Movies Books

Double or Nothing is a gripping tale of murder, deception, and true love. It boasts a well written script, and an intriguing plot line. This modern who-dunnit is executed masterfully by an exciting cast of characters, led by Leif Garrett and Lisa Collins. They turn in fantastic performances as two fated lovers that time and injustice cannot separate. I have listened to this Audio Movie again and again in the two weeks since I purchased it, and I still find it absolutely captivating!

Imagination was the only form of entertainment in the mid 1920- 1950's and for writer M. D. Baer to take the most fascinating part of the entertainment business full circle. He has created not only a masterpiece for the industry. But has re-established what the original fore fathers of the business took so much pride in, imagination creating reality.

The audio movie "Double or Nothing" brings not only a gifted writer but an aspiring cast of seasoned entertainers from all branches of the entertainment business.

The combination of singing sensation Leif Garrett and Lisa Collins is just remarketable. If awards were given Garrett who is more famous for singing the love songs has found a new genre that highlights his resume.

Garrett plays dual roles in this story and as well as the other 28 cast members. But these piece is more than just a story it is a must to have item for any entertainment collector's den.

Garrett is joined by another music sensation, Michael Hutchence of INXS. This was Hutchence's last performance outside of his musical performances before he died. Also, Baltazaar Getty, Michael DeBarres, Donald Morrison and others whose name is synomious with the business.

For some the story starts out slow, but then you get hooked. It is east to follow and the story get's just stronger as it goes.

For those who like to put the tape in and drive, this is one that really needs to be in the bag. Whether you are traveling by air, train or car it would be like leaving the best part of your vacation at home.

As for the movie as awhole it is like a good book, sometimes it is not easy to put down.

Leif Garrett was the world's most famous "Teen Idol" and sold more albums during that genre and his fans would like this. It is vintage "Garrett".

And just like back in the 1970's Garrett kick down the doors of music and achived rock and roll fame. Garrett, now older and seasoned is kicking at a new door as co-producer with writer Baer for audio movies. As co-producer Garrett's vision is to take it one step further and that is obvious by the production of "Double or Nothing".

From the cover to cover this project is awardable

Double or Nothing is a fantastic story/movie/ listening experience!! it keeps you enticed from the very beginning. Well worth the time it takes to hear the whole thing from start to finish. If all audio movies are like this, I have a new hobby!

Baer does a great job with crackling dialog in this modern L.A. noir story. Sound effects help to create a whole world you can feel amid big mix-ups and bad trouble in the seedy underbelly of Hollywood. Highly recommended

Pour yourself a martini, turn the lights down low, relax and drift away into a world of intrigue, murder, double crosses and passion. From the start this briskly written, intricately crafted audio movie takes hold and won't let go. It is a richly textured audio experience full of music, sound effects and a variety of colorful characters which allow the listener to clearly visualize the action and the drama as it unfolds. Full of humor, clever twists, colorful language and cool style this audio experience is best experienced in its entirety--and once you start listening you won't be able to stop! If you're a fan film noir, radio drama, or classic mysteries then you'll love Double or Nothing, don't miss it.

I have looked up Charles Fremont on the net and have discovered that certain writers protray Fremont in an inaccurate and dishonest way. They are writing as fact things that either did not happen or were lies used in Fremont's time to discredit him. It is true that he did take unnecessary risks and had at times used poor judgement. This was especially true when he felt that as long as you had the will and endurance, simply forcing ahead would be sucessful. One very sorry attempt to cross the Sierras in the winter proved him wrong. Still, this man was a man of honor and commitment and sacrified much for his country despite the evil cast his way by others. This book tells the true story of Fremont and should be read by everyone who relishes history. I wont repeat the many lies I have read about him, but will urge anyone to read this book to see what ACTUALLY happened.

What a powerful novel. Anyone seeking to either whet their historical appetite or emerse themselves in well written, well researched and well balanced account of the early pioneering days of the USA should get this novel and settle into a damn good read.

The people come alive in the book. Exciting to read about the life of the old west.

DREAM WEST captures the spirit of the turbulent mid-1800's and the nearly forgotten stories centering around the remarkable Captain John Charles Fremont (the Pathfinder). This was a refreshing look at one of America's great explorers who pioneered and mapped much of America's western regions. This book includes such historic characters as: the legendary explorer Kit Carson, and Fremont's wife the famed novelist Jessie Benton Fremont, her father the famous Missouri senator Thomas Hart Benton, cameos appearances from almost every famous politician during the mid-1800 through the Civil War (Lincoln, Grant, Polk, Clay, etc.).

