Best of
Movies

2009

The Art of Up


Tim Hauser - 2009
    The filmmakers share everything from the challenges of animating Carl's boxy physique to the inspirations they found during their expedition to the overworldly tepuis of Venezuela. Written by veteran animation writer Tim Hauser, The Art of Up includes interviews with the director, artists, and designers, who discuss the challenges and rewards of producing a 3D film that breaks the mold of classic animation to tell the story of a most unlikely hero.

Princess and the Frog (Disney Princess and the Frog: Limited Collector's Edition)


Walt Disney Company - 2009
    . . .Tiana is a beautiful, hardworking young woman with a dream. Naveen is a spoiled, jazz-loving prince who doesn’t understand the meaning of hard work. This unlikely pair has nothing in common—until they are magically transformed into frogs! Forced to work together as they set out to regain their human forms, will Naveen and Tiana eventually find true love in each other? Disney’s fresh take on an old fairy tale reminds us all that true beauty is more than skin deep and dreams really do come true. This hardcover Read-Aloud Storybook retells the heartwarming feature film with dazzling full-color art.

Inglourious Basterds


Quentin Tarantino - 2009
     From the brilliant writer/director behind the iconic films Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, comes Tarantino's most ambitious movie: a World War II epic starring Brad Pitt and filmed on location in Germany and France. The action tale follows the parallel story of a guerrilla-like squad of American soldiers called "The Basterds" and the French Jewish teenage girl Shosanna who find themselves behind enemy Nazi lines during the German occupation. When the Inglourious Basterds encounter Shosanna at a propaganda screening at the movie house she runs, they conspire to launch an unexpected plot to end the war. Pitt plays Lieutenant Aldo Raine -- the leader of the Basterds. Raine is an illiterate hillbilly from the mountains of Tennessee who puts together a team of eight Jewish-American soldiers to hunt down the Nazis. Filled with Tarantino's trademark electric dialogue and thrilling action sequences, Inglourious Basterds is one of the most celebrated films of the twenty-first century.

Fantastic Mr. Fox: The Making of the Motion Picture


Wes Anderson - 2009
    Fox tells the story of the Fox Family. After twelve years, the Fox Family’s quiet home life proves too much for Mr. Fox’s natural animal instincts. When his young nephew arrives, Mr. Fox slips back into his old ways as a smart bird thief and, in doing so, endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community as well.In Fall 2009, audiences will cheer as award-winning director Wes Anderson (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Darjeeling Limited) brings us his take on the tale: a blockbuster stop-motion animation film shot entirely in high definition. Starring the voice talents of George Clooney (Michael Clayton), Meryl Streep (Doubt), Bill Murray (Lost in Translation), and Jason Schwartzman (Marie Antoinette), the movie is sure to please fans of the original story as well as enchant new generations.Fantastic Mr. Fox: The Making of the Motion Picture is a family-friendly behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the film. Filled with photos, script pages, storyboards, and interviews with cast and crew, this book is a delightful and intriguing peek at the magic that happens as the filmmakers bring to life one of children’s literature’s most beloved characters: the outrageous, audacious, Fantastic Mr. Fox.

The Art of Avatar: James Cameron's Epic Adventure


Lisa Fitzpatrick - 2009
    The film follows the story of an ex-marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on a distant planet filled with exotic life forms. As an avatar, a human consciousness in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people. The Art of Avatar, the companion book to this epic 3-D action adventure, explores the developmental and conceptual art used by the creative team to create the original world of Avatar. With over 100 exclusive full-color images including sketches, matte paintings, drawings, and film stills, The Art of Avatar reveals the process behind the creation of set designs for the imaginative vistas, unique landscapes, aerial battle scenes, bioluminescent nights, and fantastical creatures. Interviews with art directors, visual effects designers, animators, costume designers, and creature makers bring insight into this creative process. The Art of Avatar brings readers behind the scenes of this unprecedented moviegoing experience.

Speed Demons


Jasmine Jones - 2009
    While their sister Candace tries fruitlessly to reveal their crazy endeavors to their mom and Perry the Platypus is saving the world from the dangerous Dr. Doofenshmirtz, Phineas and Ferb are filling their days with one adventure after another.Title Descriptions:Chapter Book #1: Speed Demons Lazy summer days? Not for Phineas and Ferb. One day the duo fixes up their mom's car and takes it to the races. The next they build the world's craziest roller coaster! The neighborhood's not likely to be the same after this. But will Dr. Doofenshmirtz's plan to reverse the spin of the earth with a magnet trained at the eastern seaboard succeed and ruin things for everyone?

Star Wars: The Complete Vader


Ryder Windham - 2009
    From his early development in the first Star Wars film by George Lucas, to the new legends created in comics, videogames, and novels, to his ongoing appearances on everything from television commercials to bedspreads, Vader presents a complete view in all his incarnations as the Dark Lord of the Sith. Going beyond the films to cover his further adventures in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, the book combines new insight with exclusive interviews and photographs from the Lucasfilm Archives. Interactive reproductions of rare memorabilia fire the imagination, while pages packed with never-seen-before images explore the world’s endless fascination with the notorious Darth Vader.

Stanley Kubrick's Napoleon: The Greatest Movie Never Made


Alison Castle - 2009
    Slated for production immediately following the release of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Kubrick’s "Napoleon" was to be at once a character study and a sweeping epic, replete with grandiose battle scenes featuring thousands of extras. To write his original screenplay, Kubrick embarked on two years of intensive research; with the help of dozens of assistants and an Oxford Napoleon specialist, he amassed an unparalleled trove of research and preproduction material, including approximately 15,000 location scouting photographs and 17,000 slides of Napoleonic imagery. No stone was left unturned in Kubrick's nearly-obsessive quest to uncover every piece of information history had to offer about Napoleon. But alas, Kubrick’s movie was not destined to be: the film studios, first M.G.M. and then United Artists, decided such an undertaking was too risky at a time when historical epics were out of fashion. TASCHEN’s tribute to this unmade masterpiece makes Kubrick’s valiant work on "Napoleon" available to fans for the first time. Based on the original 2009 limited edition which featured ten books hidden inside of a carved out reproduction of a Napoleon history book, this publication brings all the original elements together in one volume. Herein, all of the books from the original edition are reproduced in facsimile: correspondence, costume studies, location scouting photographs, research material, script drafts, and more. Kubrick’s final draft is reproduced in its entirety. The text book features the complete original treatment, essays examining the screenplay in historical and dramatic contexts, an essay by Jean Tulard on Napoleon in cinema, and a transcript of interviews Kubrick conducted with Oxford professor Felix Markham. The culmination of years of research and preparation, this unique publication offers readers a chance to experience the creative process of one of cinema’s greatest talents as well as a fascinating exploration of the enigmatic figure that was Napoleon Bonaparte. *Includes access to searchable/downloadable online research database: Kubrick's complete picture file of nearly 17,000 Napoleonic images*

