Best of
Movies

2008

Stephen King The Stand: Captain Trips #1


Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa - 2008
    Something that will send Charlie Campion and his wife and daughter fleeing in the middle of the night. Unfortunately for the Campion family--and the rest of America--they are unaware that all three of them are carrying a deadly cargo: A virus that will spread from person to person like wildfire, triggering a massive wave of disease and death, prefacing humanity's last stand! Be there as writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa teams with artist Mike Perkins for the first arc in the next great Stephen King event!

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion


Ernie Malik - 2008
    S. Lewis's beloved Narnia series, discover lavish photos and behind the scenes stories that give you a front-row seat of how movie magic is made. Find out how the screenplay adaptors and storyboard artists brought C. S. Lewis's story to graphic life, how director Andrew Adamson's screenplay differs from Lewis's original story, and reunite with the four stars from the first film. With profiles of the new cast, including Ben Barnes, who plays Prince Caspian, this riveting book will also provide details of the mind-blowing special effects, costumes, intricate weaponry, and incredible makeup artistry that brought this soon-to-be-classic movie to life.

The Complete Making of Indiana Jones: The Definitive Story Behind All Four Films


J.W. Rinzler - 2008
    The rest is breathtaking, record-breaking box-office history. Now comes an all-new Indiana Jones feature film: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Here’s your chance to go on location for an up-close, all-access tour of the year’s most eagerly anticipated blockbuster, as well as the classics. The Complete Making of Indiana Jones is a crash course in movie magic-making–showcasing the masters of the craft and served up by veteran entertainment chroniclers J. W. Rinzler and Laurent Bouzereau. Inside you’ll find:• exclusive on-set interviews with the entire cast and crew of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, including Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone, and John Hurt–plus director Steven Spielberg, executive producer George Lucas, screenwriter David Koepp, and the incredible production team that built some of the most fantastic sets ever.• hundreds of full-color images–from storyboards, concept paintings, and set design schematics to still photos from all four films with candid action shots of the productions in progress• an in-depth chronicle of the making of the first three Indiana Jones movies–Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade–including transcripts of the original concept meetings, cast and crew anecdotes, production photos, and information on scenes that were cut from the final films• never-before-seen artwork and archival gems from the Lucasfilm Archives• and much more!Don’t miss the thrilling new movie or this definitive making-of opus. It’s as essential to fans as that trusty bullwhip is to Indy!

Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood


Mark Harris - 2008
    Explores the epic human drama behind the making of the five movies nominated for Best Picture in 1967-Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Graduate, In the Heat of the Night, Doctor Doolittle, and Bonnie and Clyde-and through them, the larger story of the cultural revolution that transformed Hollywood, and America, forever.

In Bruges


Martin McDonagh - 2008
    After a shooting in London goes hideously wrong, two hitmen, Ray and Ken, are sent to hide out in the strange, Gothic, medieval town of Bruges, Belgium, by their volatile and dangerous boss, Harry Waters.While awaiting instructions from him as to what to do next, the pair attempt to deal both with their feelings over the botched killing and their differing attitudes towards this curious, otherworldly place they've been dumped in ('Bruges is a shithole.' 'Bruges is not a shithole'), until the call from Harry finally comes through, and all three men are enmeshed in a spiral of bloody violence that few will get out of alive.This jet-black comedy marks the feature-film debut of writer/director Martin McDonagh, award-winning author of such plays as The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lieutenant of Inishmore and The Pillowman, and the film Six Shooter, which won the Academy Award for the Best Live-Action Short Film.The film stars Colin Farrell as Ray, Brendan Gleeson as Ken, and Ralph Fiennes as Harry.In Bruges was the opening night film at the Sundance Film Festival.

Sheet Music: The Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian


Harry Gregson-Williams - 2008
    All nine songs from the soundtrack to the fantasy film follow-up to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, featuring music from composer Harry Gregson-Williams, as well as Regina Spektor ("The Call") and Switchfoot ("This Is Home"). Also features great full-color scenes from the film. Includes: Arrival at Aslan's How * A Dance 'Round the Memory Tree * The Door in the Air * Journey to the How * The Kings and Queens of Old * Lucy * Return of the Lion.

WALL-E


Vick E. - 2008
    WHEN A LOVABLE, lonely robot named WALL-E falls in love with a sophisticated female robot named EVE, he follows his heart all the way into outer space! Young fans will enjoy this Little Golden Book retelling of Disney/Pixar's WALL-E.

If You Could See Me Now / Where Rainbows End / A Place Called Here


Cecelia Ahern - 2008
    

The Marilyn Monroe Treasures


Jenna Glatzer - 2008
    The Marilyn Monroe Treasures, both a compelling biographical narrative and a collector’s delight, is a unique and meaningful addition to the Marilyn library. Featuring a number of unseen photographs, such as a soldier’s snapshots of Marilyn entertaining the troops in Korea, as well as many unpublished pieces of memorabilia, including an exquisite watercolor rose that Marilyn painted as a gift for President John F. Kennedy’s birthday, The Marilyn Monroe Treasures is a lavishly illustrated feast of beautiful imagery and ephemera from the life of one of the world’s most beloved stars.

