herschell Gordon Lewis
Born June 15, 1929 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
H.G. Lewis studied Journalism before becoming an English Literature professor at Mississippi State College. After venturing into radio and advertising he teamed up with exploitation producer David F. Friedman, frequently re-elected as president of the Adult Film Association of America, in nude, softcore productions in the early sixties. Now with more than thirty-five films under his belt from all genres ranging from blaxploitation to musicals.
It was in 1963 when Blood Feast shot in Miami in nine days with a budget just shy of $50,000 that defined H.G. Lewis as the godfather and first ever pioneer of gore. The godfather of gore is one of many directors who have been the subject of the high-art versus low-art debate. In some ways avant-garde, in others mindlessly exploitative, H.G. Lewis oftentimes refers to his own work as trash and doesn't appear to take himself or his work too seriously. His harshest critics, however, commit their own splatter work when criticizing him for being unprofessional, totally inept or amateurish at best.
Nonetheless, a Chicago ad man at his core, H.G. Lewis catered to his audience who were mainly drive-in goers in the South and pleased them with the blood, fast action and pretty girls that they came to watch. One might suspect the director of malicious intent towards his onscreen female victims but his 1968 She-Devils on Wheels shows men being brutally victimized and proves the point that H.G. Lewis does not hold onto a political agenda or personal philosophy when making his movies asides from his interest in making box office gold. His distanced and unapologetic display of fun-filled blood splashing gore made a mark on future filmmakers today who are known for their playful approach to blood and guts. These filmmakers would quickly supersede him in the public eye but H.G. Lewis, although remaining in the fringe, opened the door for them all.
Returning to his roots in journalism, English and advertising, today you can find many books on effective e-mail marketing, copywriting and selling on the web authored by H.G. Lewis. It is rather strange to hear him being described as the most important and influential copywriter of our time.
Palmer, Randy. Herschell Gordon Lewis, Godfather of Gore: The Films. McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub, 2000
About the book:
H.G. Lewis studied Journalism before becoming an English Literature professor at Mississippi State College. After venturing into radio and advertising he teamed up with exploitation producer David F. Friedman, frequently re-elected as president of the Adult Film Association of America, in nude, softcore productions in the early sixties. Now with more than thirty-five films under his belt from all genres ranging from blaxploitation to musicals.
It was in 1963 when Blood Feast shot in Miami in nine days with a budget just shy of $50,000 that defined H.G. Lewis as the godfather and first ever pioneer of gore. The godfather of gore is one of many directors who have been the subject of the high-art versus low-art debate. In some ways avant-garde, in others mindlessly exploitative, H.G. Lewis oftentimes refers to his own work as trash and doesn't appear to take himself or his work too seriously. His harshest critics, however, commit their own splatter work when criticizing him for being unprofessional, totally inept or amateurish at best.
Nonetheless, a Chicago ad man at his core, H.G. Lewis catered to his audience who were mainly drive-in goers in the South and pleased them with the blood, fast action and pretty girls that they came to watch. One might suspect the director of malicious intent towards his onscreen female victims but his 1968 She-Devils on Wheels shows men being brutally victimized and proves the point that H.G. Lewis does not hold onto a political agenda or personal philosophy when making his movies asides from his interest in making box office gold. His distanced and unapologetic display of fun-filled blood splashing gore made a mark on future filmmakers today who are known for their playful approach to blood and guts. These filmmakers would quickly supersede him in the public eye but H.G. Lewis, although remaining in the fringe, opened the door for them all.
Returning to his roots in journalism, English and advertising, today you can find many books on effective e-mail marketing, copywriting and selling on the web authored by H.G. Lewis. It is rather strange to hear him being described as the most important and influential copywriter of our time.
- IMDB
- The Official Site of Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Direct Marketing and Gore
- Hogan, David. Dark Romance: Sexuality in the Horror Film. McFarland, 1986, p. 236-242
- Krough D., J. McCarthy. The Amazing Hershell Gordon Lewis and His World of Exploitation Films. Albany, N.Y.: Fantaco Enterprises, 1983
- Mendik, X. "'Gouts of Blood' The Colourful Underground Universe of Hershell Gordon Lewis." In Underground U.S.A.: Filmmaking beyond the Hollywood Canon. ed. X. Mendik & S.J. Schneider. London: Wallflower, 2002, 188-187.
Palmer, Randy. Herschell Gordon Lewis, Godfather of Gore: The Films. McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub, 2000
About the book:
Without a big budget, special effects team, or professional actors and crew members, Herschell Gordon Lewis created films that he himself admits were trash. Yet, while Gordon's softcore porn (The Adventures of Lucky Pierre) and heavy-duty gore (The Gruesome Twosome) were never blockbuster films, they were popular drive-in fare in the sixties and seventies. They have had a strong influence over more recent productions, and they have created for Lewis his own special niche in the world of exploitation and horror film. The history of Lewis the man and the filmmaker is a surprising one. Behind titles like Blood Feast and The Gore-Gore Girls is a warm and friendly gentleman whose road to his own brand of film glory was paved with disappointments, surprising successes, and lots and lots of fake blood. His career is examined in detail, with personal anecdotes and insights into making really gross movies on really small budgets. A filmography is included, and photographs, many of them rare, complement the text.