The Social Network - screenplay


Aaron Sorkin - 2009
    The movie was released in October, 2101.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1285016/

Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror


Michael Mallory - 2009
    Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror explores all of these enduring characters, chronicling both the mythology behind the films and offering behind-the-scenes insights into how the films were created. Universal Studios Monsters is the most complete record of the horror films of this legendary studio, with biographies of major personalities who were responsible for the most notable monster melodramas in film history. The stories of these films and their creators are told through interviews with surviving actors and studio employees. A lavish photographic record, including many behind-the-scenes shots, completes the story of how these classics were made. This is a volume no fan of imaginative cinema will want to be without.

Robert Altman: The Oral Biography


Mitchell Zuckoff - 2009
    After an all-American boyhood in Kansas City, a stint flying bombers in World War II, and jobs ranging from dog tattoo entrepreneur to television director, Robert Altman burst onto the scene in 1970 with M*A*S*H. He reinvented American filmmaking, and went on to produce such masterpieces as McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Nashville, The Player, Short Cuts, and Gosford Park. In Robert Altman, Mitchell Zuckoff has woven together Altman's final interviews; an incredible cast of voices including Meryl Streep, Warren Beatty, Paul Newman, among scores of others; and contemporary reviews and news accounts into a riveting tale of an extraordinary life.

Irving Thalberg: Boy Wonder to Producer Prince


Mark A. Vieira - 2009
    Enter Irving Thalberg of Brooklyn, who survived childhood illness to run Universal Pictures at twenty; co-found Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at twenty-four; and make stars of Lon Chaney, Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Jean Harlow. Known as Hollywood's “Boy Wonder,” Thalberg created classics such as Ben-Hur, Tarzan the Ape Man, Grand Hotel, Freaks, Mutiny on the Bounty, and The Good Earth, but died tragically at thirty-seven. His place in the pantheon should have been assured, yet his films were not reissued for thirty years, spurring critics to question his legend and diminish his achievements. In this definitive biography, illustrated with rare photographs, Mark A. Vieira sets the record straight, using unpublished production files, financial records, and correspondence to confirm the genius of Thalberg's methods. In addition, this is the first Thalberg biography to utilize both his recorded conversations and the unpublished memoirs of his wife, Norma Shearer. Irving Thalberg is a compelling narrative of power and idealism, revealing for the first time the human being behind the legend.

Hammer Glamour


Marcus Hearn - 2009
    Bursting at the seams with rare and previously unpublished photographs from Hammer’s archive and private collections worldwide, and featuring many new interviews, Hammer Glamour is a lavish, full colour celebration of Hammer’s female stars, including Ingrid Pitt, Martine Beswick, Caroline Munro, Barbara Shelley, Joanna Lumley, Nastassja Kinski, and of course Raquel Welch (who can forget her fur bikini in One Million Years B. C.?)

Kazan on Directing


Elia Kazan - 2009
    His list of Broadway and Hollywood successes—A Streetcar Named Desire (stage and screen), All My Sons, Death of a Salesman, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, On the Waterfront, East of Eden, Baby Doll, America America, to name only a few—is a testament to his profound impact on the art of directing. Kazan’s insights into these and other classic stage works shaped their subsequent productions—and continue to do so. There is no directorial achievement in America equal to his.This remarkable book, drawn from his notebooks, letters, interviews, and autobiography, reveals Kazan’s method: how he uncovered for himself the “spine” or core of each script and each character; how he analyzed each piece in terms of his own experience; how he determined the specifics of his production, from casting and costuming to set design and cinematography. And we see how he worked with writers on scripts and with actors on interpretation.The final section, “The Pleasures of Directing”—essays Kazan was writing in his last decade—is informal, provocative, candid, and passionate; a wise old pro sharing the secrets of his craft, advising us how to search for ourselves in each project, how to fight the system, and how to have fun doing it.Published in Kazan’s centenary year, this monumental, revelatory book, edited by Robert Cornfield, is essential reading for everyone interested in American movies and theatre.

Master Shots Vol 1, 1st edition: 100 Advanced Camera Techniques to Get an Expensive Look on Your Low-Budget Movie


Christopher Kenworthy - 2009
    By using powerful master shots and well-executed moves, directors can develop a strong style and stand out from the crowd. Most low-budget movies look low-budget because the director is forced to compromise at the last minute. Master Shots gives you so many powerful techniques that youll be able to respond, even under pressure, and create knock-out shots. Even when the clock is ticking and the light is fading, the techniques in this book can rescue your film and make every shot look like it cost a fortune. Each technique is illustrated with samples from great feature films and computer-generated diagrams for absolute clarity.

The Jazz Loft Project: Photographs and Tapes of W. Eugene Smith from 821 Sixth Avenue, 1957-1965


Sam Stephenson - 2009
    Smith was trying to complete the most ambitious project of his life, a massive photo-essay on the city of Pittsburgh.821 Sixth Avenue was a late-night haunt of musicians, including some of the biggest names in jazz—Charles Mingus, Zoot Sims, Bill Evans, and Thelonious Monk among them—and countless fascinating, underground characters. As his ambitions broke down for his quixotic Pittsburgh opus, Smith found solace in the chaotic, somnambulistic world of the loft and its artists. He turned his documentary impulses away from Pittsburgh and toward his offbeat new surroundings.From 1957 to 1965, Smith exposed 1,447 rolls of film at his loft, making roughly 40,000 pictures, the largest body of work in his career, photographing the nocturnal jazz scene as well as life on the streets of the flower district, as seen from his fourth-floor window. He wired the building like a surreptitious recording studio and made 1,740 reels (4,000 hours) of stereo and mono audiotapes, capturing more than 300 musicians, among them Roy Haynes, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Roland Kirk, Alice Coltrane, Don Cherry, and Paul Bley. He recorded, as well, legends such as pianists Eddie Costa, and Sonny Clark, drummers Ronnie Free and Edgar Bateman, saxophonist Lin Halliday, bassist Henry Grimes, and multi-instrumentalist Eddie Listengart.Also dropping in on the nighttime scene were the likes of Doris Duke, Norman Mailer, Diane Arbus, Robert Frank, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Salvador Dalí, as well as pimps, prostitutes, drug addicts, thieves, photography students, local cops, building inspectors, marijuana dealers, and others.Sam Stephenson discovered Smith’s jazz loft photographs and tapes eleven years ago and has spent the last seven years cataloging, archiving, selecting, and editing Smith’s materials for this book, as well as writing its introduction and the text interwoven throughout.W. Eugene Smith’s Jazz Loft Project has been legendary in the worlds of art, photography, and music for more than forty years, but until the publication of The Jazz Loft Project, no one had seen Smith’s extraordinary photographs or read any of the firsthand accounts of those who were there and lived to tell the tale(s) . . .