Juno: The Shooting Script


Diablo Cody - 2008
    Quick-witted and distinctively unique, Juno walks Dancing Elk High's halls to her own tune—preferably anything by The Stooges—but underneath her tough, no-nonsense exterior is just a teenage girl trying to figure it all out.While most girls at Dancing Elk are updating their MySpace page or shopping at the mall, Juno is a whip-smart Minnesota teen living by her own rules. A typically boring afternoon becomes anything but when Juno decides to have sex with the charmingly unassuming Bleeker (Michael Cera). Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, she and best friend Leah (Olivia Thirlby) hatch a plan to find Juno's unborn baby the perfect set of parents courtesy of the local Penny Saver.They set their sights on Mark and Vanessa Loring (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), an affluent suburban couple longing to adopt their first child. Luckily, Juno has the support of her dad and stepmother (J. K. Simmons and Allison Janney). Juno's physical changes mirror her personal growth while the veneer of Mark and Vanessa's idyllic life starts to show signs of cracking. With a fearless intellect far removed from the usual teenage angst, Juno conquers her problems head-on, displaying a youthful exuberance both smart and unexpected.

The Lost Journal of Indiana Jones


Anthony Magnoli - 2008
    Henry "Indiana" Jones, Jr., which was obscured within the KGB's collection for years before passing into the Russian Federation's possession. From Jones's notes on his youthful encounters with the likes of Lawrence of Arabia and Teddy Roosevelt, through his adulthood adventures with the Thuggee Cult, the Nazis, and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, this journal covers nearly fifty years in his life, spanning from 1908 to 1957. Dr. Jones's snapshots, sketches, press clippings, and entries recording his personal thoughts are all revealed in this volume, giving new insight into one of the most enigmatic adventurers of the twentieth century.

Anne of Green Gables: The Official Movie Adaptation


Kevin Sullivan - 2008
    Through a series of lessons and adventures the imaginative, spunky redheaded orphan who longs for a real family, friends, and a place to call home soon captures the hearts of the Cuthberts and all those around her in the small town of Avonlea. The original books have delighted millions and now younger readers can treasure this illustrated official movie adaptation based on the classic film by Kevin Sullivan.

Ernie: The Autobiography


Ernest Borgnine - 2008
    . .we gasped when he took on Frank Sinatra in From Here to Eternity. . .we were riveted by his compelling performances in The Dirty Dozen, Bad Day at Black Rock, and Ice Station Zebra. . .and we laughed at his television sitcom McHale's Navy. We loved all of Ernest Borgnine's many portrayals, but what did we know about the man behind the famous roles? Now for the first time, he tells us in his own words the fascinating story of his life in this witty, candid, and revealing memoir. For more than fifty years, Ernest--or "Ernie" as he's known to his friends--has been one of the most recognized, celebrated stars in Hollywood as well as a respected, talented actor, and a living legend. Stretching from his childhood as the son of Italian immigrants to a spectacular career that is still thriving in his 91st year, from the early days of live TV to the voiceovers for The Simpsons and SpongeBob SquarePants, Ernie tells of the trials and tribulations on his road to fame, the friendships he shared with some of the silver screen's biggest stars, and the glamorous leading ladies he loved. Acclaimed for his ability to play sensitive and tough-guy roles equally well, he was also famous for squaring off against some of Hollywood's most formidable actresses--including Bette Davis in A Catered Affair and Joan Crawford in Johnny Guitar. Recalling his experiences starring in classic movies such as The Poseidon Adventure, The Wild Bunch, and Escape from New York, he reveals personal insights and irresistible stories about cinema's greatest icons--including Spencer Tracy, James Stewart, Kirk Douglas, Montgomery Clift, Gary Cooper, Janet Leigh, Raquel Welch, Gene Hackman, Rock Hudson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tony Curtis, Alan Ladd, Glenn Ford, and Burt Lancaster. And with characteristic frankness, he also talks about his off-screen loves and passions. A must for every film buff, Ernie: An Autobiography is a fascinating memoir--filled with secrets, well-remembered details, and never-before-told stories--of a star who has thrived in the changing world of Hollywood for more than half a century, and endeared himself to legions of fans everywhere. "(Borgnine's) anecdotes are gleefully self-deprecating. . .he comes off as the kind of guy you'd like to have a beer with." --NY Post "With astute observations on the Hollywood hierarchy and tales about everyone from Lee Marvin and Steve McQueen to Bette Davis and Kim Novak, (Borgnine) writes with an unassuming, no-nonsense tone. His love of filmmaking and his respect for his fellow actors permeates the pages of this engaging and satisfying memoir." --Publishers Weekly "Modest and sweet. . .nicely boiled. Borgnine neither lashes out nor pulls punches." --Entertainment Weekly "Now for the first time, (Borgnine) tells us in his own words the fascinating story of his life in this witty, candid, and revealing memoir. A must for every film buff. Fascinating. . .filled with secrets, well-remembered details, and never-before-told stories--of a star who has thrived in the changing world of Hollywood for more than half a century, and endeared himself to legions of fans everywhere." --Turner Classic Movies, TCM.com ". . .a satisfying detailed account of a decades-long career that also included memorable roles in durable blockbusters like The Wild Bunch and The Poseidon Adventure. He comes across as an unspoiled, nice guy who enjoyed his success. . .One of the finest unghosted Hollywood autobiographies." --ALA Booklist "A super read. . .Ernie: The Autobiography by Ernest Borgnine is as nifty as he is." --Cindy Adams, NY Post

Leading Couples (Turner Classic Movies)


Frank Miller - 2008
    Bogart and Bacall. Tracy and Hepburn. These on-screen (and sometimes off-screen) couples defined romantic chemistry and the art of falling in love. From Turner Classic Movies, Leading Couples features the most unforgettable screen pairings of the studio era, including actors and actresses with many film courtships and those who made their indelible mark in a single, memorable movie. Engaging and thoroughly researched, each profile includes trivia, behind-the-scenes stories, biographical overviews, and memorable quotes, illustrated by rare stills and poster art.

