Television Books


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Television Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Television
A Deeper Blue: The Life and Music of Townes Van Zandt (North Texas Lives of Musicians)
Published in Hardcover by University of North Texas Press (2008-04)
Author: Robert Earl Hardy
List price: $24.95
New price: $16.33
Used price: $17.32

Average review score:

A Thorough And Compelling Look At TVZ
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-23
Hardy has written a meticulous and incisive book on TVZ that is sure to please TVZ fans. I have not read John Kruth's bio on TVZ so I cannot compare the two. Nevertheless, I was quite pleased with the ethos of this bio and am sure other TVZ fans will appreciate it in kind. Despite Hardy's obvious awe of Townes, "A Deeper Blue" does not come off unctuous. It never approaches hagiography, and comes fairly close to being quite objective. Moreover, the narrative methodically unravels, yet is consistently interesting. It is well-written and overall, offers a thorough and compelling portrait of TVZ. I'm glad I bought it.

All You Probably Need To Know
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-10
Townes Van Zandt was a cult musician with a lot of demons like mental illness and alcoholism and drug abuse. It's all catalogued here for those who care. He left a lot of recordings, but never quite achieved the kind of fame he may have deserved. I'm not sure how thoroughly this book was researched, because I know of at least one manager of Van Zandt's who is not even mentioned. Still, it's unlikely that anything better will be done for a long time.

major effort gets it right
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-08
If I had 10 or more years to do the research Hardy has done (and I could write) I would not have done better myself. I could not detect one false note or major factual error in the covering of Townes 52 years. This book is a joy to read and gives a very close account and filling in of many "missing years" that had never been shared before now. The album and song reviews are well done, and the adherence to chronology is most rewarding. Highest recommendation.

The definitive Townes biography? Almost certainly.
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2008-11-16
To be a fan of Townes Van Zandt is to be a member of a worldwide brotherhood/sisterhood - his extraordinary songs are a source of solace, comfort and guidance to those in on the secret, those who have taken the time to apprehend and understand. His work transcends boundaries of genre, and for all their variable quality, there is something in almost every song, be it a couplet, a characteristic twist of logic, a homily that soothes, a sobering vision of the darkest side of life or a verbal shaft of sunlight for a bleak day, that pulls you up short - not just a songwriter, then, but a poet and a sage. But his extraordinary legacy came at a terrible price, a life of manic extremes that's laid out in definitive and unflinching detail in Hardy's articulate biography. Much is revealed - the unexpected scale of heroin's hold on Townes; the punishing touring schedule undertaken in his final years; the shady machinations of those who professed to have his best interests at heart - and much is implied between the lines. Hardy's analysis of individual songs is one of the book's most valuable assets, steering even the most avid fan toward a song previously overlooked, maybe, or deconstructing a familiar one to reveal hidden elements.
Don't be put off by the book's quasi-academic framework - there is none of the stuffiness commonly associated with a university press, and the copious endnotes only serve to add vital material. The photographs in the book's centre suffer from poor reproduction, and it's a shame that the budget couldn't run to art paper for them, but it's a minor quibble. In the final analysis, Hardy has seemingly written the definitive story of this extraordinary man, and no lover of Van Zandt's music can call their collection complete without this book on their shelves.

Tremendous
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-19
This is an excellent biography. Townes' story is assuredly a sad one but he left a legacy of unparalleled songs. I actually put off finishing the book for almost a month just because I didn't want to read the end...I already knew what happened but it didn't make reading a detailed account of his last days any easier.

I've also read the other biography out there, To Live's To Fly, and there's simply no comparison. TLTF was largely anecdotal and the author broke a key rule of biography writing by attempting to project his own importance into the story; Hardy has simply done an exhaustive amount of research and cites all of his sources. He presents the story and then steps aside, so this is the one to go with if you want a more factual recounting of Townes' life. 100% worth the price and read if you're a fan, and if you aren't it just might convert you.

Television
Elvis at 21: New York to Memphis
Published in Hardcover by Insight Editions (2006-10-31)
Author: Alfred Wertheimer
List price: $65.00
New price: $150.00
Used price: $76.36
Collectible price: $150.00

Average review score:

Elvis at 21: New York to Memphis
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-12-12
Beautifully done. The pictures are remarkable and capture Elvis' essence and power. This is a quality collectors item for any serious Elvis fan. What an incredible entertainer!

