Movies Books

On August 13, 1931, Captain Joseph Medill Patterson of the "New York Daily News" sent a telegram to Chester Gould, the man who created Dick Tracy, that read: YOUR PLAINCLOTHES TRACY HAS POSSIBILITIES STOP. Within the pages of "Dick Tracy: The Official Biography" you will find the great adventures of the greatest detective in the funny pages, his unforgettable enemies from Flattop to Pruneface, his allies from Pat Patton to Diet Smith, his 2-way radio (late 2-way TV), and Tess Trueheart, his long-suffering sweetheart and eventual mate. Jay Maeder, a top editor at "The New York Daily News" might be providing an official biography, but he is doing so from a pop culture perspective. Consequently, we begin with Dick Tracy, square-jawed and straight-shooting, a creation of the time when crime was rampant in 1931, but trace his entire career, both in comics, radio and the movies. As you would expect, this book is loaded with black & white strips as well as 24 pages in color.

The character that Chester Gould created was absolutely dedicated to getting rid of the crime gangs afflicting the big city. Like the real-life Eliot Ness, Dick Tracy was brave, incorruptible, and sworn to making the world clean again. The catalyst for his career was the murder of Tess Trueheart's father in his deli by a robber. Gould had worked on earlier comic strips, "The Radio Cats" and "The Girl Friends," when he came up with the submission idea for "Plainclothes Tracy." The idea was refined before the first strip appeared on October 12, 1931, with Dick calling on the Truehearts for dinner. But the Big Boy, the first official Tracy villain, sent some boys to rob the Truehearts deli and Emil Trueheart ended up dead with Tracy vowing a blood oath over the body. The rest is the history that Maeder is detailing.

The approach of "Dick Tracy: The Official Biography" is basically chronological, beginning with the effort to bring Big Boy to justice, which was followed over the years by the Buddy Waldorf kidnapping, working as a G-Man across state lines, and, of course, all those battles with the Grotesques which would end up defining the strip for the world: The Blank, Pruneface, Flattop, Wormy, Flayface, and the rest. Maeder also devotes chapters to not only Tess and Junior, but the atonement of Stooge Viller and Steve the Tramp, which shows there was rehabilitation as well as justice in the Dick Tracy universe. Then there is Sparkle, B.O., and the other Plentys, along with Moon Maid and the whole Space Period of the strip. The result is not a strict chronology, but more of a constant circling forward, which reflect an effort to provide each chapter with thematic unity. Bu the primary goal remains to tell the story of how Chester Gould created a great and enduring American icon.

However, Maeder deals as well with the twilight period of the story of Dick Tracy when the culture turned against the character as he does with the original glory days and the later period of cultural retrieval. The major strength of the book is the way he puts all the pieces together, so that there is a sense of progression and character growth. Maeder is able to not only provide a concise description of Dick Tracy dealing with a terrorist-bomb incident or an adventure with Nilon Hoze, but also takes pain to show what was different or special that time around. I did not exactly work it out, but it sure looks like Maeder literally accounted for every "Dick Tracy" strip ever drawn by Gould. While I was never all that interested in the comic strip I found this to be a fascinating look at the over half-century that Dick Tracy fought his never-ending battles against the most memorable bad guys ever to embody evil. Oh, and do not forget to pay attention to the great tips provided in those Crimestoppers Textbooks!

This overview of the DICK TRACY comic strip coincided with a plethora of books that were part of the hype machine for Disney's movie extravagaza, and it was the best. Written by Jay Maeder, an historian of sorts for New York's Daily News, this "Official Biography" lovingly revisits the plot lines and characters of Chester Gould's 70 year old comic strip and brilliantly summarizes what it has become: an enduring pop cultural epic.

When Gould first created the exploits of his young gangbuster he was merely following the crime filled headlines of the day with crude, childlike artwork and a storytelling style that read like a cornball silent matinee. This, however, was the Depression and readers starving for breathless thrills found themselves hooked. Gould, who himself stated he never knew how the plotlines would evolve, became both a master puppeteer and an enthusiastic front row spectator. Soon, the plots became more intricate, the criminals became uglier, the violence became unflinchingly bloodier (a bold move when you consider today's hightened sensitivity), and the crude artwork became a style onto its own. All the while Dick Tracy, and his immediate family of cops and others became like friends we earnestly knew.