The Crafting of Narnia: The Art, Creatures, and Weapons from Weta Workshop


Daniel Falconer - 2008
    Discover the genius behind the world of Narnia and how it was brought to the big screen in this lavish art book produced by the films' own special effects studio.

The Art of Iron Man


John Rhett Thomas - 2008
    This comprehensive, behind-the-scenes look at the blockbuster 'Iron Man' movie features exclusive content, from concept art and armor design, to unreleased stills and a glimpse at the creative process.

Art of the Modern Movie Poster: International Postwar Style and Design


Judith Salavetz - 2008
    Showcasing fascinating examples from 15 nations, this collection of more than 1,500 exemplary designs is a must-have for film buffs, design and poster aficionados alike. The posters are organized by country of origin, offering an intriguing glimpse into each region's unique visual sensibility and sometimes unexpected takes on familiar films. Gathered from the renowned collection of the Posteritati Gallery in New Yorkone of the largest holdings of international film posters in the worldthis volume is the definitive survey of both film and popular graphic art in the modern era.

Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide


James Luceno - 2008
    Full color.

Masters of Cinema: Tim Burton


Aurélien Ferenczi - 2008
    1958) is the youngest of Hollywood's most successful directors. He has the knack of making films with a very broad appeal, taking the silliness out of the representation of children, while remaining in touch with the child within himself and his audiences. Burton emerged as a director and storyteller after working as an animator for Disney. His meeting with Johnny Depp enabled him to give physical form to the heroes of his imaginary worlds, where fear is mixed with laughter, strange is normal and those who are not normal, such as "Edward Scissorhands" (1990), must be preserved. After "Beetlejuice" (1988) and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005), the resolutely boyish Burton, now in his fifties, presents his version of "Alice in Wonderland" (2010).

Interstellar: Original Screenplay


Jonathan Nolan - 2008
    IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO DIE HERE. Christopher Nolan takes on the infinite canvas of space to deliver a cutting-edge, emotionally charged adventure that will amaze movie audiences of all ages. This is the living blueprint of Nolan's journey. Interstellar, Nolan's much anticipated sci-fi film, opens in November 2014 and stars, among others, Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck, William Devane, Topher Grace, John Lithgow.

Behind the Pink Curtain: The Complete History of Japanese Sex Cinema


Jasper Sharp - 2008
    Behind the Pink Curtain focuses on the art and industry of one of the most notorious sectors of Japanese filmmaking, the erotic Pink Film, or pinku eiga genre, and the closely related Roman Porno films produced by Nikkatsu studios from 1971 to 1988. A phenomenon distinct from the cheaply-produced hardcore Adult Video (AV) market, from the early 60s onwards major Japanese film studios and independent producers alike have kept up a conveyor belt level of output of pornographic features intended purely for cinema release. Still today, just short of 100 such titles are shot on 35mm every year intended for screening in a specialist network of adult cinema across the nation. In recent years, many have found themselves released on DVD in the West or screened at international film festivals, while many of Japan's most noted filmmakers today have cut their teeth in this industry. Just how close are the links between the arthouse and the grindhouse in Japan? Read about the ins and outs of Japanese censorship from the wartime onwards, and how topless deep sea diving girls came to woo local audiences in the 50s. Learn how a TV nature documentary maker ended up helming nude female Tarzan movies, and how 60s mavericks Koji Wakamatsu and Masao Adachi met up with John and Yoko at Cannes while on the way to the Golan Heights to make a film about Palestinian revolutionaries. How Deep Throat's Harry Reems wound up in Tokyo starring in a zany sex comedy about a penis transplant gone awry, and how one of Japan's most famous literary figures ended up the subject of the country's first gay porno movie. How one of Nikkatsu's leading directors went it alone to make a film about powerboat racing and ended up in the bad books of the Yakuza, and how the anti-Bush sex farce Horny Home Tutor: Teacher's Love Juice came to be re-titled as The Glamorous Life of Sachiko Hanai and became one of the most talked about Japanese films of recent years, playing at over twenty international film festivals. Based on extensive interviews with many of the leading figures in the field, Behind the Pink Curtain is a colorful and exhaustive trawl through Japan's most vibrant and prolific filmmaking sector.

Robert Pattinson: Eternally Yours


Isabelle Adams - 2008
    It′s all here, along with quotes from Robert himself about filming Twilight!Ages 9-12 years

The Art of the Dark Knight: With Complete Script


Craig Byrne - 2008
    Batman Begins was a successful re-boot of the popular Batman franchise, and The Dark Knight sequel takes the fresh perspective further, developing the highly anticipated, raw cat-and-mouse game between our superhero Batman and his twisted arch-nemesis The Joker. Celebrated stars include Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Gary Oldman, returning as Batman, Alfred, Lucius Fox, and Lieutenant Gordon, respectively; and new additions Heath Ledger as The Joker, as well as Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Aaron Eckhart. The Art of the Dark Knight is the ultimate companion book to the movie, showcasing production ephemera including storyboard art, character sketches, Nolan’s original shooting script, still photos, and even personal behind-the-scenes material created by the Nolans and Crowley during the movie. The Art of the Dark Knight is certain to appeal to diehard and new fans alike.

