The Ghastly One: The 42nd Street Netherworld of Director Andy Milligan (Nicolas Winding Refn Presents)

Jimmy McDonough is the heir to Nick Tosches' throne - amazing characters told with unforgettable prose. McDonough is probably best-known for his Neil Young biography (the acclaimed Shakey) - and the legal fallout that ensued. Young had initially given the author his blessing, only to sue once he read the book; I guess Young didn't like looking into the mirror.The original Milligan biography was a trade paperback - this however is the one to get - worth every cent. McDonough has since penned bios about Al Green, Russ Meyer, John Fogerty (no stranger to legal woes) and Tammy Wynette.Fittingly, McDonough's earliest writing was for Bill Landis' original Sleazoid Express (1985/86). Both editions are dedicated to the trailblazing Landis.Filmmaker, Nicolas Winding Refn presents one of the best and deservedly acclaimed film director biographies ever published. Now back in print (presumably not for long). A luxurious, large format slipcased special edition, strictly limited to only 1,000 copies worldwide. Milligan, perhaps the most compelling misanthrope in cinema history, rightfully gets his due in this definitive work. A dressmaker, actor and puppeteer, Milligan cranked out titles like Bloodthirsty Butchers, The Body Beneath, and The Rats are Coming! The Werewolves are Here! on threadbare budgets. Due to their many limitations, his movies made Milligan the laughing-stock in the insular world of the exploitation/"B" movie biz. McDonough changed all that by providing the necessary context and pathos, allowing these chaotic yet highly personal movies (and their creator) to be seen in a new and sympathetic light.The book also serves as a history of the shadowy New York City sexploitation business, 1950s/60s cafe culture and Off-Off Broadway theatre. Starring a cast of unforgettable and elusive characters, the gripping narrative turns grimly personal. It’s told with unflinching honesty by biographer and journalist Jimmy McDonough. McDonough has updated the prose for this extraordinary new coffee table art book edition, which is packed (packed!) with rare images. Dubbed best show business biography of the year by TIME magazine AND John Waters, The Ghastly One finally gets the presentation it deserves in this lavish production, backed by film director Nicolas Winding Refn as one of the most beautiful film books ever published, The Ghastly One is an event not to be missed. Hilarious at times, deeply unsettling, and ultimately heartbreaking, The Ghastly One will haunt (and entertain, again, the prose is astonishing) the fortunate reader well after the last page is turned.

A truly mad artist gets his due biography/retrospective, warts and all. Essential reading for film scholars and sleaze voyeurs of all creeds, even if they'd hate it. A monumental historical artifact and extremely fun to read. Arrived damaged but quicky arranged for a replacement, which is near pristine.

Even if you have never seen one of his films, this is still a great read especially if youre a fan of grindhouse exploitation films and the sleazy 42nd st. of years past. I was a little hesitant about buying this book because of how pricey it is but it is worth the buy. This huge coffee table book is full of rare behind the scenes photos and is so well designed. A great addition to your collection and an excellent and informative biography.

Fantastic! Bigger than I expected and much more beautiful. Totally worth the price point. Milligan was a nutcase. The definitive work on him. Must have.

I’ve been a huge fan of this biography for almost 20 years. I remember one of the original reviews said it had “a depth and scope that transcends its subject”—or something like that—and, yeah, that was definitely true. It went on to become one of my favorite showbiz stories; the sometimes sordid, always fascinating life and loves of a self-destructive gay filmmaker known as “The Fassbinder of 42nd Street.” It’s pulpy, lurid, academic, informative, everything—and while the book was definitely a class above its subject matter, it was still very niche. I barely expected a paperback printing, let alone to see it reborn two decades later into a gigantic hipster coffee table book that wouldn’t be out of place on a chez lounge in Restoration Hardware. But it has. And it’s a freakin’ miracle.The prototype (as it were) was easy enough on the eyes; it had some great black-and-white snapshots. But it was, basically, a novel. This is a complete inversion—it’s a huge, heavy, fascinatingly illustrated feast for the eyeballs comprised of stills, advertising, script pages, news clippings, family photos, headshots, resumes, ticket stubs, proof sheets—you name it. It’s a psycho-scrapbook deep-dive into everything that ever was Andy Milligan, 42nd street, Cafe Cino, and all the other great stuff from the original story. The new material could constitute an entirely different book on its own; on some pages, there’s commentary inside commentary inside full-color artwork—and all bordered by the original text. I compared it to the Talmud in terms of its potential to fascinate and impart wisdom—and I was honestly only half joking.Interestingly, an old friend of mine who I haven’t talked to in ten years recently got in touch specifically to talk about how “gorgeous and incredible” this book turned out. He wasn’t wrong. My only caveat is that you need to get one of those giant magnifying glasses that stamp collectors and old people at bingo halls wield because this is a dense, finely etched block of art—and it threatened to do a number on my eyesight before I invested in one of those monstrosities.