Elvis at 21
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-27
If you are an Elvis fan, this is really one of those must have books. The pictures are to die for and it is just wonderful.

spectacular
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-14
the photographs are spectacular, but where is the non-limited edition that i've seen retail in the bookstore for $65?

Elvis at 21 Book
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-30
i Love this Book it has very good quality photos of the king in his prime!

THE Best Elvis Book
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-11
If you only have one Elvis book in your library, or one photography book, let it be "Elvis at 21"...you will never buy a more sumptuous volume. The printing of the images is phenomenal, with wonderful use of gatefolds. It is one of the very few art books I've bought that I didn't balk at the retail price.

Wertheimer's photographs are collectively an artifact of our cultural history. It's amazing to see so many of them gathered together and in sequence. A much smaller selection of this body of work was published about 20 years ago as "Elvis '56"--this was my one-book-in-the-library, even back when I only had a photocopied edition. With this expansion, a whole new king is crowned.

2007 is of course the 30th anniversary of the King's passing. The world should expect a vast onslaught of new and revised offerings on the man. "Elvis at 21" throws down an early gauntlet so firmly, the other publishers might just as well crawl back into their niches.

Buy it, and wear a bib so you don't ruin the pages with your drool.

Television
Fiddler on the Roof: Based on Sholom Aleichem's Stories
Published in Paperback by Limelight Editions (2004-08-01)
Authors: Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock, and Sheldon Harnick
List price: $12.95
New price: $6.89
Used price: $4.49
Collectible price: $12.95

Average review score:

Superb Musical about Jewish Life
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-18
This moving play presents Jewish life in Tsarist Russia circa 1905. It's the story of dairyman Tevye and his family in the fictional village Anatevka. Tevye is a hard-worker who clings to his faith and traditions, and dreams of riches he'll never see. He believes he'll soon need the matchmaker to marry off his older daughters - but they soon force their more modern ideas about romance on their unhappy father. Tevye must also deal with a changing world and life in a nation with anti-Jewish hostility. The powerful script and song lyrics give readers the feel of Jewish life in Eastern Europe a century ago. Many Jews back then (like my great-grandfather) were leaving for a better chance in the USA or elsewhere; many that remained were later massacred by Hitler.

This musical opened on Broadway in 1964 with Zero Mostel in the title role; it ran over ten years with a then-record 3,242 performances. Adapted from the tales of Yiddish writer Sholom Alecheim (1859-1916), FIDDLER is a powerful tale of family, tradition, humor and sadness.

This seller is outstanding!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-07
The book is in great shape, and it cost $ .02 + $ 3.99 shipping--altogether just over $ 4.00 for a book I needed quickly for a writing assignment. That's unbelievably cheap for a script of a great musical show with photos of the original Broadway production. I had the book within 5 days of ordering. Hippo Books has my vote for best internet seller I've ever encountered!

Classic script
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-19
Though it differs slightly from the production script this version is very well done with excellent photos.

See it Live!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2005-10-12
Reading "Fiddler on the Roof" is not the same as the experience of seeing it performed. In print, the story falls as flat as the pages. With so many characters the reader may have trouble decoding what is happening to who.

"Fiddler ..." is a wonderful story that captures Jewish life in pre-World War II Russia as well as any book. With humor, the reader sees the world through the eyes of a man with five daughters that need husbands. As each daughter gets hitched, a new wrinkle to the story is added. But the story ends on a sad and ambigious note as the family is forced from their land because of "... trouble in the world". With this, the very tradition on which the story is based is shattered.

Whole Storey
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-09
Wonderful! It's the full script not a novel. It includes some wonderful pictures from the original production.

