Hugely entertaining memoirs from one of the founders of AIP. Well, hugely entertaining if you love AIP films like I do. Arkoff is at times a bit defensive about the movies he makes, dismissively talking about arty-farty pictures and auteurs. Some of his stories concerning the Corman films are already v familiar if you've read books on Corman, including his autobiography - but Arkoff is also strong on non-Corman films, working with filmmakers like Bert Gordon and so on.
The book is also strong on AIP in the 70s - not a heavily documented era because by the early 70s Jim Nicholson died and Corman had left. (Mark McGee doesn't pay it that much attention in his history of AIP). AIP still went strongly during those years, though they seemed to be an industry follower now more than a pioneer (eg blaxploitation, kung fu, CB movies). Arkoff did miss out on some big hits, such as Easy Rider and The Trial of Billy Jack - but then he never made a Last Movie or Master Gunfighter.
AIP faltered when he sold out to Filmmways. Arkoff also talks a little about his post 1980s career. He made some films I really like such as Q and Up the Creek, but was not very profilic, certainly nowhere as near as he was with AIP. There is a moral in that for all successful independent producers.
I really liked the book a lot, and any serious AIP fan must read it along with Mark McGee's book.
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