Movies Books

This is a fascinating look at a long-gone time. Mr. Blake's book not only gives the reader great insight into the artistry and work of Lon Chaney, it is a peak into the past, of the days of silent film.

Beyond the other rave reviews for this book relative to the artist, what made this book all the more valuable to me was Mr. Blake's description on movie-making at the turn of the 20th century. We can hear, feel and almost smell the greasepaint of that time, the hard work, the ramshackle artistry of these cinema pioneers.

This is one of the best books on early film, and a credit to the magic of Lon Chaney.

Before reading this book, I knew almost nothing of Lon Chaney except his reputation as a horror actor. I was amazed to discover exactly how misleading that title actually was. Blake's work introduced a genius at makeup and pantomime who was capable of playing any role convincingly. Through it, I gained a respect for a great but seldom-discussed actor.

This is one sequel that is worth waiting for! Armed with new information from the files of Lon Chaney's former business manager, Blake has written a worthy follow-up to his first book on the famous actor. This time, Blake covers Chaney's performances and the making of many of his films in the reader-friendly tone he established in his first book. Blake has broken new ground in film history, revealing that it was Chaney's idea to make "Hunchback of Notre Dame", NOT Universal's studio head, Irving Thalberg!! It is just amazing what new nuggets of information Blake dug up, including lengthy interviews with probably the only surviving crew memeber from Chaney's MGM days and a nurse who attended him during his last trip to New York where he sought a cure of his cancer. He also debunks the myth that Chaney would have played the title role in "Dracula". It is heavily illustrated with many super rare photos. This book is just as good, if not better, than Blake's first effort. Both are a MUST if you're an admirer of Lon Chaney.

Michael F. Blake's second book on Lon Chaney, A Thousand Faces: Lon Chaney's Unique Artistry in Motion Pictures, is a worthy and much-welcome companion volume to the author's first book: Lon Chaney: The Man Behind The Thousand Faces. This book serves a two-fold purpose: First, Blake reveals a lot of new information he uncovered about the actor's life and films since his first book. Second, this time around biography takes a backseat to a detailed look at the films themselves (although there is still plenty to be learned of Chaney's life).

Being THE acknowledged Chaney authority and having acted himself at an early age, Blake is able to provide a knowledgeable and well-balanced analysis/commentary of Chaney's films (at least those that are not "lost"). While certainly the biggest fan of Lon Chaney, Blake maintains the needed objectively to fairly critique each film and performance. As with his first book, a big highlight here is the wealth of rare photos presented (including Lon both in and out of make-up), as is the always fascinating information on how Chaney, a make-up master, created those amazing characters. Blake is to be lauded for his vast efforts in keeping alive the legacy of one of the greatest talents of the silent era. Thanks to author Blake, all the many fans of Lon Chaney can be assured that Chaney's many talents and contributions to the world of film (and film make-up!) will never be forgotten.

I could not resist buying this book after seeing the fine film made from it. The book stands perfectly well on its own, but I found it extremely interesting to contemplate how writers converted it to the screen. The events and characters in the book are almost all the same as in the film, but the movie presents scenes in a different order and significantly revises the prominence/roles of various characters.

I wish I had seen the process, which must have involved scores of 3x5 cards showing major scenes from the book, all rearranged and rearranged again to finally arrive at a linear progression for the movie... one just as good as, but totally different from, the book.

It's worth paying a little extra to obtain this rare volume, just to read the original story. What a bunch of sleazy people these characters were!

Better than the Movie an action filled story of LA undercover cops running a drug bust. Proably the best of Petievich's books. His knowledge of law enforcement makes this a real page turner.

To Live and Die in LA is Gerald Petievich's best book by far. A treasury agent "Richard Chance" that will not stop at nothing to catch a top notch "funny money maker", "Rick Masters" Chance's partner agent "John Vukovich" (probobly a personality likeness of Petievich, in my opinion)who comes from a family of police officers torn between backing up his out of control partner and listening to his mentor Veteran Agent "Jim Hart". If you have alreay seen the movie and liked it a lot be sure to have an open mind if you decide to read the book...totally different. Example, in the movie Richard Chance and Jim Hart are best of friends...well in the book they are each others foe.

