Movies Books

Walter Mirisch may not be a household name to most of you, but it should be if you love movies like THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN, WEST SIDE STORY, THE GREAT ESCAPE, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, MIDWAY and numerous other classics of 1960's & 70's cinema. Along with his brothers Harold and Marvin, the Mirisch Company was the most prolific producer of hit iconic movies in Hollywood history. Over 100 films, 67 of which were for United Artists alone. They were the definitive independent production company and Walter Mirisch was the definitive independent Hollywood producer.

For anyone vaguely interested in Hollywood history, this is a must-read. From "behind-the-scenes" trivia to the everyday struggles of getting so many great pictures to the screen, Walter gives us a rare and honest insight into working with such iconic talents as Billy Wilder, John Sturges, Norman Jewison, Steve McQueen, Sidney Poitier and so many others. The Mirisch Company thrived in the vacuum left by the declining Hollywood studio system. They were a streamlined, highly efficent, low overhead operation that attracted the biggest directors and stars. From humble poverty-row beginnings at Monogram with "Bomba The Jungle Boy", Walter Mirisch like his brothers learned everything there was to know about the movie business. Unlike today's Hollywood, where it's all about the deal and the bottom line. The Mirisch brothers were the very model of dignity and style. They cared about the quality and it earned them three oscars for best pictures alone. Walter won two honorary Academy Awards, he was a distinguished head of the Academy as well. Always the Hollywood statesman and champion, he has well earned the respect of the industry he has served so well. The next time whether on TV or DVD, you see the Mirisch name during the opening credits of any of his great movies. This book will be like having the man himself sitting right there beside you, answering all those questions as only he can!

As a historian, I wish this book was the first of many from a man I very much admire. But at 87, Walter Mirisch can be forgiven for not having to write a full volume set. What he does write is precious though and sadly to borrow an old Hollywood cliche line -"we shall not see his like again".

This is a really cute book! I bought this because of the illustrator "Yukiko Kido" The illustrations are ADORABLE! Nice little story that is not so scary at all for your emergent reader! My daughter loves this one! I really hope to see more books from Yukiko Kido!!

This book is a hard-to-find but fascinating and lightly-written look at film and its relationship with society. Warshow is elegant and interesting. If there are any publishers listening out there, my suggestion to you is to find this book, buy it, and reprint it

The production values of a famous film auteur are revealed in Robert Emmet Long's book, JAMES IVORY IN CONVERSATION.

Merchant Ivory production secrets are revealed in great detail, with much gossip and in great depth. Long's questions are very knowledgeable, and James Ivory's answers are candid, humorous and often quite pointed. We learn much about his relationship with Anthony Hopkins. We find out such how frightening the Eiffel Tower scene was for the actors in LE DIVORCE. And, we go behind the scenes as Ivory interviews various cast members and finally lands them for roles in his beautiful movies.

His partnership with the late Ismail Merchant is set before us warmly, and his appreciation for India, Paris and Venice are detailed delightfully.

Throughout the interview, Ivory gives the specifics of his many uses for art and artists in his films. The difficulties in working with Picasso's family are well told, and the fabrication of many pieces of art for his films (with permission from the artists, of course) is well explained and fascinating.

Students of film and art will be smiling throughout the book as the settings in so many wonderful films are described with life-like realism.

Reviewed by Larry Rochelle, Author of BOURBON AND BLISS, DEATH AND DEVOTION, THE MEPHISTO DIARY, GULF GHOST and BLUE ICE.

It was an excellent buy!!! It does complement my DVD and CD from the motion picture. I play guitar and it does exactly what I needed to play and sing with.

This book consists of twenty chapters, eighteen of which are devoted to Jesus films available on DVD, beginning chronologically with Zecca and Nonquet's 1905 "The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ" and ending with Gibson's 2004 "The Passion of the Christ."

Each chapter devoted to a film follows the same format: Plot summary, memorable characters, memorable visuals, key Scriptures, cultural location/genre, director, DVD extras and DVD chapters.

The book devotes individual chapters to four films which have not previously been the focus of independent chapters in any book: Zecca and Nonquet's 1905 "The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ," Greene's 1973 "Godspell," Young's 1999 "Jesus," Hayes's 1999 "The Miracle Maker," and Saville's 2003 "The Gospel of John."

The book also includes a thirteen-page, double-column "Gospels Harmony of Jesus Films on DVD," where one can find, for example, what four films include the "Parable of the Good Samaritan" and the precise hour/minute/second the parable can be found in each film.

The book is intended for honors-level high school seniors and college underclassmen, but teachers, pastors, and college professors will find it valuable for research, classroom and church use.

No movie buff should be without this book. The movies were rated by film critics from all over the world Everyone has their favorites.If you watch Turner Movie Classics you will see almost all of these movies." Ashes and Diamonds" was on last night 9/19/06. I note in my book when I first saw the flick.Many of these films I had to go to video shops to get the film.. Each film has the name of the cast,director, photographer and screenplay,production company,country,year produced. A discussion of the merits of the movie...etc.In the back is a listing of all the critics who participated from around the world.John Kobal's own selection differs from the movies that are listed from no. 1 to 100 Citizen Kane is listed as number one.Many of these movies need repeated viewing.The format one to one hundred :poses to the reader what are my favorites?Well I don't agree...Every movie viewer will have their own favorites.Each critic who participated in the vote ,is listed with their own best films in the back of the book.John Kobal a Canadian died shortly after this book was published.

This book, the sequel to McCarty's original "Splatter Movie Guide", covers movies released between 1989 and 1992, plus many older titles overlooked in the first guide. Like the first, it rates movies of the "splatter" genre, mainly horror, sci-fi, and action movies, with lots of blood and guts. The author even goes into detail about how much and what type of blood and guts to expect- whether it's an eyeball poked out, an evisceration or two, or beheadings, he's got it covered. Also included are plot synopses, actors/directors, and basically whether the film is worth your time or not.

McCarty's writing is hilarious, and the book is fun to read even if you're not interested in the movies. His descriptions of the films are hysterical, pee-your-pants funny, so it's both fun to read and a useful guide for gorehounds. For example, his review of "Ministry of Vengeance" begins, "If you can accept the basic premise that 'Dukes of Hazzard's' John Schneider is a Vietnam-vet-turned-Episcopal-priest-turned-bloodthirsrty-revenge-minded vigilante when his wife and daughter are mown down by terrorists in an airport, then you're welcome to this bargain-basement Bronson crap".
As you can see, he tells it like it is. And so do I: buy it!

"Journalism In The Movies" by Matthew C. Ehrlich (Associate Professor of Journalism, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) is a history of how Hollywood movies have depicted American journalism and newspaper reporters, editors and publishers from the beginning of the sound era in motion pictures down to the present day. Professor Ehrlich documents how film makers from script writers to directors have consistently presented journalists as men and women who see through lies and hypocrisy, defend the ordinary people from corruption, conspiracy, and criminality, and serve in the defense of democracy. From 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington', to 'All the President's Men', to 'The Insider', and more, the reader is provided with illustrative examples of films that reflect and shape public opinion with respect to the role of journalist in American society and American life. "Journalism In The Movies" is an important and scholarly addition to academic library Cinema History reference collections, and supplemental reading lists for students and non-academic general readers with an interest in journalism and the movies.

This is a great book written by one of my favorite authors. The story takes you on a ride through all the ups and downs of the Hollywood dream. The characters are really interesting, and I felt very connected to them.

If you have ever see the HBO series Entourage, it's like that times ten. Everyone who has been involved in the making of movies, or wants to be, should read this book.