Heads On and We Shoot: The Making of Where the Wild Things Are


Michelle Quint - 2009
    Misunderstood and rebellious, Max sets sail to the land of the Wild Things, where mischief reigns. But how do you turn one of the world′s favorite children′s books into a movie?This film incorporates the most dynamic elements of voice performance, live-action puppetry, and computer animation into a live-action adventure story that captures the magic of the book-and takes it to a new dimension. In order to preserve the realistic nature of the film, the Wild Things are not created digitally. Instead, Spike Jonze brings these characters to life in the form of physical suits built by the Jim Henson Company. These creatures, operated by a suit performer, interact with the live actor playing Max on set in front of the camera. After principal photography is finished, CGI is being used to make the creatures completely lifelike and convincing.HEADS ON AND WE SHOOT unveils the unique collaboration behind this highly anticipated film-the combined work of Maurice Sendak, Spike Jonze, Dave Eggers, and all the cast and crew. The book design is heavily image-based, a mix of early sketches, storyboards, character designs, and extensive behind-the-scenes photographs that show both incredible live-action puppetry and computer animation. The text includes forewords by Jonze and Eggers, interviews with the cast and crew, stories from on and off the set, and early drafts of the screenplay. The resulting book will be simultaneously a beautiful object for collectors, an insider′s guide for devotees, and an intimate window into the creative process.

Romancing the Vampire: From Past to Present


David J. Skal - 2009
    They are vampires — the undead. Add an infusion of Bella, Buffy and Carla Laemmle, then sprinkle in unforgettable characters such as Renfield and little Eddie Munster, and you have a capsule of how cinematic vampires are viewed by today’s world. But there were vampires walking this earth long before the invention of movies and television. In this book, author David J. Skal weaves a narrative history of vampirism, from the ancient Aztecs through the writings of Bram Stoker, Anne Rice and Stephenie Meyer. But what makes this book even more unique are the replicas tucked inside sleeves and pockets. There are removable photos of Bram Stoker, Carmilla and Lord Byron. For movie buffs, it has posters from Nosferatu, Dracula Has Risen From The Grave starring Christopher Lee, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula — along with a replica of Stoker’s “Dracula” notes. It also has photographs from Forks, Washington, where the Twilight series is based. Take a walk through the history of the undead, with romance, horror and blood along the way.Foreword by Nina Auerbach, author of Our Vampires, Ourselves. Afterword by Rosemary Guiley, author of Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and Other Monsters.

Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince Deluxe Gift Book


BBC - 2009
    Meet your favourite Harry Potter heroes and villains and relive some of the most memorable and poignant moments from Harry's first six years at Hogwarts, in this pull-tab and lift-the-flap deluxe book.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind


Christopher Grau - 2009
    Beginning with a helpful introduction that places each essay in context, specially commissioned chapters examine the following topics:philosophical issues surrounding love, friendship, affirmation and repetitionthe role of memory (and the emotions) in personal identity and decision-makingthe morality of imagination and ethical importance of memoryphilosophical questions about self-knowledge and knowing the minds of othersthe aesthetics of the film considered in relation to Gondry's other works and issues in the philosophy of perceptionIncluding a foreword by Michel Gondry and a list of further reading, this volume is essential reading for students interested in philosophy and film studies.

Slumdog Millionaire: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack


A.R. Rahman - 2009
    The winner of eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Original Song, and Best Original Score, Slumdog Millionaire was the suprise hit of the 2009 season. The film tells the tale of a Mumbai teen who is accused of cheating after winning the Indian version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" This songbook matches the soundtrack and includes 9 songs: O, Saya * Mausam & Escape * Paper Planes * Ringa Ringa * Latika's Theme * Aaj Ki Raat * Millionaire * Dreams on Fire * Jai Ho.

The Wizard of Oz: An Illustrated Companion to the Timeless Movie Classic


John Fricke - 2009
    Frank Baum’s written and theatrical masterworks, to the arduous process of crafting Oz for the silver screen, to the film’s triumphant August 1939 premiere, and on to the decades of ensuing, unparalleled acclaim.Inside the pages of this treasury are more than 400 shimmering images, including cast and set reference photos, movie stills, behind-the-scenes shots, an extra large gatefold, and such memorabilia as publicity art, production memos, promotional posters, and original illustrations. Authors John Fricke and Jonathan Shirshekan, renowned authorities on all things Oz, have gathered a wealth of rare materials and revealing anecdotes to weave a compelling and comprehensive narrative. Popular characters are highlighted; commonly held myths are debunked; and times truths are cast in a new light—just turn to the “Oddities of Oz” section for a sampling. In sum, it’s a collection sure to captivate Oz fans everywhere!

Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever


Jim Craddock - 2009
    More than 30,000 entries supply all the basic information, along with an entertaining review/plot synopsis.

भूतनाथ


Babu Devakinandan Khatri - 2009
    He wrote Chandrakanta, Chandrakanta Santati, Kajar ki Kothari, Narendra-Mohini, Kusum Kumari, Virendra Veer, Gupt Godna, Katora Bhar Khoon and Bhootnath. Babu Devkinandan Khatri wrote only six parts of the book Bhootnath, and was subsequently completed by his son Durga Prasad Khatri, who wrote the concluding volumes.

