Description: People hunting people for sport--it's an idea both shocking and fascinating. In 1924 Richard Connell published a short story that introduced this concept to the public zeitgeist, where it has remained embedded ever since--as evidenced by the many big- and small-screen adaptations and inspirations. Since its publication, Connell's award-winning "The Most Dangerous Game" has been continuously anthologized and studied in classrooms throughout America. Raising questions about the nature of violence and cruelty, and the ethics of hunting for sport, the thrilling story spawned a new cinematic subgenre, beginning with RKO's 1932 production of The Most Dangerous Game, and continuing right up into the new millennium with 2004's The Eliminator. The Most Dangerous Cinema examines in-depth all the cinematic adaptations of the iconic short story, with each film chapter containing the following subsections: "Synopsis," "How 'Dangerous' Is It?," "Analysis," "Production History," and "Credits." Photos, a bibliography, and four appendices ("Almost Dangerous Games," "Dangerous Game Shows and Deadly Diversions," "Dangerous Alien Games," and "Television Adaptations and Inspirations") are included.
Brief description: Bryan Senn's work has appeared in Filmfax, Cult Movies, Shivers, Midnight Marquee Press and Monsters from the Vault. The author of numerous books on the history of cinema, he lives in Montana.
Review Quotes: "When Bryan Senn writes books on cinema, many monster movie fans know he grabs their attention right away and won't let go"-Scary Monsters Magazine; "the offbeat topic of hunting people for sport is the subject of this equally offbeat book: the type of worthy volume that McFarland deserves credit for supporting...highly entertaining, meticulously researched"-Cinema Retro; "a fascinating, hugely entertaining book"-ARBA; "Senn is a cultured and entertaining writer.... Well-illustrated, well-written and well-researched, with a fabulous cover, this is certainly a book well up to McFarland's usual high standards"-Destructive Music; "Bryan Senn is one of the very best writers on Cinema working today"-Little Shoppe of Horrors.