Video Books

This book is well researched and considering the enigmatic subject, has quite a lot of information. It will take you from childhood to 1997 and "The Devil's Advocate", and it has many wonderful photos. It also has a very detailed filmography which I have found useful, and for Keanu fans, the face on the cover will be reason enough to own this book !

What can you say about a man who is so enigmatic and shuns any attempts to have his private live revealed...

Well, Mr Robb does a good job of revealing the Reevester as best he can, but asking those around him...

I like this book ~ it's accurate [yeah, what do I know about Keanu ~ A LOT!!] and shows him in a favourable light.

Us fans ain't got a lot to go on and I am pleased that someone has made an effort to get to know The One.

It is up to date as well, with revisions made to co-incide with Keanu's up and coming movies.

AND HAS LOTS AND LOTS OF DROOL WORTHY PIX OF KEANU so it's a must for the fans...

And....

If ya want to get a sense of what Keanu is all about ~ BUY THIS BOOK!!

Brian Robb's fan-oriented book, "Keanu Reeves: An Excellent Adventure", admirably fulfills its purpose. It supplies Keanu's numerous fans with his life's story, and pics galore. There is a pic of this excellent dudestud in black leather pants and boots which will take your breath away, whether you're gay or straight!

I highly recommend this book to all fans of the Ke-Master. He rules!

All one ever needs or wants to know about Keanu Reeves, one of Hollywood's most intriguing actors, can be found in this book by Brian J. Robb. Originally published in 1997, it was updated two years ago and contains a section on "The Matrix" as well as entailing his (then) upcoming movies such as "Thumbsucker", a newly-released film I saw recently.

Keanu is "sui generis". There is no other actor quite like him and I mean that in a good way. Like other actors he's had his moments of triumph and suffered from films that didn't do well, but Keanu seems to emerge from all of this stronger and with a larger range of roles each time. There have always been critics who find Keanu less than convincing as an actor, but in the many films in which I've seen him, Keanu is always compelling and often displays real talent. (If I had to pick a favorite, I most liked Keanu in "Speed")

It's hard to imagine a biography about someone who is just in his early forties, but author Robb has combed his subject's life and found much to relate. Besides the complete list of Keanu's films, about which Robb goes into great detail, the actor's life apart from the screen is covered as well. It is a good thing to know that most of the actors and actresses who have worked with Keanu find him to be a very nice guy who tends to prefer a quieter life off-camera...that is, when he's not bike riding or performing with his band, Dogstar.

This book is replete with photographs which make a wonderful addition. The writing is crisp and although Robb's book is largely informational, he steers clear of a "kiss and tell" biography. For those of us who enjoy Keanu Reeves, I highly recommend this book.

Notwithstanding the fact that I read probably at least 300 books a year, I have never reviewed a book on amazon.com before. But "Keeping Kids Reading" is so inspirational and helpful that I decided to share my enthusiasm. Ms. Leonhardt, a veteran English teacher, clearly explains how to ensure your kids become lifelong, passionate readers. Since the day my kids were born, this has been a goal of mine. When my kids were quite young, I read aloud to them constantly. (If you haven't read Jim Trelease's "The Read-Aloud Handbook," it's also excellent). But once my guys reached elementary school and started to read independently, I felt a bit lost. Sure, I still read aloud nightly, but have been feeling I could / should be doing more, but wasn't sure what. Ms. Leonhardt's delightful and compelling book has provided the missing link for me. I now have a whole toolkit of practical ideas to ensure that my kids become avid readers. Her book reassures me that I've done many things right and has given me plenty of ideas to ensure my boys' continued reading success. Thank you, Ms. Leonhardt, for making the wisdom you've gleaned in 28 years of teaching in the classroom available to all parents. This book is going to all of my mom friends for Christmas this year!

