Wednesday, August 25, 2021

New & Upcoming Classic Film Books (17)


I'm back with another doozy of a list! There are so many great titles especially from some of my favorite publishers like University Press of Kentucky and TCM/Running Press. And lots of reissues of previously out of print books. This is probably my favorite list so far that I've compiled!

Are you new to my list? Here are the details. The books include biographies, memoirs, scholarly texts, coffee table books and more from a variety of publishers. Publication dates range from August to December 2021 and these are subject to change. (The publishing industry is feeling the effects of the current shipping crisis so think of on sale dates as moving targets!).

Links go to Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Powell's (and Larry Edmunds Bookshop if available there). I receive a small commission if you shop through some (not all) of my buy links. 




**Reissue**
by Robert S. Birchard
Foreword by Cecilia DeMille Presley
University Press of Kentucky
494 pages — July 2021




**Reissue**
Marilyn & Me
by Lawrence Schiller
Taschen
200 pages – August 2021




Classical Hollywood Revisited
edited by Philippa Gates and Katherine Spring
Wayne State University Press
356 pages – August 2021




Darryl F. Zanuck and the Creation of the Modern Film Studio
by Scott Eyman
TCM and Running Press
304 pages – September 2021




50th Anniversary Edition with the Complete Screenplay, Commentary on Every Scene, Interviews, and Little-Known Facts 
by Jenny M. Jones
Foreword by Francis Ford Coppola
Black Dog and Leventhal
272 pages – September 2021




Dancing on the Edge
by Joseph McBride
Columbia University Press
680 pages – September 2021




by Jennifer Porst
Rutgers University Press
250 pages – September 2021




**Reissue**
Portrait of a Studio
edited by Bernard F. Dick
University Press of Kentucky
298 pages – October 2021




Herman and Joe Mankiewicz: A Dual Portrait
by Nick Davis
Knopf
384 pages – September 2021




**Reissue**
The Death of Paramount Pictures and the Birth of Corporate Hollywood
by Bernard F. Dick
University Press of Kentucky
280 pages — September 2021 




Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman 
Sam Wasson
Harper Perennial
288 pages – September 2021




A Memoir
by Hayley Mills
Grand Central Publishing
394 pages – September 2021




The Holocaust and the Courtroom in American Fictive Film
by James Jordan
Vallentine Mitchell
254 pages – September 2021




The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula
by Koren Shadmi
Humanoids, Inc.
160 pages – September 2021




by Phil Rosenzweig
Empire State Editions
314 pages – September 2021




My Dad and Me
by Karen Knotts with Betty Lynn
Chicago Review Press
288 pages – September 2021




A Legacy of Horror
by Michael Mallory and Jason Blum
Universe
268 pages – September 2021




Audrey Hepburn
by Robert Matzen
Foreword by Luca Dotti
GoodKnight Books
368 pages – September 2021




**Reissue**
The Legacy of Victorianism
by Paula Marantz Cohen
University Press of Kentucky
216 pages — October 2021




A Memoir of Hollywood and Family
by Ron Howard and Clint Howard
William Morrow
416 pages – October 2021




One Hundred Years of Black Films in a White World 
by Wil Haygood
Knopf
464 pages – October 2021




**Reissue**
A Biography
by Donald Bogle
Amistad
752 pages — October 2021




BFI Film Classics
by J. Hoberman
Bloomsbury Academic
104 pages – October 2021







New York City and the Movies that Made It
by Jason Bailey
Abrams
 352 pages — October 2021




110 Years of Western Movie Posters, 1911-2020 
by Mark Fertig
Fantagraphics
340 pages – October 2021




**Reissue**
BFI Film Classics
by Pam Cook
Bloomsbury Academic
104 pages – October 2021




The Complete James Bond Dictionary
by Nigel Cawthorne
Gibson Square 
480 pages – October 2021




The Life and Films
by Gavin Schmitt
McFarland
October 2021 — 174 pages




The Making of the Conqueror
by Ryan Uytdewilligen
Lyons Press
264 pages – October 2021