Lana Turner: The Memories, the Myths, the Movies


Cheryl Crane - 2008
    Lana’s daughter, Cheryl Crane, now tells her mother’s story for the first time, featuring hundreds of never-before-seen photos from her private family collection.Lana: The Memories, the Myths, the Movies will chronicle her life and 50-year career, starting with the Cinderella story of a girl discovered at a soda shop at age fifteen and made a star overnight. From blonde bombshell to box-office queen of the ’40s, Lana led a whirlwind life marked by seven marriages and a murder trial that made her and her daughter infamous.While Lana’s private adventures inspired the press, her talent and provocative presence shone on the silver screen. Her films The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Bad and the Beautiful, and Imitation of Life are extensively covered as part of a complete filmography. And from chapters on her lovers to her makeup tips, Lana will show the complete spectrum of the woman, at work and at play. The gorgeous photographs throughout showcase not only the stunning glamour of one of Hollywood’s classic celebrities, but also reveal her other facets: as a mother, a wife, an adventurer, and above all, a woman with a zest for life.

100 All-Time Favorite Movies 1915-2000


Jürgen Müller - 2008
    Though the movies we selected for this two-volume collection are winners indeed, those who didn't make the cut aren't losers. We just didn't like them quite as much. It was a tough, soul-searching process, but after much debate and deliberation TASCHEN settled on what we believe to be the 100 finest examples of 20th century filmmaking. From horror to romance, noir to slapstick, adventure to tragedy, epic to musical, western to new wave, all genres are represented in this wide-ranging and devilishly fun compendium. Metropolis? Check. Modern Times? Yep. Citizen Kane, The Seven Samurai? Of course. La dolce vita, Psycho, A Clockwork Orange? You bet. Plus The Godfather, Annie Hall, Blue Velvet, Pulp Fiction... and so many more cinematic gems. Think of this collection as a celebration of contrasts, an homage to the seventh art, a gathering of greats, and a nostalgic romp through celluloid history.

Night of the Living Dead


Benjamin A. Hervey - 2008
    Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968) is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential horror films of all time.  Shot on a low budget on black and white film, Night depicts an America under siege from reanimated corpses.  The action centres around a motley group of survivors holed up in a suburb of Pittsburgh, besieged by flesh-eating ghouls.  Romero’s focus on tensions between members of this makeshift community resonates with contemporary racial and gender conflicts and, in addition to its shockingly visceral content, the film’s impact lay in its engagement with contemporary social upheaval – Vietnam and the peace movement, the civil rights struggle, assassinations and escalating urban tensions.Benjamin Hervey’s study of the film is the first to provide a close analysis of the film and an in-depth account of its reception. Drawing on original archival research, Hervey traces how the film quickly gained cult status, while at the same time it was hailed as a piece of art cinema and as a deep political allegory.  Hervey analyses the film scene-by-scene, detailing how the scoring, editing, photography and lighting came together to overall powerful effect.  He provides a richly detailed historical context for his reading of the film, showing, for example, how scenes in Night directly relate to contemporary news coverage of Vietnam.

Becoming Jane


Kevin Hood - 2008
    Jane's romance inspired her to write Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. Read the story of Jane Austen and how she became one of the greatest writers of English literature.

Buster Keaton: The Persistence of Comedy


Imogen Sara Smith - 2008
    He rose to the peak of his fame and artistic triumph while still in his twenties, directing and starring in a string of classic silent comedies, including his masterpiece, The General, only to fall from grace with shattering swiftness in the early 1930s. The coming of sound and the sea-change it brought to the movie industry, combined with Keaton's loss of creative independence, personal troubles and a severe drinking problem almost ended his career. He persevered through years of eclipse, eventually making a comeback on television in the 1950s and living to see himself acclaimed as one of cinema's immortals. Delving beneath the familiar facts to uncover Keaton's essential character as an artist, The Persistence of Comedy examines his life and work on both sides of the camera to create a rich portrait of the face, the body, the personality and the intelligence that went into his movies and continue to fascinate us because of his embodiment of paradoxes - artist and comic, director and performer, stuntman and subtle actor, icon of the machine age and lyrical portraitist of America's past. Opposing qualities of irony and sweetness, logic and absurdity, passion and impassiveness don't just coexist in Keaton's films and character, they are fused so completely that it is impossible to see where one ends and the other begins. Exploring controversies and unresolved questions, engaging previous criticism and offering new insights, ThePersistence of Comedy pays tribute to Keaton's complexity and enduring relevance. His story inspires a meditation on the serious business of his comedy, the comic stance in life and Keaton's own singular, bone-deep version of it. Illustrated with rare stills and drawing from a wide range of sources including never-before uncovered interviews with Keaton's wives, this is an elegant celebration of Buster Keaton for both those already familiar with him and the newcomer.

Ever, Dirk: The Bogarde Letters


John Coldstream - 2008
    To a privileged few, however, he was also a prolific, stimulating, and treasured correspondent. Bogarde was a secretive man who destroyed many of his own papers and diaries. Fortunately, the recipients of his letters treasured them, enabling John Coldstream to bring together this fascinating collection of hitherto unpublished material. Bogarde's letters were invariably frank, gossipy, funny, and often malicious. The joy of writing, particularly as he grew older and chose to live in France, was never far away. The letters display the qualities familiar to those who knew the private Bogarde: acute observation, laser-like intelligence, impatience with the foolish, compassion for the needy, a relish for the witty metaphor, and a catastrophic disdain for correct spelling and punctuation. Above all, to read his letters is to hear him talk, and no conversation with Dirk Bogarde was dull.

