“It’s Alive” by Julian David Stone
Published: May 17, 2022 Greenleaf Book Group Press
Genres: Historical Fiction
“It’s Alive” is a trip back in time. Author Julian David Stone paints a fantastic picture of 1930’s Hollywood and the dawn of Talkies. Stone takes us through the 3 days leading up to the day Universal was set to start filming “Frankenstein” and the last minute changes and decisions that made the film into the classic monster movie we all know today.
Junior Laemmle is on the brink of being named studio head at the age of 23. He knows that the success of “Frankenstein” will be a defining moment for him. The only problem is he has no star and filming is set to start in just three days! Once he has his monster his director drops out! It seems like the film is doomed but Junior just won’t fail. Trials and tribulations and a difficult father son relationship make this book quite ride.
While it is helpful to be familiar with the 1931 movie “Frankenstein”, you do not need to be a fan to enjoy this book. If you have even the slightest interest in old Hollywood you’ll appreciate this story.
It’s not a documentary, it is an enjoyable historical fiction. Stone uses the research of what really happened in the days leading up to production to recreate what he imagines those days were like for the people involved. At only 216 pages it is a quick read.
Check out what Julian David Stone has to say about it here:
