Television Books

Norman's book is great for offering an historical account of the screenwriting trade, something that is usually overlooked in the Syd Field age. The only problem I had personally with the book is that the author seemed to become a little enamored with the auteurs of the 70s toward the end and didn't really talk about the dedicated screenwriters as much. While I think the stories about guys like Coppola and Lucas are interesting and eye-opening, it would have been nice to hear more about the trials and tribulations of the people whose names weren't above the title during those years.

Overall, a great book, though. It should definitely be on the core reading list of any screenwriting program--from the community group to the graduate level.

Academy award winner Marc Norman's "What Happens Next: A History of American Screenwriting" is as entertaining as a good movie. It can be studied as serious movie history--his description of the forces that moved the early movie industry from the East coast to the West is as good as any I've ever read--or perused as titillating, yet intelligent gossip. The men and women who wrote the words and stories so frequently disparaged and often disregarded by directors, producers, and heads of studios come alive in "What Happens Next" through anecdote, letters, and reminiscences.

From William Faulkner to Anita Loos (the highest paid screenwriter of her day), from Quentin Tarantino to Charlie Kaufman, this book is a delight for any movie fan or writer, or anyone who's ever enjoyed a juicy bit of scandalous gossip.

This exhaustively researched book starts at the very beginning then steps through each of the decades since D. W. Griffith's famous movie, all in a very entertaining manner.
Not satisfied simply with recounting the history of screenwriting and screenwriters in all their various guises, the author serves up cogent analysis about the business of movie making then comes to the conclusion that whatever else comes down the pike, in whatever form and whatever else screenwriters are called, there will always be a place for the content generator, or composer as he would prefer.
Excellent reading and enjoyable.

As a "recovering screenwriter," I can bear witness to the sometimes painful, sometimes hilarious authenticity of "What Happens Next."
It's a history that needed to be told and Marc Norman has done it with head and heart.

This book is phenomenal. Not only is it well-written and comprehensive, but it fills a horrendous gap in the legacy of screenwriting and its impact on movies.

Other than Ian Hamilton's terrific work on the early years of screenwriting, this book immediately becomes the cornerstone, the bedrock of the genre -- and for very good reason. It's not just a book about the writers themselves, but how the art and craft of screenwriting have evolved in the context of film. What we get is an alternate point of view that has for too long been neglected in entry-level cinema history.

Starting from Edison, Edwin Porter and D.W. Griffith, we travel the well-trodden (but freshly invigorated) path through the studio system and on into modern movie-making -- with the twist that the writer has not been brushed aside. In fact, we immediately see how crucial key scribes have contributed to the development of the art.

It's a cliche in Hollywood that the writer is abused and overlooked (ask a striking member of the WGA if you don't believe me). But other than a work stoppage, nothing can rectify the place of the writer in the public's awareness more than a historical overview with the screenwriter placed in his or her rightful place -- at the center of the creative process itself.

This is not a scree or a polemic, but a finely written, highly entertaining look at Hollywood. I find myself referring to it all the time. In fact, I've recreated my entire Netflix queue around areas of my movie history that could use some screenings. And I've become a big fan of Anita Loos! (You too will discover that at least 50% of the early screenwriters were women, with Anita being its first breakout star.)

Like a great film, this book immerses you in a world and rivets you to your chair. If you are a writer or a curious film buff, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy. It will reward you with many great nights of delight and discovery -- a claim not enough movies themselves can make these days.

This book reads like a dream. The language flows effortlessly and the imagery of even the simplest scenes creates vivid pictures in your mind.

It is a psychological tale, yet the pages turn like a mystery. The two main characters are sisters Jane and Blanche. Both past middle age, lamenting the loss of their youth and the personal injustices life has befallen them. Blanche is crippled and at the mercy of Jane - wonderfully delusional and unbalanced. The terror mounts as matters get slowly but progressively dark, as Jane spirals into a deranged world. Jane reminds me of a sinister child in many ways... selfish, cruel, spiteful and completely delusional. And like a child - actions have no consequence, feelings are flippant and opinions are made on a whim. A situation that is a living hell for Blanche, crippled in her room cut off from all contact to the outside world.

