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Danny Peary
Danny Peary
Danny Peary
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Dannis Peary (born August 8, 1949)[1] is an American film critic[2] and sports writer.[3] He has written and edited many books on cinema and sports-related topics. Peary is most famous for his book Cult Movies (1980), which spawned two sequels, Cult Movies 2 (1983) and Cult Movies 3 (1988) and are all credited for providing more public interest in the cult movie phenomenon.[4]

Key Information

He is the brother of film critic, columnist, actor, and documentary filmmaker Gerald Peary.[5]

Early life and education

[edit]

Peary was born in Philippi, West Virginia, to Laura Chaitan and Joseph Y. Peary, a professor.[1] During his childhood, he moved to South Carolina,[6] and then New Jersey.[7] In 1971, he earned a B.A. in history from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.[1] He also worked as a film critic for the Daily Cardinal student newspaper.[8] In 1975, he earned an M.A. in cinema, with honors, at the University of Southern California.[1][7] While attending USC, he worked as the fine arts and sports editor for L.A. Panorama.[1]

Personal life

[edit]

Since 1977, Peary has lived in New York City.[7] He and his wife Suzanne have a daughter, Zoe.[7]

Career

[edit]

Film criticism

[edit]

Over the years, his film criticism has been published in FilmInk, Movieline, Satellite Direct, OnDirect TV, TV Guide, Canadian TV Guide, Cosmopolitan, The New York Times, the New York Daily News, The Boston Globe, Sports Collectors Digest, the SoHo News, The Philadelphia Bulletin, Films in Focus, Films and Filming, Slant, L.A. Panorama, Memories and Dreams, The East Hampton Independent, and Country Weekly,[9] as well as The Velvet Light Trap and Newsday,[10] and the Sag Harbor Express.[11] He conducts celebrity interviews for Dan's Papers, in a column called "Danny Peary Talks To..."[12]

Cult Movies books

[edit]

In 1981, Peary released his book Cult Movies. He followed it up with Cult Movies 2 in 1983 and Cult Movies 3 in 1989. (See bibliography) These books cover critically ignored (at the time) cult films.[8] Each book contained an essay for each film (100 in the first volume,[4] 50 in the second,[13] and 50 in the third),[14] including production details and information gleaned from Peary's interviews with various producers, directors and actors. Each volume contained an essay by contributor Henry Blinder.[15][16]

Peary also wrote Guide for the Film Fanatic (1986), reviewing a wider range of films.[17]

Peary's Cult Movies trilogy, along with other touchstones such as Michael Weldon's Psychotronic Video magazine and books, helped establish a foundation for critical analysis of low-budget genre movies. As the Austin Film Society wrote,

There is what we might consider the Danny Peary faction. An excellent writer, Peary lionized a particular kind of “cult" criticism in his multiple volumes of the Cult Movies books. Never dismissive, Peary celebrates these films for their unique qualities and their advocacy of outsider voices. Peary is a fan of the subversive and the humanistic and the books are essential reading for anyone interested in what lies just outside the bounds of the canon.[18]

Sportswriting

[edit]

Peary has co-authored books with Major League baseball player-sportscasters Ralph Kiner and Tim McCarver; writer Tom Clavin; Olympic gold medalist and cancer survivor Shannon Miller on her memoir; and Muhammad Ali's daughter Hana Ali on a book about the origins of her father's greatest quotes. He has edited sports books including Baseball Immortal Derek Jeter: A Career in Quotes and Jackie Robinson in Quotes: The Remarkable Life of Baseball's Most Significant Player. (See bibliography)

Television career

[edit]

Animated series

[edit]

Peary wrote an episode of the 1985-1989 animated series ThunderCats, titled "The Mountain."[19] He wrote an episode of SilverHawks, titled "Undercover", that aired October 28, 1986.[20]

[edit]

Peary was a writer for the nationally syndicated sports-interview TV show The Tim McCarver Show[21]

Media appearances

[edit]

Peary was interviewed for the 2010 documentary Machete Maidens Unleashed!. The director of the film, Mark Hartley, has said that, "I'd worn my copies of Cult Movies 1, 2 and 3 into the ground from constant re-reading so meeting author Danny Peary was a pleasure."[22] He appears in James Westby's documentary At the Video Store (2019),[23] and in the cult-movie documentary Time Warp (2020).[24]