Television
From Here to Reality
Published in Paperback by Pocket (2005-08-16)
Author: Steven Schindler
List price: $14.00
New price: $0.25
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

all the elements of great literature
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-05-10
Steven Schindler writes with a rare combination of compassion and street savvy, and in "From here to reality" seems to combine all the elements of great literature. Comedy, drama, suspense, romance, sex, & violence are intertwined in a realistic story set in a realistic time frame. Schindler keeps our interest through the twists and turns of LA and NYC, and the emotional ups and down of his diverse characters. His vivid and accurate descriptions of people, places and things keeps you " in the moment" as the story unfolds. I found it to be quite readable, very interesting and extremely creative with a surprise ending that effectively ties it all together and keeps you wanting for more. I highly recommend it

Engaging!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-17
As a writer, I was truly impressed with how well Steven Schindler was able to vividly immerse the reader into a specific era of Hollywood, and into specific situations; of which he *must* have been privy. A good book, by a great writer. I highly recommend it.

Quick enjoyable read that takes you on a fast ride
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-01-26
What a great book! I would highly recommend it. The story is quick, witty, and fun with characters you want to get to know. Schindler takes you on a ride through Los Angeles, New York and most importantly through his characters hearts. It is a perfect read for a Sunday afternoon.

DEFINITE PAGE TURNER!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-03
You can't help but keep on reading as the novel increases the intensity in mystery. You got to know whats gonna happen next!!And the ending, well, I don't want to spoil it. The main characters come to life; you want to get to know them, you want to know their secrets. Mr. Schindler has that ability to put you in the scene as you keep reading. Sort of like a when you dream and you see everything going on about. Another great reading experience from the author of SEWER BALLS, a novel about growing up in NY in the 60's. Both books I highly recommend... I'm waiting for the movie!!!!!!!

Closing in on 5 stars!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-13
As I did with Steven Schindler's first two novels, Sewer Balls, and From the Block, I thoroughly enjoyed reading his latest, From Here to Reality. It's one of those books that you just don't want to end. Being born and bred in the Bronx, I can certainly vouch for the authenticity of the New York neighborhoods and experiences that Schindler describes, and the picture he paints of life in LA evokes a plethora of genuine emotions. I look forward to Schindler's next book.

Television
From Soupy to Nuts! A History of Detroit Television
Published in Paperback by Momentum Books, LLC (2005-04-30)
Author: Tim Kiska
List price: $24.95
New price: $14.00
Used price: $6.33

Average review score:

A nostalgic delight!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-31
Of all the books dealing with the subject of local TV, FROM SOUPY TO NUTS!: A HISTORY OF DETROIT TELEVISION is my favorite. Naturally, the fact that I grew up in Detroit makes me the perfect audience for this volume.

This book brought back a flood of wonderful memories. So many names, so many programs. Kid-show hosts (Soupy Sales, Johnny Ginger, Jerry Booth, etc.), horror-movie hosts (Sir Graves Ghastly, The Ghoul, Morgus the Magnificent, Count Scary), newscasters and reporters, sportscasters, weathercasters, etc. -- they're all here, and plenty of others, including some unsung behind-the-scenes personnel.

I had tears in my eyes reading the chapter devoted to the pro wrestlers who were my childhood heroes: Dick the Bruiser, The Sheik, Fritz Von Erich, Johnny Valentine, Bobo Brazil, and others. In later years, I got to know some of these guys, and they were friendly and cordial -- not at all like their violent, rough-and-tumble public images.

I give this book my highest recommendation.

superb!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-09
I purchased this book for my brother's 60th birthday- having grown up in Detroit- thought it would be a great walk down memory lane. He called me when he received the gift and absolutely gushed- loved every entry. Now, i may have to buy a copy for ME. thanks

Great Gift
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-18
My mom wanted this book for Christmas. I read some parts of it and found it very intersting. So many people that I recall from my childhood. Good book.

Walk Down Memory Lane
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-05
Wow - What a great book! I bought it as a gift but will have to get a copy for my personal library. It was wonderful to read about the television personalities from my youth along with the other Detroit notables that this book covers. It even had the words to some of the commercial jingles that we used to sing along with. Having moved away from Detroit several years ago, I had often wondered what happened to a lot of the people I grew up watching on TV and this book answered those questions. If you were a Detroit kid in the 50's or 60's, I highly recommend that you get a copy of this book and take a stroll back to your childhood.

From Soupy to Nuts
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-05
This is a MUST READ for anyone who lived in Detroit in the 50's and 60's. Nostalgia reigns as the authors comprehensively share information on television favorites such as Bill Kennedy, Captain Jolly and Poopdeck Paul, Milky the Clown and more. Loved it.