Star Wars: 1,000 Collectibles: Memorabilia and Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away


Stephen J. Sansweet - 2009
    Drawn from the largest private Star Wars collection in the known universe, this stunning treasure trove of memorabilia and colorful anecdotes mixes fun with nostalgia, delighting both the casual fan and the serious collector. Since the first Star Wars film opened in 1977, George Lucas's epic space fantasy has become not only one of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time, but also an obsession for collectors around the globe, who have spent more than $15 billion on Star Wars merchandise. These collectibles range from the offbeat--C-3PO tape dispensers, fan-made bantha pinatas, and Darth Vader popcorn poppers--to the everyday--Boba Fett cake pans, Yoda PEZ dispensers, and "Cream of Jawa" soup. Here for the first time is a chronicle of the constantly expanding, all-encompassing, often-surreal lifestyle of collecting Star Wars--filled with incredible stranger-than-fiction stories from the galaxy's foremost collector.

The Hurt Locker: The Shooting Script


Mark Boal - 2009
    Boal's screenplay follows the layered, complex relationship between three soldiers who are thrown together in the crucible of combat—with only 38 days left in their tour. Starring Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, and Evangeline Lilly, with Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, and David Morse.This Newmarket Shooting Script® Book includes:Exclusive Introduction by Kathyrn Bigelow Complete shooting script 16-page color insert with 23 color photos Production Notes Storyboards Complete cast and crew credits

Clint Eastwood Icon: The Ultimate Film Art Collection


David Frangioni - 2009
    He is a nameless vigilante, a vengeful detective, a bare-knuckle boxer, a Secret Service agent, and countless other definitive screen archetypes now embedded in our shared pop-culture consciousness. However you define him, Clint Eastwood has a powerful and extremely recognizable image that exists as something beyond the narratives of his films.Clint Eastwood ICON presents an unprecedented collection of film art surrounding the legendary actor. This comprehensive trove gathers together poster art, lobby cards, studio ads, and esoteric film memorabilia from around the world. From his early roles as the nameless gunslinger in Sergio Leone’s Spaghetti Westerns, to the vigilante films of the 1970s and 1980s, through his directorial roles and latest releases, Clint Eastwood ICON captures the powerful presence and quiet intensity that turned Eastwood into the definitive American hero.

Backstage You Can Have


Betty Hutton - 2009
    At the top of her career, she was one of the most celebrated actresses in Hollywood, starring in such movies as 'Annie Get Your Gun' and 'The Greatest Show On Earth'. This book tells her fascinating story.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence: From Stanley Kubrick to Steven Spielberg: The Vision Behind the Film


Cynthia L. Breazeal - 2009
    A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) was a collaboration between two cinematic giants: Stanley Kubrick and Steven Spielberg. Here, the directors’ combined visions and sensibilities are presented along with the work of their remarkably talented colleagues—above all, Chris Baker, the film’s conceptual artist.At the heart of the book are Baker’s drawings, many never before seen. Commissioned by Kubrick and used in Spielberg’s eventual production designs, the drawings display Baker’s imagination and rare technical skill. Accompanying the drawings are extracts from Kubrick’s notebooks, stills from the finished film, and photographs of behind-the-scenes action, highlighting the use of pioneering special effects, animatronic work, and the “virtual studio.”

Watchmen: The Official Film Companion


Peter AperloMalin Akerman - 2009
    The graphic novel that changed an industry is now a film from Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures in association with Legendary Pictures, directed by Zack Snyder (300), and Watchmen: The Official Film Companion is the essential guide to this cinematic event. A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 in which costumed super heroes are part of the fabric of everyday American society. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present super heroes. Their mission is to watch over humanity… but who is watching the Watchmen?Featuring exclusive interviews with the cast and crew, and scores of photos, this is the comprehensive guide to the new movie event.

Best in Hollywood: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful


James Best - 2009
    He writes, "You can share with me the Golden Age of Hollywood, when movies had unequaled World Class. Now solidly in my eighties, I'm one of the few living actors who can hope to tell of the past glory and glamour of Hollywood as the industry really was way back when. "This was the Hollywood where I lived, loved, and worked during the time when she was the ruling queen. This was the time of a wonderful movie industry, where genuine actors and actresses created truly entertaining musicals, comedies, dramas, and action for an eager moviegoing public. "Even in those glorious golden days of Hollywood, my attempt to be a big winner was never all sunglasses and autographs. I tell how I survived in a sometimes cruel town where a lifelong dream can be fulfilled or broken in a heartbeat. I didn't escape without my share of scars. "I've written this book for those who might enjoy reading about the experiences of a very lucky ragtag orphan from Kentucky. I thank God for the opportunities given me. I was blessed to be adopted and to be given both a desire to work hard and, just as important, a love of fishing. I've been in a few scraps along the way, but I've done my level best to become a successful actor and to grow as a person. "If you're curious about the good, the bad, and the beautiful of Hollywood, including The Dukes of Hazzard and many other adventures-it's all in this book. I simply tell my story as I've lived it. I hope you enjoy it." 324 pages and illustrated. James Best appeared in many films, including Winchester '73 (1950), Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951), The Caine Mutiny (1954), and Forbidden Planet (1956). His extensive American television appearances include Wagon Train (three times), The Adventures of Kit Carson (twice as Henry Jordan), the Western anthology series Frontier (twice), Sheriff of Cochise, Pony Express, Rescue 8, Behind Closed Doors, The Texan, The Rebel, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, Trackdown, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, Tombstone Territory, Whispering Smith, Stagecoach West, The Twilight Zone episodes entitled "The Grave," "The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank," and "Jess-Belle," Wanted: Dead or Alive, Overland Trail, Bat Masterson, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Man and the Challenge, Combat!, The Mod Squad, I Spy, The Fugitive episode entitled "Terror At High Point," and In the Heat of the Night. KEYWORDS FOR ALLAN James Best, Dukes of Hazzard, Winchester '73, Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, The Caine Mutiny, Forbidden Planet, Wagon Train), The Adventures of Kit Carson, Frontier, Sheriff of Cochise, Pony Express, Rescue 8, Behind Closed Doors, The Texan, The Rebel, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, Trackdown, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, Tombstone Territory, Whispering Smith, Stagecoach West, The Twilight Zone, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Overland Trail, Bat Masterson, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Man and the Challenge, Combat!, The Mod Squad, I Spy, The Fugitive, In the Heat of the Night, Hollywood, cinema, films, movies, Westerns, Western, film, movie, actor, film history, television history, science fiction, biography, biographies,

Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2010


Roger Ebert - 2009
    For nearly 25 years, Roger Ebert's annual collection has been recognized as the preeminent source for full-length critical movie reviews, and his 2010 yearbook does not disappoint.The yearbook includes every review Ebert has written from January 2007 to July 2009. It also includes interviews, essays, tributes, and all-new questions and answers from his Questions for the Movie Answer Man columns. Fans get a bonus feature, too, with new entries to Ebert's Little Movie Glossary.This is the must-have go-to guide for movie fanatics.

