Encyclopedia of Film Themes, Settings and Series

by Armstrong, Richard B.

• ISBN13: 9780786445721
• ISBN10: 0786445726
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-11-23
• Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc Pub

Summary

The first editon was called "the most valuable film reference in several years" by Library Journal. The new edition published in hardcover in 2001 includes more than 670 entries. The current work is a paperback reprint of that edition. Each entry contains a mini-essay that defines the topic, followed by a chronological list of representative films. From the Abominable Snowman to Zorro, this encyclopedia provides film scholars and fans with an easy-to-use reference for researching film themes or tracking down obscure movies on subjects such as suspended animation, viral epidemics, robots, submarines, reincarnation, ventriloquists and the Olympics ("Excellent" said Cult Movies). The volume also contains an extensive list of film characters and series, including B-movie detectives, Western heroes, made-for-television film series, and foreign film heroes and villains.

Author Biography

Richard B. Armstrong, in addition to his reference book work, has written for such periodicals as Film Quarterly and Filmfax. Mary Willems Armstrong has shown films, reviewed films, and written about film reference books in magazines such as Film Quarterly and Filmfax.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
The Abominable Snowman	p. 3
Acronyms in Title	p. 3
Ad Lines (Selected)	p. 3
Addresses in Title	p. 4
Airplanes	p. 4
Airport Series	p. 5
Aladdin Series	p. 5
Alcoholism	p. 5
Aldrich, Henry	p. 6
Alien Series	p. 6
The Alilenas	p. 6
Alligators and Crocodiles	p. 7
American Film Theatre Presentations	p. 7
American Ninja Series	p. 7
Amityville Series	p. 7
Amnesia	p. 7
Androids and Cyborgs	p. 8
Angel Series	p. 8
Angels	p. 9
Animal Instincts Series	p. 9
Animated Movies (Feature-Length)	p. 9
Anthologies	p. 11
Apartments	p. 11
Apes and Monkeys	p. 12
Apu Trilogy	p. 12
Arthur, King, and the Knights of the Round Table	p. 12
Assumed Identity	p. 13
Asteroids, Meteors, and Comets	p. 14
Asylums	p. 14
Atomic Bombs	p. 14
Ator	p. 15
Auto Racing	p. 15
Autobiographical Films	p. 16
Automobiles	p. 16
Babies	p. 17
Babysitters	p. 17
Back to the Future Series	p. 18
Backwoods Feuds	p. 18
The Bad News Bears	p. 18
Baines, Scattergood	p. 18
Ballet/Ballerinas	p. 18
Balloons, Hot Air	p. 19
Bancroft, Brass	p. 19
Barbers/Hairdressers	p. 19
The Barrytown Trilogy	p. 20
Barton, Dick	p. 20
Baseball	p. 20
Basket Case Series	p. 20
Basketball	p. 21
Batman	p. 21
Bats	p. 22
Beach Party Series	p. 22
Bears	p. 23
Beastmaster	p. 23
Beauty Contests	p. 23
Belvedere, Mr. (Lynn)	p. 24
Benji	p. 24
Bermuda Triangle	p. 24
Best of the Best Series	p. 24
A Better Tomorrow Series	p. 24
Beverly Hills Cop Series	p. 25