This is Leonhardt's second book, published three years after Parents Who Love Reading, Kids Who Don't: How It Happens and What You Can Do About It (see my review). In it she again shares her experience as a parent and an educator and breaks some new ground from the previous volume. As early as page 19 she flatly states, "Children must love reading. This goal is absolute. No one--teachers, parents, librarians, curriculum directors, book reviewers--must do or recommend anything that puts [it] in jeopardy...[A]ll of the skill exercises that children dislike--but are 'good' for them--are not allowed if they cause a child to dislike reading." She later adds that, as a parent, you shouldn't "try to force [your child] to read [a specific book] or argue her out of her dislike of [it]." From a teacher, this is, of course, a radical stand: doubtless all of us can remember plowing through some such title as "A Tale of Two Cities," or picking Shakespeare to pieces, because they were "required reading" (even some of the librarians I know, who have somehow managed to retain their love of books despite such experiences, recount them with bitterness). Leonhardt explains that in the high-school classes she teaches, any kid can get an A for his weekly reading if he reads 200 or more pages *of a book or books chosen by himself*. She also tells how all the young avid readers she has interviewed either grew up in homes filled with books, or lived within biking (or walking) distance of a library. (Having done both myself, I can testify that they are indispensable--although once a kid is 10 or 12, I would add that bussing distance, or perhaps nearness to the child's school, is also permissible.) And, as if picking up on my previous review, she declares that "Turning kids off...by insisting on too much analysis and criticism is winning a battle only to lose the war...[Many kids are] turned off by English teachers who insist that they analyze difficult poems they don't even like..." She points out, too, that reading often leads to writing, which, since most teens are reluctant to talk to their parents about their troubles (or just can't find the words to express their feelings), may help your kids to stay out of trouble as they enter "the angst-filled teen years. You want them home writing poetry and stories when they're troubled--not looking for the nearest drug dealer." Most important, she describes four basic "reading paths" and explains how to use them to find books that kids--at any age and reading level--can enjoy, books that will make them want to read not only the current title but more books, and eventually adult-level and even "difficult" or "classic" books. While many books about kids' or teens' lit break books into broad categories, such as animal stories, adventure, or nonfiction, this is the first time I've seen anyone try to separate those categories according to the type of kid who may be attracted to them.

As might be expected of a teacher, Leonhardt unfortunately shares the unhealthy fixation we have about college in the US; she describes how, on a visit to Ireland, she told young people there that to get a "good job" here, you have to attend college--which severely disappointed her listeners, who wanted to know about jobs for "ordinary lads like us." (It's true, of course, that we're moving rapidly away from an industrial economy, but there are still plenty of useful, good-paying jobs that can be learned through apprenticeship (like welding or construction) or at community colleges (which continue to prosper).) But the chief problem I have with her is that, for the most part, she tends to ignore a great many fine old books--in all possible paths--in favor of books that are current, recent, or in print, even as she praises libraries for offering the books that aren't. She says, for example, that "...most multicultural literature pushed in the schools is boring even to the group it showcases." Yet I can remember reading many fascinating books about what was then called "children of other lands," books like Robert Davis's Pepperfoot of Thursday market,or Louise Rankin's Daughter of the Mountains (Newbery Library, Puffin)--many of which are now OP, and which had the great merit of (because of their age) not being "dumbed down" as so many more recent titles are. One of her recommendations is to "keep trying poetry," particularly for elementary-schoolers, yet she doesn't suggest themed poetry anthologies like the many assembled by William Cole or the Brewtons. In describing Path #4, "Action/Adventure Reading With Realistic Elements," she laments that readers of this type (almost always boys) find a paucity of books, especially fiction, about sports or military subjects in libraries; for example, she suggests only Matt Christopher, without seeming to realize that he can lead to, say, Lester Chadwick's Baseball Joe series (a Stratemeyer Syndicate offering to be sure, but so are Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, both of which she praises as the kind of books that can ignite a child's love of reading) or Clair Bee's Chip Hilton or John R. Tunis's long string of sports novels. She also totally ignores the girls (often tomboys, if not necessarily sports freaks) who may be of this type (and having been one, I can say without fear of contradiction that they do exist--and they enjoy "boys' books" too). And she doesn't even mention such excellent (and prolific) authors for older readers (boys and girls alike) as Stephen W. Meader and G. A. Henty, both of whom are currently being brought back into print by specialty publishers, or Joseph A. Altsheler (all of them adventure tales focusing on "realistic," as opposed to magical or relationship-oriented, action). It has long seemed to me that if we want our kids to read "good books," we have to make *all* books available to them, and in that Leonhardt and I agree; but so many libraries subscribe to ruthless age-based weeding policies, and so many publishers are so totally focused on the bottom line, that our youngsters grow up completely unaware of the treasure trove of well-written and interesting older titles that we baby-boomers knew and loved. I hope that in a future volume Leonhardt may begin to relate these authors to her "fourfold path." The fact that she hasn't in this one is the reason I give it only a four-star rating: she's definitely on the right track as far as she goes, but she hasn't yet gone quite far enough.