Batman: Fun House of Evil


Donald Lemke - 2009
    But the building has been remodeled into the JOKER'S fun house. BATMAN must outwit clown robots and escape deadly amusement rides to make sure that the JOKER does not have the last laugh!

What I Wish I Knew Before I Moved to Hollywood


T.R. Locke - 2009
    Locke once abandoned dreams of being a writer and an actor in exchange for a comfortable life in suburban Chicago as a college administrator and real estate investor. Success didn't make him happy though, it left him bored. So Locke took a chance on his old dream, wrote a screenplay and sent it to Hollywood. To his surprise, he made the semi-finals of a screenwriting contest developed by Stephen Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment. Soon Locke was flying out to L. A., meeting with literary agents and producers, hobnobbing with movie and music stars and anticipating an exciting future following his bliss. Two years later he was broke.That's when the real WORK of following dreams began.The book includes experiences of more than a dozen artists—from Grammy-nominated singers, to screenwriters, staffers, film and TV executives, festival-winning directors, Emmy-winning filmmakers, platinum-selling record producers and award-winning movie and TV stars. Their stories inspire and entertain you whether your dreams lead to Hollywood or your own Hometown.

Pedro Infante: Las Leyes del Querer


Carlos Monsiváis - 2009
    A man who captivated many a generation and is sure to continue captivating generations to come, a man whose tragic death is engraved on the heart and mind of many Mexicans. Carlos Monsiváis, renowned for his thorough essays and cutting critiques, for his versatility as an author and actor, brings us an in-depth analysis of the golden age of Mexican cinema and an intimate portrayal of the man behind the celebrity. Description in Spanish: En este libro, que nos transporta con nostalgia al Mexico de mediados del siglo XX, le rinde un nuevo homenaje al idolo del pueblo, quien ha cautivado a varias generaciones y continua vigente, y cuya tragica muerte se ha incrustado en la memoria y el corazon de muchos mexicanos. Carlos Monsivais, ensayista riguroso, autor polifacetico, critico acido y reconocido actor de la vida actual de nuestro pais, hace un analisis exhaustivo del personaje y de la epoca de oro del cine mexicano para proporcionarnos un libro entranable.

The Reel Truth: Everything You Didn't Know You Need to Know About Making an Independent Film


Reed Martin - 2009
    Reed Martin interviewed more than one hundred luminaries from the independent film world to discuss the near misses that almost derailed their first and second films and identify the close shaves that could have cut their careers short. Other books may tell you the best way to make your independent film or online short, but no other book describes so candidly how to spot and avoid such issues and obstacles as equipment problems, shooting-day snafus, postproduction myths, theatrical distribution deal breakers, and dozens of other commonly made missteps, including the top fifty mistakes every filmmaker makes.From personal experience and his years as a freelance reporter covering independent film for USA Today and Filmmaker magazine, Martin uncovers the truth about the risks and potential rewards that go with chasing celluloid glory. Whether you're writing a screenplay, looking for financing, about to start shooting, or thinking about investing time and money (or someone else's money) in an independent film, The Reel Truth is a must-read.

Tinkerbell The Essential Guide (Disney Fairies)


Beth Landis - 2009
    In this guide children can journey to Pixie Hollow in Never Land and meet Tinker Bell and all of Disneys other enchanting fairies, including Silvermist, Iridessa and Fairy Mary.

Yasmin Ahmad's Films


Amir Muhammad - 2009
    In order to deal with his grief, Amir Muhammad, fellow Malaysian filmmaker and friend, watched anew her six feature-length films (RABUN, SEPET, GUBRA, MUKHSIN, MUALLAF and TALENTIME), as well as several of her most popular commercials. Neither an obituary nor a conventional work of film criticism, this book was written just a month after her funeral and is Amir's personal look at the stories, but with quite a few tangents of his own. Chatty and informative, YASMIN AHMAD'S FILMS can be devoured not only by established fans but newcomers to her work. It is also a tribute to one of Malaysia's most amazing daughters. Includes 24 pages of color photographs. All the writer's royalties from the first edition will be donated to the Mercy - Yasmin Ahmad Fund for Children.

(500) Days of Summer: The Shooting Script


Scott Neustadter - 2009
    Weber, an 8-page color section, production notes, and the complete cast and crew credits.

Either You're in Or You're in the Way


Logan Miller - 2009
    Either You're in or You're in the Way is the amazing story of how—without a dime to their names nor a single meaningful contact in Hollywood—they managed to write, produce, direct, and act in a feature film alongside four-time Academy Award-nominated actor Ed Harris and fellow nominees Brad Dourif and Robert Forster. Either You're in or You're in the Way tells of the desperate struggle of two sons fighting to keep a vow to their father, and in so doing, creating a better life for themselves. A modern-day Horatio Alger on steroids, this fast-paced thrill ride of heartbreak and redemption will both captivate and inspire.

Katharine Hepburn: A Life in Pictures


Pierre-Henri Verlhac - 2009
    This volume offers an intimate view into the life of a Hollywood giantfrom her early years in the studio system, through the famed Spencer Tracy period, to her later life as a grande dame of cinemaand sheds new light on the woman named by the American Film Institute as the greatest female movie star in the history of American cinema. With a compelling mixture of celebrity photographs and casual snapshots, this latest entry in the beloved A Life in Pictures series forms a uniquely stylish portrait. A dazzling collection, Katharine Hepburn captures the life of a legend, onscreen and off.