Television
The Fugitive Recaptured: The 30th Anniversary Companion to a Television Classic
Published in Paperback by Pomegranate Press (CA) (1993-09)
Author: Ed Robertson
List price: $17.95
New price: $19.99
Used price: $28.43
Collectible price: $199.00

Average review score:

A must for every Fugitive fan
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-25
An outstanding companion piece to the great(if not THE greatest) dramatic series ever made. Ed Robertson really did his homework in researching for this book. Jam packed with info and anecdotes from the crew and many fine stars who guested on the show. Dozens of photos both stills from the episodes and candid shots taken on the set. Detailed synopsises of each episode(without spoilers) Even a special list of every name used by Richard Kimble, jobs he held, and places where each story took place. Highly recommended.

And where is the companion for "Peyton Place"?
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-02-05
Ed Robertson's book is definitely the best. I also own "The Fugitive - A complete Episode Guide" by John Cooper and "My Fugitive" by David Janssen's former wife Ellie Janssen which is worth a read!
Another amazon.com reader mentioned the Twilight Zone Companion. But where is the Peyton Place Companion? I'm missing a book on the TV series "Peyton Place" for several decades and wonder why there is still no book out there.

Entertaining Book -- Filled With Fun "Fuge" Facts
Helpful Votes: 10 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-05
"The Fugitive Recaptured" was published in 1993, thirty years after the TV series, "The Fugitive", premiered on network television in 1963.

This volume, by Ed Robertson, is just about all a "Fuge" fan could want in order to find out everything you'd need (or want) to know about this excellent TV drama, which was on the air for 4 complete seasons (120 episodes from 1963 to 1967).

The book features an "Introduction" by horror author Stephen King, plus a "Foreword" by Fugitive co-star Barry Morse, who portrayed police Lieutenant "Philip Gerard", star David Janssen's chief rival and nemesis during the course of the series. A chapter detailing the origins and conception of the series is also, of course, included here. Interesting stuff too.

Within these 208 pages, each and every episode of "The Fugitive" is dissected and examined in detail -- including cast lists, writing and directing credits, episode numbers, original air dates, episode descriptions, and verbatim "Prologue" and "Epilogue" text (the exact words spoken by series' narrator William Conrad at the beginning and end of each episode).

Many fun "Fuge Facts" are also revealed for many of the 120 episodes. These "Facts" are bits of little-known trivia that make this volume an even more enjoyable read.

In addition -- This book includes extended chapters on the series' Pilot episode ("Fear In A Desert City") and the two-part final episode ("The Judgment"), which remains to this day one of the highest-rated TV programs in the history of the medium.

There is also an "Appendix" area of the publication, with "Appendix 2" consisting of some very interesting trivial facts and data concerning every Fugitive episode -- including every single "alias" that was used by "Dr. Richard Kimble" during the whole run of the series. This appendix is useful to mega-fans of the series, as it also contains information about the "Location" (City/State) of each episode, as well as Kimble's "Occupation" on each show. Example --- Episode 31 had Kimble pretending to be "Frank Borden"; Occupation: "Dishwasher"; Location: "Harrisburg, Pennsylvania".

Many top-notch black-and-white photos are also scattered throughout this paperback publication, mainly publicity stills.

"The Fugitive" (1963-1967) is one of the best TV dramas ever put on the boob-tube. The long-running cat-and-mouse game between Dr. Richard Kimble (David Janssen) and the police officer who let him get away, Philip Gerard (Barry Morse), provided some of the finest tension-filled moments ever aired on television.

"The Fugitive Recaptured" does, indeed, "recapture" the magic that surrounded this first-class piece of television entertainment.

Very Highly Recommended.