Bicycles	p. 25
Big Town Series	p. 25
Bigamy	p. 25
Bigfoot	p. 25
Billy Jack	p. 26
Billy the Kid/Billy Carson	p. 26
Birds	p. 26
Black Cobra Series	p. 27
Blackie, Boston	p. 27
Blackouts	p. 27
Blane, Torchy	p. 27
Blaxploitaiion Films	p. 27
The Blind Dead	p. 28
Blindness	p. 28
Blondie	p. 28
Bloodfist Series	p. 29
The Blue Demon	p. 29
Boarding Schools	p. 29
Body Chemistry Series	p. 30
Body Switching	p. 30
Bodybuilding	p. 30
Bodyguards	p. 30
Boggy Creek Series	p. 31
Bomba, the Jungle Boy	p. 31
Bond, James	p. 31
Bond Heroines	p. 31
Bond Villains	p. 32
Bounty Hunters	p. 32
The Bowery Boys	p. 32
Bowling	p. 33
Boxing	p. 33
Boy Scouts	p. 34
Brain Transplants	p. 34
Brainwashing	p. 35
Buddy Action Films	p. 35
Buried Alive	p. 35
Buses	p. 36
Butchers	p. 36
Butlers	p. 36
La Cage aux Folles Series	p. 37
Cagney & Lacey	p. 37
Camels	p. 37
Cannibalism	p. 37
Cannon Movie Tales	p. 38
The Care Bears	p. 38
Carnosaur Series	p. 38
Carry On Series	p. 39
Carter, Nick	p. 39
Cartoon/Live Action Features	p. 39
Cartoonists	p. 40
Casper	p. 40
Cassidy, Hopalong	p. 40
Cats	p. 41
Caution, Lemmy	p. 41
Cave People	p. 41
Centerfolds	p. 42
Chainsaws	p. 42
Chan, Charlie	p. 42
Chauffeurs	p. 43
Cheerleaders	p. 43
Chess	p. 44
Child Custody Disputes	p. 44
Children of the Bride Series	p. 44
Children of the Corn Series	p. 45
Children Raised by Animals	p. 45
Child's Play Series	p. 45
A Chinese Ghost Story Series	p. 45
Christian, Dr. (Paul)	p. 46
Christmas	p. 46
Cinerama	p. 47
Circuses	p. 47
Cisco Kid	p. 48
Clairvoyants and Fortunetellers	p. 48
Class Reunions	p. 48
Clocks and Watches	p. 49
Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones	p. 49
The Cohens and the Kellys	p. 50
Color/B&W Features	p. 50
Columbo, Lieutenant	p. 50
Coma	p. 51
Comic Book Characters	p. 51
Comic Book-Style Movies	p. 51
Comic Strip Characters	p. 51
Compilation Films (Fictional)	p. 52
Composers (Classical)	p. 52
Composers (Popular)	p. 53
Computers	p. 53
Concert Movies	p. 54
Confessions… Series	p. 54
Corman's Poe Series	p. 54
Courts-Martial	p. 55
Grabs and Lobsters	p. 55
Crane, Bill	p. 55
The Creature from the Black Lagoon	p. 55
The Crime Doctor	p. 55
Critters Series	p. 56
Crusoe, Robinson	p. 56
Curse Series	p. 56
Cyborg Cop Series	p. 56
Cyborg Series	p. 56
Cyclops	p. 57
Dancer, Joe	p. 57
Danger Zone Series	p. 57
Daninsky, Waldemar (El Hombre Lobo)	p. 57
Dark Shadows Series	p. 57
Darkman	p. 58
Dates in Title	p. 58
The Daughters of Joshua Cabe Series	p. 58
Deafness	p. 58
Dear Ruth Series	p. 58
Death Incarnate	p. 59
Death Wish Series	p. 59
Deathstalker	p. 59
Delta Force Series	p. 59
Dentists	p. 60
Desperado Series	p. 60
The Devil	p. 60
Dinosaurs	p. 61
Dirigibles	p. 61
The Dirty Dozen	p. 62
Dirty Harry	p. 62
Disaster Movies	p. 62
Disguises	p. 62
District Attorney, Mr.	p. 63
Doctor in the House Series	p. 63
Dogs	p. 63
Doinel, Antoine	p. 64
Dolls	p. 64
Dolphins	p. 65