Having just finished this book for the third time, I figured it was time to give the author kudos for this wonderful book. My husband and I are lifelong avid readers and it is very important to us to share our love of reading with our children. This book has given me so much help in choosing books for my children by helping me to identify their reading "paths". For a while, I kept offering the wrong books to the kids, and I was baffled by their disinterest. Now that I understand their preferences better thanks to this book, I am so much more successful at offering books that they will like. It really works! My boys read all the time; I'd estimate at least 3 hours a day of books they choose.

Over and over, this author repeats the message to trust your children. That can be so hard to do, which is why I've needed to reread the book several times. But it works! I've watched the children move from easy readers to longer books to Tolkein, and I've known that they're doing it in their own time. If I start worrying that they've been reading "below their level" or conversely that they may be choosing books that are too hard, I remember the goals of making them love reading, and have a habit of reading, and I realize they are on the right track.

I rarely take the time to review books that I read, but I feel strongly enough in favor of this one to chime in with BIG thumbs-up.

If you love reading the way I do, there is very little more important to you than raising children who love to read. I thought this book was wonderful. The author is obviously passionate about getting kids hooked on reading, and believes that you should do just about anything to acheive this goal. She points out how many parents that don't hesitate to spend tons of money on toys and clothes balk at buying kids books, and points out how books can be found at lawn sales and book sales by the ton for very cheap, and how money spent on books is an investment of the best kind. She advocates letting kids read what they enjoy reading, and letting that lead to reading you find more worthwhile, but wants us to keep in mind that just getting them to READ is the goal. Her kids loved Richie Rich comics (as did I as a kid!) I love her writing style---it's very honest and direct. A great book!

Larry Clark books? how many are in print? 1. Tulsa 2. Teenage Lust 3. Kids 4. Heroine (Jan. 2000) 5, anything else? please help...i'm desparate! thanks. peony@compac.net

I think that this book was great.it tells about the dangers of sex and drugs....me being a teenager it really tought me a lesson.

When I saw "Kids", it really hit home. About a year later, I was clawing my way around a library, and I found the book, "Kids". I looked at work inside there, and it was great. Unlike most books made from movies, you HAVE to have seen the film to enjoy the book, because the book is the screenplay. I couldn't get enough of it. It was wonderful. I think it's a great piece of art.

When a book or a movie can both be as true as the world that we live in, than you know that it has succeeded. Such is the case with KIDS. As a teenager growing up in the rural life, you don't see very many pieces of art that reflect upon what truly is happening in society with the younger generations. While critics might say that it is too "touchy" or "sick", they don't realize that this is what is really happening in America today and must either deal with it, orchange their opinion on it because what they call this movie or book, is what they call American teenage society.

THIS BOOK IS OK NOT AS GOOD AS THE COWBOY AND THE SENORITA. I WANT A BIO ON ROY ONLY. HE IS AMERICAN MUSIC AND MOVIES, RADIO AND TV AS WELL AS THE SONS OF PIONEERS. HE IS AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT HISTORYONLY ECLIPSED BY CROSBY AND AUTRY. I LOVE HIS STORY WITH EVANS THEY HAD A GREAT MARRIAGE AND LOVE. BUT A GRAT BIO WRITER HAS TO DO ROY ONLY.

TRUE FACTS- DONT LISTEN TO DUMMY DUSTY WHO GIVES FALSE INFO. TRIGGER WAS HALF QUATER HORSE AND HALF THOROUGHBRED! ALSO TRIGGER WAS NOT THE FATHER OF TRIGGER JR. AND IN FACT HAD NO BLOOD TIES TO HIM AT ALL. THAT WAS CALLED HOLLYWOOD PR DUSTY!