The Running May Never Stop
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2005-11-21
Certain television shows were so enormously popular during their original runs that they have been reincarnated more than once. THE FUGITIVE is one such drama. When Dr. Kimble began to run in 1963 in a three partnered minuet with Lt. Gerard and Fred Johnson, the American viewing public was so enamored of the chase that they refused to accept the judgment of THE JUDGMENT (the series finale) that the running had indeed stopped. Ed Robertson in his THE FUGITIVE RECAPTURED analyzes just what it was that made millions of Americans tune in every Tuesday night to watch Kimble run from one man only to pursue another. Robertson captures the essense of the spirit not just of the show but also of the social subtext of the show. In his Fuge Facts and plot synopses, Robertson well delineates the motivation of a doctor who, in his forced travels, became a collective Keroukian ON THE ROAD, with every watching viewer able to tap into the flip side of the American Dream, that out there in every dusty small town and bustling big city lay adventures that we could not aspire to but Kimble could. Roberston reviews every episode, judges its intrinsic worth, provides the needed Kimble trivia of both character and actor, and adds a handy list of names that Kimble used over a four year run. This list resembles a phone directory of a small town that Kimble must have passed through more than once. Reading THE FUGITIVE RECAPTURED made me think of the follow up success of the filmed version with Harrison Ford and the less succeessful small screen run of Tim Daly. It is not likely that the latter two will ever be considered worthy contenders for a pantheon of running heroes, but Robertson's literary paean to David Janssen serves as a perpetual reminder that for a spirit of a character or of an age to be recaptured, then that spirit must have been worthwhile in the first place. Robertson's book will not let Kimble ever run far enough or fast enough to escape our notice.

The Fugitive Revisited
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2000-04-13
I can certainly add my kudos to Ed Robertson for his labor of love in this book commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the famous television program. This work brings to life the entire four years that the series ran on network television, and gives the reader the feeling that he was actually "on location" with the cast and crew as they produced this first-rate series. Each episode is fully documented with full credits for the director and all principal actors in the series. The episode synopsis give the reader a feeling of being on the run with the Fugitive. The opening and closing narration for each episode certainly sets the tone for each nights program.

If you are a fan of this great television series, then this book is certainly for you. I highly recommend it.

Television
Galaxy Express 999 (TV Film Series Program)
Published in Paperback by Toei Animation Co., Ltd (1979)
Author: Reiji Matsumoto
List price:
Used price: $5.50

Average review score:

Matsumoto continues to work on his masterpiece....
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2003-05-16
I love Matsumoto's work. Maetel is one of my all-time favorite characters, as is her friend (and in the movie "Maetel Legend", her sister) Emeraldas. Harlock is...interesting, but kinda cool. Tetsuro, well...he's okay.

The plots are incredible! They really make you think (and I'm not just talking about the blurbs at the end of each segment!). There are very few manga that can do that.

I reccomend this series to any and every anime/manga fan!

Galaxy Express: The Greatest Manga Ever!!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2001-02-15
In the distant fututre, ayoung boy named Tetsuro steals a boarding pass to a train called the Three-Nine. After emabarking, he meets a woman named Maetel, who bares a striking resembelance to his deceased mother. A grand journey begins that will take Tetsuro to the edge of the universe and back. He will meet many friends and enemies in his journey of wonder.

Buy this book!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2000-10-30
Despite the artwork which will turn off fans of superhero-style comic books, Galaxy Express has a style unto its own that needs to be appreciated by a more mature reader. The story is excellent, the social commentary is superb, my only problem is the SLOW release schedule. This book easily ranks equally alongside the other great (translated) mangas of our times, including Nausicaa, Lone Wolf and Cub, Dominion, and Adolf... Buy this book!

DAMN it's good!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-16
Here's a summery of the 18 volumes, NO spoilers^_~

"You think Tetsuro Hoshino has seen the last of the Gallaxy Express? Starting where the 2 part movie left off, Maetel sets Tetsuro back on the path to Manhood (NOTE, he is VERY young) & the trail of goals, making new friends & discovering the ones he'd thought gone, learning the harsh lessons of reality in the endless sea of stars. Mysteries come to light, only to be darkened by a new challenge or question or an old memory, & the entire gallaxy asks only of Tetsuro to survive & NEVER to forget.

Leiji Matsumoto, the creator, is second in popularity only to Hayao Miyazaki (Kiki, Totoro, Laputa, Lupin), & has one many awards for his interconnecting series.

This is one the whole family should watch because it's sincere, complex, inovative, provocative, dramatic, & contemplative above everything else. It's a helluva good story/plot that makes you think about the facts of life & its challenges. It has nothing corny or cliche, a literary masterpiece(despite the craappy artwork). It teaches about achieving goals, following hopes & dreams & beliefs, finding ones purpose in life, & keeping promises.

