Movies Books - Page 12

Spellbound by Beauty: Alfred Hitchcock and His Leading Ladies

Donald Spoto

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

“The trouble today is that we don’t torture women enough.”
—Alfred Hitchcock

It is remarkable how infrequently, over a period of more than fifty years, Alfred Hitchcock spoke about the beautiful, legendary and talented actresses he directed. And when he did, his remarks were mostly indifferent and often hostile. But his leading ladies greatly enriched his films, even as many of them achieved international stardom precisely because of their work for Hitchcock—among the dozens of women were Madeleine Carroll, Joan Fontaine, Grace Kelly and Tippi Hedren. Yet he maintained a stony, insistent silence about the quality of their performances and their contributions to his art.

Spellbound by Beauty—the final volume in master biographer Donald Spoto’s Hitchcock trilogy that began with The Art of Alfred Hitchcock and continued with The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock—is the fascinating, complex and finally tragic story of the great moviemaker and his female stars, the unusual ideas of sex and romance that inform his films and the Hollywood dreams that often became nightmares.

Rich with fresh revelations based on previously undisclosed tapes, new interviews, private correspondence and personal papers made available only to the author, this thoughtful, compassionate yet explosive portrait details Hitchcock’s outbursts of cruelty, the shocking humor and the odd amalgam of adoration and contempt that time and again characterized Hitchcock’s obsessive relationships with women—and that also, paradoxically, fed his genius.

He insisted, for example, that Madeleine Carroll submit herself to painful physical demands during the making of The 39 Steps. He harbored a poignantly unrequited love for Ingrid Bergman. He meticulously and deliberately constructed Grace Kelly’s image. Finally, he stalked, harassed and abused Tippi Hedren. His treatment of his daughter, Pat, was certainly unusual, while his strange marriage to his sometime collaborator Alma Reville was a union that (according to Hitchcock himself) was forever chaste after one incident.

Spellbound by Beauty offers important insights into the life of a brilliant, powerful, eccentric and tortured artist, and it corrects a major gap in movie history by paying tribute at last to those extraordinarily talented actresses who gave so much to his films.

Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies: The Screenwriter's Guide to Every Story Ever Told

Blake Snyder

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 38 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A new way to explain movies 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I love going to the movies and people know it. So there is always someone asking me about them. After reading this book now I can go beyond this is an action movie or a suspense movie. Who knew that Lethal Weapon and the Black Stallion were the same kind of stories.

Editorial Review:

In the long-awaited sequel to his surprise bestseller, Save the Cat!, author and screenwriter Blake Snyder returns to form in a fast-paced follow-up that proves why his is the most talked-about approach to screenwriting in years. In the perfect companion piece to his first book, Snyder delivers even more insider's information gleaned from a 20-year track record as ?one of Hollywood's most successful spec screenwriters, ? giving you the clues to write your movie. Designed for screenwriters, novelists, and movie fans, this book gives readers the key breakdowns of the 50 most instructional movies from the past 30 years. From M*A*S*H to Crash, from Alien to Saw, from 10 to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Snyder reveals how screenwriters who came before you tackled the same challenges you are facing with the film you want to write ? or the one you are currently working on.

When The Shooting Stops ... The Cutting Begins: A Film Editor's Story (Da Capo Paperback)

Ralph Rosenblum, Robert Karen Ph.D.

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A veteren film editor shares his life 4 out of 5 stars.
19 of 20 people found this review helpful.

Rosenblum edited feature films from the late 50s until early 80s, and is most noted for his collaborative efforts with Woody Allen in the 1970s. But his most interesting stories in the book are from a decade earlier when he was still experimenting. Though, I have only seen about half of the movies Rosenblum writes of, it makes the stories no less fascinating.

Rosenblum's major accomplishment in the book is to shed light on the importance of the film editor in motion pictures. He's not wrong in stating that their efforts have been largely ignored by critics and the public at large. What's interesting is that the editor as an influence in film is rarely even discussed by film critics and historians. It's probably because people are largely unsure of what an editor's true contributions are to any one motion picture.

Through the course of the book, Rosenblum takes apart THE RAID ON MINSKY'S, THE PAWNBROKER, and ANNIE HALL in depth. He also gives examples of how much an initial cut of a film can differ from the final cut.

I found the book quite informative, and learned more about film editing than I had expected.

Editorial Review:

The story of one of the most important and least-understood jobs in moviemaking—film editing—is here told by one of the wizards, Ralph Rosenblum, whose credentials include six Woody Allen films, as well as The Pawnbroker, The Producers, and Goodbye, Columbus. Rosenblum and journalist Robert Karen have written both a history of the profession and a personal account, a highly entertaining, instructive, and revelatory book that will make any reader a more aware movie-viewer.