John Charles Fremont was one America's most magnetic personalities. Just to list a few of many remarkable accomplishments, such as:
* He was California's first Governor (albeit for a very short period).
* After California's statehood is approved he was the first Senator for California.
* Became rich during the famed gold rush. Later lost it in a swindle.
* On the Republican ticket as an antislavery advocate he ran for President in 1956,. In fact he becomes a perennial presidential candidate.
* He achieves the rank of major general during the Civil War where he loses most of his battles and resigns.
* Later he becomes a Governor of Arizona and passes much ground breaking legislation.

The only complaint I have with this book (very minor) is the author's lenient treatment of Fremont's war record. In fact Fremont was demoted because he couldn't beat Stonewall Jackson. He lets Fremont off rather easily. Notwithstanding, John Charles Fremont truly was an extraordinary man. This story captures his spirit.

Anyone who has traveled the west has run across historical markers of John C. Freemont-particularly on passes. This is a book of historical fiction. Since James A. Michener died we've been hungry for solid historical novels. David Nevin does a nice job satisfying that hunger here. It was a sad book -a story of an explorer with too much risk-taking, too much integrity, too much trust, and too much self-sufficiency to survive in the world of the military, business or politics. What he did do well with was in marriage and exploration. You'll be captivated by the story on his winter crossing the High Sierras. You may cry at his defeated attempt to cross the San Juan ranges in Colorado. If you like these lessons you'll love the book:
o (1) If you enter politics you've got to play politics.
o (2) People with great personal ambition who do not know how to compromise and horse trade usually get destroyed by those with those skills.
o (3) Don't enter business if you aren't going to learn the rules and watch the business.
o (4) Don't make many enemies If you want to keep from being lonely in your old age.
o (5) When the chips are down only those who love you stay with you-respect and accomplishment will not inspire permanent loyalty-only love does that.
o (6) Never conclude you are a failure in life-the next generation will decide that for you after you're dead.
o (7) Marriage is God's way of helping us see our most hazardous traits-listening and learning this from a spouse can save great pain later.
o (7) When somebody gets a really raw deal those who resent it most are the family not the victim.
o (8) When large sums of money are involved people change.
o (9) Being great at one thing seldom transfers to being great at another.
o (10) I don't think I would have liked Abraham Lincoln if I had lived at the time-some people look better a hundred years later.

People remember different things from their youth, and one I remember most fondly is going to the drive-in movie. Because of that, I am drawn to books like this one. Though the text of the book is somewhat limited, it still evokes wonderful memories. It would be on my recommended list for anyone who wants to relive the "good ole days!"

The photos in the book are just great. They made me think back about my great childhood memories of going to the drive-in with my family.

...and hear the crickets. What a trip! Although drive-ins survive today, only a select few go to the trouble to capture the essence of the hey-day of the drive-in theatre. What is lacking in reality has been captured on paper. I didn't know what the Sanders could do to add to their previous book, The American Drive-In Movie Theater, but I was pleasantly surprised. I stayed up until I was finished one night. I simply couldn't put it down. Well done Don and Susan. -Stu Megaw (the Traveling Drive-In Enthusiast)

The Sanders have perfectly captured the essence of the drive-in movie theatre. My own work on the subject has given me the chance to verify that Drive-in Movie Memories is a celebration of outdoor movies! It is even better than their first book.

If you are interested in nostalga and/or drive in theatres, this is an excellent book. You may remember that Don and Susan Sanders came out with an excellent coffee table book entitled: "The American Drive-in Theatre." The original book was packed with previously lost photographs and memories of the drive in theatre.

Don and Susans latest work, "Drive in Memories : Popcorn and Romance Under the Stars," while physically smaller, is full of additional pictures and information about the drive-in theatres of yesterday. The new book is well written and edited. It will make a worthy edition to any one interested in the drive-in theatre.

I use this technique with family business consulting clients very effectively. It provides a great perspective in discussing interpersonal issues in a way which can help depersonalize conflict and promote healthy discussion. The book has been extremely helpful.

German-born Birgit Wolz has had a long-time love affair with movies. As a young girl in Germany, she fondly remembers going to a movie with her grandfather as her first big adventure. "I was absolutely fascinated. For the first time, I experienced being engrossed in a bigger-than-life experience, the colors, the sounds and the story of a big screen motion picture."

