The Ghastly One

Milligan, perhaps the most compelling lone wolf in cinema history, 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 of the film industry. 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. This 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's magnum opus is packed full of rare images. Dubbed best show business biography of the year by TIME magazine, The Ghastly One finally gets the wide exposure it deserves in this accessible and affordable paperback edition. Hilarious at times, deeply unsettling, and ultimately heartbreaking, The Ghastly One will haunt its readers long after the last page is turned.