Dracula	p. 65
Dragons	p. 66
Dreams	p. 66
Drew, Nancy	p. 67
Drug Addiction	p. 67
Drummond, Bulldog	p. 67
Dupree, Paula (The Ape Woman)	p. 68
Durango Kid	p. 68
Earthquakes	p. 68
Earth's Core	p. 69
Elephants	p. 69
Elevators (or Lifts)	p. 69
Emmanuelle	p. 70
End of the World/Post-Apocalypse	p. 70
Ernest	p. 71
Eternal Youth/Rejuvenation	p. 71
The Evil Dead Series	p. 71
The Exorcist Series	p. 72
Eye of the Eagle Series	p. 72
Fairs and Carnivals	p. 72
Faith Healers	p. 73
The Falcon	p. 73
Family of Cops Series	p. 74
Faniômas	p. 74
Fashion Models	p. 74
Fassbinder's Women Trilogy	p. 75
FBI	p. 75
Film and Theater Critics	p. 75
Film Star Biographies	p. 76
Fires and Firefighters	p. 76
Fish	p. 77
Five Little Peppers	p. 77
Flagg and Quirt	p. 77
Floods	p. 78
The Fly Series	p. 78
Flying People	p. 78
Football	p. 78
Ford's Cavalry Trilogy	p. 79
Foreign Legion	p. 79
Four Daughters Series	p. 80
Francis, the Talking Mule	p. 80
Frankenstein/The Monster	p. 80
Free Willy Series	p. 81
Friday the 13th Series	p. 82
Frogs	p. 82
Frogtown Series	p. 82
Fu Manchu	p. 83
The Gambler Series	p. 83
Gambling	p. 83
Game Shows	p. 84
Gamera	p. 84
Gangsters (Real-Life)	p. 84
Genies	p. 85
Ghidrah	p. 85
Ghosts	p. 85
Ghoulies Series	p. 86
Ghouls	p. 86
Giants	p. 87
Gidget	p. 87
Gildersleeve, The Great	p. 87
Gilligan's Island Series	p. 88
Gimmicks	p. 88
Ginger Series	p. 88
The Godfather Trilogy	p. 89
Godzilla	p. 89
Golf	p. 90
Gorgons	p. 90
Governesses and Nannies	p. 90
Grave Robbers	p. 90
Gunsmoke Series	p. 91
Gypsies	p. 91
Halloween Series	p. 91
Hammer, Mike	p. 92
Happy Hooker Series	p. 92
Hardy, Andy	p. 92
Having Babies Series	p. 93
Heaven	p. 93
Heist/Caper Films	p. 93
Helicopters	p. 94
Hell	p. 94
Hellraiser Series	p. 94
Helm, Matt	p. 95
Henry Series	p. 95
Herbie, the Love Bug	p. 95
Hercules	p. 95
Hickok, Wild Bill, Series	p. 96
The Higgins Family	p. 96
The High Schoolers Series	p. 96
Highlander	p. 96
Hitchhiking	p. 97
Hitler	p. 97
Hockey	p. 97
Holmes, Sherlock	p. 97
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Series	p. 98
Hood, Robin	p. 99
Hornleigh, Inspector	p. 99
Horse Racing/Equitation	p. 99
Horses	p. 100
Hospitals	p. 100
Hotels	p. 101
House Party Series	p. 101
House Series	p. 102
The Howling Series	p. 102
Huggetts Family	p. 102
Hulot, Monsieur	p. 102
Humanimals	p. 102
Hunchbacks	p. 103
Hunting Parties	p. 103
Hurricanes and Tornadoes	p. 103
Hypnotists	p. 104
I Love a Mystery Series	p. 104
Ice Cream	p. 104
Ice Skating	p. 105
If… Series	p. 105
llsa, She Wolf of the SS	p. 105
In Search of… Series	p. 106
In the Line of Duty Series	p. 106
The Incident Series	p. 106
The Incredible Hulk	p. 106
Inner Sanctum Series	p. 107
Insects	p. 107
Insurance Investigators	p. 107
Invasions/Takeovers of the U.S.	p. 108
Invisibility	p. 108
Iron Eagle Series	p. 108
Islands	p. 109
It's Alive Series	p. 109
Jack the Ripper	p. 109
Janek, Frank	p. 110