Bibliography

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Danny Peary

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dannis "Danny" Peary (born August 8, 1949) is an American film critic, , and sportswriter renowned for his pioneering work on cult cinema and in-depth explorations of history. His seminal Cult Movies trilogy, published between 1981 and 1988, established key criteria for the genre by analyzing 150 diverse titles that mixed mainstream appeal with niche devotion, influencing generations of critics and filmmakers. Peary has authored, co-authored, or edited over 20 books on , , and pop culture, alongside contributions to periodicals and television writing. Born in , Peary developed an early passion for movies and sports. He earned a B.A. in history from the , where he honed his critical voice as a film reviewer for the student newspaper Daily Cardinal. Peary then pursued an M.A. in cinema at the , during which he worked as the fine arts and sports editor for the publication L.A. Panorama, publishing articles and interviews on cinema and athletics. In film criticism, Peary's Guide for the Film Fanatic (1986) offered encyclopedic recommendations across genres, while Close-Ups: The Movie Star Book (1988) became one of his commercial successes through profiles of Hollywood icons. He also edited anthologies like Omni's Screen Flights/Screen Fantasies (1984), featuring essays from luminaries such as and on futuristic cinema. Transitioning into sports writing, Peary co-authored baseball biographies including : Baseball's Reluctant Hero (2005) and Baseball Forever (2004) with Hall of Famer , as well as : The Brooklyn Bums, the Miracle Mets, and the Extraordinary Life of a Baseball Legend (2012, with Tom Clavin). His sports works often blend personal narratives with historical analysis, drawing on his lifelong enthusiasm for the game. Peary's multifaceted career extends to television, where he scripted episodes for animated series such as (1985) and (1986), and he has conducted interviews for shows like . Though he stepped back from regular film reviewing in later years, his foundational role in cult movie discourse endures, with his books remaining touchstones for enthusiasts.

Early years

Childhood and family background

Danny Peary was born on August 8, 1949, in . His family relocated from the state when he was three years old, though Peary has maintained a strong affinity for his birthplace, proudly identifying as a West Virginian throughout his life. Following the move, Peary spent much of his early years in and , where his interests in and began to take shape. As a , he developed a deep passion for movies, television, music, and sports, which would later define his professional career as a and . These formative experiences in varied regional environments contributed to Peary's broad cultural perspectives, evident in his later writings that often draw on personal anecdotes from youth to contextualize his analyses of and sports.

Education

Danny Peary earned a B.A. in history from the , where he worked as a critic for the student newspaper Daily Cardinal. He subsequently pursued graduate studies in , obtaining an M.A. in cinema from the . During his time at USC, Peary gained practical experience in journalism by serving as the fine arts and sports editor for L.A. Panorama, a publication that allowed him to engage with cultural and athletic topics alongside his academic focus on cinema. This period marked an early intersection of his interests in film criticism and broader pop culture, laying foundational skills for his later career as a writer and interviewer.

Childhood

No critical errors were identified in the TARGET_SECTION beyond the addressed missing information; family details omitted due to lack of verifiable sources.

Personal life

Family

Danny Peary has been married to his wife Suzanne since at least 1977. The couple has one , Zoe, who is married and resides in with her own daughter, Julianna, Peary's granddaughter.

Residence and interests

Peary has resided in since 1977, sharing his home with his wife, Suzanne. He also maintains a residence in , where he engages with the local community through his writing and interviews. From childhood, Peary has harbored strong personal interests in sports, movies, television, and music, which have shaped his worldview and creative output beyond his professional endeavors. These passions, rooted in his early years in West Virginia, South Carolina, and , continue to inform his daily life and leisure activities in both urban and coastal settings.

