Hollywood's Stephen King

For the past three decades, Hollywood has faithfully adapted much of Stephen King's fiction into film. Of the many major films that have been made, not one has lost money. Part of this may be explained in terms of King's own popularity in American culture; he has been, after all, a best-selling writer since the late 1970s. But more interesting is what this cinematic fascination reveals about postmodern American culture. In the first overview of Hollywood's major cinematic interpretations of Stephen King, Tony Magistrale examines the various thematic, narrative, and character interconnections that highlight the relationships among his films. Opening with a revealing interview with Stephen King, the book takes us through chapters that explore such popular films as Stand By Me, Misery, The Shining, The Green Mile, and The Shawshank Redemption among others.

Table of Contents:
Preface * Steve's Take: An Interview with Stephen King * The Lost Children: Carrie, Firestarter, Stand By Me, Silver Bullet, Hearts in Altantis * Maternal Archetypes: Cujo, Misery, Dolores Claiborne * Paternal Archetypes: The Shining, Pet Sematary, Apt Pupil * Defining Heroic Codes of Survival: The Dead Zone, The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile * Technologies of Fright: Christine, The Running Man, Maximum Overdrive, The Mangler, The Night Flier * King of the Miniseries: Salem's Lot, IT, The Stand, The Shining, Storm of the Century, Rose Red * Films Cited * Works Cited * Index

About the Author :
Tony Magistrale is Professor of English at the University of Vermont. He has published extensively in the field of Anglo-American Gothicism.

Review :
'...a useful elucidation of King's work through the skewed lens of Hollywood.' - Publishers Weekly '...informative and well-written study for students and King enthusiasts alike, highly recommended.' - Rosalind Dayen, Library Journal 'This short volume is surprisingly readable and entertaining' - Amazon.co.uk reviewer 'An authoritative exploration of our bogeyman laureate's remarkable afterlife in the dream factory. Magistrale's interview with King alone is worth the price of admission.' - David J. Skal, author of The Monster Show 'As the most perceptive of the myriad of critics who have studied Stephen King's canon over the last several decades, Tony Magistrale has a just claim to the title of premier King scholar in America. Now, in Hollywood's Stephen King, Magistrale has written an indispensable addition to the field. Like others before him, Magistrale examines a selection of movies and miniseries adapted from King's fiction or created by King himself, but two factors make Hollywood's Stephen King different from its predecessors: it's stylistic lucidity and its literary focus. For the most part, Magistrale eschews cinematic theory and technical miscellany; instead, he offers an exceptionally perceptive literary overview of the way Hollywood has interpreted - and misinterpreted - King's fiction. Hollywood's Stephen King amply confirms Tony Magistrale's position as the dean of King critics. This book is a keeper.' - Mary Pharr, editor of Fantasy Odysseys: Selected Essays from the Twenty-second International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts 'Novels are novels, and films are films - and when the twain meet, it's a miracle. Tony Magistrale's informed commentary on Hollywood's scattershot (and often scatter-brained) approach to the fiction of Stephen King helps explain why classics like Stand By Me and The Shawshank Redemption can be found on the same shelf as Children of the Corn II and The Mangler. A must-read for King's many fans, as well as screenwriters and producers - and for the movie goers who wonder why so much can be lost in the translation from the page to the screen.' - Douglas E. Winter, author of Run and Stephen King: the Art of Darkness