Personally, I wouldn't trade MY collection if you offered me 3 times what the whole set is worth^o^

His writings are like.......Pringles. "Once you pop, you can't stop."

This is good, but I feel as though I am missing something...
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2003-04-15
I have liked GE 999 ever since I started readng it in Animerica magazine. So, I got this book, but discovered that this is actually the *sequel* to the *first* adventure of Maetel and Tetsuro. I got this information from the biographies of the characters and the clues in the story. As a result of not havign read the first series, I am a tad bit lost. Can someone tell me WHY they chose to publish the sequel in English before they translated the first series? It doesn't make any sense!

Anyway, the characters are fun and I enjoy their adventures. But the blurb at the end of every chapter is too deep and confusing for me to understand.

I like this, and I will look up the first series--right after I find out who started this translating mess in the first place.

Television
GoodFellas (Based on the Book "Wiseguy" By Nicholas Pileggi)
Published in Paperback by Faber & Faber (1990-11-25)
Authors: Martin Scorsese and Nicholas Pileggi
List price: $14.95
New price: $4.59
Used price: $0.31

Average review score:

Wiseguy
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-21
Great book. Great detail.A must for anyone who has seen the film. Gives you a 100% more info and detail.

"Like I'm A Clown...I'm Here To Amuse you?"
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-07-17
Turning dense, non fiction material such as Nick Pileggi's 1985 best seller "Wiseguy," into a cohesive screenplay is no easy task, but Pileggi and the brilliant Martin Scorsese pulled it off beautifully in 1990 with the script for "Goodfellas"

"Goodfellas" remains America's penultimate crime film; the "Godfather" is Hollywood's version of what wiseguys are like; "Goodfellas" depicts them as how they really are.

This Faber paperback edition of the screenplay, with a foreward by David Thompson ("Scorsese on Scorses") reproduces all of the dialouge verbatim (including the scenes that were improvised on the set such as the famous "what's so funnny about me" sequence between Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta).

The book serves as both as written testamint to what great movie making is all about and as a primer for budding screenwriters.

As a bonus, there is a listing of all the music Scorcese used on the soundtrack (no small part of what made the movie a classic),including those selections that were unfortunately deleted from the commercial issue on Atlantic records).

As Joe Pesci's character might say--"this is one great -------book!"

A classic screenplay to a classic film.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2000-03-19
Though Nicholas Pileggi's source book, Wise Guy, gave this screenplay both its voice-over and its final conclusion, the screenplay to GoodFellas is an essential addition to any screenplay library. If not for the fact that Pileggi and Martin Scorsese have pulled off the mammoth task of interpreting the detailed-packed, wide-scoped vision of the book into cinema-speak, then for the writing itself. GoodFellas is a screenplay that can be read as entertainment -- fast-paced, crisp, clear, and exciting. The published version of this script is mostly in master-scene form, giving only the most evocative details, beautifully paced. This is one of the crowning entries in Faber and Faber's superb screenplay series, ranking right up there along Paul Schrader's Taxi Driver and Odets/Lehmann's for Sweet Smell of Success. To any upstart screenwriter or serious student of film, this series is invaluable.

Fantastic Script
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-11-04
Sure, if you're not into the film "Goodfellas" that much or if you don't care for screenplays, then chances are that this would be rather worthless to you. Might as well find something else to buy, because this isn't going to do anything for you.

But, if you DO love the film and would like to read the screenplay, then this is just the thing for you. Written by Martin Scorsese and Nicholas Pileggi, "Goodfellas" is an amazing script that sucks you in right away.

Henry Hill has always wanted to be gangster, as he states in the very beginning of the film. This is his story of how he became one and everything he had witnessed and experienced. It's a tragic story of how good things always have to come to an end. It's also about how power and money can grab hold of your life until it's too late to turn back. A tale full of crime, murder, paranoia, and greed, "Goodfellas" is a trip down Mafia Lane that you will never forget. This is Mr. Hill's story.

The script is based on Nicholas Pileggi's novel, "Wise Guys," which is also based on a true story. The dialogue is sharp and very realistic and gives us a window into the lives of people in the Mafia. It is a very quick read, only about 130 pages. That's pretty short, considering that the movie was at least 2 and a half hours long. But, it's just dialogue, which is why it is very easy to read it quickly. I finished it in less than a day.