THIS BOOK IS OK HAS LESS MISINFO THAN THE COWBOY AND THE SENORITA BECAUSE THEY USED DOPEY DUSTY AS THEIR MAINE SOURCE.

Professor Raymond E. White, author of numerous published articles concerning Roy Rogers and cowboys in film, presents King of the Cowboys, Queen of the West, an in-depth biography of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, two of twentieth-century America's most celebrated personifications of the American West mythos in popular culture and entertainment. King of the Cowboys, Queen of the West naturally focuses on both actors' careers in film, recordings, television, and even comic books, but also covers their meticulous maintenance of their public image and how their Christian faith was incorporated into their performances. Vintage black-and-white photographs intersperse this solid and highly readable reference for fans and media scholars alike.

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans' fans and students of popular culture will appreciate especially the voluminous and what must be virtually definitive references and documentation on the more than sixty-year career of the cowboy couple. Although some of the material goes back to before they met and became married. The eleven appendices begin on page 117 and run through the start of the notes on page 485. In addition to the filmography and discography of each noted in the review's heading, the appendices contain material on each's radio and television appearances, song compositions, appearances in comic books, inspirational books by either one or both (many written with a coauthor), and a "log" of more than 275 "A Date with Dale" radio programs between 1984 and 2000 noting location, topic, song, and guest; these were 30-minute "spiritual talk shows" hosted by Dale Evans. The biography preceding the appendices goes over the success of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in the different areas of popular entertainment while also devoting chapters on them as symbols of the mythic American West while being at the same time exemplars of the wholesome family life which was a prime social ideal in the post-WWII years from the late 1940s to the early '60s when they were at the height of their popularity.

Popular Press 3 presents "KING OF THE COWBOYS, QUEEN OF THE WEST: ROY ROGERS & DALE EVANS", definitive source on two American icons for more than sixty years of Roy Rogers (birth name: Leonard Franklin Slye)...birth date November 5, 1911 in Cincinnati Ohio...left us July 6, 1998 in Apple Valley, California...Dale Evans (birth name: Frances Octavia Smith), birth date October 31, 1912 in Uvalde, Texas...left us February 7, 2001 also in Apple Valley, California...written by Raymond E. White a professor emeritus of history at Ball State University, White has published numerous articles on Roy Rogers and on cowboys in film... whose accounts of thrilling adventures of B-Western heroes during the Saturday matinees of yesteryear takes us back to our childhood, family and friends...in dual biography shows how Rogers and Evans through their Christian faith into their performances, each testifying the longevity of their careers, inclusive radio logs, discographics, filmographics and comicgraphics for historians, collectors and fans, this is a wish come true, reliving those wonderful years from the past through the pen of Raymond E. White..

Roy was a top box office draw for Republic Pictures...when you went to see him on the big screen, you got exactly what the marquee said...plenty of thrills, action and hard riding with a song or two thrown in for good measure...Roy was a member of several music groups named the Hollywood Hillbillies, Rocky Mountaineers, Texas Outlaws, and his own group, the International Cowboys...then came 1934 he formed a group with Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer called the 'Sons of the Pioneers'...he was known as Leonard Slye, then Dick Weston, and finally Roy Rogers...in 1937 Roy went solo and made his first starring film in "Under Western Stars" (1938), featuring Smiley Burnette (Gene Autry's old sidekick), Earle Dwire, Jack Rockwell, Earle Hodgins, Jack Ingram and of course Trigger the smartest horse in the movies...Roy appeared in almost 100 films...then came television with "The Roy Rogers Show"(1951) ran on CBS television network from October 1951 through September 1964.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: (Chapter, Title and Page Numbers)
Illustrations - IX
Preface - XIII
Chapter 1 - Roy Rogers and Dale Evans: Symbols of the Mythie American West - 3
Chapter 2 - Radio Roundup: Roy Rogers and Dale Evans on the Air - 24
Chapter 3 - Waxing the West: The Recording Careers of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans - 45
Chapter 4 - Quick Draw: The Comics of Roy Rogers, Dales Evans and Trigger - 67
Chapter 5 - Adventures in Paradise Valley: The television Careers of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans - 86
Chapter 6 - The Bible Tells Me So: Christianity in the Careers of Roy Rogers and Dales Evans - 104
Epilogue - 113
Appendix A ~ Roy Roger's Filmography - 117
Appendix B ~ Dale Evan's Filmography - 166
Appendix C ~ Log of Roy Rogers' Radio Appearnces - 174
Appendix D ~ Log of Dale Evans' Radio Appeances - 213
Appendix E ~ Roy Roger's Discography - 230
Appendix F ~ Dale Evan's Discography - 300
Appendix G ~ Roy and Dale's song Compositions - 340
Appendix H ~ Roy and Dale's Comics - 345
Appendix I ~ Roy and Dale's Television Appearances - 400
Appendix J ~ Log of A Date with Dale - 459
Appendix K ~ Dale Evans Roger's Inspiration Books - 479
Notes - 485
Bibliographical Essay: In Their Own Words - 505
Index - 517