Film career

Criticism and journalism

Danny Peary began his professional journalism career in film criticism during the 1970s, shortly after earning an M.A. in cinema from the University of Southern California. While pursuing his graduate studies, he worked as the fine arts and sports editor for L.A. Panorama, where he contributed articles on film and visual arts. This early role marked the start of his engagement with periodical writing, blending critical analysis with broader cultural commentary. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Peary's film reviews and essays appeared in a range of respected newspapers and magazines, including Focus on Film, , Film and Filming, , Movieline, Cineaste, Video Times/Video Movies, , , and Soho News. His writing emphasized accessible yet incisive critiques, often focusing on genre films, independent cinema, and underappreciated works that resonated with niche audiences. Peary's work was referenced in a 2008 Cineaste on cult cinema, which drew on his book Cult Movies to discuss defining traits such as excess and controversy. In the later stages of his journalism, Peary transitioned toward online and local publications, contributing stories to outlets like Timessquare.com, brinkzine.com, The Sag Harbor Express, and FilmInk. These pieces maintained his signature style—thoughtful examinations of films' cultural impact—while adapting to digital formats. Peary's periodical work laid the groundwork for his influential on , though he increasingly shifted focus to writing by the 1990s.

Cult movies books

Danny Peary gained prominence in film criticism through his Cult Movies trilogy, a series of books that explored and codified the phenomenon of cult cinema in the 1980s. The inaugural volume, Cult Movies, published in 1981 by Delacorte Press, consists of essays on 100 films that Peary identified as quintessential examples of cult movies, defined as works with passionate, devoted niche audiences often overlooked by mainstream critics. These selections spanned genres and eras, blending canonical films like Citizen Kane (1941) and All About Eve (1950) with more unconventional entries such as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) and Eraserhead (1977), emphasizing movies that inspired fervent fan followings through midnight screenings, repeated viewings, or subversive appeal. The trilogy expanded with Cult Movies 2: 50 More of the Classics, the Sleepers, the Weird, and the Wonderful in 1983 and Cult Movies 3: 50 More of the Classics, the Sleepers, the Weird, and the Wonderful in 1988, each adding 50 additional films to reach a total of 200 entries across the series. Peary's essays in these volumes provided in-depth analyses, including plot synopses, thematic discussions, and personal reflections on why each film achieved cult status, such as Barbarella (1968) for its campy futurism or The Brood (1979) for its body horror innovations. The books' oversized format and illustrative approach made them accessible guides for enthusiasts, encouraging readers to revisit or discover films through a lens of appreciative critique rather than dismissal. Peary's series had a lasting impact on film discourse, helping to legitimize cult movies as a serious category beyond mere oddities and influencing subsequent filmmakers, critics, and canon formations. Fans responded enthusiastically, with many expressing relief that their beloved obscure titles finally received thoughtful examination; as Peary recalled, “People were like, ‘I can’t believe somebody finally wrote something about my favorite .’” The trilogy's broad definition of cult appeal—encompassing everything from art-house experiments to exploitation fare—broadened the term's scope and inspired ongoing debates about cinematic fandom. In 2014, Peary revisited his work with four themed ebook anthologies drawn from essays in the original trilogy and his broader writings, repackaged for digital audiences. Cult Crime Movies: Dangerous, Thrilling, and Rogue Cops features 35 essays on gritty noir and action films like Kiss Me Deadly (1955); Cult Horror Movies: Spine-Tingling, Suspenseful, and Monstrous includes 33 pieces on scares such as (1981); Cult Midnight Movies: Discover the Classics covers 37 weird and sexy late-night staples including (1972); and Cult Sci-Fi Movies: Intergalactic and Astonishing examines 10 visionary works like (1980). Each ebook appends checklists of additional recommendations, updating Peary's canon with post-1980s titles to reflect evolving cult tastes.