This passion for movies sustained Wolz throughout the ups and downs of her young life, eventually overflowing into her professional life as well. "My personal interest turned professional after I began my career as a psychotherapist and first learned about the technique of using movies as a tool for psychological healing and personal growth."

Later, Wolz faced several significant losses, including a serious, disabling illness. "After a time, it became clear that I would live, but the question still remained as to how I would live," she writes. "I learned through this shocking wake-up call that I could never take anything for granted. All possibility of reaching the goals to which I had previously aspired seemed to evaporate. Relationships changed dramatically. My future suddenly appeared a complete blank."

Again, Wolz turned to movies. "During this time, certain kinds of movies seemed amazingly helpful, even transformative. I noticed with surprise that I started crying uncontrollably whenever I saw films that showed characters in tragic experiences. I made a point of going to movie theaters by myself and sitting in the last row. In the protective darkness of this environment all the blocked up tears started flowing in response to watching the characters' pain."

The author presents several interesting theories as to why movies have the ability to heal and transform us, and why they can serve as catalysts for communicating where day-to-day words often fail. One such theory involves accessing what Swiss psychiatrist Dr. Carl Jung coined the shadow.

The term `shadow' refers to those parts of ourselves that we learned to repress or deny. Over the years, our shadow becomes deeply buried in our subconscious mind, sometimes causing us to behave in ways we don't understand. But Jung also believed that the shadow contains a wellspring of strength, power and creative energy. He believed that if we could access our shadow, we could live more fully. Movies, with their inherent detachment, since we are observers only, can court the shadow, bringing it slowly and safely into the light, allowing us entry into those locked areas of our psyche.

E-Motion Picture Magic includes guidelines for watching a film with conscious awareness and an in-depth look at how the emotional distance movies provide can enable us to see how we relate and respond to various circumstances through identifying with a certain character. An extensive film index at the back of the book will help you find films that deal with specific questions or issues. Find movie recommendations for dealing with peer relationships, blended families, chronic illness, divorce, disability, depression, phobias, and more.

When the real world seems overwhelming, when answers or solutions seem out of reach, when you find yourself unable to move beyond your fear, or get in touch with your sadness, why not give the 'reel' world a try?

Clear and concise. Very useful for a professional and also for the average joe.

I thought E-Motion Picture Magic was very straightforward and explained well. My movie watching experience has been enhanced tremendously thanks to the teaching in this book. Near the end of the book I had this urge to run and start a movie group.

I was very happy that Dr. Wolz did the detailed exercise using a movie I had actually seen. It helped me to follow the exercise better and experience the benefits. The movie index at the back of the book is very useful, especially if you are looking for movies that address specific issues you wish to explore.

As a psychotherapist I find Birgit Wolz's book to be helpful. I work mostly with teenagers and have found that both music and movies have been the most important ways to reach them. E-Motion Picture Magic offers not only a well written base of theory into the idea of cinema therapy, but provides the reader with a marvelous movie index that can be easily looked at based on the topic needs. Teenagers struggles often with the ability to express their inner selves, but quite easily talk about the plight of others. Movies and their characters provide a safe environment for teens to express their needs. The tools that Birgit Wolz provides in her book enable the therapist to more skillfully navigate with both groups and individuals. I fully intend on maintaining this book as a great guide in my practice.

In writing a review of this book, I must first state that I am probably not one of the greatest fans of the 1960s TV series. With that said, I also confess that I didn't exactly hate it either. It was an entertaining show produced more than forty years ago that was initially hard for me to remember. What I like best about the book is the enthusiasm of its reviewers, and their skill in thoroughly describing and reviewing the good and not so good elements of this old series. Also admirable, is their successful rekindling of my interest in the show. Proof of this rekindling is the fact that after reading Volume I of the series I readily bought the first season DVD offering and have been regularly watching the shows. Volume 2 is probably even better written than Volume 1, and I recommend both books to fans of the series, and anyone wanting to know more about the series. When the episodes for Season Two get released on DVD this book will become even more valuable. For the record, I think the old series was superior to the 1990s movie starring Harrison Ford. David Janssen was very well cast in the show. He was a much underrated actor.

A must read for all Fugitive fans. What is unique about this book is that each episode of season two is reviewed in detail and given a poll rating on a scale of 0-10. Follow Richard Kimble and Phil Gerard along with Bob, Kitty, and Ken. Season two has many classic episodes including World's End, Nemesis, Escape into Black, The End is But the Bginning, The Survivors, and May God Have Mercy. This book will be an excellent reference guide to the DVD collection when released.