SPECIAL FEATURE BIOS:
1. Roy Rogers (aka: Leonard Franklin Slye)
Birth Date: 11/05/1911 - Cincinnati, Ohio
Died: 7/06/1998 - Apple Valley, California
2. Dale Evans (aka: Frances Octavia Smith)
Birth Date: 10/31/1912 - Uvalde, Texas
Died: 2/07/2001 - Apple Valley, California

Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 as a member of the "Sons of the Pioneers" and elected again in 1988 as Roy Rogers "King of the Cowboys"...Roy got his horse "Trigger" in 1938 and rode him in every one of his films and TV shows after that... "Trigger" died in 1965 aged thirty-three...Roy's dog's name was "Bullet" and appeared in almost as many of his films as "Trigger" did...Roy's theme song, "Happy Trails", was written by Queen of the West and his wife Dale Evans...inducted (with his wife Dale Evans) into the "Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum" in 1976...inducted as a member of the "Sons of the Pioneers into the "Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum" in 1995 just three years before his death...Dale Evans married Roy Rogers on New Year's Eve, 1946. Rogers ended the deception regarding Tommy. Rogers and Evans were a team on- and off-screen from 1946 until Rogers' death in 1998. Together they had one child, Robin Elizabeth, who died of complications of Down's Syndrome shortly before her second birthday. Her life inspired Evans to write her bestseller "Angel Unaware"...Evans went on to write a number of religious and inspirational books...For her contribution to radio, Dale Evans has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6638 Hollywood Blvd. She received a second star at 1737 Vine St. for her contribution to the television industry..From 1951 to 1957, Dale Evans and her husband starred in the highly successful television series "The Roy Rogers Show", in which they continued their cowboy/cowgirl roles, with her riding her trusty buckskin horse, Buttermilk. In addition to her successful TV shows, over 30 movies, and 200 songs, Evans wrote the well known songs "Happy Trails" and "The Bible Tells Me So"...Roy and Dale personified the romantic mythic West that all America believed in when they saw the couple on the big screen and small tube every week.

Great job by Raymond E. White and Popular Press 3 Publishing, everything you wanted to know about "The King of the Cowboys and Queen of the West"...little-known facts about a well-known cowboy and cowgirl...Don't miss this one...now appearing on Amazon and Popular Press 3 Publishing ...get your copy today. Great reading in the days and weeks to come...I guarantee it!

Total Pages: 550 Pages ~ Popular Press 3 ISBN 978-0-299-21004-5 ~ (7/17/2006)

this is an awesome product to get if you saw and liked the movie "Kingdom of Heaven". wonderful behind-the-scenes shots. the pics are awesome!!! not to mention the fact that Orlando Bloom, one of my fave actors, is in it!!

If you enjoyed Gladiator you should love Kingdom of Heaven. It has all the thrills and color and then some...and it's far more authentic. This is an epic film filled with color and colorful characters. This book points out the details and should really be inspiring to up and coming film makers. The use of flags and banners is especially strong. I think you'll learn a lot more about the Art of film making from this book, a superb collection. Try it!

