1.Dracula(1931) inspired Richard Matheson to writeI Am Legend.
Matheson , whowas born in 1926 , sawBela LugosiasBram Stoker ’s notorious lineage - sucker when he was a stripling . In a 2012 speech accepting the Vampire Novel of the Century Award , he remembered that“the thought occurred to me : if one vampire is scary , what if the whole world were full of vampires?”But , he said , “ at least 10 years ” exceed before he take that ejaculate of inspiration and began work onI Am Legend .
Matheson was a published writer before even having this career defining mind , though ; he was only 8 when he had a verse form print in theBrooklyn Eagle .
2. He served during World War II.
Mathesonjoined the armyafter graduating high school in 1943 . “ During canonic training,”he later recalled , “ I would go down to the latrine at night while other soldiers were sleep , and I would model there readingDracula … never knowing I was gon na write a Holy Writ about vampires . ” His experience of fighting in Europe during WWII served as the ground for his war novelThe Beardless Warriors(1960 ) .
3. Matheson’s writing career began with short stories.
A year after graduating with a news media degree from the University of Missouri , Matheson ’s first scant narrative was published inThe Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction . “ deliver of Man and Woman ” ( 1950 ) is say from the perspective of a monstrous tyke chained to the basement paries by its equally atrocious parents , who routinely beat out the child when it tries to escape . Matheson toldMystery Scenemagazinethat the story was “ odd enough and different enough to call attention to me and I get an federal agent through it . ”
4. Many of his works were adapted into films.
Matheson indite screenplays for many movies based on his works , includingThe Incredible Shrinking Man(1957),Duel(1971 ) , andThe Legend of Hell House(1973 ) , an version of his 1971 novelHell House . Adaptations made without his involvement includeWhat dream May Come(1998 ) andStir of Echoes(1999 ) . The latterhe thoughtwas “ marvelous ” ; the former he would not comment upon “ except to say that a major manufacturer in Hollywood said to me , ‘ They should have frivol away your book . ’ Amen . ”
5. Matheson was disappointed with the movies based onI Am Legend.
Matheson felt thatThe Last Man on Earth(1964),The Omega Man(1971 ) , andI Am Legend(2007 ) all bomb to catch his novel . Matheson co - wrote the screenplay for the first adjustment , butthought Vincent Price was miscastand that “ the direction was kind of miserable ” ; he used the pseudonym Logan Swanson in the credits to avoid being link up with it . ( He also sometimes used this playpen name in his writing , including for the1982 novelEarthbound . ) Matheson calledThe Omega Man“ludicrous ” and noted that it “ was so distant from my book that it did n’t even bother me ! ”
Of the adaptation asterisk Will Smith , Mathesonsaid in 2011 that“it was so well done that I had to go along with it , though I had to realize that , once again , they were not following my book , ” adding , “ I do n’t know why they keep buy my books . They might as well have write something entirely new . ”
6. He was a prolific television and screenwriter, notably forThe Twilight Zone.
Matheson wrote 16 episodes ofRod Sterling’sThe Twilight Zone , include “ The Invaders ” and “ Nick of Time . ” “ Nightmare at 20,000 Feet , ” one of the show ’s most famous episodes , wasbased on Matheson ’s short storyfrom the anthologyAlone by Night(1961 ) . “ Button , Button ” ( from the ‘ 80sTwilight Zonerevival ) and “ Steel ” were also establish on his light stories , and were later conform into the moviesThe Box(2009 ) andReal Steel(2011 ) .
He also save teleplays for other shows , like Steven Spielberg’sAmazing Stories(1985–1987 ) andStar Trek : The Original Series(1966–1969 ) , and for picture , such asThe Pit and the Pendulum(1961 ) andJaws 3 - D(1983 ) .
7.I Am Legendinspired Stephen King, Anne Rice, and George A. Romero.
King of horrorStephen Kingsaid that Matheson was “ the author who influenced me the most as a writer , ” while Anne Rice , writer ofInterview with the Vampire(1976),stated thathe had “ been an inspiration to me and to so many . ”
George A. Romero , Padre of the modern - day zombie genre , confirm thatI Am Legendwas the inspiration for his hugely influentialNight of the Living Dead(1968 ) . Matheson evencited Romero ’s filmas the “ closest anyone ever came ” to accurately adapting his novel .
8. Three of Matheson’s four children became writers.
Chris Mathesonis renowned for create theBill & Ted movieswith Ed Solomon . Ali Mathesonpenned ‘ ninety episodes ofRugratsand Colorado - wroteHalloweentown(1998).Richard Christian Mathesonfollowed most nearly in his father ’s footsteps , write horror fiction and screenplay , let in anAmazing Storiesepisode . He collaborated with his father onLoose Cannons(1990 ) and they werewriting a new version ofThe Shrinking Man(1956 ) before the elder Matheson give way in 2013 .
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