Scorsese


Roger Ebert - 2008
    Scorsese by Ebert offers the first record of America’s most respected film critic’s engagement with the works of America’s greatest living director, chronicling every single feature film in Scorsese’s considerable oeuvre, from his aforementioned debut to his 2008 release, the Rolling Stones documentary Shine a Light.In the course of eleven interviews done over almost forty years, the book also includes Scorsese’s own insights on both his accomplishments and disappointments. Ebert has also written and included six new reconsiderations of the director’s less commented upon films, as well as a substantial introduction that provides a framework for understanding both Scorsese and his profound impact on American cinema."Given their career-long back-and-forth, this collection makes perfect sense. . . . In these reconsiderations, Ebert invites us into his thought processes, letting us see not just what he thinks, but how he forms his opinions. Ebert’s insights into Scorsese are terrific, but this book offers the bonus of further insights into Ebert himself."—Time Out Chicago"Ebert, film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, is an unabashed fan of Scorsese, whom he considers ‘the most gifted director of his generation.’ . . . Of special note are interviews with Scorsese over a 25-year period, in which the director candidly discusses his body of work."—Publishers Weekly

The Art of Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa


Jerry Beck - 2008
    Join your favorite Manhattan menagerie in The Art of Madagascar for a look into their wild ride from their first trip to the island paradise to their venture into the African savannah in the upcoming sequel Madagascar: the Crate Escape. The Art of Madagascar explores how the zoo comes to life featuring an untamed look into the visual effects and development from the Dreamworks team that brought you Shrek and Shark Tale. Discover how animators incorporated animal idiosyncrasies into each character, how digital avatars were tailored to voice actors, and the inside scoop on those darn penguins. The abundance of behind the scenes visuals, information, and special features in the The Art of Madagascar is sure to drive kids and anyone's creative curiosity wild.

Claude Rains: An Actor's Voice


David J. Skal - 2008
    Rains's personal life was as dramatic as his work onstage: to end his second marriage while masking his wife's alcoholism, he staged an episode of infidelity, though the ensuing scandal made it difficult for him to find work. In 1926 he immigrated to America where, despite what Rains described as the worst screen test of all time, he was hired by director James Whale to play the title role in an adaptation of H. G. Wells's The Invisible Man, a tour-de-force depending completely on his vocal skills. In Claude Rains: An Actor's Voice, noted author David J. Skal illustrates how Rains's talents were well suited to Hollywood's studio system, allowing him to become one of cinema's best known character actors. He lent his commanding presence to such landmark films as Casablanca, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Notorious, and Lawrence of Arabia and was nominated for four Academy Awards, Bette Davis considered him her favorite acting partner. Drawing on over thirty hours of newly released audio interviews with Rains and enriched by daughter Jessica Rains's contributions, Claude Rains is an intimate portrait and the first full biography of this gifted actor.

The Art of Monsters vs Aliens


Linda Sunshine - 2008
    Aliens"--the first film to use Stereoscopic 3-D technology--reinvents the classic 1950s monster movie into an irreverent modern day action comedy. This official tie-in to DreamWorks Animation's newest film features full-color photos and storyboards throughout.

Simpsons Comics: Hit the Road!


Matt Groening - 2008
    Ride the waves with Grampa Simpson as he relives his days as a starry-eyed surfing stuntman and soldier of fortune. Head for the rolling hills of Scotland and meet Groundskeeper Willie's estranged brother. Make room and make way for Nelson Muntz when he becomes a part of the Simpson family. Then Krusty the Clown loses his way and his identity when a tragic accident leads to a loss of his legal rights. And then while chaperoning Lisa's class on a trip from sea to shining sea, Homer takes to the highway and weaves all over the map with his own hysterical history of America.

Direct Your Own Damn Movie!


Lloyd Kaufman - 2008
    This book is not for the faint of heart, the good of taste, or those who might be pregnant.

I Talked with a Zombie: Interviews with 23 Veterans of Horror and Sci-Fi Films and Television


Tom Weaver - 2008
    In this newest compilation of interviews, 23 more veterans share their stories strange, frightening and even a little funny this time with an increased emphasis on genre television series courtesy of the stars of The Time Tunnel; Rocky Jones, Space Ranger; Tom Corbett, Space Cadet; Planet of the Apes; and The Wild Wild West. The many other interviewees include Tandra Quinn (Mesa of Lost Women), Eric Braeden (Colossus: The Forbin Project), Ann Carter (The Curse of the Cat People), Laurie Mitchell (Queen of Outer Space) and monster music maestro Hans J. Salter."

Broadway Tails: Heartfelt Stories of Rescued Dogs Who Became Showbiz Superstars


Bill Berloni - 2008
    As a high schooler in 1976, Berloni had rescued an Airedale mixed breed only hours before it was slated for euthanasia. The terrier was cast as Sandy in the musical Annie and performed there for seven years. The bulldog currently starring in Legally Blonde and her bulldog understudy were rescued from Newark and from North Carolina. Berloni's story is completely engaging as he talks about being the first to train actors to work with animals on stage, his love for mutts over purebreds, as well as the four-acre animal retirement compound where he lives. With photos throughout this delightful book, we learn details about how his dogs are trained, how they react to Broadway life, and his own personal rise to fame. An enchanting writer (whose first book, Doga, has sold more than 350,000 copies for Chronicle) with an inspiring story for animal lovers, theatergoers, and anyone who loved books such as Marley & Me.

