Golden Turky Award

This book, while several years old now, is still as funny as the day it was first printed. The writing is a hoot and a guaranteed laugh maker. It looks at some the the most ridiculous, outlandish and just plain "what were they thinking" movies ever made. Wish the authors would come up with a more recent book with movies that have come out since this was printed.

The book is pretty old now, and so many "turkeys" from the last couple of decades are missing, but it is fabulous at running down the best lousy movies primarily of the golden age of lousy movies, the '30s, '40s & '50s. Not surprisingly, there is a heavy emphasis on sci-fi and horror, which has tended over the lifetime of film to give us some real gems anyway.This is the book that first turned me on to PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, ROBOT MONSTER and their ilk. I've enjoyed my time watching horrible movies (on purpose) and this book lays the groundwork. It is essential reading, not just for bad movie buffs, but for anyone who likes movie history. It is written with often scathingly funny humor. I have read this book a number of times over the years, because it is SO well written. Generous quotes directly from the films, but also great descriptions of the movies. Many times, you feel as though you've seen the movie. If you can lay your hands on this book, you must. It (and the sequel) are real treasures!!

Unlike so many of the sequels which receive awards in this work, this sequel to the "50 Worst Films of all Time" exceeds the original. The Medveds have the huge advantage of having tapped into the huge underground "bad film" cult and discovered a motherlode of new bad films, of which Ed Wood's "Plan Nine from Outer Space" is the standout. (In turn this inspired the Tim Burton film.) Others include Night of the Lepus (a rabbit monster movie), Airport 79: The Concorde (winner of the worst romantic dialogue), and "Him" (the least erotic adult film ever made). When I was young I read this book from cover to cover and am still wondering whether the final claim, that one of the films exposed therein was a hoax, was itself true, and if so, which one. Surely not "They Saved HItler's Brain?" (Actually, that WAS real....)

Very funny and insightful. (...)

This is a must read for anyone who grew up with, or who loves, the movies around the 1950's. It is presented in an "Oscar format" with comments and thumbnail descriptions by the Brothers Medved. Their love for these movies is evident; their humor is direct and presents perspective on actors, Hollywood, directors, plots, and America, in a time of greater innocence and before special effects were king. Hours of fun and a great guide to late movies. I was paging through this book in a bookstore when I saw the heading, "The Worst Movie Ever Made." Well, I knew what was the worst movie ever made, but was also sure the reviewers had never seen it. When I turned to see their choice--it was the same one! I bought the book on the spot and have been giving copies to special friends as gifts ever since.