Thursday, June 20, 2019

New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (13)


It's that time again when I offer my dear readers a bevvy of bookish delights that are ready to make a dent in your bank account and find a home in your personal library. There are so many good offerings this Fall. I know I say that every time but each new round-up continues to amaze me.

Are you new to my list? Here are the details.

Links are to Goodreads or to Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Powell's. When you use my buy links to purchase and pre-order you help support this site. Thank you!

Books include biographies, memoirs, scholarly texts, coffee table books and more from a variety of publishers. Publication dates range from July to December 2019 (with a few May titles thrown in) and these are subject to change.

A few notes about this list. I've included a few books that are not classic film ones per say but might pique your interest. Also, there are some titles that will publish during the July-December time frame that won't be featured here because they were included in my last round-up. So make sure to check that post for more bookish goodness. If something is missing, feel free to contact me with the details and I'll add it to the list!

Happy reading!



edited by Paul Duncan
Taschen
680 pages – May 2019


by Mary Sheeran
Aquafire Solis
480 pages – May 2019


by David Parkinson
Laurence King Publishing
216 pages – August 2019



Dances in Literature and Cinema
Hannah Durkin
University of Illinois Press
280 pages – August 2019


Now available in paperback
by Marie Benedict
Sourcesbooks Landmark
336 pages – August 2019



50 years of The Italian Job Hardcover
by Matthew Field
Porter Press
176 pages – August 2019


by James D’Arc
Gibbs Smith
320 pages – August 2019




The Women Who Changed the Way We Look
by Tamsin Blanchard
Laurence King Publishing
232 pages – September 2019


Brigitte Bardot: My Life in Fashion
by Henry-Jean Servat and Brigitte Bardot
Flammarion
256 pages – September 2019


Princess in Dior
by Florence Muller and Frederic Mitterrand
foreword by Princes Albert II of Monaco
Rizzoli
152 pages – September 2019


by Steven Rea
Chronicle Books
120 pages – September 2019


Her Life and Career
by Peter Shelley
McFarland
214 pages – September 2019


Inside the Private World of Classic American Moviemaking
by Rocky Lang and Barbara Hall
Foreword by Peter Bogdanovich
Abrams
352 pages – September 2019



The Life and Career of a Reluctant Star Paperback
by Michael D. Rinella
McFarland
245 pages – September 2019




A Biography Including Her 1941 Memoir
by Louise Carley Lewisson
McFarland
175 pages – September 2019


by Melissa J. Hayes
Colin Slater's The Hollywood Photo Archive
Lyons Press
160 pages – September 2019


George Gershwin’s Life in Music
by Richard Crawford
W.W. Norton & Company
560 pages – September 2019




by Allen Glover
Abrams
256 pages – September 2019



A Lot to Remember
by Rebecca Cline
160 pages – September 2019




A Lifetime of Movie Glamour, Art and High Fashion
by Leonard Stanley and Mark A. Vieira
foreword by Robin Adrian
Rizzoli
352 pages – October 2019



The History of Oscar-Winning Women
by Stephen Tapert
Foreword by Roxane Gay
Rutgers University Press
250 pages – October 2019


Stories that Inspired Great Crime Films
edited by Otto Penzler
Vintage Crime/Black Lizard
1200 pages – October 2019


by Sarah Broughton
Parthian Books
180 pages – October 2019




Hope, Heartbreak, and Hollywood Classics
by Sydney Ladensohn Stern
University Press of Mississippi
464 pages – October 2019


A Cat Lover's Introduction to Film Studies
by Daisuke Miyao
University of Hawaii Press
216 pages – October 2019


The Story of Marlon Brando
by William J. Mann
Harper
736 pages – October 2019


Faith Bacon, Sally Rand, and the Golden Age of the Showgirl
by Leslie Zemeckis
Counterpoint
336 pages – October 2019


The Untold Story of the Costellos
by Terry Chester Shulman
University Press of Kentucky
260 pages – October 2019


Cinema and the Preservation of the British Empire
by Tom Rice
University of California Press
360 pages – October 2019



A Revolution in Design
by Tony Nourmand, Graham Marsh, Christopher Frayling
Reel Art Press
288 pages – October 2019




The Director’s Notebook
by Randal Kleiser
Harper Design
208 pages – October 2019


A Memoir of My Hollywood Years
by Julie Andrews with Emma Walton Hamilton
Hachette Books
352 pages – October 2019




A Comprehensive Guide to Duke’s Movies, Quotes, Achievements and More
by the Official John Wayne Magazine
Media Lab Books
336 pages – October 2019



A Life in Letters
edited by Jo Evans and Breixo Viejo
608 pages – September 2019


Cedric Gibbons and the Art of the Golden Age of Hollywood
by Howard Gutner
Lyons Press
288 pages – October 2019