One Family's Century of Adventures in the Movie Business 
by Jonathan Kay and Charles Moss Jr.
Sutherland House
380 pages – October 2021




**Reissue**
Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures
edited by Bernard F. Dick
University Press of Kentucky
242 pages – October 2021




Movie Theaters
by Yves Marchand, Romaine Meffre, Ross Melnick
Prestel
304 pages – October 2021




by Michel Chion
Columbia University Press
416 pages – October 2021




296 Must-See Shows That Changed the Way We Watch TV
by the Editors of Rotten Tomatoes
Running Press Adult
224 pages – October 2021




My Unlikely Road to Hollywood
by Leonard Maltin
GoodKnight Books
40  pages – October 2021




A History of the Classic American Film Noir
by Andrew Dickos
University Press of Kentucky
330 pages – October 2021




American Film in the 1950s 
by Robert P. Kolker
Rutgers University Press
232 pages – October 2021




BFI Film Classics
by David Weir
Bloomsbury Academic
112 pages – October 2021




Turner Classic Movies Ultimate Movie Trivia Challenge
400+ Questions to Test Your Knowledge
by Frank Miller
TCM and Running Press
105 pages – October 2021




My Remarkable Life in Show Business 
by Mel Brooks
Ballantine Books
400 pages – November 2021




**Reissue**
by Myrna Loy
Dean Street Press
310 pages – November 2021




by Julia A. Stern
University of Chicago Press
256 pages – November 2021 




The French Lover
by John Baxter
University Press of Kentucky
298 pages – November 2021 




**Reissue**
The Making and Remaking of Universal Pictures
by Bernard F. Dick
University Press of Kentucky
pages – November 2021 




The Art and Impact of Cinema’s Most influential Filmmakers
by Sloan De Forest
foreword by Peter Bogdanovich and Jacqueline Stewart
TCM and Running Press
344 pages – November 2021




The Life and Career of David Tomlinson
by Nathan Morley
The History Press
256 pages – November 2021




The Singer as Actor and Filmmaker
by James L. Neibaur and Gary Schneeberger
McFarland
200 pages – November 2021





The Movies, Stars, and Stories of World War II
by Christian Blauvelt
Foreword by Dr. Robert M. Citino
TCM and Running Press
240 pages – November 2021




The Ultimate John Wayne Quote Book
by Mark Orwoll
St. Martin’s Griffin
304 pages – November 2021




**Reissue**
by Lana Turner
Dean Street Press
252 pages – November 2021




My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood
by Lana Wood
Del Street Books
272 pages – November 2021




**Reissue**
BFI Film Classics
by Ian Christie
Bloomsbury Academic
112 pages – November 2021




The History of Cinema from the Origins to the Present 
by Richard Dacre
White Star Publishers
240 pages – November 2021 



**Reissue**
A Life
by Gavin Lambert
University Press of Kentucky
384 pages – November 2021 




**Reissue**
A Biography
by Gavin Lambert
University Press of Kentucky
420 pages – November 2021 




The Complete History
by Sean Egan
Applause Books
264 pages – November 2021




How Garbo Conquered Hollywood
by Robert Dance
University Press of Mississippi
288 pages – November 2021




John W. Bubbles, An American Classic
by Brian Harker
Oxford University Press
320 pages – November 2021




From Emmanuelle to Chabrol
by Jeremy Richey with Sylvia Kristel
edited by Nico B.
Cult Epics
352 pages – November 2021




The Life and Words of James Coburn
by Robyn L. Coburn
Potomac Books
432 pages – December 2021




Her Life, Her Films
by Robert Gottlieb
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
464 pages – December 2021




The Beauty of Hedy Lamarr
by Stephen Michael Shearer
Lyons Press
328 pages – December 2021




Movies of the 60s
edited by Jürgen Müller
TASCHEN
736 pages – December 2021




Movies of the 70s
edited by Jürgen Müller
TASCHEN
736 pages – December 2021




Conversations with Filmmakers Series
edited by Gary Bettinson
University Press of Mississippi
240 pages – December 2021





**Reissue**
The Life and Times of a Hollywood Screenwriter
by Ian Scott
University Press of Kentucky
304 pages — December 2021





One Dime at a Time
by Susan Delson
Indiana University Press
418 pages – December 2021




The Temptation of Identity
by Andrea Cavalletti
Fordham University Press
224 pages – December 2021


Do any of these titles pique your interest? Let me know in the comment section. 