Celebrity interviews

Danny Peary conducted celebrity interviews as part of his film journalism, with his film writing published in outlets including The Philadelphia Bulletin. His approach emphasized in-depth discussions, often exploring the creative processes behind notable roles and productions. In the 2000s and 2010s, Peary continued this work through various outlets, archiving many conversations on his personal blog. For instance, in 2005, he interviewed actor David Strathairn about his portrayal of Edward R. Murrow in George Clooney's Good Night, and Good Luck, highlighting Strathairn's preparation and the film's historical significance. Other archived pieces include a 2006 discussion with director Mary Harron on her biopic The Notorious Bettie Page, where they examined the subject's life and cultural impact, and a 2012 interview with filmmakers Sarah and Emily Kunstler about their documentary William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe. These interviews reflect Peary's interest in both mainstream and independent cinema, blending biographical insights with analytical commentary. From around 2015 to at least 2019, Peary maintained a regular column titled "Danny Peary Talks To..." in Dan's Papers, a Hamptons-based publication, featuring conversations with actors, directors, and producers, particularly those involved in indie, documentary, and cult-oriented projects. The series has covered a wide range of figures, such as actress Debra Winger discussing her return to leading roles in The Lovers (2017), director Frederick Wiseman reflecting on his observational style in Monrovia, Indiana (2018), emerging actor Emily Goss on her performances in The House on Pine Street and Snapshots (2018), filmmaker Roberto Minervini on themes of American inequality in What You Gonna Do When the World's on Fire? (2019), and horror director Larry Fessenden alongside his Depraved cast (2019). These pieces often occur during film festivals or promotional events, underscoring Peary's role in promoting diverse cinematic voices. Beyond Dan's Papers, Peary contributes celebrity interviews to international and online platforms, including as the New York correspondent for the Australian film magazine FilmInk and for the website brink.com, where he profiles emerging and established talents in the industry. In November 2025, he published I Loved Movies, But..., a collection of in-depth conversations with film historian Joseph McBride covering McBride's career, childhood influences, and insights into cinema. His interviews consistently prioritize substantive dialogue over superficial promotion, contributing to his reputation as a thoughtful interlocutor in film journalism.

Sports writing career

Collaborations with athletes

Danny Peary has collaborated extensively with athletes in co-authoring books that draw on their personal experiences, insights, and legacies in sports, particularly and Olympic disciplines. These partnerships often resulted in memoirs, instructional guides, and reflective works that blend the athletes' firsthand accounts with Peary's journalistic expertise, providing readers with in-depth perspectives on athletic careers and the games themselves. One of Peary's most notable collaborations was with former catcher and broadcaster , a two-time who played for 21 seasons. Together, they produced three books: Tim McCarver's Baseball for Brain Surgeons and Other Fans: Understanding and Interpreting the Game So You Can Watch It Like a Pro (1998), which offers analytical breakdowns of baseball strategies and history through McCarver's expertise; The Perfect Season: Why 1998 Was Baseball's Greatest Year (1999), examining the historic home run race between and ; and Tim McCarver's Diamond Gems: Favorite Baseball Stories from the Legends of the Game (2008), an anthology of anecdotes edited by McCarver with contributions from Peary and Jim Moskowitz. These works highlight McCarver's transition from player to analyst, emphasizing tactical nuances like pitch selection and defensive positioning. Peary also partnered with Hall of Fame outfielder , known for his power-hitting tenure with the and long broadcasting career, on Baseball Forever: Reflections on 60 Years in the Game (2004). This memoir captures Kiner's journey from his 1946 rookie season—where he led the National League in home runs—to his role as a Mets , including personal stories of playing alongside legends like and navigating post-career media opportunities. The book underscores Kiner's contributions to baseball's evolution, such as his advocacy for player pensions. In a departure from baseball, Peary co-authored It's Not About Perfect: Competing for My Country and Fighting for My Life (2015) with Olympic gymnast , the most decorated U.S. female gymnast with seven medals, including team gold in 1996. The narrative intertwines Miller's athletic triumphs—such as her performances at the and Olympics—with her battles against , offering lessons on resilience, discipline, and work-life balance in high-stakes sports. Peary's role facilitated a structured exploration of how Miller's training regimen and mental preparation translated to personal challenges. Additionally, Peary collaborated with 65 former players on We Played the Game: 65 Players Remember Baseball's Greatest Era (1994), compiling oral histories from icons like Yogi Berra, , and . This collective effort preserves anecdotes from the 1940s through 1960s, covering topics from integration struggles to moments, providing a mosaic of athlete perspectives on baseball's golden age.