As Jane becomes increasingly unhinged, Blanche is subjected to the horrors of Jane's mind that manifect themselves in the most creative of psychological tortues. i.e There is an instance where Jane brings to Blanche's room her lunch tray, and leaving it pointedly covered, exits the room. When Blanche uncovers her lunch tray and settles in to eat... "She saw now what she had not seen before; the entire meal had been carefully sprinkled over with fine, white sand." And therein, the chapter ends. It leaves you to ponder the mental state of a person who would prepare a delightful meal, deliver it on a silver tray and go to the effort of painstakingly covering it with sand. Horror? No... but that's just the beginning...

Clearly, the reader sides with Blanche and waits with baited breath to see her escape, yet Jane is at times portrayed achingly real. You find yourself empathising with this sad, disturbed, fragile creature.

Having seen the movie, i can say in this instance the book and movie complement eachother. Both offering different things, both fabulous!

The two most interesting things about the novel are that
given the film's popularity the book has been out of print for
so long and that it demonstrates how ingeniously the filmmakers
used the components to create a film that stands on its own.
For nowhere in the novel are the descriptions of Jane or Blanche
in any way representative of Bette Davis or Joan Crawford. To
be sure, the key elements are here--the vaudeville prologue,
the rat and the parakeet, the relationship between Edwin Flagg
and his mother, the dance on the beach at closing--but the novel
has very little dialogue and none of the film's wit. Readers
waiting to read Baby Jane saying "But ya are, Blanche, ya are!"
will be sorely disappointed. The novel takes itself serioiusly
and is rather dark and frank about the physical abuse of Blanche
by Jane that at the time must have been shocking. Of course
what made the story shocking is something we know now all too
well--that aberrations of all sort take place behind closed doors
with neighbors unaware--and while the baroqueness of the setting
and the characters lives are the stuff of which ficiton is made,
the abuse factor gives 'Baby Jane' its one salient point of
credibility. Those fascinated by the film will learn much
by reading the novel.

I absolutely loved baby jane it was such a great book nomatter how bad it was lol. i love the movie also and its soooo hard to find that soundtrack i love that hip song they play when blanche is trying to throw the letter out the window it was hilarious baby jane is one of the all time best thrillers !

The two most interesting things about the novel are that
given the film's popularity the book has been out of print for
so long and that it demonstrates how ingeniously the filmmakers
used the components to create a film that stands on its own.
For nowhere in the novel are the descriptions of Jane or Blanche
in any way representative of Bette Davis or Joan Crawford. To
be sure, the key elements are here--the vaudeville prologue,
the rat and the parakeet, the relationship between Edwin Flagg
and his mother, the dance on the beach at closing--but the novel
has very little dialogue and none of the film's wit. Readers
waiting to read Baby Jane saying "But ya are, Blanche, ya are!"
will be sorely disappointed. The novel takes itself serioiusly
and is rather dark and frank about the physical abuse of Blanche
by Jane that at the time must have been shocking. Of course
what made the story shocking is something we know now all too
well--that aberrations of all sort take place behind closed doors
with neighbors unaware--and while the baroqueness of the setting
and the characters lives are the stuff of which ficiton is made,
the abuse factor gives 'Baby Jane' its one salient point of
credibility. Those fascinated by the film will learn much
by reading the novel.

Film fans who love the movie version will enjoy the book on which it was based, but should be prepared for how very different the novel is. Readers will see what an arduous task it was to adapt as a screenplay...and what a commendable job they (and the director & stars) did, as well. Since virutally no one nowadays will read the book first, it serves as an interesting character study into the psychology of the Jane and Blanche characters. And if anyone saw the ghastly TV movie remake starring the Redgrave sisters and John Glover, you will hope they hold on tightly to the novel and leave well enough alone!!

Ed Watz' thoroughly researched and well-written book on the films of Wheeler and Woolsey deserves the highest praise. He approaches their career by examining their work on a film-by-film basis, providing very complete cast and credit information, production history, as well as biographical information on the two comedians. The book also includes a nice forward by their frequent co-star Dorothy Lee, who worked with the team since the 20s. Lee, who died in 1999, shares many memories of working with the comedians, and gives valuable insight into the making of these films.

Highly recommended for students and fans of stage and screen comedy.