The Big Picture: Filmmaking Lessons from a Life on the Set


Tom Reilly - 2009
    In The Big Picture, he explores the art and the craft of filmmaking from the vantage point of someone actually running the movie set. Using examples unlike any of those in other books on film, Reilly exposes not only the power and the personalities, but the secrets of the pros.  He shares the insights he gleaned while working with more than sixty Oscar-winning professionals?from Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Vanessa Redgrave to Sydney Pollack, Sven Nykvist, and Barbra Streisand.            In these fifty entertaining, illuminating short essays, Reilly invites you to join him on the film set. What is it like to shoot a love scene? How do you do a full body burn? What is it like to film in the Everglades or in a morgue? What is blocking or matching, and how long should a script be? How do you decide when to build a set? Why is the color palette so critical?  Is night shooting worth the suffering?            The Big Picture delivers the surprising answers to these and other fascinating questions about what it takes to make a feature film, offering a glimpse into what it’s like when the lights are bright, the camera is rolling, and the moviemakers are calling the shots.

No Country for Old Men: From Novel to Film


Lynnea Chapman King - 2009
    The film earned praise from critics worldwide and was honored with four Academy Awards(R), including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. In No Country for Old Men: From Novel to Film, scholars offer varied approaches to both the novel and the award-winning film. Beginning with several essays dedicated entirely to the novel and its place within the McCarthy canon, the anthology offers subsequent essays focusing on the film, the adaptation process, and the Coen Brothers more broadly. The book also features an interview with the Coen brothers' long-time cinematographer Roger Deakins. This entertaining and enriching book for readers interested in the Coen Brothers' films and in McCarthy's fiction is an important contribution to both literature and film studies.

How to Talk to Moms


Alec Greven - 2009
    Sometimes you think she is mean and wants to ruin your life.Really, it is both.No matter how well you know your mom, chances are she's got a few tricks up her sleeve. Alec Greven may only be ten, but he will set you straight when it comes to figuring out the most important woman in your life.Tips:Don't use your shirt as a napkin or a Kleenex. Don't bring loose wildlife into the house—ever! Your mom will always love you no matter what.

Mack Sennett's Fun Factory: A History and Filmography of His Studio and His Keystone and Mack Sennett Comedies, with Biographies of Players and Personnel


Brent E. Walker - 2009
    The filmography covers the more than 1,000 films Sennett produced, directed, wrote or appeared in between 1908 and 1955, including casts, credits, synopses, production and release dates, locations, cross-references of remade stories and gags, footage excerpted in compilations, identification of prints existing in archives, and other information. The book, featuring 280 photographs, also contains biographies of several hundred performers and technical personnel connected with Sennett.

The Complete Lyrics of Johnny Mercer


Johnny Mercer - 2009
    With his collaborators, who included Richard A. Whiting, Harry Warren, Hoagy Carmichael, Jerome Kern, and Harold Arlen, he wrote the lyrics to some of the most famous standards, among them, “Too Marvelous for Words,” “Jeepers Creepers,” “Skylark,” “I’m Old-Fashioned,” and “That Old Black Magic.”During a career of more than four decades, Mercer was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song an astonishing eighteen times, and won four: for his lyrics to “On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe” (music by Warren), “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening” (music by Carmichael), and “Moon River” and “Days of Wine and Roses” (music for both by Henry Mancini).You’ve probably fallen in love with more than a few of Mercer’s songs–his words have never gone out of fashion–and with this superb collection, it’s easy to see that his lyrics elevated popular song into art.

Just When You Thought It Was Safe: A JAWS Companion


Patrick A. Jankiewicz - 2009
    Learn the terrifying true story that inspired JAWS! Hear how such classic lines as "Smile, You sonnuva--" and "We need a bigger boat!" were created. Finally, a book about the entire JAWS series! Meet all the first shark's victims, discover behind-the-scenes facts and gossip on JAWS! Encounter those responsible for JAWS 2, JAWS 3-D and JAWS: THE REVENGE! Find out about the aborted JAWS sequel, NATIONAL LAMPOON'S JAWS 3 PEOPLE 0 and which JAWS sequel was supposed to start with the shark eating Chief Brody!" Journalist PAT JANKIEWICZ, writer for FANGORIA and STARLOG takes an incisive look at the amazing story of the entire JAWS franchise!

Warren Oates: A Wild Life


Susan Compo - 2009
    With his rugged looks and measured demeanor, Oates crafted complex characters that were at once brazen and thoughtful, wild and subdued. Warren Oates: A Wild Life is the first book-length look at the actor whom friends remember as a hard-living, hard-drinking man who was kind and caring, but also as mean as a blue-eyed devil.Born in the small town of Depoy in rural western Kentucky, Oates began his career in the late 1950s with bit parts in television westerns. During this time he met infamous director Sam Peckinpah, establishing a creative relationship and destructive friendship that would spawn some of Oates’s most celebrated and unforgettable roles in films such as Ride the High Country (1962), The Wild Bunch (1969), and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974). Parts in Major Dundee (1965), In the Heat of the Night (1967) Two-Lane Blacktop (1971), Badlands (1973), and Stripes (1981) show Oates’s penchant for working with seminal filmmakers—directors as diverse and talented as Monte Hellman, Terrence Malick, Ivan Reitman, and Steven Spielberg.With remarkable range and depth he created colorful characters onscreen even as his life offscreen was full of drama, alcohol and drugs. With an engaging style and through careful research, author Susan Compo skillfully captures the nuances of Oates’s life in the first biography of this beloved actor.

Changeling (Film): Clint Eastwood, J. Michael Straczynski, Angelina Jolie, Wineville Chicken Coop Murders, Ron Howard, Imagine Entertainment, Brian Grazer, ... Robert Lorenz, Universal Studios


J. Michael Straczynski - 2009
    Michael Straczynski. Based on real life events in 1928 Los Angeles, the film stars Angelina Jolie as a woman who is reunited with her missing son-only to realize he is an impostor. She confronts the city authorities, who vilify her as an unfit mother and brand her delusional. The dramatized incident was connected to the "Wineville Chicken Coop" kidnapping and murder case. Changeling explores female disempowerment, political corruption, child endangerment and the repercussions of violence. Ron Howard intended to direct, but scheduling conflicts led to his replacement by Eastwood. Howard and Imagine Entertainment partner Brian Grazer produced, alongside Malpaso Productions' Robert Lorenz and Eastwood. Universal Pictures financed and distributed the film

Watchmen: The Art of the Film


Peter Aperlo - 2009
    Discover how director Zack Snyder (300) and his crew faithfully recreated the intricately detailed world and characters of the legendary graphic novel in the eagerly awaited film.From the New York City of an alternate 1985 to the surface of Mars, the film adaptation of Watchmen is a triumph of design, filled with unique characters and layer upon layer of arresting detail.Featuring scores of production designs, set photos, costume sketches, storyboards and other pieces of conceptual art, Watchmen: The Art of the Film is a lavish celebration of a comic book made real.