The Essential 1,000 Films to See
edited by Wallace Schroeder
curated by A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis
Universe
1248 pages – October 2019


A Toast to Hollywood
by Cider Mill Press
Cider Mill Press
240 pages – October 2019



The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed the World of Disney and Made Cinematic History
by Nathalia Holt
Little, Brown and Company
400 pages – October 2019



by Simon Brew
Cassell
240 pages – October 2019



A History of the Film Star
by Michael Newton
Reaktion Books
448 pages – October 2019



Sidney Lumet
The Actor’s Director
by Aubrey Malone
McFarland
200 pages – October 2019



by Fred Bronson
Carlton Books
168 pages – October 2019


Rod Serling and the Birth of Television
by Koren Shadmi
Life Drawn
168 pages – October 2019



On Cinema, Women and Changing Times
by Laura Mulvey
Reaktion Books
240 pages – November 2019



50 Years of Looking for America
by Steve Bingen
Lyons Press
240 pages – November 2019


edited by Delia Malia Caparoso Konzett
Rutgers University Press
314 pages – November 2019


My Fifty Years Editing Hollywood Hits
by Paul Hirsch
Chicago Review Press
448 pages – November 2019


Jacques Tati and Comedic Modernism
by Malcom Turvey
Columbia University Press
352 pages – November 2019

(Cover pending!)

9780762495436
The Big Apple on the Big Screen
by Christian Blauvelt
Running Press – Turner Classic Movies
168 pages – November 2019


by Maurizio Baroni
Gingko Press Inc.
352 pages – November 2019


New York Genius
by James Kaplan
Yale University Press
416 pages – November 2019





by John Kobal
introduction by Robert Dance
University Press of Mississippi
496 pages – November 2019


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
by Brent E. Walker
McFarland
671 pages – November 2019




Mike Nichols as Remembered by 103 of His Closest Friends
by Ash Carter and Sam Kashner
Henry Holt and Co
304 pages – November 2019


by Jeanine Basinger
Knopf
656 pages – November 2019


The Unsung Heroes & Villains of the Silver Screen
by Steve Carver and C. Courtney Joyner
Foreword by Roger Corman
Edition Olms
256 pages – November 2019


by Sue Matheson
Rowman & Littlefield
480 pages – December 2019




Race and Labor in Post-Civil Rights Hollywood
by Eithne Quinn
Columbia University Press
288 pages – December 2019


His Life and His Films
Maura Spiegel
St. Martin’s Press
384 pages – December 2019


by Robert B. Pippin
University of Chicago Press
312 pages – December 2019


by Michael Hammond
SUNY Press
320 pages – December 2019
Amazon – Barnes and Noble


IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!


Dynamic Dames
50 Leading Ladies Who Made History
by Sloan De Forest
Foreword by Julie Newmar
TCM and Running Press
248 pages – July 2019



Arthur Penn's Night Moves and the Rise of Neo-Noir 
by Matthew Asprey Gear
Jorvik Press
178 pages – May 2019


New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (1)
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Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Kate Gabrielle on Francois Truffaut



Over on my YouTube channel I posted an interview video with Kate Gabrielle. I met up with Kate in New York City and we sat down to discuss her favorite film director Francois Truffaut. I love how this conversation turned out and Kate had lots of great insights and fun stories to share. If you're a fan of Truffaut films make sure you watch the video! And if you haven't subscribed to the channel yet, please do so! There's lots of great content coming in the future.




If you enjoyed the video, please consider making a contribution to my new Ko-Fi goal. All of the details are on my page. Thanks!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com


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Thursday, May 23, 2019

2019 Summer Reading Challenge



I'm proud to announce this year's summer reading challenge (or winter for our friends who reside in the southern hemisphere)! It's time to dust off those classic film books you've been collecting and to start reading them! I challenge you to read and review up to 6 classic film books this summer.

I've included some of the details below. However, you'll need to visit the official Summer Reading page for all of the information you need, including the book criteria, rules and regulations, the official review link form, embeddable buttons, and more.

Happy reading!

2019 Summer Reading Classic Film Book Challenge

  • Sign up for the challenge (see form below)
  • Read a classic film book (check out the official page to see what qualifies)
  • Post a review on your Blog, Instagram, YouTube channel, podcast, or Goodreads profile.
  • Use hashtag #classicfilmreading when sharing on social
  • Submit your review link (see form on the official page)
  • Repeat until you have read and reviewed 6 books!
  • Review 6 and be automatically entered to win a prize.

You don't have to read all 6 books to participate. It can be 1 or 2 or more. However, if you do read and review 6 books before the deadline you have a chance to win a single disc Warner Archive Collection DVD of your choosing. Number of winners depends on how many people have completed the challenge and what I can afford (I buy these with my own money and am not sponsored by WAC).