Volume II of The Fugitive: Views And Reviews, picks up where volume I left off, with more insightful and fact filled reviews and debate of the second season of "The Fugitive" one of television's greatest dramatic series. Also contains viewer poll results for each episode.This volume covers the second season which ran from1964 to 1965, including many classic episodes like "Man In A Chariot", "World's End", "The End Is But The Beginning", and the all time classic "Escape Into Black" from which the cover photo is derived.A perfect companion piece to Volume I which is currently available and a must have for true Fugitive fanatics.Bobbynear

This is the best episode guide yet on The Fugitive. The authors go into such detail and raise points I would never have thought of. I'd recommend it to all Fugitive fans. I hope another three books will follow, for seasons 2, 3 and 4!

The authors of this book put in painstaking effort to review each episode of The Fugitive starring David Janssen. They personally watch each episode more than once, research background information, and blend in their views stemming from what they have gathered from the characters and storyline before each episode, as well as real-life parallel history to either confirm or deny plausibility of plot.

I recommend this book very much as a companion to any Fugitive fan who is going through one or all of the episodes.

Mitch

The Guess Who What When & Where Picture Trivia Book Series
Dave Cutler
GreyCore Press 2004
2646 New Prospect Rd., Pine Bush N.Y. 12566
$17.95
Hardcover with spiral binding - 320 pg.'s
ISBN# 0-9742074-4-6
Reviewed by: Christina Francine
http://www.CFrancine.bizland.com

You say you know movies? Can you name a film by a single photograph with a bit of trivia to boot? Okay, how about specifics? Can you remember the actors? The title? When it was released? Who was the director? Well, Cutler's book will find out. What about your friends? Can they remember film specifics better than you?

This book is incredibly easy to use. A large spiral ring binding allows for fast flipping and the pages stay put. Each movie's picture and trivia questions are neat and organized. This makes instant quizzing and reference a breeze.

For each movie presented, Cutler provides two pages. On the left is a photograph from that particular movie and on the right; is the trivia. The trivia is broken into four sections. One section features `PICTURE TRIVIA' WITH FOUR questions (who, what, when, who) and are worth certain points. Another is titled `BONUS TRIVIA' WITH three questions, worth ten points each. The largest area covers interesting anecdotes and is titled, `ABOUT THIS MOVIE.' To the far right of the page and sitting at an angle, the answers to the questions; all in small print of course.

Book Mechanics:

*150 favorite movies
*Easy-to-hold, easy to pass 6x6 format with large spiral binding.
*Color and black and white photographs (depending upon film being color or black and white).
*Snappy colors, pictures, and questions.
*Protective sturdy cardboard case enabling quick and easy slide in and out use.
*Back matter that includes a listing of all the films featured with the companies that filmed them.

Book Excerpts:
(actual picture examples of outside cover, film photographs and trivia questions available at http://www.picturetrivia.com)

Who are the actors in this film?
What is the title of this film?
When was this film released?
Who is the director of this film?

Bonus Trivia
What classic rock song did the lead characters belt out in the "mirthmobile"?
In what city and state did they live?
To whose concert did they have backstage passes?

About This Movie
Before Austin Powers and Dr. Evil, there was Wayne and Garth, one of the more successful "Saturday Night Live" sketches to be parlayed into a feature film. The stars of this comedy about a pair of friends with their own local public access show have indelibly made their mark on popular culture with the catchphrase "Excellent!" and "Party On!"

The creator of this book, Dave Cutler, is an award-winning freelance artist. His images have appeared in leading publications and corporate literature for 18 years. His fascination for moviemaking began as a little boy and continues today. He's also published a children's book titled, `When I Wished I Was Alone,' Oct. 2003.

The publisher, GreyCore Press, says "This book is the first in a unique series of picture-based trivia books that use great b & w and color photographs to test reader's knowledge of their favorite entertainment pastimes." Their next in the series will be PICTURES TRIVIA: SPORTS EDITION, scheduled to release in 2005.

My Rating

*Quality - excellent
*Style of presentation and authenticity of facts, sources, etc. - excellent
*Ability to prove points - excellent
*Target audience or age group - anyone, especially movie buffs of all ages.
*Usage - easily used as a game for one or more.

Cutler's trivia book is a treat for those bitten by the movie madness bug. A playful way to test movie knowledge and memory. Perfect on a coffee table, a desk, or as a gift.

This book was purchased as a gift. The recipient was delighted with it.

It's a great book overall, well written and researched, full of
really interesting facts and trivia. I can heartily recomend it to anyone with an interest in the movies.
Brilliant stuff!!!