I have to give credit to the movie. It was very entertaining and unlike anthing else made back in 1985 when I first saw it. The ensamble of cast like Bill Petersen, John Turturro, Dean Stockwell and one of my personal favorites, WILLEM DAFOE (Spiderman 2002). - Read the book. It still one of the best reads. I still have my original paperback which I bought when I was in high school dreaming of becoming a T-Man.

This novel became an equally excellent movie directed by William Friedkin (The Exorcist), who then went on to direct an absolute LOSER of a movie entitled PYTHON WOLF. Where has Friedkin been since? This is unknown. . . Gerald Petievich is a former US Treasury agent who has worked the streets and managed to install his brother into not only TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A., but the movie SHAKEDOWN as well (which included Dennis Hopper and Viggo Mortensen). -- The bar scene in TO LIVE AND DIE IN L.A. -- : "Hey, Petievich, get over here!" delivered by William Peterson. Petievich has walked the walk and admirably knows how to talk the talk. His dialogue is some of the finest written, easily on a par with that of Elmore Leonard. His plotting and exposition is terse and spare. There is no overabundance of words. He has not, to my knowledge, written a book since 1991's PARAMOUR. This in itself is a crime. Petievich knows about plot, about characterization, and how to make it all work in a minimal number of words and sentences. GODDAMMIT, PETIEVICH, WHERE ARE YOU?!

I thought that this book is a must-have for any Party of Five fan. It tells the true problems that the Salingers go throgh. One thing that I did not enjoy about this book, was that, they say the word 'cool' way too much! I know that is not that big of a deal, but it really started getting on my nerves by the 2nd chapter. I read this book during the summer well Po5 is not on. I am very glad that I read this book. I recommend it if you like the word 'cool'! ~thanks~

I think that this book was great! I read it over the summer so I didn't put it down much. When I put it down it was a "Waht will happen next?" question. I read it again and again and loved it! It's a really good book to me.

I thought it was okay. It was Claudia's point-of-view. Which I think is good, because it shows what problems and messes other teenagers get into. Maybe if an adult read this they would understand us. It flows with the story, and it's not hard to read. It defines all characters nicely.

I bought this book today, and finished it today. I could not put it down. It's a Terrific book! If you love Party of five, I highly recommend this book. It is told from Caludia's point of veiw which is awesome. I love this book! I'm going to read it again tonight. Hey maybe I'll finish it tonight. I very highly recommend this book. If you get it, you won't regret it!

"The marriage -- if you will -- between television and the wedding ceremony has been a long and happy union," the press material for this book begins. Published in June 1999 by HarperCollins' fairly prolific TVBooks imprint, this fun guide holds its biggest value in its black-and-white photos -- there are a lot of them. Most of them are full-page shots. The book is arranged by decade and delves into the more-political motivations for some of the TV weddings it highlights: ratings gimmick, narrative device, show revival, new plot direction, etc. An airdate is given for each wedding, as well as a thorough "back story."

After reading this book, I was reminded how happy I am to be one the countless thousands whose parents let them watch more TV than was good for them.

TV Weddings is a hilarious look back at the tv weddings of the past few decades; I really enjoyed it. I have given the book to many of my popular culture obsessed family & friends. It's a great gift & a great read.

This book reviews the many weddings that have occured between main characters on all of your favorite TV shows. The author does an excellent job of recreating the episodes and the fun of the TV weddings. It's a great look back at some TV classics, bringing up a ton of memories (I had forgotten how funny 99's wedding headdress was!).

I love Ugly Betty and wanted the book. It is written like a magazine released by Mode Magazine. I love the book but with it had dealt with more biographical information on the stars as well as a better background of the characters.

I purchased this for my granddaughter, Gabrielle, who is 11 years old.

She loves the Ugly Betty TV program and I sent her this book while she is in camp for the summer.

Gabrielle tells me that she is so thankful that I sent her this book as a present. She shares the book with her bunkmates, too.

If you love Ugly Betty, you must have Ugly Betty: The Book!

If watching and discussing the episodes over and over again is never enough, this GORGEOUS boxed volume will take you to a new level of Betty-Bliss that you've never before experienced.

You'll be taken behind the scenes to find out everything you ever wanted to know about Betty's clothes, her house, her shoes, her co-workers,her wonderful glasses, the goings-on at Mode and much, much more.

Betty fans, you'll feel like you've jumped through the TV screen and got up-close-and-personal with all the characters, both good and evil! (But, of course, sometimes evil can be just soooo good!)

