Universal’s fourth Frankenstein film explores its place in the series, its status as a second wave classic, and its impact on what came next in the Frankenstein gravy train. Under Erle C Kenton’s direction, Chaney’s brutish performance as the Monster was balanced by Bela Lugosi’s wheedling, manipulative Ygor, but with strong support from Cedric Hardwicke, Lionel Atwill, Evelyn Ankers and Ralph Bellamy, this was no one-trick pony of a monster thriller. A range of stunning stills immerses you in the world of one of horror’s most storied families once again as we make contact with The Ghost of Frankenstein…

Unless you’re aiming for a very specific atmosphere, key to the mood of pretty much any horror movie is its musical backdrop, and the hardcover edition of Classic Monsters of the Movies issue #33 hits plenty of the scariest notes with an exploration of the songs and tunes embedded in some of our favourite horror films. From the elegant ‘Beautiful Love’ from The Mummy, through to the hypnotic ‘Lullaby of the Bells’ in Phantom of the Opera and the plaintive ‘He’ll Be There’ of Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde, filmmakers’ choices of music has added immeasurably to the sense of place that’s so important in our beloved horror films. Jamie Jones looks at the ways in which the near-universal appeal of music can enhance, distort and subvert the films it’s used in.

From the tapestry of musical backing that has enriched so many horror movies, we turn next to an actor who was front and centre with some truly scene-stealing performances. This casebound edition of Classic Monsters of the Movies issue #33 features a biography of Onslow Stevens, whose appearances in Secret of the Blue Room (1933), Life Returns (1935), The Monster and the Girl (1941), House of Dracula (1945) and Them! (1954) showed tremendous range within the horror genre and beyond. Whether facing off against brain-transplanted gorillas, tearing up the screen (and the people of mittelEurope) in the aftermath of an unholy blood transfusion, he was never less than compelling. You’ll also learn of his tragic final days, a most unfitting end for a gifted performer.

Next up in the Classic Monsters of the Movies issue #33 Legacy Edition Hardback, we take an in-depth look at Hammer’s 1971 quasi historical romp starring Ingrid Pitt as the infamous Countess Dracula. The story of Hungarian noblewoman Countess Elizabeth Báthory, who allegedly murdered some 300 women and attempted to maintain her youth by bathing in human blood, was too good to pass up as a Hammer shocker, particularly when given a tart-up by writer Jeremy Paul, who duly changed her name to Elisabeth Nádasdy. David Huckvale goes deep inside the castle walls to discover just exactly what that worthy is bathing in, and explores both the film’s dynamic and its relevance to both the studio and the history books.

The hardback edition of Classic Monsters of the Movies issue #33 also has something very special in store, as we dive into the macabre, sensual and utterly unforgettable world of Showtime’s modern classic TV show Penny Dreadful. Creator John Logan, whose Hollywood screenwriting credits include Gladiator, Skyfall and Hugo, brought together some of the genre’s most iconic characters and wove them together in ways you’d never have imagined, bringing genre fans an all-new ensemble piece with its own rich mythology and a star-studded cast including Eva Green, Timothy Dalton, Helen McCrory, Billie Piper and Josh Hartnett. In an exclusive feature, this insightful discussion of Penny Dreadful explores Logan’s literary inspiration, the processes he went through, and the haunting, harrowing results.

After the intensity of Penny Dreadful, take a little time out for something lighter, as the hardcover Classic Monsters of the Movies issue #33 looks at 1941’s The Black Cat. Mystery with a side order of murder is the name of the game as a group of misfits vie for their share of Henrietta Winslow’s fortune, and with a cast list that boasts Bela Lugosi, Basil Rathbone, Anne Gwynne and Gale Sondergaard, you can’t fail to be entertained. It’s even got a crazy cat lady… but is she really that crazy? Find out in our Kitsch Corner run-through of one of the wildest spooky-house movies you’ll see in a long time.

Classic Monsters of the Movies issue #33 is printed and finished to the absolute highest standards, offering you a uniquely enjoyable mix of nostalgia, discovery and sheer passion for classic horror. Printed to A4 size (210mm x 297mm) on high quality silk-finish paper stock with a glorious image wrap cover, it’s designed with an easy reading experience in mind – a clean and timeless design means every carefully restored still looks its best. Rather than cheaper newspaper-style monochrome printing, which can leave images looking dull and washed-out, we use full colour print processes that mean even black and white stills burst with detail. Written with passion and produced with care, this hardcover edition of Classic Monsters of the Movies issue #33 is another must for your collection.

Inside Classic Monsters of the Movies #33 you’ll find:

• The Ghost of Frankenstein – revisit the fourth chapter in the Universal saga with a new and thoughtful look at the quirky, body horror-infused drama of Ludwig’s ill-advised experiments.
• The Chills are Alive – from wistful love songs to eerie children’s rhymes and boisterous celebrations, discover how the music featured in horror movies adds immeasurably to their power.
• Onslow Stevens – this quietly talented actor had a subtle force that could erupt into chilling ferocity. Learn more about his life and career in our fact-packed biography.
• Countess Dracula – who needs all those servant girls anyway? Ingrid Pitt steals the show with the aid of some pretty heavy make-up, as Hammer put a suitably ghastly spin on historical horrors.
• Penny Dreadful – the intertwined lives, loves and destinies of horror literature’s tragic antiheroes were never as compelling or heartbreaking as in this apocalyptic series, now celebrating its tenth anniversary.
• The Black Cat – with a brace of classic horror stars, in an archetypal eerie mansion, it’s safe to say there’s a whole host of frightful fun and frolics to be had.

Whether you’re a dyed-in-the-wool Monster Kid, or are new to this most beautiful genre, the Classic Monsters of the Movies issue #33 Legacy Edition Hardback is the perfect way to discover the wealth of variety, ideas and larger-than-life characterisations that make horror cinema so special.

Prefer the softback edition of this title? Just click here.

Book specification:

• 70 pages
• Full colour throughout
• Packed with stills, posters, articles and info
• Printed and finished to the highest standard
• Luxury matt laminated cover
• Image wrap hardback cover
• Signed by editors and individually numbered
• Includes FREE exclusive art print based on the cover design
• Includes certificate of authenticity
• Packaged in black foil presentation pouch