This mind-boggling encyclopedia grew out of Michael Weldon's handmade, xeroxed "Psychotronic" zine in the early '80s, a weekly program guide to low-grade and forgotten movies airing on TV in New York. The term 'psychotronic,' lifted from the 1980 B-movie "The Psychotronic Man," is used by Weldon to describe not only the world of odd horror and sci-fi flicks, but cult and exploitation films of all kinds. From the flying saucer movies of the 1950's to the James Bond series to the glut of disaster epics from the 1970's, they're all covered with obsessive consistency. Before this wonderful resource came along, it was nearly impossible for the average viewer to find any information on a majority of these films. At the time, these movies were scoffed at by critics and ignored in reputable film guides. For better or worse, their legacy has been preserved in Weldon's book. It was published in 1983, prior to the cable TV boom and the rise of video cassette rentals, so most of Weldon's info came from the original movie press kits, old newspaper ads and articles, and by watching the films themselves on late-night movie marathons on TV. The individual entries are brief but informative, providing all the essential details: the directors, screenwriters, and producers involved, notable cast members and cameos, the year of release, the studio that released it, and any other titles the movie was released under. Entertaining trivia and production notes are often included along with a succinct plot description. The book is filled with an indispensable array of archival press photos, vintage movie ads, and B&W stills, and a handy index that helps you locate the entries with your favorite people (whether they're Bela Lugosi, Roger Corman, or even Nancy Sinatra). More than a decade later, Weldon returned with the equally-impressive "Psychotronic Video Guide to Film," addressing the new independent and straight-to-video markets, as well as any films that came out since 1983 or were left out of this one. Strongly recommended.