So, why are you wasting time reading this review when you could be reading the book? You know you've got to have it!

After watching the first half of the first season, I was kind of hooked on this show. I have to admit that I bought this book rather impulsively, but was not disappointed. On the contrary, I was surprised at how much data there is in this book.

The book is laid out like a fashion magazine. It is soft covered, but in a hard case.

The content really reminded me of a package of extras that you would get when you ordered a DVD, but at levels much higher than you could get on a DVD. There are tons and tons of photos, bios of the entire cast, comments by the cast about the show and their personal information (of both themselves and the characters that they play on the show).

As someone who has not seen the entire first season, there are some spoilers that you may not want to read until you have watched the second season. But, still, that is nothing too bad. I was happy to note some of the characters that I haven't seen yet in the show.

The price considering the quality of the book and the information, including photos, is a bargain.

I love days of our lives its grart and IF you would Email me if you get iny yousd daysbooks

I'm an online Editor for Bella Online...and I can tell you that this book is a MUST HAVE! Now this book is a remarkable tool in testing your TRUE DOOL fan knowledge! Here is your chance to prove your loyalty to DAYS. This very informative book filled with articles, trivia, and pictures, from past and present DAYS questions with answers. Have yourself a DAYS celebration, invite your DAYS FRIENDS and play some trivia RIGHT from this book! Find out how many of your friends are TRUE DAYS fans or just 'CLAIM' to be. ENJOY! =o)

A must have for any Days of our Lives fan - you'll enjoy it! The trivia questions are fun to do with other Days fans also.

I purchased this book for my mom who is a huge 'Days' fan and she loved it! I think this is a great gift idea for avid soap watchers.

I bought this calendar at the same time I bought the dvd seasons 1 & 2, the calendar is Great, the one downer on it that took a star away would be the dates on the calender. They are tiny numbers on a dark orange backround, which kinda defeats the purpose of a calendar when you have to get close to make the date out. LOL other than that, the art is awesome and so is the rest of it. =0D

This calendar will help any Venture Bros. fan have a fantastic year. Each month has one of twelve large pictures taken from a dramatic scene during Season 2. The pictures continue into fun side art next to the days of the calendar. My favorite month is March with Dean trying to put out the fire on Hank's crotch in the bathroom of a restaurant.

Jan - "Escape to the House of Mummies pt 2" Hank riding wall spikes
Feb - "Victor. Echo. November" Phantom Limb and Monarch on a double date (sort of)
Mar - "Victor. Echo. November" Hank's crotch on fire
April - "Twenty Years to Midnight" Grand Galactic Inquisitor
May - "Fallen Arches" Dr. O with flaming hands
June - "Fallen Arches" Dr. Venture watches Brock struggle with the Walkin Eyeball Robot outside.
July - "I Know Why the Caged Bird Kills" Scenic view of Dr. Girlfriend
Aug - "Twenty Years to Midnight" Prof. Impossible vs the whole gang
Sept - "Showdown at Cremation Creek" The Monarch's henchmen fly into action
Oct - Unknown Episode. Dr. Venture attacks the boys
Nov - "Hate Floats" The Monarch, Dr. Venture, and Henchmen prepare for battle
Dec - Unknown Episode. Brock yells while carrying unconscious Hank

such a wonderful calendar.. not much else can be said about it.. its friggin beautiful.. get it.. get two and keep one in the package on a shelf where kids cant touch it..

For whatever reason, there is a dearth of Venture Bros. merchandise, so I'm happy to see the calendar. It's also nice to have something useful and something that the adult fans can enjoy.

The calendar features scenes from the show in vivid, saturated colors. There is one page for the rest of 2007, and the standard holidays, full moon, etc. are present. Despite the actual calendar pages being yellow, orange, and red with the skull logo and a character on each month, the calendar is easy to read. I like it much better than the usual bland white calendar pages.

This is will make a great gift for any Venture Bros. fan.

This is easliy one of the best books I have ever read. It is full to the brim with heart-stopping action. As you read this book, you will feel like you are on K2, watching it all happen. Scenes of death, the fight for survival, and even a few funny, will play through your head. I suggest this book to people ages 11+. I think this book is too in depth for anyone younger. Overall, this is an awesome book, and you should definitely read it.