Baseball-focused works

Danny Peary has authored and co-authored several books centered on , drawing on oral histories, biographies, and analytical insights to explore the sport's players, eras, and cultural significance. His works often emphasize personal narratives and behind-the-scenes perspectives, reflecting his background in interviewing athletes and compiling anecdotal accounts. One of Peary's early contributions to is Cult Baseball Players: The Greats, the Flakes, the Weird and the Wonderful (1990, ), an of 59 profiles on colorful figures from the 1920s to the 1980s, including and . The book collects newspaper and magazine articles to celebrate the sport's eccentric personalities, offering nostalgic insights into their on- and off-field antics. Peary edited We Played the Game: 65 Players Remember 's Greatest Era, 1947-1964 (1994, Hyperion), a 643-page featuring firsthand accounts from legends like , Yogi Berra, and . The collection covers the integration of , the rise of televised games, and the post-World War II transformation of the sport, providing intimate recollections from Hall of Famers and journeymen alike. In 1,001 Reasons to Love (2004, Stewart, Tabori & Chang), Peary compiles over 300 pages of photographs, quotes, and to affirm the sport's enduring charm, covering historical moments, player quirks, and fan traditions without exhaustive lists. Later collaborations with Tom Clavin produced : Baseball's Reluctant Hero (2010, Atria Books), a 448-page based on over 130 interviews detailing Maris's 1961 record chase, media pressures, and later Cardinals tenure. It includes rare photos and portrays Maris as a private figure thrust into fame. Gil Hodges: The Brooklyn Bums, the Miracle Mets, and the Extraordinary Life of a Baseball Legend (2012, Berkley Books), also with Clavin, examines Hodges's career as a Dodgers first baseman, 1955 World Series contributor, and 1969 Mets manager. The 432-page account addresses his WWII service, personal anxieties, and sudden 1972 death, situating him in baseball's Golden Era. Peary's most recent baseball book as of 2016, Jackie Robinson in Quotes: The Remarkable Life of Baseball's Most Significant Player (2016, Page Street Publishing), narrates Robinson's life and legacy through curated quotes from Robinson himself, teammates, opponents, and contemporaries, highlighting his role in breaking the color barrier and his broader civil rights impact.

Television work

Animated series contributions

Danny Peary contributed to animated television as a writer for episodes of two syndicated action-adventure series produced by Rankin/Bass Productions in the 1980s. For the series ThunderCats, which follows the exiled ThunderCats establishing a new home on Third Earth while defending against the Mutants and other foes, Peary wrote the episode "The Mountain." Aired on December 11, 1985, the story centers on Lion-O's mountain-climbing expedition interrupted by a Mutant attack, resulting in an avalanche that traps him in a cave and allows Jackalman to steal the Sword of Omens. Peary's other animated credit came with , a science-fiction series depicting a team of bird-like law enforcers combating the crime lord MonStar and his henchmen across the galaxy. He scripted the episode "Undercover," broadcast on October 28, 1986, in which MonStar schemes to cut off the oil supply powering Limbo's artificial sun, intending to install his own reactor as a replacement to gain control.

Sports programming

Peary contributed to sports television as the writer and researcher for The Tim McCarver Show, a nationally syndicated interview program hosted by Hall of Fame broadcaster . The series, which premiered in 2000 and ran until 2017, featured in-depth conversations with prominent figures from the sports world, including athletes, coaches, managers, executives, authors, and fellow broadcasters. Each half-hour episode provided insights into the guests' careers, strategies, and personal experiences, emphasizing analytical discussions on major sports like , football, and . In his role, Peary was responsible for researching guest backgrounds, preparing interview questions, and scripting segments to ensure factual accuracy and engaging flow, drawing on his extensive knowledge of sports history and pop culture. He held this position for approximately twelve years, contributing to over 50 episodes and helping maintain the show's reputation for thoughtful, non-sensationalized sports commentary. His collaboration with McCarver extended beyond television, resulting in three co-authored books that explored tactics and anecdotes, such as Tim McCarver's Baseball for Surgeons and Other Fans (1998), which originated from similar interview-style insights. This television work bridged Peary's print journalism in sports with broadcast media, allowing him to shape narratives around athletic achievements and cultural impacts in real-time discussions.