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Sunday, August 22, 2021

2021 Summer Reading Challenge: Second Round-Up



WOW! This is by far the biggest review round-up yet! The Summer Reading Challenge participants have been busy reading some great books and sharing their thoughts about them online. And yes I read every single review. I've been loving the range of books chosen and review styles. I encourage you to do the same and dive into these excellent classic film book reviews. Perhaps you'll discover your next read!

Congrats to Andy, Angela, Breanna and Nathan for finishing the challenge. Woodson also finished the challenge by the first round-up. A few participants are only 1 or 2 books away from completing. Keep up the good work!

If for any reason your review is missing, please make sure you submitted it on the form on the official challenge page. Otherwise it won't count for the challenge! 

Happy Reading!


Andy of Journeys in Darkness and Light

"The differences between Towne’s original script and the filmed ending of Chinatown are legendary for a reason, and the story related in The Big Goodbye might just break your heart."


"Woolrich’s novel depends largely upon unlikely situations, coincidences, and often flat-out hard-to-swallow plot points, yet those elements do not necessarily keep the novel from losing its status as a page-turner."

Phantom Lady by Cornell Woolrich 


Photo Source: Angela of The Hollywood Revue




"Considering how incredibly influential 42nd Street has been both as a movie and a Broadway show, it’s a little surprising that the book has essentially become a footnote in its own history. But now that it’s back in print, I really hope more people will discover it."

42nd Street by Bradford Ropes 

"With The Divorcee being one of the most essential of all pre-Codes, I thought this was going to be a situation where the book was even more scandalous than the movie. And in many ways, it is. But in the end, I feel like this is a rare case where the 1930s Hollywood version of the story actually feels more modern by today's standards."

Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrot

"if you’re A Free Soul superfan and love the characters so much that you want to spend more time with them and get to know them more in depth, then it may be worth tracking down a copy of the book."

A Free Soul by Adela Rogers St. Johns

"The changes in pacing for the movie make the movie version my preferred version of the story, but when the book is at its best, it’s excellent and it’s easy to understand why it remains such an influential story..."

Grand Hotel by Vicki Baum 

"It’s easy to forget that you’re reading something that was first published 90 years ago."

Red-Headed Woman by Katharine Brush'

"If you’re a fan of vintage career girl stories along the lines of The Best of Everything, you’d probably enjoy Wife vs. Secretary."

Wife vs. Secretary by Faith Baldwin



"I was impressed with how this book was both accessible for newcomers to classic film and this particular genre but still entertaining and stimulating for readers more familiar with these movies."


"It has incredible potential for researchers of a particular era or film that falls in that period, providing a rich collection of information and moviegoing trends."



"where this book does excel, is in exposing Sanders’ thoughts and life philosophy."


"A Twist of Lemmon is exactly the type of book I love to read about a celebrity I respect."


"It’s interesting to learn how much more welcoming early Hollywood was to women in the ranks of production than it seems to be even now. There was a lot more freedom and collaboration as a whole and not just among the women." 




"Garcia’s book is a useful point of entry for those keen to learn more about musicals, and it also dismantles some of the prevailing myths about the genre." 

Quick Takes: The Movie Musical by Desirée J. Garcia


Chuck on Twitter

"a compelling and thought provoking analysis of the film and its key figures for its success. The book is worth checking out for any fan of film history."