This "sleeper" book, which I picked up because of my curiosity about the subjects (they are appearing regularly on the Turner Classic Movies station) is a revelation. Positively one of the best researched and entertaining books about a comedy team from the movies' golden age, the 1930s. To watch Wheeler & Woolsey is to understand what vaudeville-type comedy is (was) all about. Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey have been overlooked in favor of teams like the Marx Bros. or the 3 Stooges. This book corrects that oversight. It is also a highly readable accounts of Hollywood politics behind the scenes at some of the major studios. If you're a fan of vintage movie comedy, get this book.

Wheeler and Woolsey were second to Laurel and Hardy in the heart's of movie going audiences of the 1930's. Since then, however, their star has faded and their acomplishments have been relegated to footnote status in the history of the golden age of comedy. Thanks to Edward Watz, Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey are alive and kicking again in a definitive history of the lovable pair and their films. Exhaustingly researched and lovingly executed, the book chronicles the career ups and downs of the most unjustifiably forgotten comedians in the history of show business. Personal biographies are included, as well as detailed accounts of all of their features and short subjects. Long time leading lady Dorothy Lee lends her first hand account of the way things happend with a refreshingly candid foreward. She also shares her memories of each of the films that she participated in with a fascinating view that only an insider could relate. The later years are chronicled in the final chapter, featuring accounts of Bert Wheeler's career after the untimely death of his partner. All in all, this book ranks along side the superlative Laurel and Hardy, The Magic Behind The Movies, and Abbott and Costello in Hollywood, as one of the most enjoyable and informative demonstration's of film history as can be expected. If you love film comedy, you should not be without this book.

I love this book! To my knowledge, the only book around about Wheeler and Whoolsey. It made me eager to see more of their films. The author did a great job of research, which couldn't have been easy considering how long ago these comedians were active.

Ed Watz's book 'Wheeler & Woolsey' is a superb film history of a great and sadly forgotten movie comedy team. This volume evokes the golden days of both Vaudeville and Hollywood, as we follow the rise and sad fall of Wheeler & Woolsey. Mr. Watz also sets straight the historical record in that the boys were second only to the great Laurel & Hardy in the 1930's and certainly ahead of their rivals the Marx Bros., the Ritz Bros., and the Three Stooges! Readers of this book will want to go out and see the films of Wheeler & Woolsey. Watz's book is a lost treasure.

I'm a guidance counselor in the Philippines and i bought this book before i started working in a high school. Most of the kids who seem to have difficulty telling me their thoughts about faith, about losing hope about family would resort to openning the book (book cut) and for some reason, getting the right answer to their problems.Most kids feel that God is just around through this book.It made them feel that God has his ways of showing them that "God Loves Me" is real. I believe that's all they need to feel... they are loved by GOD.

I thought this book was fantastic. It's very inspirational and perfect to read again and again at any time. And because its quotes are from the fantastic t.v show its even better.

So far I have read through the entire book twice, and each time I have found a different quote that strikes me in some way. Whatever type of day you are having...whether it be good or bad, this book is an inspiration. It has a little something for everyone. And it's small enough to carry along with you in a backpack or briefcase so you have it with you whenever you need it!! :-

This is a very inspiring book! I've read it many, many times myself and still find a quote or two that makes a difference in one small way or another! It's a great way to lift of your spirits on a bad day, or brighten an already great day!

This book is the second from the hit drama Touched By An Angel, and is as good as the first one. It features alot of the "simple", yet truthful messages of God and His love for mankind that are spoken each week by the angels on the show. No matter what trial or situation a person may be in, they will find healing messages from the quotes in this book. My all time favorite is: "God created us all in His image. There are no second-class citizens, no minorities, no human being greater or lessor than any other. We are all the same in His eyes."

Ozzy is considered a legend in metal music, but not to me. The real deal in metal is Lemmy Kilmister. This is his story, and its a highly enjoyable read. I highly agree with his take on what people say about the Ace of Spades cd and alot of other things he says is very true. Ozzy can enjoy retirement and quit making a fool of himself. The real deal is over sixty, rocking harder then you ever have, and is better then you ever will be. His name is Lemmy.

Lemmy takes the reader on an interesting journey of his sex drugs and rock n roll lifestyle over many decades. He explores all of his excesses in life in a thoroughly entertaining and well written book. Perhaps the only disappointing thing for me was his failure to mention his friendship with German metal queen Doro Pesch, which was the main reason i purchased this book.
Overall it is a great read and highly recommended for fans.