This is an absolute must have for any fan of classic film who refuses to let all those great facts disappear into obscurity. An absolute hit at any party!

This is the type of book, that once you pick it up, you get lost in it and can't put it down for hours. It's really fun for movie buffs and anyone else who has ever enjoyed watching movies..(and that's all of us!). The stills bring back so many memories and you feel as though you're enjoying the movie all over again. The book makes a great gift (for yourself!) or someone you love. I highly recommend it!

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RIF1M2NFS96YR The book started with Guillermo del Toro (GdT) recounting how Hellboy went from being one of his favourite comic books to become a Hollywood movie he would direct.

Major characters in the book have their own biography pages, providing a little background for readers, like me, who didn't read the original comic book series. That was helpful.

Conceptual art was plentiful and are accompanied by the movie script. Short captions by artists explained how the art was created to fit into the vision of GdT. This book's main subject is most probably artistic direction with function. From the captions, every thing drawn has form, function and purpose. Here's a little quote from GdT:

"Let me make something abundantly clear --- in case you've been on Mars --- NO RED!!! --- Except for Hellboy or the atmospheres that are intimate/related to him: BROOM, LIZ, GRIGORY, and/or colors in WWII. - GdT"

This book was heavy on character design, set design, movie story boards and props design. Movie frame stills were hard to find.

For Hellboy fans, getting this book is a no brainer.

There are more pictures on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for my blog's link.

Mike Mignola's HELLBOY is no longer a obscure character enjoyed by unwashed comic geeks thanks to Guillermo Del Toro & Revolution Studios.
A full finished script of the film is included, as well as some background stories on some key characters.
The book's preproduction art from Wayne Barlowe, Mike Mignola, Simeon Wilkins, & TyRuben Ellingson is no less than phenomenal. Creature, Prop, & Location designs are found throughout each page. Arguably, some of Wayne Barlowe's best designs can be found here. Even Guillermo Del Toro's sketches find their way into the book. This book makes for an excellent introduction to one of modern fiction's most unique characters.

Besides a complete shooting script and lots of commentary, this has tons of illustrations and concept art done by all the artists involved in the movie. It's wonderful to see Mike Mignola's and Wayne Barlowe's sketches following the development of all the various Hellboy monsters, characters and environments, and lots of stuff that didn't make it into the movie. A must for any fan of the film.

I was unfamiliar with the world of Hellboy prior to seeing the movie. When I did and when I ordered this book, I was blown away by the wealth of visual richness that inhabit the Hellboy universe. Being a collector of "Art of..." books, I realized that the strength of Hellboy lies in the visual galore. The book is fully detailed with drawings from every level of production as well as the closeness of working atmosphere between the filmakers and the creator of the original material not commonly known in Hollywood.

My only gripe in this book is that the structuring is kinda messed up and confusing, since the book mixes up the art section with the script.

A must have for art, comic and production design lovers, has lots new designs by Mignola Barlowe and other great artists including the prop makers. Includes beautiful pages illustrating both concept and the picture of the final prop supported by the commentaries and thinkings of the artist involved in the creation of that specific prop. It also includes the final shooting script, and images from Guillermo del Toro's notebook which are nice sketches and annotations depicting the first idea behind the final design of each character. Great!!! one of the best, just do not read it before watching the movie.

I first heard of David Skal from the Universal Classic Monster series of DVD's. David was on the accompanying documentary and did the audio commentary for Tod Browning's 1931 classic, Dracula. If you own the set and have run the documentary and, particularly, the commentary, then you've already experienced about three chapters of this book. What remains is a rich mine of details about every aspect of Dracula, the book, movies, and culture. And what a lot there is.

David's writing, like his speech, is precise, educated, and loaded with literary allusions. While no dilettante, I consider myself well read and was still left with the occasional "what the hell is talking about?" moment. The language is rich and occasionally reminds me of the mental images drawn by Anne Rice at the height of her powers. However, David is no snob and is not merely parading his impressive intellect - it's just that he knows so darn much about the subject.