The Indian in the Cupboard

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 125 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Interesting story 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

It's Omri's birthday and his brother and his friend have gotten him gifts that don't seem like the best gifts in the world. His brother gave him a cupboard that he found in an alley. And his friend, Patrick, gave him a plastic Indian figure. There's nothing too magical about these items and Omri is less than interested in them until he finds a key among his mother's extra keys that fits the cupboard.

He finds that when he puts a plastic figure in the cupboard and then locks the cupboard with that particular key, the figure comes to life! With a little experimenting, he finds that if he then locks the live figure back in, it returns to its original form.

Now Omri has a live Indian (a very small live Indian) living in his room. Sounds pretty neat, huh? Well, Omri soon finds out that it's not so easy to be responsible for another human being no matter how small they are.

The Indian's name is Little Bear and he makes demands on Omri such as asking for supplies to make a longhouse, paint for decorations and - most importantly - food. Omri has to go to great lengths to help Little Bear while at the same time keeping the Indian a secret from his family and friends. When he finally does tell his friend, Patrick, Omri regrets it.

Patrick wants to play with the cupboard but he doesn't care that the figures are occupied by real human beings with real feelings. This gets both he and Omri in trouble.

This book is an interesting look at what happens when something that seems like it would be the coolest thing can turn out to not be so fun once reality hits. It is also interesting to see the empathy that Omri has for these small beings and how he tries to care for them and show Patrick how to care for them too. It also explores the dynamics of their friendship and touches lightly on the familial interactions between son and parents and brother to brother.

While this is a book about boys, the story is not for boys alone. Girls will enjoy this story about a 'magical' experience. Boys will definitely love this and may even try locking up their action figures in every cupboard in the house to see what happens. It's a quick and interesting read for those who are easily distracted.

I am concerned about the descriptions of all the historical characters especially the Native American (as one reviewer has been specific about the 'racist' nature of it.) So I would not recommend this for someone looking for an accurate description of Native Americans, cowboys or WWI medics but perhaps it could be used to start a discussion about stereotypes. Also I would not recommend this to someone looking for a fantasy novel.

Editorial Review:

The Indian in the Cupboard is the first of five gripping books about Omri and his plastic North American Indian -- Little Bull -- who comes alive when Omri puts him in a cupboard For Omri, it is a dream come true when the plastic American Indian he locks into the old cupboard comes to life. Little Bull is everything an Indian brave should be -- proud, fearless and defiant. But being in charge of a real, live, human being is a heavy responsibility, as Omri soon discovers. And when his best friend, Patrick, is let in on the secret, he soon realises that life-changing decisions lie ahead.

James Bond: The Secret World of 007

DK Publishing

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

GORGEOUS EXPANDED EDITION 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

DK books has made the great even better with their revised edition of "James Bond: The Secret World of 007". Previously released in 2000, this latest edition expands to include the two most recent Bond Thrillers "Die Another Day" and the upcoming "Casino Royale". As with all of DK's books, it is highlighted by fantastic photography from beginning to end and presented in an over-sized hardcover format with dust jacket, perfectly suited for the coffee table.

The book start out with the perfunctory introduction to the character and his rich history including that distinctive "Bond look" , a section on "Q" the master gadget maker, as well as a look at the various bond women such as May Day, Elektra King, and Domino.

Next the book gets into each of the Bond missions, i.e, the films, beginning with Dr. No. You'll go inside the plot of each film and the lair of each villain to meet the evil masterminds as well as their various henchman and attractive women. You'll relive the most harrowing moments of each film and see the tools that Bond applied to save the day. These sections feature numerous photos from each film as well as artistic renderings of things such as Dr. No's Crab Key lair which takes the reader through a step-by-step replay of Bond's ingenious escape.

The Goldfinger section gets you up close and personal inside Bond's ride, the Aston Martin DB5 with it's pop-out machine guns, smoke emitting exhaust pipes, and ejector seat. Diamonds are Forever introduces us to the deadly assassins Wint & Kidd as well as a pair of gorgeous ladies Plenty O'Toole and Tiffany Case as the arch-villain Blofeld returns. The Spy Who Loved Me introduces us to one of the most popular Bond villains the giant, steel-toothed Jaws who gets a sizeable section in the book.