If you love the film "Goodfellas," and are interested in reading screenplays, then this is the perfect book for you. Here's your chance to relive some of your favorite moments, this time in writing. A very fine screenplay, it is.

Best Gangster Film Ever Made
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-09-08
Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas" is, hands down, the best gangster film ever made. "The Godfather" created the mythical imagery of mob families that was forever buried by this gutty, bloody real life drama. Based upon the true story as told by the film's main character, Henry Hill, "Goodfellas is the best filmed example of the real life glamour and woekmanlike drudgery that goes with being a wiseguy. It is difficult to imagine a show like "The Sopranos," for example, had not "Goodfellas" reinvented the gangster film genre.

Ray Liotta is excellent as Henry, but the movie's real showcases are the performances of Joe Pesci and Robert DiNiro as his partners in crime. Pesci in particular gives a tour de force performance that is downright frightening. Other first rate performances come from Lorraine Bracco as Henry's Jewish wife and Paul Sorvino, whose performance as a real life Godfather could not be more different than Marlon Brando's.

This film is a must see for anyone who enjoys gangster movies. It also has to rank as THE best American movie of the 1990s.

Television
Grace
Published in Hardcover by G. P. Putnam's Sons (1994)
Author: Robert Lacey
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New price: $8.75
Used price: $1.98
Collectible price: $27.50

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Amazing Grace
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2003-08-05
I picked up "Grace" about a year ago when I found it in my mom's old book closet. Although I am relatively young, something about the stars of yesteryear attracts me more than the glitz surrounding contemporary celebrities. Grace Kelly is no exception. I knew nothing about this icon, except that she was an American princess and a Hitchcockian heroine. Mr. Lacey certainly did his share in informing me about this classic movie star. I enjoyed how he provides us with immense background on the Kelly's, a prominent family in their own right. Mr. Lacey also does a fine job in giving us the "low-down" on Monaco and its interesting history.
Also of note would be the fact that Lacey attempts (and succeeds) at presenting the seemingly ethereal Grace as a person, not the sex symbol or ice queen she is usually remembered as. He does give a lot of insight into her love life and various affairs, but you never lose sight that Grace had this innocence about her. It seemed as if she could do no wrong.
Aside from being a talented actress, Grace was a true beauty and a dedicated mother and wife. She will always be remembered as our very own princess.

They Don't Make them like Her Anymore
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-05
Everyone remembers his first screen love.

Grace Kelly was mine, and I can still remember her clear Teutonic skin, lugubrious soft hair, her casual sophistication, all completely new fascinations to my mundane childhood. Years later, the only thing that's changed is I've grown older and she's still impossibly perfect.

What Robert Lacey has done in Grace is bring us all a little bit closer to that Snow Princess whom we all would have made our Princess were we a Prince. Behind the camera, behind bedroom doors, behind the veneer of an idyllic fairy tale that proves that fairy tales are exactly that, each anecdote is like a stitch in a grand painting that is sometimes bleak (Grace ages and somewhat pathetically begins to fool around with younger men), sometimes inspiring (her persistence at overcoming her natural dramatic flaws), and always sensual (her intimate fashion shows for her boyfriend Don Richardson).

Unlike many biographies of screen legends, Lacey largely eschews extended back lot stories that might involve but not support the basic image of Grace that he believes must be told. So while we learn High Noon's screenwriter Carl Foreman meant his film as an allegory about Communist witch hunts, we are spared a complete A-Z on the Hollywood Blacklist and its artistic implications. A great biography of a great person must not necessarily take on the great issues of his day. Of which Lacey understands.

Grace is a woman of terrific sexual energies and ambitions but just as importantly, sports a marvelous capacity to mask those penchants. So instead of becoming Jenna Jameson, she turns into Princess Grace, a woman who sleeps her way to the top but seems so inevitably suited for the position that no one can possibly begrudge her it.

As Lacey says "She managed to be naughty while appearing very nice."