WALL-E (Disney/Pixar WALL-E) (Junior Novel)


Irene Trimble - 2008
    When circumstances lead Wall E off the planet and across the galaxy he goes on the adventure of a lifetime with a starship full of people and robots. With a little luck this rusty metal hero will save the day and win the love of a beautiful female robot named EVE! Wall E proves that love is universal whether your heart beats or beeps! This junior novelization features an embossed cover and 8 pages of full color movie stills from the new hit Disney Pixar film Wall E. Format: Trade Paperback 128 pages

Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide (Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide (Signet))


Leonard Maltin - 2008
    There’s just no competition for a book that has “essentially cornered the market” (New York Times Book Review).

George Raft


Stone Wallace - 2008
    His roles in Scarface, Each Dawn I Die, Invisible Stripes, Rogue Cop and Some Like it Hot were so convincing that audiences frequently thought they were watching the genuine article. Yet to classify Raft merely as a cinema gangster is to do him a disservice. He delivered equally strong performances in such classics as Night After Night, Bolero, Souls at Sea, Spawn of the North, They Drive by Night and Manpower, his success in these roles quickly establishing him as one of the top box office draws during the 1930s and 40s. But Raft just missed the brass ring of superstardom - due to his notorious friendships with men such as "Bugsy" Siegel and, more significantly, his famous rejections of films that his rival Humphrey Bogart turned into major triumphs: Dead End, High Sierra and The Maltese Falcon. Written with the generous cooperation of many of Raft's friends and co-workers, George Raft: The Man Who Would Be Bogart details the fascinating life and career highs and lows of a man who created an unforgettable image - onscreen and off.

Bolt (Disney Bolt)


Irene Trimble - 2008
    When he accidentally gets shipped to New York, he believes it to be the evil handiwork of his TV show nemesis. Determined to save the little girl who plays his partner on the show, Bolt sets out on a wild cross-country trip with a streetwise cat and an action-thirsty hamster to get back to Hollywood and thwart his enemy’s sinister plans. Fetch your funnybone and hold on tight in this complete retelling of the laugh-out-loud, action-packed Disney animated movie Bolt, featuring eight pages of full-color movie stills.

Douglas Fairbanks


Jeffrey Vance - 2008
    Douglas Fairbanks (1883-1939) was one of the first film superstars, a screenwriter, a major independent producer during the early studio era, a cofounder of United Artists, a founder and the first president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and much more. The optimism, energy, and huge success during the 1920s of his best-remembered films The Mark of Zorro, Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood, The Thief of Bagdad, and The Black Pirate made Fairbanks a popular hero throughout the world and showcased his talents as a creative producer whose work set the standard for excellence. Douglas Fairbanks takes the full measure of Fairbanks's remarkable life. Jeffrey Vance, who had complete access to the star's personal and professional papers and scrapbooks, also incorporates 237 photographs, some unseen for more than seventy-five years. Extensively researched, engagingly written, and sumptuously designed, the book goes behind Fairbanks's public persona to thoroughly explore his art and his far-reaching influence. Copub: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Shock Festival


Stephen Romano - 2008
    . . and leave everyone else cheering in the aisles for more!

You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story


Richard Schickel - 2008
    story is the history of Hollywood. Eighty-five years of screen icons, legendary films, and history-making achievements are detailed in this comprehensive, photo-filled treasure trove, fully authorized by the studio.No production company has had more legendary films, stars, or influence on the course of Hollywood than Warner Bros. Among the superstars who worked for the studio are Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Joan Crawford, Marlon Brando, James Dean, and John Wayne. Filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubrick made history for the studio, and it has been home to blockbuster franchises like Superman, Batman, Lethal Weapon, and Harry Potter.Produced in conjunction with Warner Bros., this volume is the ultimate guide to the greatest movie studio in history. You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story is also the companion to a five part documentary in the PBS American Masters series by author Richard Schickel that will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the spring of 2008 and debut on PBS in the fall, to coincide with publication of the book.

X-Files Book of the Unexplained: Volumes 1 and 2


Jane Goldman - 2008
    But even more extraordinary and chilling is the truth behind the stories.The X-Files Book of the Unexplained is a fully illustrated, in-depth guide to the real-life mysteries of the paranormal that inspired the episodes—featuring more than seven hundred pages of behind-the-scenes photographs, interviews with the X-Files cast and creative team, and astonishing revelations from the world's leading paranormal investigators and scientists. A massive and fascinating compendium of the truly strange, it covers every aspect of the unexplained—UFO sightings and alien encounters, government cover-ups, psychic crime solving, spontaneous combustion, feral humans, freaks of nature, ghosts and hauntings, and much, much more—examining the legends, conspiracies, urban mythologies, weird histories, and astonishing backgrounds behind the tales that chilled and thrilled us.The truth is stranger than fiction.

Spider-Man: Evil Comes in Pairs


Kate Egan - 2008
    This 64-page chapter book will have young fans enthralled as Spider-Man battles against not one but two dangerous villains - Carnage and Venom - when these two devise a plan to destroy order in the city.

Tinker Bell: Two Magical Tales (Disney Fairies)


Kiki Thorpe - 2008
    You can even bring a bit of Pixie Hollow into your own room—a free Tinker Bell poster is printed on the back of the jacket!