And if I had any criticism of the book that would be it - David seems driven to exhaustively document every possible aspect of Dracula's existence. The detailed (and seemingly never ending) battles between Florence Stoker and the makers of "Nosferatu" is described in such detail that I wanted to scream "OKAY!! We get it! Nosferatu was a Dracula rip off and Flo didn't like it!!" But eventually the tale moves on and sets the stage for intricate negotiations between the Stoker estate and Universal. In retrospect (and considering how handsomely the studio profited) it's interesting to see that Universal bought almost unlimited use of the vampire for the paltry sum of $25,000.00 and is still making oodles of money hand over fist today. David covers all aspects of vampire lore from Byron's "The Giaour" (1813) to Mel Brooks' "Dracula, Dead and Loving It" (1995). And everything in between. Trust me, if it can be construed to be in any way connected with Dracula, it's in this book.

If you have any interest in gothic culture, or the movies that spawned it, this is a must have. Reading it is like enjoying an evening of conversation with a much beloved, if slightly eccentric, old friend, preferably over brandy in front of a glowing fireplace on a cold, cold night.

Down deep, we all agree with the fly-eating Renfield. That's why we can't get his Master out of our system. David J. Skal's book Hollywood Gothic explains a lot of the reasons why.

Hollywood Gothic is like David Skal's Screams of Reason: Mad Science and Modern Culture. Hollywood Gothic and Screams of Reason both take horror motifs we know mostly from movies and trace them back to literature, where they originated.

Screams of Reason looks at the mad scientist figure in fiction, from central European vivisectionists like Dr. Frankenstein to postwar American A-bomb scientists. Hollywood Gothic is more narrow - - it covers Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, the plays adapted from it, and then the movies inspired by it - - F.W. Murnau's silent film Nosferatu, then the Universal and Hammer horror films.


Skal goes into detail about Bela Lugosi's career as Dracula on stage and film. He also digs up a lot of interesting information about the Spanish-language Dracula made simultaneously with the Bela Lugosi movie by producer Paul Kohner and cinematographer George Robinson - - who was responsible for the look of later Universal horror films like Dracula's Daughter and House of Dracula.

Kohner fell in love with and married the real star of the Spanish-language Dracula, Lupita Tovar as Eva - - the Mina Harker character - - and who could blame him. Skal calls her a "truly ingenuous ingenue." In Mexico she could barely go out in public without being mobbed.

Except for Bela Lugosi himself, almost everything about Kohner's Spanish version is better than Browning's. (That's my opinion from watching the movies, not just reading Hollywood Gothic.) Skal quotes people who worked on Tod Browning's Dracula that Browning was barely paying attention to the movie he was making.

For instance, when Dracula welcomes Jonathan Harker to his castle from the top of the staircase, in the English version a huge spider web is off to the side behind Dracula, but in the Spanish version Dracula is framed in the center of the web. We see Dracula rise from his coffin in the Spanish version where Browning just shows him suddenly standing there. (Seeing Christopher Lee rise from his coffin, or be destroyed in it, was always a high point of the Hammer movies for me.) Every night Kohner's director George Melford looked at the film Browning's crew shot during the day and improved on it for their version.

But there was (and is) something in the idea of the vampire that makes readers and audiences forgive hack storytelling.

If you haven't seen them already, you should watch the films before reading Hollywood Gothic. The Universal Legacy Collection of Dracula contains the Lugosi film, the Spanish-language version, Dracula's Daughter, and Son of Dracula. (There's more, but those are the best. Universal's release of the Legacy Collections of Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man are the only good thing to come from the marketing of the movie Van Helsing.)

Hollywood Gothic has a lot of illustrations, many of which are theatrical and film ephemera from Skal's personal collection. (Yesterday I saw The Aristocrats - - Penn Gillette's documentary about the world's filthiest joke - - and one of the comedians was wearing a T-shirt with Dracula's face from the cover of the first Modern Library edition of the novel. SIDE NOTE: See The Aristocrats - - it's about how to tell a story and keep an audience hooked as much as it is about the history of blue humor.)

Reading Hollywood Gothic made me finally read Bram Stoker's novel. Because I've seen so many movies that tell the story I never read the book. While the writing style isn't great, at least it moves along, and you're introduced to Dracula right away.


I read over half of the 600-page novel The Historian - - apparently foredoomed to be a bestseller and a blockbuster movie - - and the character Dracula still hadn't made an appearance. I skimmed to the end and read the climax, but I was disappointed. When you build Dracula up as such a powerful being, it's hard to destroy him in a way that doesn't seem anticlimactic. (That's one of the reasons Kim Newman has given for why he started writing his Anno Dracula series - - if Dracula is such a terrible force, how could he be tracked down and killed so easily by an insane Dutch doctor and three upper-class twits who belong in the Drones Club with Bertie Wooster?)
And why do characters in The Historian struggle to find copies of Bram Stoker's novel at university libraries? It's been out in paperback all over the world since the early 1900s. Go to any W.H. Smith.