Bandslam


Aaron Rosenberg - 2009
    Includes an 8-page full-color insert.

Growing Up with Monsters


Carla Laemmle - 2009
    Enjoy Carla's tale of growing up on her uncles Universal Studio Lot from 1921 to 1937 and not only witnessing the filming of such early classics as The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1923, but actually being in The Phantom of the Opera in 1925 and Dracula in 1931, where her "bit" part was that of having the first line of spoken dialogue in that perennial classic vampire film. Beware of vampires and hearses, but enjoy her story's verses! Wonderfully illustrated by MAD Magazines Jack Davis and Hermann Mejia. Foreword provided by master of horror and sci-fi, Ray Bradbury.

The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies: Featuring the 100 Greatest Sports Films of All Time


Ray Didinger - 2009
    Especially sports movies, where every underdog has his day, every team achieves glory, and every hero gets his moment of redemption. Next to watching Monday Night Football, there's nothing more enjoyable than plopping down on the couch with the remote and a bottle of beer and firing up the special-edition DVD of Rocky, Hoosiers, Caddyshack, or any other fan favorite.Now, two nationally renowned sports media personalities take on the task of ranking the top 100 sports movies of all time, including entertaining and informative lists, special features, and contributions from over 75 top sports figures. From drama to comedy to tragedy to documentary, all the greatest sports films are here, brought to life through detailed summaries, fun facts and trivia, behind-the-scenes revelations, plus images from the greatest moments in sports film history.Original comments from some of the top personalities in sports and entertainment--including Peyton and Eli Manning, Charles Barkley, Tony Romo, James Gandolfini, Bill Parcells, Dennis Quaid, Arnold Palmer, and many more--provide further insight and marketing punch.

America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry


Daniel Eagan - 2009
    Unlike opinionated "Top 100" and arbitrary "Best of" lists, these are the real thing: groundbreaking films that make up the backbone of American cinema. Some are well-known, such as Citizen Kane, The Jazz Singer, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Birth of a Nation, and Boyz n the Hood. Others are more obscure, such as Blacksmith Scene, The Blue Bird, The Docks of New York, Star Theatre, and A Bronx Morning. Daniel Eagan's beautifully written and authoritative book is for anyone who loves American movies and who wants to learn more about them.

IDW: The First 10 Years


Ted AdamsJ.K. Woodward - 2009
    Volume One includes an oral history of the company written by co-founders Ted Adams and Kris Oprisko, and IDW's Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall that includes interviews with every major creator who has worked at IDW including Clive Barker, John Byrne, Max Allan Collins, Peter David, Chuck Dixon, Cory Doctorow, Don Figueroa, Simon Furman, Joe Hill, Scott Lobdell, Brian Lynch, Dean Mullaney, Steve Niles, Gabriel Rodriguez, Gene Simmons, Ben Templesmith, Ashley Wood, JK Woodward, and more. Also featured are all-new comic book stories, including: Fallen Angel by Peter David and JK Woodward; Locke & Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez; Zombies vs. Robots meet Popbot by Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood; and Wormwood by Ben Templesmith. Volume Two features every single cover published by IDW - that's over 2,000 covers by some of the biggest names in comics including Clive Barker, Tim Bradstreet, John Byrne, J. Scott Campbell, John Cassaday, Richard Corben, Kieron Dwyer, Tommy Lee Edwards, Don Figueroa, Alex Garner, Mike Grell, Tony Harris, Dave Johnson, Sam Kieth, Igor Kordey, Ted McKeever, David Messina, Alex Milne, Scott Morse, Paul Pope, Gabriel Rodriguez, Richard Sala, Eric Shanower, Bill Sienkiewicz, Ken Steacy, Ben Templesmith, Billy Tucci, Ashley Wood, JK Woodward, Bernie Wrightson, and more.

King of the Movies: Francis X. Bushman


Debra Davis - 2009
    Bushman had a life like no other. He was the screen's first great romantic idol, a bodybuilder, an artist's model, a Broadway and stock company actor, a husband (four times), a father (six times), a dog breeder, a songwriter, a vaudeville headliner, a radio performer, a television personality, a senior citizens' advocate. He lived an exaggerated life, both as a free-spending multi-millionaire star and a bankrupt has-been. After all the accolades and criticisms, he was that rare kind of man who had no regrets. This is his story ...

My Life Dancing with the Stars


Miriam Nelson - 2009
    Miriam's life reads like a 1930's musical. While still in her twenties, she appeared in six Broadway shows. On the day she moved to Los Angeles, Miriam ran into old friend Billy Daniels from New York who took her to lunch at Paramount. During lunch, Miriam ran into another New York friend, Paramount president Buddy de Sylva, who hired her on the spot for Lady in the Dark starring Ginger Rogers. Miriam has been dancing with the stars ever since! Nelson has tapped and chassed with countless stars, including Julie Andrews, Ingrid Bergman, Doris Day, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Bing Crosby, Gene Kelly, John Travolta and Billy Bob Thornton. Miriam was there for the opening day at Disneyland - Walt Disney hired her to choreograph dance numbers around the Park, including the famous Golden Horseshoe Revue. Miriam's career spans both the famous and infamous eras of stage, screen, and television. Encouraged by friends and family to recall her special "behind the scenes" moments, Miriam sorted through memories, scrapbooks and mountains of photographs to enable readers to share the excitement and anticipation, the joy and the sorrow that chronicled her extraordinary life. Fortunately, for those who love to dance and those who love to watch dance, Miriam Nelson remains an exciting part of the professional American dance scene. "You're a darling girl, Miriam, and I love you for all that you did. God bless you always, your dear friend," - Busby Berkley

Finding Waldo: From Little Rascal to Seventh-Day Adventist Pastor


Ken Smith - 2009
    

A Book Full of Movies: You May Not Have Seen


Zuzana Urbanek - 2009
    Read about popular movies in one of the ten genres, and then get suggestions for lesser-known films you might like. A handy rating system tells how the recommended films stack up against their popular counterparts. Every film title contains a short synopsis and review (without giving away any surprises) plus a perfect pairing for a double feature. Each chapter also contains an article about a topic related to the genre covered in that chapter. There's even a chapter of recommended resources for finding out more about films that may be of interest to you, and the comprehensive index lets you easily find movies, actors, directors, and more. Watch for volume 2, with ten more film categories, coming soon!