The challenge officially starts today May 23rd and ends September 15th, 2019.

Happy reading!

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Monday, May 20, 2019

Classic Movie Tag




Tag. You're it! 

I'm calling all classic movie aficionados to participate in my #ClassicMovieTag. Below are 10 prompts to answer. You can post your responses any time you'd like. This would be a great blog post, YouTube video (like the one I did below), Instagram slideshow, Twitter thread, Facebook post, podcast episode, etc. The sky's the limit. Make sure you use hashtag #ClassicMovieTag and that you give me a credit or shout out in your post!

Classic Movie Tag: The 10 Prompts

  1. What's one classic movie that you recommend to people over and over and over again?
  2. What was the last classic film you saw and what were your thoughts about it?
  3. Name a classic movie genre you love and one you dislike.
  4. Name a classic movie star with whom you share a birthday or a hometown.
  5. Give a shout out to a friend or family member who shares your love of classic movies.
  6. Name a classic movie star who makes your heart skip a beat or whom you admire greatly.
  7. Describe one memorable experience watching a classic movie.
  8. Describe the craziest thing you've done because of your passion for classic movies.
  9. What's something classic movie related that you love to collect?
  10. What's your favorite way to share your passion for classic movies?

I can't wait to see your responses. In the meantime, watch my latest YouTube video where I share the 10 prompts and provide my own answers.


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Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Seven Days in May (1964)


"It was a time of tremendous tension and tremendous fear." - John Frankenheimer

Cold War stories are endlessly fascinating. There is something about the fear of nuclear annihilation and how it alters our perspectives on the future and guides our actions that became the perfect fodder for storytelling. It inspired authors Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey II to write their political thriller Seven Days in May. Published in 1962, the book became a bestseller. Shortly after publication, Kirk Douglas’ Joel Productions and director John Frankenheimer's Seven Arts Production purchased the movie rights in a joint deal. The book was highly criticized by the Pentagon but it had one notable fan: President John F. Kennedy. According to Kirk Douglas’ memoir Kirk and Anne, JFK met Douglas at an event hosted by LBJ and encouraged him to make the film. JFK also gave Frankenheimer his approval to film outside of the White House.


In the not so distant future, U.S. President Lyman (Fredric March)  has signed a peace treaty with the Soviet Union, a move intended to prevent nuclear war, and is dealing with the aftermath of his decision. His approval rating has dropped to 29% and he’s garnered much criticism within the current administration. His biggest critic is General Scott (Burt Lancaster), one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A highly decorated military veteran, Gen. Scott has stirred up the opposition with his patriotic banter and his extreme right-wing politics. His aide Colonel ‘Jiggs’ Casey (Kirk Douglas) doubts his boss’ intentions and discovers a big secret. In seven days, Gen. Scott and the other Joint Chiefs of Staff will stage a military coup to seize the government and overthrow the President. Two of the president’s closest confidantes, his aide Paul Girard (Martin Balsam) and Senator Clark (Edmond O’Brien) are sent to investigate. Jiggs gets some help from Eleanor Holbrook (Ava Gardner), Scott’s ex-lover. She has in her possession letters that will incriminate Scott. Will Jiggs and the President’s team be able to uncover the plot and stop it before the seven days are up?

"The enemy's an age. A nuclear age. It happened to kill man's faith in his ability to influence what happens to him. And out of this comes a sickness, a sickness of frustration, a feeling of impotence, helplessness, weakness. And from this desperation, we look for a champion in red, white and blue. Every now and then, a man on a white horse rides by, and we appoint him to be our personal god for the duration." - President Lyman, played by Fredric March







Seven Days in May (1964) is one of the finest political thrillers ever made. Frankenheimer’s film is beautifully shot and directed. Frederic March, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, among others, deliver stellar performances. I’ve watched this film several times but this recent viewing made me appreciate the pivotal March-Lancaster showdown even more than I had before. Every single second of that scene is powerful. If you’re not already a Fredric March fan, that one scene will make you a convert. Lancaster’s Gen. Scott is so calm that it’s incredibly gratifying seeing March’s President Lyman break him down. The film benefits from Rod Serling's terrific screenplay, a high caliber cast of players, amazing sets, a title sequence by Saul Bass, etc. It’s perfectly paced, brilliantly told and it reflects the real tension felt in America at the time. There is so much attention to detail but also a focus on the story at hand. There is no excess. Everything feels just right. In terms of Cold War movies, I’ll take Seven Days in May (1964) and Fail-Safe (1964) (review) over the more popular Dr. Strangelove (1964) and The Manchurian Candidate (1962) any day.