"Many of the pieces were written when Bogdanovich was one of the hottest directors in Hollywood so it is interesting to read his perspective and the influences on himself as a filmmaker."


"The book is definitely for hard core fans of the film and Hitchcock in general. Being a big fan of "Shadow of a Doubt" myself, I enjoyed taking this deep dive into the psychology of the film."

Shadow of a Doubt by Diane Negra



Photo Source: Jess of Box Office Poisons





"In reading this biography, it became very apparent that, for as much as he wanted to be a big star, he was also super shy, restrained, and not willing to rock (heh) the boat in his quest to get there."


"After reading this biography of Natalie Wood, all I have to say is: what a life, and what a tragedy."




Photo Source: Comet Over Hollywood




"while the movie is fun and charming, the book is frankly vile."

Where the Boys Are by Glendon Swarthout 


John on Goodreads

"It is by no means a "tell-all" tale, nor does it detail the often bleak and seamy side of a Hollywood family during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Instead it is an almost storybook slice of Americana..."



Kara on Goodreads

"Eyman does a good job demonstrating that Cary Grant was essentially a bundle of contradictions. He offers countless anecdotes that show the dueling sides of Grant’s personality."


"I LOVED this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves classic Hollywood movies!"


"1930s romantic comedies often feel as light as air; I found Harvey’s writing to be extremely dense."





"The first question anyone is likely to ask is: "Do I need the new edition if I own the original?"

The answer is a resounding "Yes!"



"SUMMER MOVIES strikes a good balance between appealing to newer and established film fans."





"I became even more entranced with Judy Holliday the person after reading this book."


"This book is not only great to read, but also very aesthetically pleasing. I love how some pages are designed to look like classic film fan magazines!"


"Reading this book you can really tell Isenberg did his research and I commend him for that. The care for each detail is noticed throughout the book and gives the story great credibility."



Nathan on Twitter

"Each angle showed a perspective of the man and his flaws. It certainly could have explored more, but maybe it's that suspense that has us wanting answers. And that feels very Hitch."


"The truth is laid out and redefines a legacy, a remembrance of a man who just wanted to be loved and show that to everyone he met."




"As someone fascinated by old Hollywood and familiar with many, if not most, of the names of that era, this was a very enjoyable read."


"I still very much enjoyed reading the source material for one of my all-time favorite films."

Ladies in Retirement by Edward Percy and Reginald Denham

"an interesting, well-written, well-researched biography about a previously neglected person in the history of the Golden Age of Hollywood."







"Eddie Muller does a fantastic job of immersing the reader into the world of film noir from all the fascinating information, context galore and stylish language that puts you right into the heart of Dark City."


"The author has a way with words that makes this book a delight to read and the design of the book is just absolutely stunning. It's a compact size which makes it the perfect book to pop into your summer tote bag and bring with you to the beach."




 



"he writes from a novel point of view and puts himself in like a character."

Conversations With Brando by Lawrence Grobel

"it is, like all of Larry's books, a page-turner."


"A must read not only for film buffs but also filmmakers..."

Shadows By Ray Carney



Photo Source: Robby on Instagram



"It is a very thorough and detailed biography to a fault... But at a certain point it goes overboard and the subject of Barbara gets lost in the extraneous detail."


"If you’re looking for a traditional bio on Ray, this is not the book for you. This is his daughter’s story which does provide insight into Ray, but also covers her greater family’s troubled history."




Sarah on Goodreads

"What I did love: I learned a lot about both Elizabeth and Monty that I didn't previously know- their childhoods, early careers, relationships and more... What I didn't love: The gossipy feel of the book."


"I found myself hearing his voice as I read this- it really felt like a sit-down conversation with a friend."

The Garner Files by James Garner and Jon Winokur



"The most fascinating part of the book was the author’s detailed descriptions of the six major state censorship boards."


"fascinating look at a subject largely forgotten by history is a must-read for silent film fanatics and anyone in love with the films from the 1930s."