That was the beauty of comic strip storytelling from its golden age in that it was to unfold like a saga and in the case of DICK TRACY it was a saga that spanned the life of the 20th Century. The Depression, World War 2, Eisenhower's 50's, the psychodelic 60's- Tracy rode his police car through all of this and writer Maeder critically keeps his eyes on how the strip stayed the course (or derailed in the 60's...remember the Moon Maid?) and managed to entertain ever changing taste. With plenty of illustrations and a cogent reading style, this out of print book is an underrated gem.

This is the best movie/novel tie in I have ever read! The book was just as good as the movie. Not for the weak at heart. Grade:A+

Die Hard With A Vengeance was an excellent book as well as the movie. Caution though: there is a lot of swearing in this book.

This book was my favorite, and I'm more that sure that no Digimon book is like it. This was such a relief and surprise of how they defeated Devimon. Well, I'm not telling you anymore since it's so good, except that you can't miss this one.

This book was my favorite, and I'm more that sure that no Digimon book is like it. This was such a relief and surprise of how they defeated Devimon. Well, I'm not telling you anymore since it's so good, except that you can't miss this one.

I teach a university level TV production course. Even though this book has been out of print for years, It's the one I use for my class. Armer's writing is easy to read and understand. The book contains many 'sidebars' by other noted producers and directors that reinforce the body of text. It's simply the most complete text I've found for teaching about studio production.

I got this book because I couldn't find the one I was looking for, but I'm glad I found this. It had everything I was trying to learn about and more. The book goes into detail about the basics of filmmaking, how to set up the cameras and actors with great detail of how to "frame" a shot according to principals of art (Golden Mean, balence, repetition etc.) and how it relates to screen.

Look no further. This is THE one book you need to get you started.

An outstanding collection of today's Hollywood directors and their personal stories. It's one of those books for which you are glad somebody told you about it since its fascinating lessons will stick with you a lifetime. The approach of this book is not so on the nose as interview volumes often are but original and intriguing: it lets the directors (almost half of which are foreign-born) explain their colorful backgrounds, working their way up from either inside or outside of Hollywood - what they did in the past has now entered their very filmmaking and, boy, it shows: listen to Bryan Singer's crazy story of how he co-founded a Nazi club as a boy and his Jewish mother had to rip the swastika armband off him. Or David Fincher on how the studio messed up his Alien3 movie. Or Barry Levinson (Rainman, Good Morning Vietnam) being motivated about pretty much nothing as a kid - until he discovered that this was his strength... A truly remarkable read until the very last page.

...if only I could give 6 STARS... Movie directors Inarritu of "Babel", Frears of "The Queen", or Fincher of "Zodiac", Mangold of "Walk the Line", Pollack of "Out of Africa" - the list of great names goes on and on - when I saw the 21 star directors featuring in the table of contents I was surprised I hadn't heard of the interview book yet when a friend recommended it to me - also that I am the first reviewer here. I am a great fan of Director volumes such as "My First Movie" or "Breaking In" and this is just as informative as these two - and even better in my opinion. It presents directors from all different backgrounds and you get a real understanding of where these directors are coming from and what makes them tick.
I am a second year film school student and this book really blew me away - I just couldn't put it down. The interviewer does an outstanding job in making the directors explain their lives and the Hollywood fortress from the inside. Great anecdotes, great storytelling! Of course luck was sometimes involved in their careers, but only ever after hard work and never giving up even in the face of countless struggles. I really recommend this book to everone who is afraid the system doesn't have a place for them and loves to learn from the very finest storytellers of today's Hollywood - the best film school education you can get for your money! Thanks for putting this book out there.

I am delighted that John Coldstream's biography of Dirk Bogarde is now out in paperback, which means that more readers will have access to this compelling story of one of the finest actors of the 20th century. And, to my own pleasure, the paperback makes it easy to read in bed or carry in a pack, removing all worry about damaging my cherished hardcover version.

Without reserve, I can say that this is one of the best biographies I have read in years and certainly the finest that will ever be written on Dirk Bogarde. From the minute one picks up this book, as beautiful in paperback as in hardcover, one knows that it is not the usual star biography filled with gossip, written merely to pump up a star's image or to make a quick profit. Coldstream's engrossing look at the public and private lives of this icon of British film is impossible to put down. The first page quickly turns into 200 pages.

Coldstream has the rare perspective of friend and one who worked with Bogarde, which brings a special understanding and appreciation of the private Bogarde to this biography. Yet, unlike writers who set out to prove theories, Coldstream's balanced, extensively researched approach is the ultimate tribute to Bogarde. The reward for readers is a compelling view, written with candor, insight, and affection.