I loved this book. Not only does it tell the reader some hilarious stories of Motorheads crazy antics, it also tells us interesting facts about the music business, history, politics and not to forget drugs, sex and rock n 'roll. Some of the stories in the book were so great I ended up calling my friends and reading exerts from it. This is a must read not only for Motorhead fans, but also for any fans of rock, or music in general.

Lemmy Kilmister is a legend for the music, but also his attitude, like he said 'I dont drive a porsche', although he is a living legend. The book gives an great view of music through the 60's and 70's. The best thing about this book is how it gives you that knowledge of what was behind the music when they made it. You find out all those things from Lemmy, the rumours such as his poisinous blood.I flew through this book just wish there was more.

Let me guess . . . the editors and bean counters put a limit on the word count? I could have easily read double the amount of pages on the life of this rock n roll legend and still wanted more.
Never a dull moment, though. I laughed out loud. I pondered Lemmy's wisdom. And, I learned a great deal about rock n roll--the art, the life, the philosophy, and the shady businessmen out there who exploit it.
I flew thru this book. It's hard not to admire someone like Lemmy, who is uncompromising and unapologetic. I see this man as someone who's had the guts to live life on his own terms--believing in himself and always staying true to his art.
I've been a Motorhead fan for only a short time. Only knew of them from the "Ace of Spades" video that I had first seen 20-some years ago. I always remembered the thunderous bass & drums and the searing guitar riffs. But, what I recall even more so was the frontman shouting the lyrics. "Who is that guy?" I had asked myself. The image remained in my head. But, thanks to our wonderful radio staions, driven by $$$, failing to promote bands, and ignorant of rock n roll, my image of Motorhead slowly faded.
Years later, with the Internet at my disposal, I researched this band, getting drawn to various interviews. I bought the CDs and read anything on this band that I could dig up. I wasn't disappointed--I only regretted that I hadn't checked them out years earlier. But I digress . . . coming across this book was the cherry on top of my heavy metal sundae!
The writing is terse, often humorous. Lemmy goes off on tangents, but I never minded, as I found every word interesting. Quite often, he'd tell a story, and I was left wondering, what happened after that? What did you think? Where are these people now? The interactions with other bands was particularly enjoyable, but like a drug, I still wanted more.
Anyway, Lemmy and Motorhead can count on me to be a dedicated fan, always awaiting their next CD. As for "White Line Fever" I'm reading it again. I enjoyed it that much.
Always,
Bill Kozlowski

I had to write this review after reading the previous reviewer's comments, which make little sense. THE OUTLAW is a fantastic read, and, more importantly, the first book that really grapples with the strange, magic reality of Willie Nelson. It is virtually un-put-downable, full of character and verve, honesty and insight.

Even as I tore through it I suspected there might be a split between those who read it: for so-called 'loyal' Willie fans who treat him like some kind of God, it may not appeal. Those who are looking for an uncomplicated, unthinking homage to Willie will not find it here - there are plenty of those kinds of books on the shelves, but this is the first Willie book to really grapple with the complexities of the man; it is a warts 'n' all study, although affectionate, knowledgable and fair, and presents him and his amazing world in a thorough and truly new way.

It is clearly and cleverly written, with little up-close vignettes of Willie in between each chapter, and with cameos from all the major players in Willie's life. I bet Willie read it with a wry chuckle and thought, 'Yep, they finally got me!'

A wonderful book, highly recommended to all Willie fans who don't wear blinkers, and all other music fans.

I enjoyed the book, and felt that it presented a pretty thorough, well-rounded view of an interesting person. I do think that Mr. Thomson knows the music scene very well, although he unnecessarily inserts some of his personal condescending viewpoints of some currently popular country artists. I knocked the rating down a star because it needed better editing - there are several typos that should have been caught.

I gave the book as a gift, and they thought it was great

Great insight to one of America's greatest song writers and musicians. I've followed Willie for over 30 years and I'm not a country music fan. Willie reaches everyone who loves a good song.

Awesome book! Fills in a whole load of gaps in Will's life that I often wondered about. I've been a fan for 25 years and hoped this kind of 3-D book would come along - it's not only very astute on his life and character but also absolutely BRILLIANT on his music.