This story is about a family that likes to climb moutains. The main charecters are Annie and Peter Garret and their father. They are out climing in Utah in the moutains. There are two amatures that are falling down the moutain and crached on the ground laying there motionless. This made the Garret family move quickly and slipe to the side of the moutain. The rope could not hold that much weight so the father made his son, Peter, cut the rope to save him and his sister's life. His sister blamed him for the death of their father's death. This was the best action book that I have ever read. If you like action books this is a book for you to read.

Peter and Annie Garret are climbing a mountain in Utah with their father. Suddenly, two amateurs come falling onto them, and sent them dangling in midair, hanging by a few cams. The two amateurs eventually falling onto the desert ground hundreds of feet below, laying motionless. Then, the father asked Peter to cut the end of the rope, from which he was holding being held. Peter eventually did, to save his sister and himself. This opening is only the beginning of this exciting and suspenseful story. People who like action will definitely enjoy this story which also teaches the reader some aspects about mountain climbing.

Three years later, Annie is climbing K2 of the Himalayas in Pakistan. She is caught in a storm with her boyfriend who turns out to be evil and selfish. Peter, who hasn't climbed since the Utah incident, sets out to save his sister.

The Garrett family climbs mountains chosen by the patriarch Royce who treats his two adult children (Annie and Peter) as if they are still teens. However, In Monument Valley, Utah, two amateurs drop into a freefall with their pack knocking Royce and Peter off the side of the mountain. Only the Garrett?s last belay with Annie still clinging to the side keeps all four men alive. However, the weight of gravity takes it toll and the two amateurs crash to earth. Royce makes Peter cut the rope, which leads to the former dying, but saves the lives of his two children.

Three years later, Peter and Annie remain haunted by the tragedy. Peter, already an accomplished photographer when the accident occurred, turns completely to nature shots to hide from his pain. Annie blames Peter for their father?s death and continues Royce?s dream of climbing the world?s toughest peaks in search of solace. However, this time on K2 something goes wrong and Annie faces certain death if Peter, who has not touched a mountain since Utah, fails to rescue her.

VERTICAL LIMIT is an adaptation of the movie. As with the picture, the story line is incredibly exciting and filled with nonstop action. Readers will feel the pain suffered by the siblings, who never found closure with the death of their beloved father. Mel Odom does a great job of bringing a powerfully scenic movie onto the printed page so that those readers who enjoy a heart-pumping thriller will climb K2 along side the lead cast.

Harriet Klausner

Sleeping Beauty was, of course a good movie for those Disney fans who love the great artist's works. The three good fairies, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather offered a single gift to the newborn princess. But the evil Maleficent crashed the party and cursed Aurora by pricking her finger to the venomous spindle of a spinning wheel and die at her 16th birthday. As a Disney fan, I'm considering that this beautiful young princess will be saved at last by the third of the fairy trio, Merryweather, who had given to her this almost tiny gift: When Aurora pricks her finger into evil witch Maleficent's spinning wheel, she cannot die. Instead of death, the princess will sleeping into a deep slumber until a charming prince wake her with the true love's kiss. So Maleficent turns herself into an evil black fire-breathing dragon to stop Prince Phillip to rescue sleeping Aurora. But the good fairies combine their magic to the mighty Sword of Truth, chanting "Now, Sword of Truth, fly swift and sure. That evil die and good endure!", and the prince throw his magic sword straight as an arrow into the dragon's heart. I'm sure that's a nice movie and I strongly recommend it to all the children beginning from 5 to 12 years old.

This book is a real treasure. Based on Walt Disney's widescreen animated fairytale epic "Sleeping Beauty," this is a nostalgic exact reprint of the storybook created for the film in 1959. It is illustrated with original artwork created especially for storybooks. It is a shame that more people have not discovered this wonderful book. It's one of those books that you can read to your children at bedtime and they can be captivated by the illustrations. It is one of those books that you keep in your bookcase after the children have gown up and you can pull it out from time to time and just reminisce.

This is a beautiful book. It is reminiscent of the images and style of children's books published at the time when Disney originally released SLEEPING BEAUTY. This is a real tribute and a cherished edition to have from one of Disney's best and often overlooked fairy tale classics. It has a real place in my heart.

This is a beautiful book. With Amazon not carrying a picture of it, I was a little afraid to order it, fearing what I might get. I am so pleased with it. The illustrations are very stylized, very 1950's era. The colors are brilliant, even to the endpaper. I love the angles of the characters' faces and shoulders. To get a general idea what the book looks like, check out "Walt Disney's Classic Storybook" and imagine a ten times more beautiful version. Enjoy!