Given unlimited access by Bogarde's family to private papers, photos, and rare home movies, Coldstream unfolds a life that holds us spellbound. He illuminates the early influences on Bogarde, his military years, journey from matinee idol to serious actor, second career as a writer, and knighthood in 1992, giving us behind-the-scenes looks at some of the biggest names and players in British film and Hollywood.

We are privy to Bogarde's thoughts on the Rank and Hollywood Studio systems, on acting, the rigors of filming, and his unaccredited revisions of inadequate scripts. We hear his usual candid, often affectionate comments on the famous people who graced his beautiful homes on any given weekend: Ingrid Bergman, Ava Gardner, Judy Garland, Charlotte Rampling; directors Cukor, Losey, and Visconti, to name a few. Bogarde knew them all. Equally fascinating are their thoughts on him, the private man and actor, in the countless interviews Coldstream conducted across the globe and the extensive papers and firsthand sources he examined in the course of his research.

But Coldstream gives us more than the glitter of Bogarde's career in film. There is Bogarde at his beloved farm in Provence, the stray pets he sheltered, his natural talent for writing and the evolution of his 15 best sellers and later years writing for the Daily Telegraph, to the dark days when illness overcame his partner Forwood and then stalked Bogarde. Coldstream does not shy away from addressing questions readers have had about the elusive Bogarde, no easy image to capture. A continuing question has been whether his 40-year relationship with agent and companion Tony Forward was a homosexual one, something Bogarde denied to his death in 1999. To Coldstream's great credit, he does not speculate but lays out what he finds and leaves it to the reader to make up his mind on this and other aspects that continue to swirl around this fascinating man.

The paperback version has retained the elegance of the hardcover edition and its extensive chapter-by-chapter sources, appendices, and comprehensive index, including the wonderful endpaper drawing of Bogarde by Richard Cole, all of which reveal the taste and intelligence behind this effort. There are some 130 photos many never published, including Bogarde's own drawings. An added perk is a new cover photo of a younger, ever handsome Bogarde in his late 30s at the top of his game as reigning matinee idol, a throne he eagerly abdicated for more complex roles. A perfect choice, the photo reveals Bogarde's discerning intellect and inner discontent, which drove him to make such daring, independent career choices.

Coldstream has truly captured the spirit of Bogarde, the actor, writer and man, as well as the caustic wit yet kind and loyal friend. Few books leave one with the satisfaction of having spent time and money well. This is one of them.

This is one of the best biographies I've read in years and certainly the finest written on Dirk Bogarde. From the minute you pick up this beautiful book, you know that it is not the usual star biography filled with gossip, written merely to pump up a star's image or to make a quick profit. Coldstream's engrossing look at the public and private lives of this icon of British film is impossible to put down. The first page quickly turns into 200 pages.

Coldstream has the rare perspective of friend and one who worked with Bogarde, which brings a special understanding and appreciation of the private Bogarde to this biography. Yet, unlike writers who set out to prove theories, Coldstream's balanced, extensively researched approach is the ultimate tribute to Bogarde. The reward for readers is a compelling view, written with candor, insight, and affection.

Given unlimited access by Bogarde's family to private papers, photos, and rare home movies, Coldstream unfolds a life that holds us spellbound. He illuminates the early influences on Bogarde, his military years, acting days, career as a writer, and knighthood in 1992, giving us behind-the-scenes looks at some of the biggest names and players in British film and Hollywood.

We are privy to Bogarde's thoughts on the Rank and Hollywood Studio systems, on acting, the rigours of filming, and his unaccredited revisions of awful scripts. We hear his candid comments on the famous people who graced his beautiful homes on any given weekend: Ingrid Bergman, Ava Gardner, Judy Garland, Charlotte Rampling; directors Cukor, Losey, and Visconti, to name a few. Bogarde knew them all. Equally fascinating are their unvarnished thoughts on him, good and bad.

But Coldstream gives us more than glitter. There is Bogarde at his beloved farm in Provence, the stray pets he sheltered, his natural talent for writing and the evolution of his 15 best sellers, to the dark days when illness overcame Forwood and then stalked Bogarde. Coldstream does not shy away from addressing questions readers have had about the elusive Bogarde, no easy image to capture. A continuing question has been whether his 40-year relationship with agent and companion Tony Forward was a homosexual one, something Bogarde denied to his death in 1999. To Coldstream's great credit, he does not speculate but lays out what he finds and leaves it to the reader to make up his mind on this and other aspects that continue to swirl around this fascinating man.

This is also an elegantly done book of rich colours, fine paper, extensive appendices and index, which reveal the taste and intelligence behind this effort. There are some 130 photos many never published, including Bogarde's illustrations for his books, with a stunning front cover photo of the handsome Bogarde and one taken by Charlotte Rampling on the back cover.

