This is the first book-length study of the career and life of Ann Savage, whose performance in Detour earned her a place in Time Magazine’s list of the top 10 greatest movie villains. The biography covers her abused childhood and her career as a studio contract player, pin-up queen, B movie star, jetsetter and award-winning aviatrix. A complete annotated filmography with release date, credits, cast, synopsis and commentary for each of her films is included.

Lisa Morton is a playwright, fiction and reference book author and screenwriter. A Bram Stoker Award winner for superior achievement in horror writing, she lives in North Hills, California.

Kent Adamson has worked in the Hollywood based entertainment business for more than 30 years.

Lisa Morton and Kent Adamson

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 248
Bibliographic Info: 85 photos, appendices, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2010
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4353-6
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5706-9
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii
Foreword by Guy Maddin      1
Preface      5
Introduction by Kent Adamson      7

Part One. Biography
1. Dixie Fried Roots      16
2. West by Southwest      23
3. Zero for Conduct      28
4. The Miracle on Sunset Boulevard      32
5. Strange Illusions      41
6. Be-Boppin’ the B’s      57
7. Detoured      59
8. New York Renaissance      70
9. Flying Solo      74

Part Two. Filmography
Major Film Roles      80
Minor Film Roles      180
Television Appearances      183

Appendix 1: Detour Script with Ann Savage’s Notes      185
Appendix 2: Detour Pressbook      225
Bibliography      231
Index      233

• “no other book has ever made me teary-eyed out of sheer joy…it’s a good one. The photos are simply mouthwatering…extraordinary…truly amazing…a wonderful, worthwhile book…best book of the year”—Classic Images
• “briskly written, never dull or stodgy…an entertaining and informative read”—Scarlet