This collection of photos captures the early years of the Beatles; the first section was shot when they are just starting to become popular in England. In these shots, you can see some uncertainty in their faces, as they are not yet accustomed to being the objects of public attraction. The later pictures, which document their rise to fame in England through their first tour of the United States, show them much more comfortable in front of the camera.
Hoffman was an excellent photographer and he captures the Beatles as they are growing into their public personas. It is clear that they trusted him, the later photos show a much more relaxed set of lads, there are some truly honest candid shots of them just being guys. If you are interested in the Beatles and what their lives were like in the early sixties as their fame was just beginning to blossom and after it became a full flower, then this is a book that will interest you.

This book is a treasure chest of professional photographs and anecdotes. This book has something for everyone, from the inveterate Beatles' fan to people who are becoming familiar with them. This book is indeed a masterpiece that will long register in the minds of those who read it.

For anyone who is interested in music (and who isn't today?), this book is different in the kind of material in it. The book is comprised of pictures from the early Beatles' career, and have a captioned story line given by their first professional photographer,the late Dezo Hoffman. Any music lover should take a look because if it wasn't for the Fabs, you may still be listening to your Big Band and Swing Time, with a little Blue-Grass on the side.. (I know most of you probably aren't into that!) I thought it was entertaining, considering I am a Fab Fan.. Some pictures never-before seen.. Some interesting comments.

if you are a Beatles fan you must see it, and return in a paper time machine to the beginning of the most fantastic line of the music story.

This book is a collection of very early pictures of the Beatles, some of which we have seen on promotional material. In my opinion several of those pictures are the Beatles' best. It is also very interesting to read Dezo's comments as to where and when the pictures were taken. He was their first official photographer. Great memories, great book!

A Woman's View, by Jeanne Basinger, was rightfully the most interesting history based book I have ever read. Although it can be lengthy at times, it touches on subjects in which I had barely any knowledge of, and shows how it was reflecting the time period of the 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's. Seeing as though this was about women right after the women's rights movement in the 20's, this book shows how Hollywood used female movie stars to incorporate the countries opinions on them. With that, I thought the introduction chapter on the genre of these types of movies was absolutely spectacular. It really made me have so much respect for women during these time periods. They had such class and such morals, which, sad to say, is starting to slowly fade away, or can at least be argued that it is.
A few of the sections of this book that I thought was the most interesting, were the ones about twin women in movies and the fashion and glamour of women. Before reading this book, I never really thought into the idea that being a woman in Hollywood, and acting a certain role represented something as a whole. These actresses were not just playing the part of their assigned character; they were representing women as a whole. With their fashion, their speech, and their actions, I found it truly inspiring to know that they were stepping out of their comfort zone and taking risks with the roles that they chose to act out.
One chapter, entitled Duality, included how Hollywood used twins in their movies to represent one specific point in these movies. This chapter, being one of the more detailed ones, showed how twins portrayed particularly two things: the good and the bad. The good twin, usually dressed in fashionably acceptable clothes and appropriate styles, was usually criticized by her twin, which represented evil, or the bad. I thought it was very much a shock to me how many of the so called "bad" twins in these Hollywood movies were constantly pretending to be their twin to confuse their family, friends, or even their husbands! Many of them did this only to find some sort of revenge on their twin for whatever reason they could think of. In my mind, I would have never thought of this as being presented in movies during these time periods, but I also have to remember that this was also a time when women were really standing up for what they believed in and stepping out of the ordinary molds they had always been put into.
What was so fascinating about this book was how Basinger found a way to represent women in film in such a respectable way, and not so much trashy as some may have viewed it at the time. Women like Loretta Young, Kay Francis, and Greta Garbo are true heroines when it comes to paving the way for all future actresses, and also for open our countries eyes to the lives of women, and really shows that they were becoming less and less like housewives and more like the hardworking entrepreneurs that they really were and always will be.

This book articulates for me why I have always loved this genre of film. The author highlights the work of many fine actresses of the period whose work is overlooked in many film books. Although the ideas they espoused may be dated, the desire of women to see the concerns of their private lives played out on screen still exists. I believe that the next century may bring a resurgurce of this type of film.