While Bond enthusiasts will know all the details already, casual fans will really eat up this book and it's a simply gorgeous collectible. There are a couple of problems, though. One, is that you barely see Sean Connery, Roger Moore, or even Timothy Dalton anywhere in the book. The only Bond you really see is Pierce Brosnan up until the back section that lists each films credits. The other slight is that there isn't much coverage on Casino Royale but DK has that solved with their new book "Bond on Set" devoted to the latest Bond Film. Two minor things and not enough for me not to highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Editorial Review:

The personality and career of the world's most charismatic superspy has held millions of fans spellbound for decades. Now, thanks to M, head of M16, the Bond Mission files have been thrown open to reveal a wealth of dazzling "top secret" information, including details of all the major characters and events from 007's thrill-packed assignments fully revised and updated to include Die Another Day and Casino Royale. Don't miss the spectacular illustrations of the lairs, plans and superweapons belonging to all the major Bond villains, as well as never-before-seen drawings and photographs of Q Branch's ingenious gadgets and vehicles. Fans will love blow-by-blow accounts of Bond's most death-defying chases and battles!

How Not to Write a Screenplay: 101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make

Denny Martin Flinn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 66 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Less negative than I hoped, but very effective. 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The writing examples used in this book were mostly from quality scripts, when I expected the book to focused on tearing apart bad scripts. I believe the jacket's assertion that there's much to be learned this way, and it sounds like a lot of fun. This probably has a lot more bad examples than any typical guide, and regardless of what I anticipated, it was very effective.

A good read! 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This guy is funny. I burned through this book in short order. A little heavy on the inclusion of other writers work, but it does illustrate his points. That is the only reason I didn't give it five stars.

He claims that the screenplays he faults are actual screenplays. It's not hard to imagine somebody who bought this book recognized their work. Not good.

Editorial Review:

Finally, what may be the last screenwriting book a writer will ever need to buy! Written by a Hollywood screenwriter, How NOT to Write A Screenplay carefully identifies and examines the common mistakes screenwriters invariably make when writing a screenplay.

Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (Barron's Book Notes)

Arthur Miller, Liza McAlister Williams, Kent Paul

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 202 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Rat Race Lost, State of Denial 5 out of 5 stars.
19 of 20 people found this review helpful.

Hopeless fathers & sons were a favorite theme of Miller. The pressure of failing aspirations. The horror of failure. Drawn between overconfidence and self-doubt. Flashbacks on scenes from a dreary life. Lies to others and oneself. Failures in job and family.
The play is one of the quintessential pieces of modern American theater. Its themes are known and have been expounded endlessly. Why is it still fresh? I have never watched it on stage nor screen. I have known it for ages, but could not find enough interest to look for a performance, nor to read it. Now LoA does it.
Looking at the reviews here on the Penguin modern classic page, I am wondering about the spread in reviews. From 5 to 1 stars all is there, with a downward slope towards the negative votes. The play has more friends than foes, but on an absolute level, the nays would sink an ordinary ship. Of course quality questions are not decided by democracy. One particularly daft observer produced a perfect inverted version of cultural Stalinism. With perfect perverted logic, he tells us that only positive depictions of the American dream are acceptable. That is completely in line with 'socialist realism': if the artist fails to enthuse about the reigning system, he is condemned.
Thanks to LoA for making me get to know the man Miller. I will definitely look for a movie version or go to a play if I find an opportunity.

Editorial Review:

A guide to reading "Death of a Salesman" with a critical and appreciative mind encouraging analysis of plot, style, form, and structure. Also includes background on the author's life and times, sample tests, term paper suggestions, and a reading list.

How to Be Lovely: The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life

Melissa Hellstern

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

A charming guide to finding elegance in every aspect of life, featuring rarely seen photographs and revelations about the actress who perfected gracious living.

Propelled by popular titles such as Swell: A Girl’s Guide to the Good Life and Three Black Skirts: All You Need to Survive, the decorum category touts plenty of trendy advice. But no one has demonstrated the power of poise as memorably as Audrey Hepburn, whose enchanting essence on and off the screen has easily withstood the test of time.

Inspired by a beloved icon who balanced sensibility and sex appeal, celebrity and humanitarian efforts with evident ease, How to Be Lovely examines the art of being a woman. More philosophy than biography, Hepburn fans will uncover the deeply thinking, deeply feeling woman who found success on the silver screen, in her own home and in the world at large. Through Hepburn’s own words from interviews, what her friends said and behind-the-scenes stories, readers will develop a new outlook on their own careers, love lives, families, wardrobes, finances, health concerns, friendships, and the world at large.

Published to coincide with Audrey Hepburn’s would be 75th birthday, How to Be Lovely features an elegant design worthy of the book’s namesake. For the millions who continue to delight in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Roman Holiday, and the woman behind them all, this is the guide to living genuinely with glamour and grace.