Filmmakers who've told the Dracula story understand something novelists sometimes don't - - Dracula shouldn't be just a menace offstage, he's the protagonist of the story. Dracula is the hero. He's the one we want to see - - and be. That's why our mothers were displeased when they caught us watching monster movies on TV when we were kids. Mom knew what we were thinking. The reason Stoker's novel works at all is because we're introduced to Dracula at the beginning, when Harker comes to Translyvania. What makes the novel disappointing is that we hardly see Dracula again after that.

But Skal reminds us that "La sangre es la vida." Dracula isn't going anywhere.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION: Check out Vampires: Los Muertos (see my review), the sequel to John Carpenter's Vampires, and an underrated movie. To me, it's a vampire movie that shows the monster as a Third World victim of globalist Van Helsings. (A rich white American woman can get the medicine she needs to stay alive (un-undead), while the brown vampire, stolen from her peasant family by a rich landowner, has only one way to get the sangre she needs. (I also like vampire movies that show how vampires might experience time differently than mortals - - Queen of the Damned also does this in an interesting way.) There's a scene of slow-motion slaughter in Los Muertos that the monstrous child in me responded to. Los Muertos also has the most sexist line I've every heard in a vampire movie, but you still identify with the female master vampire.

David J. Skal is as readable as ever is this newly revised edition of the definitive Hollywood Gothic as he covers the history of Dracula from his creation by Bram Stoker to the various and multiple version on screen and stage. The thrust of the story is, of course, on the novel and the iconic Bela Lugosi movie, with an additional nice, but smaller, chunk on Nosferatu. The author is particularly effective in combining, in an interesting fashion, the creative, financial, and legal elements. His analysis is always clear and interesting and will definitely send the reader on a viewing frenzy. Vampire movies seem always to be streaming forth from Hollywood and Dracula is and always will be the most tempting of the bunch. This book brings this fascination to life, as it were. A very good job.

I read this book years ago. It's good to see it's coming back into print.

Skal charts the history of Stoker's book, beginning with early drafts extant, following the tangled film history, including the legal battles over Murnau's "Nosferatu", Universal Studio's struggle to get the rights for the Lugosi pic, and everything that happened after.

It won't change your life, but its fascinating stuff. Skal's style is quick, clean, and to the point. This book is a lot of fun, giving insights into publishing, film, theater, and the audience reaction to and participation in all of those mediums. A must for all vampire buffs, film students, and those who are curious about the inner workings of popular culture.

In "Hollywood Gothic" David Skal tells the story of "Dracula" that came after the classic of gothic horror was published in 1897. It's a fascinating, fact-filled tale of colorful personalities, legal battles, Hollywood politics, and a culture still captivated by the King of Literary Vampires. The book's seven chapters begin with author Bram Stoker, end with the Count's recent incarnations on stage and screen, and include the most insightful analysis of "Dracula"'s origins that I have read in the course of my minor obsession with the novel.

Chapter 1 explores "Dracula"'s literary and theatrical predecessors before moving on to discussion of the intellectual and sexual climate into which the book was published in 1897, the life and elusive character of its author Bram Stoker, and how the novel was received in its own day. David Skal does an impressive job of pulling together the relevant details, from diverse perspectives, of the novel's birth.

Chapter 2 details the legal battle waged by the Bram Stoker's widow, Mrs. Florence Stoker, to suppress the first cinematic adaptation of her husband's novel, 1922's "Nosferatu", the unauthorized German production directed by F.W. Murnau, now recognized as a masterpiece of silent cinema. Chapter 3 sees Mrs, Stoker finally authorize an adaptation to British dramatist Hamilton Deane, whose wordy, plodding "Dracula" play nevertheless achieved great financial success, attracting the attention of American theatrical producer Horace Liveright. Liveright enlisted journalist John Balderston to rewrite the play for Broadway and make it a smash hit on this side of the Atlantic.

Chapter 4 moves to Hollywood for the protracted negotiations over "Dracula"'s film rights. "Dracula"'s path through the early 20th century was mined with legal battles, and it is a credit to author David Skal that he is able to make interminable and constantly mutating negotiations into absorbing drama. Chapter 5 follows the winding road to the production of the first Hollywood "Dracula", the 1931 film starring Bela Lugosi, which, although made cheaply and lazily, was the first horror talkie and a financial life preserver for Universal Studios. Happily, Skal has dedicated Chapter 6 to the superior Spanish language version of "Dracula" that was filmed simultaneously, on the same sets, as the English version of the 1931 film, but with a different producer, director, cinematographer, and cast.