This is one of the most enjoyable "film studies" I have ever come across, essentially about "soap opera" 'women's pictures' of the 1930's and 1940's but expanding into the 1920's and 1950's a bit and touching on other types of films and the great women stars from this time period. From Kay Francis (who is the cover girl and Basinger's main muse for this tome) to Rita Hayworth, this is a wonderful book for any one obssessed with films from the era, it's like finding a new best friend to talk about these classic films. Basinger writes informatively yet in plain academic-free language making the book a pleasuer to read - and she knows when to crack wise and when to be serious, no mean feat. It's a skill a lot of "movie historians" don't have.

If you love movies you must read Ms. Basinger's marvelous study of "women's pictures" which encompasses the stars that acted in them, the directors that guided them, the writers that gave them life and the studios that distributed them. Hollywood history, women's history, art history all rolled into one readable and thought provoking volume. This one is right up there with Louise Brooks by Barry Paris as one of the best books on film and those who created it.

Jeanine Basinger is to be congratulated for shedding light on a too-little studied aspect of Hollywood history. She puts the movies and the stars she discusses in the context of how movie-going women perceived them at the time. In doing so, she concentrates not on the "greatest" stars, but rather on secondary figures like Kay Francis, Ann Dvorak, and Loretta Young, women who had (sometimes surprisingly) immense popular appeal while they were making movies but whose careers either faded, made the transition to character rather than leading-lady status, or moved to television. She reminds us that the "woman's picture" was far more than the drama of suffering and renunciation (like "Now, Voyager", "Back Street", or "Autumn Leaves") we most commonly think of today. She broadens her definition to include virtually any film that either focused on a woman as its central character or concerned itself with traditionally "women's" concerns.

What she makes clear is that, despite the pronounced limitations of the world view of the woman's picture, it represented a varied and vigorous film culture in which (as she writes) "on the screen ... the woman will decide. She is important. She matters. She is the Center of the Universe."

"A Woman's View" is that rare thing -- a scholarly examination of mostly obscure figures and works that is at the same time an excellent and entertaining read.

The best World's most Comprehensive and Up-to-Date Guide to Broadcasting.

This is a must have for Shortwave Listening. A wealth of information.

for anybody who have a problem to verify listening of the radio.
It is like litle cook book which you must have altough he know to cook.

Localy not so precise (maybe for litle cauntrys)

All you need to make DXing: info about countries, local & international radiostations of LW, MW & SW; interesting lists, ecc.

As a long time and long distance radio listener, I find this invaluable
to identify radio signals, where they are from and the language being
used.
Leo

I recommend this book to my screenwriting students.

Alan Armer will take you through every step of creating your screenplay masterpiece with the most valuable and practical advice you could ever wish to have. His words are worth reading to anyone who cares about the craft of screenwriting.

I was most fortunate to be a screenwriting student of Alan Armer's at Cal State Northridge and I can tell you this man knows ALL when it comes to the subject of writing and how to inspire people to follow their dreams. His books are probably the most valuable tool any screenwriter could have. If you are serious about your writing, you will buy this book.

Alan armer lays out the fundamentals of screenwriting in an easy to understand and apply way. Since reading the book I have taken three classes from him. He is incredible and his book can only improve your writing. It's worth the price!

I've been a professional television writer for twenty years, including "Remington Steele," "Hill Street Blues," "Northern Exposure," "Picket Fences," and "Early Edition." I have won an Emmy and Golden Globes for my work and have taught at UCLA Extension among other places. For my money, Alan Armer's book is the best guide to the actual work of professional screenwriting that exists. This is the real thing. It is honest, wise, and free of jargon. It contains useful exercises so that both instructor and student can concentrate on the work at hand rather than spend a lot of initial time and emotional energy discussing an aspiring writer's personal work, a process which often puts unnecessary and unfortunate obstacles in the way of learning the craft. Armer doesn't try to sell you any shortcuts, smake oil, or magic formulas. Quite the contrary, he encourages you to open your mind and imagination through the discipline of solid craftsmanship. He understands the process of writing. He gives many examples about what works and what doesn't and explains why. He includes priceless interviews with some great writers. It's simply a marvelous textbook from a great teacher, a lovely man, and a master practitioner of the art.