Media appearances and legacy

Documentary features

Danny Peary has contributed to several documentaries as an on-camera interviewee, leveraging his expertise as a critic and author of influential books on cinema. His appearances often focus on niche genres, film history, and the cultural impact of overlooked movies, providing contextual analysis drawn from his decades of writing and research. In the 2010 Australian documentary Machete Maidens Unleashed!, directed by Mark Hartley, Peary offers commentary on the vibrant and exploitative Filipino during the 1970s and 1980s, highlighting its low-budget action, horror, and women-in-prison films that achieved status internationally. As a self-described fan of B-movies, Peary discusses the genre's stylistic excesses and its influence on global pop culture, appearing alongside directors like and . Peary features prominently in At the Video Store (2019), directed by James Westby, a nostalgic exploration of the rise and fall of video rental chains like Blockbuster and independent shops in the and . He reflects on how democratized access to and arthouse films, crediting the era with amplifying the reach of titles from his own Cult Movies series, and shares anecdotes about discovering obscure works through rental culture. His insights underscore the transformative role of in shaping modern film fandom. Peary's most extensive documentary involvement came with the 2020 three-volume series Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time, directed by Danny Wolf. Spanning nearly five and a half hours, the series celebrates overlooked cult classics through clips, interviews, and analysis. Peary appears across all volumes as a key talking head, drawing on his canonical knowledge to dissect films' enduring appeal:
  • Vol. 1: Midnight Madness examines adventure and action cult hits like The Warriors (1979) and (1986), where Peary elaborates on their subversive storytelling and fan devotion.
  • Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi covers genre staples such as The Thing (1982) and (1983), with Peary analyzing their innovative effects and thematic depth.
  • Vol. 3: Comedy and Camp focuses on humorous oddities including (1975) and (1992), emphasizing Peary's perspective on camp aesthetics and participatory viewing rituals.
These segments position Peary as a authoritative voice on cult film's evolution, reinforcing his legacy in defining the .

Public engagements and influence

Danny Peary has engaged with audiences through book talks, signings, and appearances, particularly promoting his works on film and sports. For his 2022 Jackie Robinson in Quotes, Peary participated in author events including a presentation and signing at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse in on June 9, 2022, where autographed copies were available for purchase. In the film realm, Peary has attended documentary s such as Doc NYC, where he conducted in-person interviews with directors like Kristof Bilsen about films including (2019). In August 2024, Peary attended the 30th anniversary screening of the biopic (1994) in . He has also appeared on podcasts, including the TV Guidance Counselor in March 2025 and Let's Talk Ten with Larry Karaszewski in November 2025, discussing his film and baseball writing. These engagements highlight his role in bridging literary discussions with public audiences on cinema and athletics. Peary's influence on film criticism stems primarily from his Cult Movies trilogy (1981, 1983, 1988), which popularized the concept of cult films as a distinct category marked by excess, controversy, and devoted followings, encompassing classics, sleepers, and unconventional works across genres. The series introduced offbeat and overlooked films to mainstream audiences, shaping the tastes of cinephiles and inspiring filmmakers; for instance, Karaszewski credited it with influencing the 1994 biopic . His books expanded critical discourse by democratizing film appreciation, encouraging exploration beyond mainstream releases and fostering a canon that endures in online communities and retrospectives. Peary's legacy continues through his impact on subsequent generations of critics and fans, with his guides cited as foundational in introducing pre-internet era audiences to eclectic cinema. A in production by Brian Saur explores this influence, featuring footage and interviews on the enduring relevance of Peary's books. His contributions have been described by peers as transformative, positioning him as a key figure in elevating cult cinema within broader scholarship.