Chapter 7 tells us what became of the principle person's associated with the two 1931 films. Then it follows the legacy of "Dracula" from the 1930s forward, through its incarnations in film, plays, musicals, ballets, and other performances. Appendix A is a list of notable stage performances of "Dracula", 1897-2003. Appendix B is a list of about 200 films, 1921-2004, which feature the "Dracula" character or name. Thankfully, there is an index.

In outlining the contents of "Hollywood Gothic", I may have made the book seem dry. But the story of "Dracula"'s continuing life in film and on stage is as lively as the novel that inspired it -and it is written a good deal better. David Skal's tireless research and engaging style never fail to impress. "Hollywood Gothic" is an absorbing literary and cinematic history that "Dracula" fans shouldn't miss.

A sneak peek behind the Green Acres phenomenon. Contains exclusive interviews, publicity photos, trivia & episode guide.

Once again Stephen Cox writes an amazing book! Like its "siblings", this book is full of incredible photographs, rare trivia and interesting tid-bits. The painstaking research is always evident in this author's books. If you love Oliver, Lisa, Fred Ziffel and gang, then you're going to love this book!

The Hooterville Handbook gives the reader unknown knowledge about the creation, and development of one of the kookiest sitcoms, "Green Acres". It supplies various essays regarding the impact of and interesting things about Hootervile (also Green Acres) and all of its locals. What was so special about Arnold the pig? WAS that salesman married or not? Such pressing questions are masterfully answered by Mr. Cox. Only one glitch, that seems to occur in most of Cox's Classic TV books; he doesn't seem to enjoy writing, watching, or doing anything involving his profession. He writes with a cold air of superiority, which could come across as professional, or rudely distant. Overall, however, this book was fascinating, a good read, and had the insights of the cast, crew, and random essay writers.

I saw Eddie Albert signing a copy of this book at a nostalgia event in Los Angeles in 1998 and I had to go out and buy this book. It's fantastic. You will need no other book to find out about this surreal and wonderful TV classic. Author Steve Cox has done a great job covering the bizarre characters and the exquisite cast of actors who made up this neat show. The photos are rare and presented in the book with a nice design and the Foreword by my favorite character, Hank Kimball, is hilarious. If you want a book about a Sixties TV show and you like Paul Henning's programs ( The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction) then you'll love this book. Don't pass it up.

I have had this book in my possession for a long time. It is a necessary tool for any one that wants to know all there is to know about "Green Acres". All of the episode descriptions, guest star information and original dates of airing are listed. There are also interviews with the cast members. Again this is a must have item.

I am watching the I Love Lucy DVD sets right now. I loved to watch the TV show when I was a little kid right up through adulthood. This book is a great help while watching the DVDs. I can look up an episode that I really loved and read more about it. Memories can be stirred up or I can find out more about the show for the first time. My only regret is that the book isn't comprehensive. It deals with the best episodes and not all of them. I would love a book that deals with all the episodes but maybe it would be too big.

This is a really nice look at I Love Lucy. The pictures are great. I just wish they would have been able to include more episodes.

" I LOVE LUCY " WAS 1 OF THE BEST TV SHOWS IN THE 1950'S AND IS THE BEST SHOW EVER." I LOVE LUCY" CLASSIC MOMENTS BOOK IS A MUST FOR ANY "I LOVE LUCY" FAN. IT SHOWS YOU THE CLASSIC MOMENTS IN WHAT THE BEST TV SHOW THAT WAS EVER MADE.LUCILLE BALL AND DESI ARNAZ MADE WHAT THE SHOW WAS,ALSO VIVIAN VANCE AND WILLIAM FRAWLEY WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS FRED AND ETHEL MERTZ AT 323 E.68TH ST. I FINSHED THIS BOOK AND I TRULY ENJOYED IT.

This is a great book for behind the scenes pictures of the cast and the stage they worked on. I have owned this book for about a year, and come back to look at it all the time. Lucille Ball is my favorite actress, and I just love her to pieces! This book contains photos of their set and everyday life. It also conatains some stories of their lives, so if you are a Lucy fan like me, don't miss this book!

this book is a must have for every LUCY-DESI fan all over the world. it contains beautiful pictures and a lot of information about each episode. it is part of my collection and I see myself coming back to it everytime to look something up.is one of the most complete books I have ever encountered.