The latest entry in the acclaimed "Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook" series, Kingdom Of Heaven: The Ridley Scott Film And The History Behind The Story is the definitive film documentary of "Kingdom of Heaven", the large-scale historical epic about the Crusades that pitted the forces of King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem against the armies of the Saracen general Saladin. Directed by Ridley Scale and starring Orlando Bloom, the commentary is in two major parts: "Kingdoms in the Holy Land: The Crusades and the Film Story" and "Swords and Stones: How Kingdom of Heaven Was Made". This informative guide to the film and its making is enthusiastically recommended for fans of the film, as well as professional, academic, and community library Cinematic Studies reference collections.

I already saw this movie three times. It's sooooo amazing. The book has lots of beautiful pictures and interesting information about the movie.
For everybody who loves the movie, this book is a must have. And of course the screenplay which is coming out in june.

If you are wanting more information on the James Bond movies (background stories on how they got made, info on how various actors came to be Bond, ratings of the movies, etc.) then this is the book for you. At over 200 pages, the tome certainly isn't short on information.

The authors definitely have their favorite, and there is room for argument with some of their ratings, which makes the book even more interesting. They rate each Bond movie in a variety of areas (Villains, Women, Plot, Action, Bond, Gadgets, Dialogue, etc.)

I've found this to be a book I go back to quite often. It's great to read right before or after I've watched a Bond DVD. It illuminates some of the background on actors, producers, directors, locations, etc.

Highly recommended for the Bond movie fan.

"Kiss Kiss Bang! Bang!: The Unofficial James Bond Film Companion" by Alan Barnes and Marcus Hearn is a very good book on James Bond info. Even though unofficial it has good information. I like it.

Alan Barnes and Marcus Hearn's KISS KISS BANG! BANG! is an essential companion book on the cinematic world of James Bond. I like the way the authors choose to take 10 essential elements film by film and critique them. KISS KISS BANG! BANG! is quite insightful and interesting reading. I also enjoy the very handsome layout of the book, which only enhances the reader's interest. The book is also profusely illustrated with very unique photographs not associate with other official books on the cinematic James Bond. This is a well thought out and well-intentioned book. I highly recommend it. If you are a James Bond fan it is quite essential.

Unlike the "official" James Bond compendiums written before it, "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" offers a broader, more objective view of the history of the James Bond film franchise. While the finished product could have used a polish from a real editor (there are typos everywhere,) the raw material contained here is worth the read alone. Everything from Fleming's early failed attempts to bring his hero to film, to Saltzman and Broccoli's instrumental casting of Sean Connery as the first James Bond is documented and seemingly well researched. Each film production receives it's own chapter, From "Dr. No" to "Tomorrow Never Dies" including the non-Eon produced "Casino Royale" and "Never Say Never Again." All chapters open with production stories as recollected by the cast and crew and includes initial reviews by film critics (a real plus here) who reflect on the sexual and moral perversion that audiences succumb to when viewing a James Bond film. The authors close each chapter with a 10 point fan-boy rating system, grading everything from the opening sequence and titles to the girls and gadgets. Overall the book is a quite refreshing and insightful companion. There aren't a lot of photos in the book, but the ones that are included aren't ones we've seen before. As a fan it left me thankful that Burt Reynolds was never cast as 007, upset that "Casino Royale" was wasted as a spoof and imagining what the franchise would be today if George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton did more films and if Roger Moore did less.

The romantic film A Knight's Tale was shot in Prague and here receives its own book which blends a 24-page color photo album of scenes with the shooting script for the film. Any fan of the movie will relish the complete presentation.