Bibliography

Authored and co-authored books

Danny Peary has authored and co-authored over two dozen books, primarily focusing on and history, with his works blending insightful analysis, interviews, and biographical elements to appeal to enthusiasts of both genres. His film-related books, often self-authored, established him as a key figure in popularizing cult cinema, while his collaborations in sports literature highlight personal narratives from baseball legends. Peary's seminal Cult Movies: The Classics, the Sleepers, the Weird, and the Wonderful (1981) compiles essays on 100 films revered by niche audiences, including The Producers and Night of the Living Dead, emphasizing their cultural endurance beyond mainstream success. This was followed by Cult Movies 2 (1983), which added 50 more entries like Harold and Maude and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Cult Movies 3 (1988), featuring 50 additional titles such as The Conformist and Manhattan, collectively defining the cult film canon through Peary's subjective yet influential selections. Other notable solo-authored film works include Guide for the Film Fanatic (1986), a comprehensive reference categorizing over 1,600 films by genre and theme to aid avid viewers in exploration. Alternate Oscars (1993) reimagines winners by proposing alternatives based on Peary's critiques, covering categories from 1927 to 1992 and sparking discussions on cinematic merit. Peary's co-authored books often center on biographies and memoirs, drawing on his collaborators' firsthand experiences. With broadcaster , he wrote Tim McCarver's Baseball for Brain Surgeons and Other Fans: Understanding and Interpreting the Game So You Can Watch It Like a Pro (1998), a tactical guide using diagrams and anecdotes to demystify strategies for casual viewers. In Forever: Reflections on 60 Years in the Game (2004), co-authored with Hall of Famer , Peary helped chronicle Kiner's career from the Pirates to his broadcasting legacy, including forewords by . Later collaborations with journalist Tom Clavin produced Roger Maris: Baseball's Reluctant Hero (2010), a detailed of the 1961 king, exploring his roots, Yankee tenure, and post-career struggles amid media scrutiny. Their follow-up, Gil Hodges: The Brooklyn Bums, the Miracle Mets, and the Extraordinary Life of a Baseball Legend (2012), traces Hodges' journey from Dodgers slugger to Mets manager, highlighting his role in the and 1969 Miracle Mets amid his devout personal life.
Book TitleYearCo-Author(s)Focus
Cult Movies1981NoneFilm essays on cult classics
Cult Movies 21983NoneExpansion of cult film canon
Guide for the Film Fanatic1986NoneFilm reference guide
Cult Movies 31988NoneFurther cult film selections
Alternate Oscars1993NoneReimagined film awards
Tim McCarver's Baseball for Brain Surgeons and Other Fans1998Tim McCarverBaseball strategy explanations
Baseball Forever2004Ralph KinerKiner's career memoir
Roger Maris: Baseball's Reluctant Hero2010Tom ClavinMaris biography
Gil Hodges2012Tom ClavinHodges biography

Edited and co-edited works

Danny Peary has edited and co-edited several influential collections that bridge film history and narratives, often compiling contributions from diverse voices to offer fresh perspectives on cultural icons. His editorial efforts emphasize curated anthologies that highlight personal insights, historical context, and thematic explorations, contributing to both cinematic scholarship and sports genres. One of his earliest edited works, Close-Ups: The Movie Star Book (Workman Publishing, 1978), gathers intimate profiles of more than 100 from the silent era to the 1970s, written by their co-stars, directors, screenwriters, and friends. This 400-page volume features rare photographs and anecdotes about figures like , , and , providing a look at that was praised for its accessibility and emotional depth. In 1984, Peary edited Omni's Screen Flights/Screen Fantasies: The Future According to Science Fiction Cinema (Doubleday), a thematic anthology drawing from Omni magazine articles to examine science fiction films' visions of the future. The book covers classics like Metropolis (1927) and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), with essays on technological prophecies, alien encounters, and dystopian themes, underscoring Peary's role in popularizing genre analysis for mainstream audiences. Shifting to sports, Peary edited Cult Baseball Players: The Greats, the Flakes, the Weird, and the Wonderful (Simon & Schuster, 1990), a lively collection of 60 profiles by prominent writers, including Roger Angell and George Plimpton, on legendary and eccentric Major League Baseball figures such as Babe Ruth, Dizzy Dean, and Bill "The Mad Russian" Voiselle. The book blends humor, nostalgia, and critique to celebrate baseball's colorful personalities, earning acclaim for reviving interest in the sport's human side during a period of growing analytics dominance. Peary's We Played the Game: Memories of Baseball's Greatest Generation (Hyperion, 1994) compiles oral histories from 65 players, managers, and executives who experienced from 1947 to 1964, capturing the integration era's triumphs and tensions through firsthand accounts. Featuring interviews with icons like and , this 600-page tome was lauded by broadcasters like for its vivid portrayal of the game's post-war evolution and social impact. More recently, Peary co-edited Great Golf: Essential Tips from History's Top Golfers (Skyhorse Publishing, 2013) with Allen F. Richardson, assembling instructional wisdom from legends including , , and into a comprehensive guide. The volume organizes advice by skill areas like putting and driving, with a foreword by , making it a valuable resource for golfers seeking historical techniques amid modern training methods.

