He was the distinguished darkman of the classic American horror film, a dashing gentleman who conveyed menace, wit, and tragedy with equal flair. His films -- from "House of Wax" to "Edward Scissorhands" -- have made him an enduring icon. In this elegant biography-cum-memoir, Victoria Price -- his daughter, and later friend and helpmate -- reveals a man both complex and human. A strong anti-Fascist, he was blacklisted during the Red Scare of the '50s, until, in a desperate gesture, he signed a secret oath that saved his career. Victoria Price's life of her father is full and candid; his marriages, sexuality, and family life are treated with curiosity and understanding.