This is a fascinating book! It tells at least three stories simultaneously: the birth pangs of television; American cultural and political history in the 1950s; and the relationship between Jack Gould and both his employers and his media. There's an excellent introduction which introduces Jack Gould, and his biography by itself is interesting. Most absorbing for me, however, was reading Gould's take on the nascent medium of television: was it better for news or art? was it the same as theatre? did it have a duty to the American public to cover certain events? what were its educational limits? Some of his criticisms of tv are astonishingly contemporary. Others are clearly of a different era. The book is spiced with personalities that many of us know--Elvis Presley, Lucille Ball, Howdy Doody, David Brinkley--and Gould's take on them is fun to read.

Also illuminating are Gould's views of historical events: the quiz show scandals, the blacklist of the Red Scare, the "rise and fall of Edward R. Murrow." Gould championed actress Jean Muir, who was dealt an unfair hand in the 1950s, and his columns help explain how the blacklist worked from the inside. I particularly liked questions Gould asked about children's television programming and the responsibilities of the news shows.

Mostly, though, this book is marvelous to read because Gould was such a lively writer. His columns are full of real zingers that run side by side with his ruminations on American society, culture, politics, and values in the Cold War era. Despite the age of the columns reprinted here, the book provides much to ponder today, which is why I'm buying this for many people on my holiday list. People who lived through the 1950s will be just as interested as folks in their 20s and 30s. I highly recommend this book; even if you've never considered reading about television or cultural critics before you will get so much out if it. It will make you think about what's on your set today, and it's just _so_ wonderfully written!

Since I was born well after Jack Gould's retirement..it was exciting to feel the development and growing pains of the medium..through the columns Gould published. Lewis Gould's profile of the man and his life added to the sense of connection I felt to him..

You feel television's evolution...as if you were there.

Jennifer Salem
Antioch California

Born well after Jack Gould's retirement..it is exciting to feel the development and growing pains of the medium..through the columns Gould published. Lewis Gould's profile of the man and his life added to the sense of connection I felt to him..

You feel television's evolution...as if you were there.

Jennifer Salem
Antioch California

I have spent a delightful day reading this book, which brings together more than seventy columns written by the late Jack Gould, television critic for the New York Times from 1947 until his retirement in 1972. Not being from New York or a regular reader of the Times until after Gould retired, I must confess that I had never previously read any of his media criticism. This book has been a most welcome surprise.

The critic's son, Lewis Gould, a distinguished scholar in American history, selected the reviews that appear in this volume and also provided a remarkably candid and objective assessment of both his father and his influence. Insights about television, political figures--American culture in general--can be found throughout. Among the topics that Jack Gould considered were Edward R. Murrow, the quiz show scandals of the fifties, blacklisting, and live drama. As a baby boomer, I particularly enjoyed reading about two of the most memorable television performers of my childhood, "Miss Frances" of "Ding Ding School" and the inimitable Pinky Lee. Perceptive, too, is his assessment of the phenomenon that was--and is--Lucille Ball.

Some months ago the TODAY show celebrated, with much fanfare, its fiftieth anniversary on the air. But what was the show like in its earliest days? Gould tells us, in a no-holes-barred critique that NBC executives later admitted spurred changes in the program's format and presentation. Readers will find here in its entirety the review that Gould wrote in January 1952 in which he bluntly said that TODAY "needs a lot of work." "Thus far," he concluded, "TODAY has been excessively pretentious and ostentatious and unreasonably confusing and complex." Gould did not throw softballs!

In September 1952 Gould recognized that Nixon's so-called Checkers Speech, while "effective," might herald a turning point in the nature of political campaigning. Gould praised the embattled Nixon (who was on the ropes because of allegations that he benefited from an illegal "slush fund") for his "earnest" and "persuasive" presentation of his side of the story. Unfortunately, "the second half of the program saw Senator Nixon succumb to theatrics," as he attempted to grab the audience's heart with his tale of the cocker spaniel that had been given to his two young daughters. In Gould's judgment "there is a very real danger in superimposing the methods of show business in politics." He cautioned that the American public should "hold the line against television turning politics into a coast-to-coast vaudeville show or a daytime serial."

Any reader interested in television, media studies, or America at mid-century would find much of value in this collection.