A Knight's Tale. I haven't actualy seen the movie, but I have read the script. It's amazing!! It is funny, interesting, romantic and clever. It tells the story of William Thatcher(Heath Ledger), who is a peasant and the son of a thatcher. When the Knight that William is under the employment of, suddenly dies right before he is supposed to joust, William must joust in his place. Although only himself, and his two friends Wat and Roland, know that it is him jousting and not the real night. You must be of noble blood to compete. Suprisingly, William wins and finds that he is a natural at jousting. He decides to go to a big jousting tournament in a few weeks, under the alias of Sir Ulrich Von Lichtenstein. Wat and Roland help train him and get him ready to joust, and they go to the tournament. There William sees the girl of his dreams, Jocelyn (Shannon Sassomon), and will do anything to win her heart. When he's jousting, he beats everybody there except Count Adhemere(the "bad guy" in the movie). William swears that he will beat Adhemere next time he jousts him. The plot goes on, there are some interesting twists and you meet some more neat characters. This is a really great movie, and this script is easy to read. You will LOVE "A Knight's Tale"!! Don't miss it!!

Written by the screenwriter and director of "A Knight's Tale" this book provides a fascinating insider's look at the film's creation. The 24 page photo album includes rare candid shots of the film's cast and crew.

The story is a classic underdog tale with likeable characters. I particularly enjoyed reading the scenes that were ultimately not included in the film. Although I have watched the movie several times... these passages added a depth to the characters that made kept the storyline fresh for me.

This was an awesome movie that I absolutely loved, so of course, I had to buy and read the screen play. Brian Helgeland was a brilliant author to create such a wonderful and fun script that everyone could enjoy. It was one of the funniest movies I ever saw and the script was also, undoubtedly hilarious. This story has it all: action, comedy, and romance. A story to please all.

When I saw this movie, I was blown away. Now, being a kid, I didn't really get the full effect of the movie and didn't understand some of the plot, until, that is, I bought thi Screenplay. it made a lot of things clear. And also, it tells you the stage directions, which, if you want to use a piece from this a a monologue is a whole lot easier... A few complaints, though. There are some great lines in the movie that weren't included in the book and some extra ones that you don't see in the movie. For example, Captain Dudley is not Irish! Anyway, that only matters to nuts like myself. In closing, it's a great book and is worth it. I memorized the entire movie!

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL is one of the most riveting movies I have seen in years and was more than deserving of its Best Picture nomination (another one that bit the dust because of a sinking ship). The movie is really fast-paced and it is easy to miss things. Even after repeated viewings there are lines that you don't quite understand and clues here and there you don't pick up. After reading the screenplay, everything comes together and one can find the missing pieces in this murder mystery modern film noir. An excellent screenplay to compliment an superb movie.

L.A. Confidential, winner of 2 1997 Academy Awards, is a classic thriller that is completely unforgettable. The script includes characters who were portrayed by Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, (in her oscar winning performance) and Danny Devito. They all live in Los Angeles and are involved in a conspiracy in which is a mystery of who killed who? Anyhow, there are several plots to the script involving cops, reporters, and even HOOKERS THAT LOOK LIKE MOVIE STARS (Kim Basinger) I give this Academy Award winning script a superb rating that should be recommended to numerous people across the country. It's an unforgettable suspense classic you don't want to miss!

I was a Los Angeles Police Officer from 1956-62. The period of the book (film) was early 50's. The film portrays, with great accuracy, conditions and attitudes on the LAPD. The "Bloody Christmas" beating of two LAPD officers was accurately portrayed, down to the "almost" correct pronounciation of the name of the officer who received the most severe beating. The backdrop of LA, was exact. All in all, a terrific book and film.

"The Legend of Seal Beach" created by Dave McKnew is a wonderful and touching story for children that will teach them about friendship, self-sacrifice, and love.

Based upon a story that Dave's father, Tom, told him around the dinner table one night, "The Legend of Seal Beach" is about a physically challenged boy named Tommy, who befriends a seal living in the ocean abutting the small coastal town where Tommy lives. He names the seal, Stanley, and they spend their afternoons together playing ball.

When Tommy is accosted on the pier by three bullies, Stanley comes to his rescue, changing Tommy and his life forever.

I read "The Legend of Seal Beach" with my daughters--ages 4 and 6--and they loved this book. The story will touch your heart and leave a tear in your eye. The illustrations are eye-catching and vibrant, causing much discussion during the reading of the book with little ones. And Stanley's rescue of Tommy is something my girls still speak about.

A heartwarming story your children will want to read again and again, "The Legend of Seal Beach" teaches and entertains.