References

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  21. https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Crime-Movies-Dangerous-Thrilling-ebook/dp/B00M0S218Y
  22. https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Horror-Movies-Suspenseful-Monstrous-ebook/dp/B00M0T25KW
  23. https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Midnight-Movies-Discover-Classics-ebook/dp/B00M0TCSP4
  24. https://www.amazon.com/Cult-Sci-Fi-Movies-Intergalactic-Astonishing-ebook/dp/B00NX5LAEE
  25. http://dannypeary.blogspot.com/2014/01/archive-david-strathairn-says-good.html
  26. http://dannypeary.blogspot.com/2014/06/archive-mary-harrons-passion-for.html
  27. http://dannypeary.blogspot.com/2012/01/daughters-doc-does-kunstler-justice.html
  28. https://www.danspapers.com/2017/06/danny-peary-talks-to-the-lovers-star-debra-winger/
  29. https://www.danspapers.com/2018/10/danny-peary-monrovia-indiana-director-frederick-wiseman/
  30. https://www.danspapers.com/2018/06/danny-peary-the-house-on-pine-street-snapshots-emily-goss/
  31. https://www.danspapers.com/2019/08/danny-peary-interview-what-you-gonna-do-when-the-worlds-on-fire-director-roberto-minervini/
  32. https://www.danspapers.com/2019/03/danny-peary-interview-depraved-director-larry-fessenden/
  33. https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/8960-october-books
  34. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/23500/danny-peary/
  35. https://www.triumphbooks.com/baseball-forever-products-9781572435971.php
  36. https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250049865/itsnotaboutperfect
  37. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2017630.We_Played_the_Game
  38. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/danny-peary-2/cult-baseball-players-the-greats-the-flakes-the/
  39. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-22-bk-25-story.html
  40. https://www.amazon.com/We-Played-Game-Baseballs-1947-1964/dp/0786860081
  41. https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/1001-reasons-to-love-baseball_danny-peary/1360877/
  42. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Roger-Maris/Tom-Clavin/9781416589297
  43. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gil-hodges-tom-clavin/1110865380
  44. https://www.amazon.com/Jackie-Robinson-Quotes-Remarkable-Significant/dp/1624142443
  45. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0922837/
  46. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1273599/
  47. https://deadline.com/2023/02/tim-mccarver-dead-obituary-baseball-catcher-broadcaster-was-81-1235262311/
  48. https://tv.apple.com/ca/show/the-tim-mccarver-show/umc.cmc.1xu5ksj0mtj64m4zj12gn4kzl
  49. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2781239/
  50. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1623757/fullcredits/
  51. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3116300/fullcredits/
  52. https://thoughtgallery.org/events/jackie-robinson-quotes-danny-peary/
  53. https://www.danspapers.com/2019/11/danny-peary-interviews-mother-documentary-director-kristof-bilsen/
  54. https://www.facebook.com/larry.karaszewski/posts/danny-peary-might-be-the-most-influential-film-critic-of-my-generation-so-honore/10233571045962544/
  55. https://filmfanatic.org/?cat=6
  56. https://www.youtube.com/user/dannypearydoc
  57. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/598559.Cult_Movies
  58. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/598558.Cult_movies_2
  59. https://www.amazon.com/McCarvers-Baseball-Brain-Surgeons-Other/dp/0375500855
  60. https://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Forever-Reflections-Years-Hardcover/dp/B011MFF0HE
  61. https://www.amazon.com/Roger-Maris-Baseballs-Reluctant-Hero/dp/1416589287
  62. https://www.amazon.com/Gil-Hodges-Brooklyn-Extraordinary-Baseball/dp/045123586X
  63. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/795799.Close_Ups
  64. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1671966.Omni_s_Screen_Flights_Screen_Fantasies
  65. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19431951-great-golf
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