Jaws Series	p. 110
Jekyll, Dr. Henry, and Mr. Hyde	p. 110
Jesus	p. 111
Jewel Thieves	p. 111
Jiggs and Maggie	p. 112
The Jones Family	p. 112
Jones, Indiana	p. 112
Josser, Jimmy	p. 113
Judges	p. 113
Jungle Jim	p. 113
The Karate Kid	p. 114
Karnstein Trilogy	p. 114
Keate, Nurse Sarah [Sally Keating]	p. 114
Kettle, Ma and Pa	p. 114
Kickboxer Series	p. 114
Kildare, Dr. James	p. 115
Killer Tomatoes Series	p. 115
King Kong	p. 115
Kojak, Theo	p. 116
Korean War	p. 116
Ku Klux Klan and Other White Supremacists	p. 116
Labor Unions and Strikes	p. 117
The Land Before Time Series	p. 117
Lassie	p. 117
Lemon Popsicle Series	p. 118
Leprechaun Series	p. 118
Lethal Weapon Series	p. 118
Letters	p. 118
Levinson's Baltimore Series	p. 119
Librarians	p. 119
Lighthouses	p. 119
Lightning	p. 119
Lions and Tigers	p. 120
Little House on the Prairie Series	p. 120
Little People	p. 120
The Lone Rider	p. 121
The Lone Wolf	p. 121
Lone Wolf and Cub	p. 121
Long Running Times	p. 122
Long Titles	p. 123
Longstocking, Pippi	p. 123
Look Who's Talking Series	p. 123
Lookalikes	p. 124
Lottery	p. 124
Lumberjacks	p. 125
Lupin, Arsene	p. 125
Lupin III (The Wolf)	p. 125
Lynching	p. 125
Mabuse, Dr.	p. 126
Maciste	p. 126
Mad Max	p. 127
Magicians	p. 127
The Magnificent Seven	p. 127
Maids and Housekeepers	p. 127
Mail Order Brides	p. 128
Maisie	p. 128
Majin	p. 128
Major League Series	p. 129
Malibu Express Series	p. 129
A Man Called Horse Series	p. 129
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.	p. 129
The Man with No Name	p. 130
Maniac Cop Series	p. 130
Marlowe, Philip	p. 130
Marple, Miss Jane	p. 130
Marriage Brokers and Dating Services	p. 131
The Marseilles Trilogy	p. 131
Marsh, Abel	p. 131
Mason, Perry	p. 131
Matadors/Bullfights	p. 132
Meatballs Series	p. 133
Mediums and Seances	p. 133
Mermaids	p. 133
Mexican Spitfire	p. 133
The Mighty Ducks	p. 134
Military Academies	p. 134
Mirrors	p. 134
Missing in Action Series	p. 135
Mr. Vampire Series	p. 135
Mobile Homes	p. 135
Moment of Truth Series	p. 135
Monks	p. 136
Mothra	p. 136
Moto, Mr.	p. 136
Motorcycle Gangs	p. 136
Mountain Climbing	p. 137
Mounties	p. 137
Movie Theaters	p. 138
Movies About Movies	p. 138
Movies Without Dialogue	p. 139
Multiple Personalities	p. 139
Multiple Roles	p. 140
The Mummy	p. 140
The Muppets	p. 141
My Favorite… Series	p. 141
The Naked Gun Series	p. 141
National Lampoon's Vacation Series	p. 142
Nemesis Series	p. 142
Neutron	p. 142
The Never Ending Story Series	p. 142
Night Eyes Series	p. 143
Night of the Demons Series	p. 143
Night of the Living Dead Series	p. 143
Nightmare on Elm Street Series	p. 143
9½ Weeks Series	p. 144
1918 Trilogy	p. 144
No Retreat, No Surrender Series	p. 144
North Pole/South Pole	p. 144
Nostradamus	p. 145
Nuns	p. 145
Nurses Series	p. 145
Octopuses and Squids	p. 146
Oh, God Series	p. 146
Oil Wells	p. 146
Olympics	p. 146
The Omen Series	p. 147