Dario Argento


Mediane - 2008
    His groundbreaking production has become a cornerstone redefinition of the horror- thriller genre through his personal epic style and is emulated by many. This book is a tribute to his astounding career. It contains dazzling rare on-set pics, original movie posters and an exclusive interview with Argento on his collaboration with maestro Ennio Morricone.

"Have You Seen...?": A Personal Introduction to 1,000 Films


David Thomson - 2008
    Not content to choose his own top films (though they are here), Thomson has created a list that will surprise and delight you—and send you to your best movie rental service.But he also probes the question: after one hundred years of film, which ones are the best, and why?“Have You Seen . . . ?†suggests a true canon of cinema and one that’s almost completely accessible now, thanks to DVDs. This book is a must for anyone who loves the silver screen: the perfect confection to dip into at any point for a taste of controversy, little-known facts, and ideas about what to see. This is a volume you’ll want to return to again and again, like a dear but argumentative friend in the dark at the movies.

The South Pacific Companion


Laurence Maslon - 2008
    Published to coincide with South Pacific's 2008 return to Broadway, this essential authorized companion to the beloved musical is a lavishly illustrated collection of memorabilia and historical detail, spanning nearly six decades of productions on stage and screen.

Tony Hancock: The Definitive Biography


John Fisher - 2008
    A man whose star burned brightly in the eyes and ears of millions before his untimely death. This is the first fully authorized account of his life.

The Indiana Jones Handbook: The Complete Adventurer's Guide


Denise Kiernan - 2008
    Complete with helpful diagrams, step-by-step instructions, and full-color photography, this thrilling guide shows readers:        •  How to identify booby traps      •  How to fend off a gang of swordsmen      •  How to ride an elephant      •  How to decipher hieroglyphs and lost languages      •  How to escape the wrath of God   . . . and dozens of other crucial skills for any archaeologist-in-training.

Michelangelo Antonioni: Interviews


Bert Cardullo - 2008
    His early successes, including L'avventura (1960) and La notte (1961), reshaped film drama by focusing so intently on characters (particularly couples) that plot was often a secondary concern. He also moved away from the social realism of his Italian peers. His most notable English-language films, from Blow Up (1966) to Zabriskie Point (1970), engage contemporary politics and modern social alienation.Michelangelo Antonioni: Interviews collects a broad range of conversations with this iconoclastic filmmaker, including one, never before in print, with the editor of this volume. In interviews ranging from 1960 to 1983, Antonioni discusses his neuroses, his cinematic concerns, his roots in Italian neorealism, and the reasons he ultimately broke free of the style's constraints. He insists that the struggle to understand the inner lives of characters is the crucial issue that cinema must tackle.Bert Cardullo is professor of American culture and literature at Ege University in Izmir, Turkey. Among other books, he is the author of In Search of Cinema: Selected Writings on International Film Art and Vittorio De Sica: Director, Actor, Screenwriter.

The Cinema of Naruse Mikio: Women and Japanese Modernity


Catherine Russell - 2008
    Little, however, has been written about Naruse in English, and much of the writing about him in Japanese has not been translated into English. With The Cinema of Naruse Mikio, Catherine Russell brings deserved critical attention to this under-appreciated director. Besides illuminating Naruse’s contributions to Japanese and world cinema, Russell’s in-depth study of the director sheds new light on the Japanese film industry between the 1930s and the 1960s.Naruse was a studio-based director, a company man renowned for bringing films in on budget and on time. During his long career, he directed movies in different styles of melodrama while displaying a remarkable continuity of tone. His films were based on a variety of Japanese literary sources and original scripts; almost all of them were set in contemporary Japan. Many were “women’s films.” They had female protagonists, and they depicted women’s passions, disappointments, routines, and living conditions. While neither Naruse or his audiences identified themselves as “feminist,” his films repeatedly foreground, if not challenge, the rigid gender norms of Japanese society. Given the complex historical and critical issues surrounding Naruse’s cinema, a comprehensive study of the director demands an innovative and interdisciplinary approach. Russell draws on the critical reception of Naruse in Japan in addition to the cultural theories of Harry Harootunian, Miriam Hansen, and Walter Benjamin. She shows that Naruse’s movies were key texts of Japanese modernity, both in the ways that they portrayed the changing roles of Japanese women in the public sphere and in their depiction of an urban, industrialized, mass-media-saturated society.

Stooges Among Us


Lon Davis - 2008
    That was certainly the case in the 1970s with surviving members of the Three Stooges comedy team. Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly-Joe DeRita and Joe Besser routinely corresponded with their young admirers, invited them into their homes, and forged genuine friendships. Stooges Among Us is a record of these unique relationships told in the words of the fans themselves. Also sharing their insights are Stooges' family members, colleagues and close personal friends. Leonard Maltin, the renowned film critic and historian, provides the foreword to this often candid, always affectionate tribute. Here you will gain a back-stage pass to vaudeville theatres, movie sets, television studios and even a high school auditorium which featured performances by "The Boys." You will be there for touching, personal moments, as well as hilarious antics in which life mirrors the on-screen Stooge personas. Containing never-before published photographs and interviews with the Stooges, this is an unexpected treasure that will be read and re-read by classic comedy fans of all ages.

The big show; my six months with the American expeditionary forces


Elsie Janis - 2008
    265 Pages.