Dave McKnew weaves an easy to read tale of how one's self-sacrifice can lead to huge life-giving benefits of another. Told in an easy to understand story that children at intermediate level can undestand. Great illustrations!

Scott Lessor
Bremerton, WA

The story is kind of sad, but it has a good lesson in it. My boys love to watch the movie and read the book at the same time!

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RU08WT5YHYZK Here is a video preview of the book!

Ruth Prigozy has written a balanced account of the life of a man who was tipped for mega stardom in his formative professional years but who through bad judgement and sometimes fate was destined to struggle for the rest of his life.

Several marriages including to film beauties Joanne Dru and Rita Hayworth not to mention the sultry Fran Jeffries kept his name in the press but after a short term contract with Capitol Records in the middle 1950s failed to interest the public or music industry his career faltered. In the early 1960s after the failure of his marriage to Fran Jeffries he left the USA and headed for Europe, which was to be his home for almost a decade.

South African born BBC DJ and Record Producer Alan Dell rediscovered Haymes in 1969 and managed to get him into a recording studio for an album entitled "Then & Now" which was instrumental in getting him back to the USA and giving him another chance.

Ruth Prigozy unravels the story of a man who was a complicated gentleman almost from another age. Loved and respected by his peers Ruth delves into the insecurities that dominated his life.

A mix of facts, memories via interviews with family, friends and those associated with Haymes and even extracts from his own unfinished autobiography. Plenty of excellent pictures too. This is an "I couldn't put it down" book.

A compelling read full of highs and lows, surprises and sometimes despair. This long awaited biography addresses many of the stories that had been circulating around Hollywood about Haymes and presents the facts for the first time.

A must for any fan of the 1940s, musicals, crooners and film stars.

Ruth Prigozy has done an admirable job in bringing Dick Haymes life story to light. He is certainly someone who had been forgotten and whose story deserves to be told. I found this to be a well-researched biography that held my interest and which I enjoyed reading.

This book shows how a person can totally mess up his life by not addressing some basic problems -- for instance, the way he was raised clearly was responsible for his inability to foster healthy relationships. He kept repeating the same mistakes, drinking too much, etc. Certainly this was a man with a lot of troubles -- many self-inflicted. Interestingly enough, this book shows he never really did find stability and peace in his personal life. I agree with a previous reviewer who said high school students should read this book -- how NOT to live your life.

However, at times I think author Prigozy is too quick to excuse some of these faults and too willing to make allowances for Haymes' behavior. Here is an intelligent man who was handsome and talented, who nonetheless "blew it" in both his professional and personal life. He does not seem to be a very nice person -- cheating on his wives, mean or neglectful to his kids, a drunk, selfish, a deadbeat, at times arrogant, etc. He may not have been "Mr. Evil," as he has been dubbed, but he apparently wasn't "Mr. Nice Guy" either.

I think it would have been interesting for the author to explore more of his professional decline and the reasons for it. Why exactly did he fail to become an established movie star? Why did his popularity fade in the late 1940s and early 1950s? What happened to his radio career? His record contract was cancelled several years before the rock revolution -- was it his style of music that was passe, was the public tired of him, or did he exhibit a lack of range or an inability to adjust with changing tastes and times?

This book doesn't delve into that as much as I would have liked, but it's still an excellent read, and very worthwhile in bringing the story of this forgotten star to today's public.

Many better biographies have been written over the years, but none more urgent than this. High schoolers should read this book and discuss it with friends. Dick Haymes was a great talent, and intelligent. But he couldn't seem to make the right decisions in life, his values were screwed, and he suffered dearly because of it. The comedown was crushing.

Ruth Prigozy writes a poignant biography of an otherwise neglected big band and beyond singer whose rich baritone rivaled Bing Crosby's. Ruth Prigozy is an accomplished author and English professor at Long Island's Hofstra University. She spent a number of years researching this story and presents it faithfully and validly engaging many in interviews to promote accuracy. She has covered all the bases in this very meritorious book that is a long time coming. It tells the truth. And makes it a very valid book.It places Dick Haymes in his rightful place in music and singing.