Once Upon a Time in China Series	p. 147
Outlaws (Real-Life Western)	p. 148
Painted People	p. 148
Painters	p. 149
Paintings	p. 149
Palmer, Harry	p. 149
Parallel Worlds	p. 150
The Parent Trap Series	p. 150
Pasolini's Trilogy of Life	p. 150
Peanuts Series	p. 150
Penitentiary Series	p. 151
Penrod	p. 151
People Hunters/Human Prey	p. 151
Personal Ads	p. 151
Persons in Hiding Series	p. 151
Peyton Place Series	p. 152
Phantasm Series	p. 152
Photographers	p. 152
Pianists	p. 153
Pickpockets	p. 153
Pigs	p. 153
Pinball/Video Games	p. 154
The Pink Panther Series	p. 154
Pirates	p. 154
Planet of the Apes Series	p. 155
Plants	p. 155
Plastic Surgery	p. 156
Poirot, Hercule	p. 156
Poison Ivy Series	p. 156
Police Academy Series	p. 156
Police Story Series	p. 157
Pool	p. 157
Pop, Rock, and Country Singer Biographies	p. 157
Popes and Cardinals	p. 158
Porky's Series	p. 158
Postal Workers	p. 158
Prehysteria Series	p. 158
Prequels	p. 159
Presidents (U.S.)	p. 159
Presley, Elvis	p. 160
Prisoners of War	p. 160
Prisons	p. 161
Problem Child Series	p. 162
Prom Night Series	p. 162
Psychiatrists	p. 162
Psycho Series	p. 163
Puppet Master Series	p. 163
Puppets	p. 164
Purple, Alvin	p. 164
Quatermass, Professor Bernard	p. 164
Queen, Ellery	p. 164
Rabbits	p. 165
Radio	p. 165
Rambo	p. 165
The Range Busters	p. 166
Rebel Highway Series	p. 166
Reincarnation	p. 166
Relentless Series	p. 166
Remakes of Foreign Films	p. 167
Renfrew of the Royal Mounted	p. 167
Restaurants	p. 168
Return of the Living Dead Series	p. 168
Revenge of the Nerds Series	p. 169
Revere, Johnny	p. 169
Riley, Dexter	p. 169
Riley, Old Mother	p. 169
Road Movies	p. 169
RoboCop	p. 170
Robots	p. 170
Rockford, Jim	p. 170
Rocky	p. 171
Rodan	p. 171
Rodents	p. 171
Rodeos	p. 172
Rohmer's Comedies and Proverbs	p. 172
Rohmer's Moral Tales	p. 172
Rohmer's Tales of the Four Seasons	p. 172
Roller Blade Seven Series	p. 172
Roller Skating/Skateboards	p. 173
Room at the Top Series	p. 173
The Rough Riders	p. 173
Running	p. 173
Rusty	p. 174
Ryan, Jack	p. 174
Ryder, Red	p. 174
Sabata	p. 174
The Saint	p. 175
St. Trinian's Series	p. 175
Samurai Trilogy	p. 175
Sanders, Commissioner Harry	p. 176
El Santo	p. 176
Sarah, Plain and Tall Series	p. 177
Sartana	p. 177
Scanners Series	p. 177
The Scarlet Pimpernel	p. 177
Scream Series	p. 178
Sea Serpents	p. 178
Seals and Sea Lions	p. 178
Secret Games Series	p. 179
Serials into Features	p. 179
Sewers	p. 180
Sex Change	p. 180
The Shadow	p. 180
Shadowchaser Series	p. 181
Shaft, John	p. 181
The Shaggy Dog Series	p. 181
Sharks	p. 181
Shayne, Michael	p. 181
Shoes	p. 182
Silent Night, Deadly Night Series	p. 182
Simon's Suites Series	p. 182
Sinbad the Sailor	p. 183
The Six Million Dollar Man Series	p. 183
Skiing	p. 183
Skydiving	p. 184
Slasher Movies	p. 184
Sleepaway Camp Series	p. 184
Slumber Party Massacre Series	p. 185
Smithee, Allen/Alan	p. 185
Smokey and the Bandit	p. 185