Coldstream has truly captured the spirit of Bogarde, the actor, writer and man, as well as the caustic wit yet kind and loyal friend. Few books leave one with the satisfaction of having spent time and money well. This is one of them. And when it ends, we wish for more.

Although this book is geared toward young teens, adult readers will be enchanted with it as well.

The confusion and fears of the main character, 13-year-old Marilyn, are clearly presented and the way that Marilyn deals with them creates an entirely believable story. At times, Marilyn acts much older than her age and at other times, she seems much younger. Exactly as real-life teens do!

In "Discovering the Long Way Home", Julie Larose has created an exceptionally well-written account of how parental emotional abandonment feels from the child's perspective. This issue alone could have made this book depressing for the reader but Julie has filled the pages with hope, caring and understanding. Then, she continues the action to bring the whole issue to a most satisfying resolution.

Young teens will enjoy reading this book for Marilyn encounters many situations that they will be able to relate to but for parents everywhere, this book is a "must read" for it is truly enlightening!

Marilyn's life is not as fun and exciting as you might think. Sure, her mom and dad are famous actors, and they're rich, and she's traveled all over the world -- how could that not be amazing? Well, mostly because both of her parents are so busy working, getting randomly married and divorced, and maintaining their "images" that they're too busy to be interested in Marilyn. The reason she's seen so much of the world is because she keeps getting shipped from parent to parent, based on whose life she'll interfere with the least, or who's tired of having her around. She's had a ton of different half- and step-siblings, but never a family, and never any real friends.

Marilyn has had enough. She's taking charge this time. She's going to run away. Better yet, she's going to make it look like she's been abducted. Then her parents will have to pay attention to her. And when the press gets a hold of the story, they'll have to at least pretend that they care.

Needless to say, things don't quite work out as planned. The first person she hitches a ride with sees through some of her stories. He doesn't know who she is, or why she's running, but he takes her to a place he knows is safe. The small town he drops her off in is completely different than anywhere she's ever lived. And the people... They are unlike anyone in Marilyn's memory. They seem genuinely good and caring. It's almost too bad she'll have to leave and go back to her real world. Speaking of her world, why hasn't there been any mention of her disappearance in any paper?

Marilyn is forced to take a good look at her ideas of life and people. She eventually forges her own path to a life she almost lost, but not before she gets herself into some trouble, meets some people with much bigger problems, and finds exactly what she wasn't looking for.

This is an interesting look at the darker side of Hollywood life, as well as a view of the brighter side of humanity. It's pretty hard to find yourself when there is no one to guide you.

The book is told by Marilyn, with regular trips into her memories. She is a very real and developed character, as are most of the characters. Her history is disturbingly believable. The public knowledge of her parents is a great touch, and done very nicely. I found the very end to be a bit abrupt, but it doesn't really detract from the story itself. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by this book.

Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman

The Disney Days calendars have been a staple on my desk for years. Combining images from animated features and shorts with release dates and historical tidbits, they help satisfy this Disney fan's cravings. A bit of flip-chart animation decorates one corner, just for fun. There's even a bit of uncluttered space for those barbarians who write notes on calendar pages. Now, if I could just get them to split the weekends into two separate pages it would be perfect.

This kind of calendars are beutiful, and for all who likes movies, let remember all scenes and memorable phrases from each character.

I'm a fan from block calendars, and definitivily Disney Days 2006 day to day calendar, is a good choice to every one who likes Disney (and children) movies.

This book was "written" after the events that took place in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End from the perspective of the surviving members of the East India Trading Company. It has dossiers on Captain Jack Sparrow, the young Jack Sparrow (from the book series), Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, etc. It is like a pop-up book in a way as there are letters you can open, a set of pirate flags (from the Pirate Lords), a replica of one of the cursed Aztec gold pieces (not really a coin as it is more like thick cardboard), etc. If you are a fan of the films, you will NOT be disappointed!

My 8 year old nephew couldn't put this book down with all the secret compartments, maps and surprises. Actually my 4 year old daughter couldn't put it down either, I had to tell her it was her cousin's christmas present and she would have to let him show it to her. Great gift for Pirates of the Caribbean lover's.

My daughter who is going to be 5 very soon loves this item. It combines her loves - Princess motif and music in an electronic device!

Even though I didn't enjoy the stories that much, I enjoyed the music. It was insturmental music as well as an insurmental version of a song from the movies. I hope someday there will be more MYPODs with books