Seven Days in May (1964) is available on Blu-Ray from the Warner Archive Collection and can be purchased at the WB Shop. When you use my buy links you help support this site. Thank you!

The film has been remastered and is presented in 1080p HD. The Blu-Ray edition is crisp, clear and simply stunning. It includes a great commentary track by director John Frankenheimer who generously offered much information about the making of the film. I learned a whole lot from hearing him discuss various topics including:


  • his experience working with the different actors 
  • his collaboration with JFK
  • his background working for the Pentagon and how that influenced the set design 
  • why he preferred shooting in black-and-white 
  • descriptions of the different shots and angles 
  • how they used European cars so audiences wouldn’t recognize the vehicles and date the film


Warner Archive Wednesday - On (random) Wednesdays, I feature titles from the Warner Archive Collection. Thank you to Warner Archive for sending me copy of Seven Days on May on Blu-Ray (hey that rhymes)!
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Sunday, May 12, 2019

Sylvia Scarlett (1935)


This post is sponsored by DVD Netflix.

"I'll be a boy and rough and hard. I won't care what I do."

Bookkeeper Henry Snow (Edmund Gwenn) is in a terrible jam. To pay off his gambling debts he's been dipping into the company finances. When his coworkers catch wind of Henry's transgressions, he's desperate to escape Marseilles for London in an effort to avoid jail time. It seems risky to take his daughter Syliva (Katharine Hepburn) with him. What if they're caught? Sylvia, who refuses to be left behind, cuts off her long braids, dresses like a man and adopts the name Sylvester Scarlett. While on the boat to England, Sylvester and Henry meet con artist Jimmy 'Monk' Monkley (Cary Grant). Monk has a way about him with his cockney accent and ability to charm anyone out of their hard earned cash. The trio join forces to con well-to-do Londoners. While Monk and Henry are perfectly content to live as criminals, Sylvester wants to earn income the old-fashioned way, through honest work. They meet Maudie (Dennie Moore), the maid to a wealthy family and when Sylvester spoils the plot to steal the household jewels, the four to head to the seashore. It's here that Sylvester meets Michael Fane (Brian Aherne) a curly haired artist who makes Sylvester wish she was Sylvia again. When Michael's girlfriend Lily (Natalie Paley) shows up, Sylvia must decide whether to continue as Sylvester or to transition back to Sylvia to win Michael's affections.

Directed by George Cukor, Sylvia Scarlett (1935) was produced by Pando S. Berman for RKO. The story is based on Compton Mackenzie's novel The Early Life and Adventures of Sylvia Scarlett published in 1918. That story is the sequel to Sinister Street, published in 1914 and offers the origin story of the Michael Fane character. In 1919, Mackenzie followed up Sylvia Scarlett with the novel Sylvia and Michael. Sylvia Scarlett was adapted to the screen by author John Collier and screenwriters Gladys Unger and Mortimer Offner. According to the AFI:

After Collier had completed his draft, Cukor brought in Gladys Unger and Mortimer Offner to tone down the sexual implications of the story and to write a ten-minute prologue and a fifteen-minute ending that would make Sylvia a more sympathetic and comprehensible character.

Sylvia Scarlett was the first of four films pairing Hepburn and Grant. Both actors are well-suited to their parts. Hepburn is perfect as Sylvester/Sylvia and Grant, who was on loan from Paramount, was in his element as the playful con artist. The film was also an auspicious debut for actress Dennie Moore who doesn't get on screen credit but plays a substantial role as Maudie the flighty maid who dreams of being a singer.

The film was not well received both by critics and by audiences. It was a box office failure and lost a significant amount of money. Hepburn later became branded as "box office poison" until her comeback with The Philadelphia Story (1940) which also stars Cary Grant. Sylvia Scarlett was a pet project for both Hepburn and Cukor. They tried but failed to make amends with producer Berman who was disappointed with the final result.



Sylvia Scarlett suffers from a convoluted plot that doesn't hold the viewer's interest or attention. However, I still really enjoyed the film and found that I was willing to deal with the messy storyline to get at all of the subversive goodness. I've always been drawn to stories that explore gender dynamics, sexual politics and identity and in this regard Sylvia Scarlett delivers. Contemporary audiences will be more apt to appreciate the film's exploration of gender identity. It's truly ahead of its time. We're also more likely to cast a discerning eye on the gendered representations of women as weak and emotional and men as tough and carefree and how the film both relies on those stereotypes and attempts to break them down. I'm not one for remakes but Sylvia Scarlett seems like a prime candidate for a 21st century makeover.




Disclaimer: As a DVD Nation director, I earn rewards from DVD Netflix. You can rent Sylvia Scarlett on DVD.com.
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