Snails and Slugs	p. 185
SnakeEater Series	p. 186
Snakes	p. 186
Soap Operas	p. 186
Soccer	p. 186
Sometimes They Come Back… Series	p. 187
Somewhere Series	p. 187
Spenser	p. 187
Spiders	p. 187
Stairs	p. 188
Star Trek Series	p. 188
Star Wars Series	p. 189
Statues Come to Life	p. 189
The Stepfather Series	p. 189
The Stepford Wives	p. 190
Stevens, Cat	p. 190
Stores	p. 190
Strippers	p. 190
Stunt People	p. 191
Submarines	p. 191
Subspecies Series	p. 192
Subways	p. 192
Suicide	p. 192
Summer Camps	p. 193
Superfly	p. 193
Superman	p. 193
Surfing	p. 194
Surrogate Motherhood	p. 194
Suspended Animation	p. 194
Swamps	p. 195
The Swan Princess Series	p. 195
Sword and Sorcery	p. 195
Talking Animals	p. 196
Tammy	p. 196
Tarzan	p. 196
Tattoos	p. 197
Taxi Drivers	p. 197
Teen Apocalypse Trilogy	p. 198
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles	p. 198
Telekinesis [Psychokinesis, or PK]	p. 198
Telephones	p. 199
Teleportation	p. 199
Television	p. 199
Television-Expanded Films	p. 200
Television Movie Sequels to Theatrical Films	p. 200
Television Series Reunion Films	p. 201
Tennis	p. 202
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Series	p. 202
The Texas Rangers	p. 203
That's Entertainment Series	p. 203
Theatrical Films Based on TV Series	p. 203
Theatrical Films Based on Video Games	p. 204
The Thin Man Series	p. 204
Three Colors Trilogy (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity)	p. 204
3-D	p. 205
The Three Mesquiteers	p. 205
The Three Musketeers	p. 206
3 Ninjas Series	p. 206
Three Smart Girls Series	p. 206
Tibbs, Virgil	p. 207
Time Travel	p. 207
Titanic	p. 207
TNT Bible Stories	p. 208
Topper	p. 208
Tora-san	p. 208
The Toxic Avenger	p. 209
Tracy, Dick	p. 209
The Trail Blazers	p. 209
Trains	p. 209
Trancers Series	p. 210
Traveling Salespersons	p. 210
Trinity	p. 210
Truck Drivers	p. 211
Trumpet Players	p. 211
Tunnels	p. 211
Turtles	p. 212
Twins	p. 212
Two-Headed Creatures	p. 212
Unicorns	p. 213
Universal Soldier Series	p. 213
Uptown Saturday Night Series	p. 213
Vampires	p. 213
Vance, Philo	p. 214
Ventriloquists	p. 215
Veterinarians	p. 215
Vice Academy Series	p. 215
Videotaped Films	p. 215
Vietnam	p. 216
Vigilantes	p. 216
Vikings	p. 216
Violinists	p. 217
Viral Epidemics	p. 217
Volcanoes	p. 217
Walking Tall Series	p. 218
he Waltons	p. 218
Warsaw Trilogy	p. 218
Watchers Series	p. 218
Wax Museums	p. 218
Welby, Marcus	p. 219
Wenders' Road Movie Trilogy	p. 219
Werewolves	p. 219
Whales	p. 220
The Whistler	p. 220
Whistling in the Dark Series	p. 220
Who, Doctor	p. 220
Windmills	p. 221
Witchboard Series	p. 221
Witchcraft Series	p. 221
Witches	p. 221
Withers, Hildegarde	p. 222
The Wizard of Oz	p. 222
The Wolf Man	p. 223
Wolfe, Nero	p. 223
Wong, Mr. James Lee	p. 223
Wrestling	p. 223
Year in Title	p. 224
Zombies	p. 224
Zoos	p. 224
Zorro	p. 225
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.