It's become axiomatic that the greatest personalities are deeply contradictory. Nearly every biographer, when faced with the compelling weight of his research, is forced to concede that mankind is a very complex being (thank you, Mr. Stevenson). And Grace was no different. Lacey talks of Grace's growing conservatism, her disputes with her daughters over their flagrant ways, all while engaging in her own illicit love affairs as Princess Grace. And what of her devoted Catholicism? How to resolve her piety with her philandering?

Questions which can only be answered by Hitchcock's own. This is a snow covered volcano we're dealing with here.

And sometimes, you can't guess; you can only watch.

A real woman, but not "promiscous"
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-06-05
The media reviewers quoted here harp on Grace Kelly's supposed "promiscous" behavior, the main point of the book, as far as they are concerned. Anyone who actually reads the book will find someone who had a few discreet affairs before she was married, who took her marriage vows and commitment to her family and role as princess seriously, who worked very hard throughout her life to meet her commitments, and who had a comforting relationship with a kind younger man when her marriage turned lonely as she got older. If she wasn't quite the cold, virginal image presented by Hollywood, good for her.

It's a very good book about a real woman of extraordinary beauty who could have settled for a society matron's life in Philadelphia but who made an extraordinary life for herself through her own efforts. Read it for that and not the sensationalism.

great book
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2002-01-04
This book has a great deal of detail. I feel as if there was too much emphasis on her sex life versus her screen image, and frankly that was her business, not important in the book. Otherwise a good book.

It Told Me Just What I Wanted to Know About Her
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-11
I wanted to know all about the men in Grace Kelley's life, both before and after her marriage. This book told me everything, but in a classy, well-researched way. I learned a lot about Monaco, and just the things I would have wanted to know about her family members, too. After reading this excellent book, I plan to read more of Robert Lacey's works.

Television
Hangin' With Hilary Duff
Published in Paperback by Scholastic (2003-10-01)
Author: Laura Dower
List price: $5.99
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Collectible price: $10.00

Average review score:

Hilary Duff Rocks!!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-04-17
I am Hilary Duff's nomber one fan! I would do anything for her.
Here are reasons why I love her so much,
1. she is the most beautiful artist on the planit
2. she is the coolist person on the planet
3. sht is intelligent
that is why I love her so so so so so so much!!!!!!!!
from Hil;ary Duff's #1 fan Mariah Vassar

If Your A Hilary Duff Fan, You Need To Get This Book!!!
Helpful Votes: 12 out of 15 total.
Review Date: 2004-09-06
I am a HUGE Hilary fan and when I saw this book at a book fair, I had to get it!!! This book can answer a lot of things that you may want to know about Hilary. The day I got the book I sat down and probably re-read it 4 times. I just couldn't get enough of it. It is almost like a long magazine, and not like a chapter book or anything. That's why I re-read it. I'm telling you, if you are a Hilary Duff fan, GET THIS BOOK!!! IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!!!

Awesome Hilary Duff book
Helpful Votes: 17 out of 17 total.
Review Date: 2004-02-03
Get all the Hilary Duff information and facts you want with this awesome book! This book is a compilation of Hilary Duff information and over 50 beautiful, high-quality photos. This book is stuffed to the brim with quotes, secrets, facts, and interesting information that Hilary Duff fans will all want to get their hands on. It gives you a brief biography of Hilary Duff, including her early movies and her Lizzie McGuire fame, up to her Metamorphosis CD and singing career. Plus, the book even includes facts on Hilary's upcoming projects, such as her new movies, and her new project, Stuff by Hilary Duff, a girl's clothing/product line. Not only that, but you'll also get information on other Hilary Duff stuff such as a day in the life of Hilary (with cool facts like what her bedtime is!), her fashion style, boy rumors uncovered, and Hilary Duff on her friends, family, singing career, acting, and more. For all Hilary Duff fans out there, this is a wonderful addition to your collection of Hilary Duff stuff. Just make sure to watch out- this book is unauthorized, so some of the facts may be wrong. Other than that, it's a fabulous Hilary Duff book!

hilary's #1 fan!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-05
i love hilary duff she is sooo cool i have everything of her. if you are a true and comitted fan you need this book. it has a lot of info its a great book to raed any time any day any were!!!!

Great book
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2004-08-25
Super book, very informative, my daughter couldn't put it down. has alot of great pictures in it also great buy!


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