Up: Book of the Film


Jasmine Jones - 2009
    Soon, Carl is dealing with all sorts of trouble, including dangerous dogs, a crazy adventurer and even a mysterious creature that Russell finds and is determined to save!

Why Global Poverty?: A Companion Guide to the Film the End of Poverty?


Clifford W. Cobb - 2009
    This book presents notes on the production of the film "The End of Poverty?," a complete transcript of the film, and over seventy full interviews - including Joseph Stiglitz, Amartya Sen, John Perkins, Chalmers Johnson, Susan George, and Eric Toussaint - to give an in-depth account of the methods of global economic domination and ways to remedy worldwide injustice.

Karl Dane: A Biography and Filmography


Laura Petersen Balogh - 2009
    The immigrant from Copenhagen was rapidly transformed from a machinist to a Hollywood star after his turn as the tobacco-chewing Slim in The Big Parade in 1925. After that, Dane appeared in more than 40 films with such luminaries as Lillian Gish, John Gilbert and William Haines until development of talkies virtually ruined his career. The most famous casualty of the transition from silent to sound film, Dane reportedly lost his career because of his accent. He was broke and alone at the height of the Depression and committed suicide in 1934.

The Night of the Hunter: A Biography of a Film


Jeffrey Couchman - 2009
    It provides the first major study of the long-lost first-draft screenplay by James Agee and confronts a fifty-year controversy about the authorship of the film. This is a story of artistic convergence on many levels--of novelist and director, director and actor, and cinematic form and tastes. The novel, a 1953 debut from Davis Grubb, was a popular and critical success, remaining on the New York Times best-seller list for four months. Hollywood responded to its atmospheric lyricism, and in the hands of first time director Charles Laughton, the book became a film that is equal parts thriller, allegory, and fever dream, filled with slow, inexorable suspense. On the set, Laughton functioned both as an auteur and a collaborator to create his vision of the book, mixing cinematic flourishes both realistic and abstract in sometimes tense situations. The talents that clashed or came together along the road from book to movie make the final film a product of rich stylistic contradiction and rewarding complexity. Through biography, production history, and critical analysis of the novel and film, author Jeffrey Couchman makes the case that this initially overlooked cinematic gem is a prismatic work that continually reveals new aspects of itself.

not a book [DVD]


NOT A BOOK - 2009
    WORKING IN THE 1940S BALTIMORE ON AN UNPRECEDENTED TECHNIQUE FOR PERFORMING HEART SURGERY ON 'BLUE BABIES'. AS THE MEN INVENT A NEW FIELD OF MEDICINE, SOCIAL PRESSURES THREATEN TO TEAR THEM APART.

Bonnie Blue Butler


Cammie King Conlon - 2009
    And she certainly didn't know (nor did anyone else) that the 1939 film would become a cinematic phenomenon. Ten Academy Awards, millions of screenings worldwide, countless videos and DVD's, and constant airings on TV. In fact, the publication of this book coincided with the 70th anniversary of Gone With The Wind a milestone that was celebrated by fans all over the country. Bonnie Blue Butler is a story not yet heard. Cammie puts you on and off the set during the making of the film. Her memories are both poignant and humorous.

Divas on Screen: Black Women in American Film


Mia Mask - 2009
    Interpreting each woman's celebrity as predicated on a brand of charismatic authority, Mia Mask shows how these female stars have ultimately complicated the conventional discursive practices through which blackness and womanhood have been represented in commercial cinema, independent film, and network television.Mask examines the function of these stars in seminal yet underanalyzed films. She considers Dandridge's status as a sexual commodity in films such as Tamango, revealing the contradictory discourses regarding race and sexuality in segregation-era American culture. Grier's feminist-camp performances in sexploitation pictures Women in Cages and The Big Doll House and her subsequent blaxploitation vehicles Coffy and Foxy Brown highlight a similar tension between representing African American women as both objectified stereotypes and powerful, self-defining icons. Mask reads Goldberg's transforming habits in Sister Act and The Associate as representative of her unruly comedic routines, while Winfrey's daily television performance as self-made, self-help guru echoes Horatio Alger narratives of success. Finally, Mask analyzes Berry's meteoric success by acknowledging the ways in which Dandridge's career made Berry's possible.

The Real Joyce Compton: Behind the Dumb Blonde Movie Image


Joyce Compton - 2009
    Most picture us all as rich and famous and never hear of another side. I've even thought of the title: The Real Joyce Compton: Behind the Dumb Blonde Movie Image. Sound good? It's a thought." --Excerpt of a letter from Joyce Compton to Michael G. Ankerich, 27 January 1988 The Real Joyce Compton: Behind the Dumb Blonde Movie Image is the story that Joyce Compton, one of the screen's finest comediennes and most versatile actresses, wanted told. Her career, which consisted of an estimated 200 films, stretched from 1925 to 1957. Breaking into films during the silent era, she appeared in a string of ingenue roles, imagining herself as a new Mae Murray, but it was after the beginning of sound that Compton found her niche in comedy. In her own words, she recounts her frustrations over studio politics and shares her experiences of working and socializing with such screen favorites as Clara Bow, Cary Grant, Marlene Dietrich, Joel McCrea, George O'Brien, John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Johnny Mack Brown, Janet Gaynor, and George Raft. Compton opens up about her often overly protective parents, her off-screen romances, her one heartbreaking attempt at marriage, her deep religious faith, and her struggle to support her family after her film career ended. With candor and insight that only someone who was there can share, Compton discusses the transition from silents to talkies; working with incompetent directors in those early sound movies; living on locations; the competition she experienced with the "star" actresses of the studio; freelancing versus working under a studio contact; and the day-to-day life of an actress working in early Hollywood. The Real Joyce Compton begins with a biography of the actress, written by co-author Michael G. Ankerich, based on formal interviews, conversations, and correspondence over their 10-year friendship. The book also contains a detailed filmography of Compton's film appearances and is lavishly illustrated with over 80 photographs, many of which are from Compton's own personal collection.

The British 'B' Film


Steve Chibnall - 2009
    This is the first book to provide a thorough examination of the British 'B' movie, from the war years to the 1960s.  The authors draw on archival research, contemporary trade papers and interviews with key 'B' filmmakers to map the 'B' movie phenomenon both as artefact and as industry product, and as a reflection on their times.