The Avengers: The Inside Story


Patrick Macnee - 2008
    Patrick Macnee tells all! The secrets of the hit TV series The Avengers are laid bare by the man who was John Steed.Lavishly illustrated, with many unpublished stills, behind-the-scenes photos, and snaps from Macnee's private collection, this is a very personal portrait of the world's best-loved cult action-adventure series, and its classic sequel, The New Avengers.In unflinching detail, Macnee reveals the true story behind the show, including his relationships with all four Avengers girls -- Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg, Linda Thorson and Joanna Lumley -- on and off the set!

Positive Psychology at the Movies: Using Films to Build Virtues and Character Strengths


Ryan M. Niemiec - 2008
    This book shows how to use film to learn about the concepts and the real-life benefits of positive psychology, both for self-improvement and in classes or seminars.

Detour


Noah Isenberg - 2008
    Ulmer’s Detour (1945) has recently earned a new wave of recognition. In the words of film Critic David Thomson, it is simply “beyond remarkable.”  The only B-picture to make it into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, Detour has outrun its fate as the bastard child of one of Hollywood’s lowliest studios.  Ulmer’s film follows, in flashback, the journey of Al Roberts (Tom Neal), a pianist hitching from New York to California to join his girlfriend Sue (Claudia Drake), a singer gone to seek her fortune in Hollywood.  In classic noir style, Detour  features mysterious deaths, changes of identity, an unforgettable femme fatale called Vera (Ann Savage), and, in Roberts, a wretched, masochistic antihero.Noah Isenberg’s study of Detour draws on a vast array of archival sources, unpublished letters and interviews, to provide an animated and thorough account of the film’s production history, its critical reception, its afterlife (including various remakes) and the different ways in which the film has been understood since its release.  He devotes significant attention to each of the key players in the film--the crew as well as the principal actors--while charting the uneasy transformation of Martin Goldsmith’s pulp novel into Ulmer’s signature film, the disagreements between the director and writer, and the severe financial and formal limitations with which Ulmer grappled.  The story that Isenberg tells, rich in historical and critical insight, replicates the briskness of a B-movie.

Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2009


Roger Ebert - 2008
    --Michael Shamberg, "Editor and Publisher"Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert presents more than 650 full-length critical movie reviews, along with interviews, essays, tributes, film festival reports, and Q and As from "Questions for the Movie Answer Man.""Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2009" collects more than two years' worth of his engaging film critiques. From "Bee Movie" to "Darfur Now" to "No Country for Old Men," and from "Juno" to "Persepolis" to "La Vie en Rose," "Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2009" includes every review Ebert has written from January 2006 to June 2008.Also included in the "Yearbook," which boasts 65 percent new content, are:* Interviews with newsmakers, such as "Juno" director Jason Reitman and Jerry Seinfeld, a touching tribute to Deborah Kerr, and an emotional letter of appreciation to Werner Herzog.* Essays on film issues, and tributes to actors and directors who died during the year.* Daily film festival reports from Cannes, Toronto, Sundance, and Telluride.* All-new questions and answers from his "Questions for the Movie Answer Man" columns.

War Eagles - The Unmaking of an Epic - An Alternate History for Classic Film Monsters


David Conover - 2008
    Cooper's legendary WAR EAGLES! Planned as a full Technicolor production at MGM in the late 1930s, WAR EAGLES would have eclipsed Cooper and long-time SFX partner Willis O'Brien's KING KONG as the greatest fantasy epic of the period had it not fallen victim to pre-war studio politics and the rise of Hitler's Third Reich on the eve of World War II. Long considered a lost film effort, Conover's research has actually uncovered a richly detailed pre-production history, complete with never-before -published artwork, storyboards, test footage frames and more, direct from studio archives and the estates of technicians and artists who actually worked on the film. Also included is the full, never-published final draft of WAR EAGLES by Cyril Hume (screenwriter of MGM's Tarzan series and the sci-fi masterpiece FORBIDDEN PLANET) along with Merian C. Cooper's original treatment and production designer Howard Campbell's notes and budgets for the ill-fated production. For decades, stop-motion fans and film researchers considered an early, coverless draft attributed to Willis O'Brien-- but actually written by Harold Lamb and James Ashmore Creelman-- to be the only existing script for WAR EAGLES, but Conover's discovery of the original typescripts at the USC film library in 2003 turned up 7 more drafts and multiple revisions that eventually led to the final Hume draft. Pre-production artist Duncan Gleason began detailed storyboarding and illustration based on this draft and it is very likely that it would have become the actual shooting script. Detailed models and sets were built and Technicolor test footage featuring stop-motion animation by Willis O'Brien and his crew (including Kong/Mighty Joe Young creators Marcel Delgado and George Lofgren) was shot, and the exciting tale of a lost race of Viking warriors astride giant prehistoric eagles doing battle with Nazis over the skies of modern day Manhattan almost reached the screen until the reality of impending war halted production in 1940... David Conover is a film writer and historian who began his quest to uncover the history of WAR EAGLES as a 13-year-old reader of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. He was a columnist and reviewer for the Louisville Eccentric Observer for 9 years and his work was syndicated widely during that period as well. He is also the Vice President and Programming Director for WonderFest, an international modeling, toy, film and FX expo that takes place annually in Louisville, Ky, where he lives with his wife, daughter, and a tiny piece of the stegosaurus model from the original KING KONG. If you ask him, he'll show it to you, along with the final page of Cyril Hume's WAR EAGLES script. He's not crazy, just enthusiastic..