The Last Silent Picture Show by William H. Drew 

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Friday, August 20, 2021

TCM: Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir by Eddie Muller

Dark City
The Lost World of Film Noir
Revised and Expanded Edition
by Eddie Muller
TCM and Running Press
July 2021
Hardcover ISBN: 9780762498970
272 pages



Published in 1998, Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir put Eddie Muller on the map. What would soon became a best seller and one of the definitive books about the genre, opened many doors for Muller. He programmed noir screenings for film festivals, started the Film Noir Foundation, an organization dedicated to the preservation of film noir, and eventually became the host of Noir Alley on Turner Classic Movies. The book that started it all is now back in print in a beautifully designed, revised and expanded edition.

"Film noirs were distress flares launched into America's movie screens by artists working the night shift at the Dream Factory." — Eddie Muller

In telling the story of film noir, Eddie Muller imagines all of the stories, their literary origins, the subsequent films, the players involved and the era in which they were born, as a single place: Dark City. Muller traces the origins of different film noir tropes and themes, giving each its own Dark City address. Each chapter is a stop at a different address where the reader learns about a particular theme and how it was used in film noir. Sprinkled throughout are mini biographies that provide crucial background information as well as context. Everything flows together with seamless transitions and Muller's special brand of noir infused language.

The addresses in Dark City include:

Sinister Heights — Corruption
The Precinct — Crime and Punishment
Hate Street — Murder
The City Desk — News and Reporters
Shamus Flats — Private Eyes
Vixenville — Femme Fatales
Blind Alley — Mysteries
The Psych Ward — Mental Illness
Knockville Square — Heists
Loser's Lane — Deranged Men
The Big House — Prison Dramas
Thieves' Highway — Criminals on the Run
The Stage Door — The last days of Film Noir




Interspersed throughout the book are inserts with expanded biographies which are mostly about movie stars with a few exceptions. Each appears where it makes most sense in context of the discussion happening at that point in the book. These are fantastic biographies that range from 1-4 pages and offer more than the mini biographies that appear in the body of text.

Subjects include: John Garfield, Gloria Grahame, Joan Crawford, Ben Hecht, Robert Mitchum, Belita, Joan Harrison, Robert Ryan, Sterling Hayden, Barbara Payton, Ida Lupino, Tom Neal, Desert Fury (1947) and Steve Cochran.




This new edition includes additional chapters, restored photographs and a new layout. Kudos to the team who worked on the design of this book. The pages are beautifully laid out. Whenever an insert appears it's at a natural point in the text where you don't have to stop mid paragraph in order to read another section. That's very difficult to do but worth it for a better reading experience.

Eddie Muller does a fantastic job of immersing the reader into the world of film noir from all the fascinating information, context galore and stylish language that puts you right into the heart of Dark City. 


Here are some of my favorite lines from the book: 

"[Orson Welles] changed the grammar of motion picture storytelling and set the cinematic syntax for film noir: the quest for truth in morally ambiguous terrain, the cynical take on the corrupting influence of power, the off-kilter visual style."

"Power-mad women are smart enough not to bloody their own hands. That's what men are for." 

"In Dark City, psychiatrists are as corrupt as gangsters, misusing their power over mind to dominate the hapless and disturbed."

"The blurring of moral distinctions was part and parcel of noir."

"In the wake of the studios' Communist purge, social criticism was out. Films could no longer suggest that people did bad things due to economic pressure."


My only minor quibble is with the use of some words to describe female characters. However, we're dealing with some nefarious characters in many of these stories so the usage is not completely out of context. The book itself is quite large which makes it perfect for flipping through to look at photographs but not as easy for someone, like me, who read the book cover to cover. It made me want to invest in an ergonomic book stand!




Dark City by Eddie Muller is evocative of a long gone era of filmmaking that still captivates film lovers today. It effectively transports readers into the world of film noir with its fine use language, images, context and information. A must have for film noir fans.


Thank you to Running Press for sending me a copy of Dark City for review.




This is my third review for the Summer Reading Challenge.


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