Arts and Entertainment Books

This book covers Diana's entire life including baby pictures of her. The color photographs are large-size and high quality. The book is suitable to place on a coffee table. The informative text fully explains the more than 125 photographs included in the book. If you like Diana you will love this book and not be disappointed. Enjoy!

Diana: The People's Princess is a lavish picture book provides a close-up of Princess Diana's life, providing over a hundred photos and a lively text which chronicles the progress of her life both before and after her marriage to Charles. Fans of Diana who want a coffee table celebration of her accomplishments will find Diana: The People's Princess to be satisfying and colorful.

Hilarious yet often sad true tale of the author's incredibly frustrating run of his stage play Legends, starring two honest-to-goodness stage divas Carol Channing and Mary Martin, who in real life gave their stage characters more than a run for their money. Greedy producers, bickering stars, hostile reviewers, backstage manipulations, it's all here, presented in good humor by Kirkwood, a vastly unsung writer, unfortunately long since deceased. This was his final book. A good read in itself, and sure to provoke laughter and empathy from anyone who has been involved in theatre.

Suppose you are a playwright who co-authored a little something called "A Chorus Line"? And just suppose you managed to sign theatrical legends Mary Martin and Carol Channing for your latest play, appropriately called "Legends!"? What could possibly go wrong? Grab this book, and boy, will you find out! For example, Mary Martin could no longer remember lines, so she was fitted with a small radio headset so she could be "fed" her lines. But seemingly every taxi driver in the city was on the same frequency... Hilarious, tragic-a true classic, right up there with "Act One" by Moss Hart.

A Dictionary of Cinema Quotations From Filmmakers And Critics by Stephen Ringler. Not a movie quotes or snatches-of-dialogue book, this is instead an unparalleled source for the best quotations ever uttered by those involved in the filmmaking business.

Brilliant observations and witticisms by Hollywood's best and brightest, covering over 100 years. Mostly zingers you've never heard before (where did Ringler find all these?!) Peerless in its selection, this book entertains, enlightens and illuminates like no other. A costly little commodity for its 207 pages, it makes up for it in the sheer quality of its 3,400 entries. A few worthy examples:

"I always thought the actors were hired to ruin the writers' lives." - Robert Benton

"Audiences attract dollars; stars attract audiences; characters attract stars." - David Geffner

"Show business is high school plus money." - Stephen Speilberg

"Hollywood never learns from its own failures, only other people's successes." - Robert Redford

The top tome on my movie book shelf.

Writers, critics, toastmasters and others involved in the film industry will find this book useful for supplying quotes from the industry's best. And the book's organization and index supply all the buttons to gain access to what you're looking for.

But beware, all who are looking for a quickie quote. You'll open a page that's just your subject and come up for air hours later. The book might be great as a reference tool, but it's also wonderfully entertaining.

A taste of genius
.. manifesting sacred
beauty beyond sadness
a testament to the joy
the dance of Life
fresh and clear
( a thank You )

Jung Jung's journey fom the restrictions of her childhood
stardom in Taiwan to personal freedom and artistic fulfillment
in America is a compelling and intense story.

It's often hard to find books about real actors, well I have to say also author since Dirk Bogarde was not only an effective and surprising actor, but also author of very steemed books. In this book, I could find very nice pictures taken through his whole life and also a lot of information that matched perfectly with the ones in his autobiography.

A really great masterpiece not only for the Bogarde fans, but also for anyone who is interested to see and reas a multitalented human being.

Highly recommended.

A stunning look at one of the great talents of the 20th century. This is the same man of The Servant, Death in Venice, Darling, The Damned, the man, that face, that voice. The photos tell the entire story of this man who had an impact on film and cinema history not soon forgotten. This book is a Bogarde fans dream come true.

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.

Charles Delaunay's book covers everything you'd ever want to know about gypsy guitar legend Django Reinhardt in a captivating, readable form. Included anecdotes make you feel like you really got to know Django from the perspective of friends and fellow musicians. Many of them are quite funny too.

In addition to the exceptional story of Django and his music, Delaunay's book includes many pages full of rare Django Reinhardt photographs.

Get this book now! You won't be sorry :)

Although I wouldn't necessarily call this book a literary classic, it's quite readable and certainly worthwhile for anyone who likes the music of Django Reinhardt and is interested in learning more about him as both a person and a musician, as well as the other musicians (such as Stephane Grappelli) of the Quintet of the Hot Club of France and others that played and recorded with him. There are plenty of anecdotes that bring their songs to life for me in a new way. Just to take one example, the first song on the first disk of the 5-CD set "Django Reinhardt: The Classic Early Recordings in Chronological Order" (which I'd highly recommend, by the way) is a popular song that was new at the time, called "I Saw Stars." It's a nice little tune, with some great solos by both Reinhardt and Grappelli, but I learned from this biography that the newly-formed quintet had never played it before. They were on their way to their first-ever recording, and were concerned that their music might not be commercial enough to be accepted, and Grappelli had just obtained a copy of the sheet music for "I Saw Stars" (which was a popular hit in the U.S. at the time). They went over it a couple of times in the taxi on the way to the studio, stopping along the way to pick up vocalist Bert Marshal, who Reinhardt thought might give the group a more commercial sound. (In later recordings, the QHCF rarely used vocalists.) To listen anew to the recording knowing now that they were just improvising on a song they'd never even played before just brings home all the more how intensely talented these musicians were. This biography is full of similar examples, as well as filling the reader in on Reinhardt's early background and musical studies while travelling on gypsy caravans as a boy, and on his teen years spent backing up "musette" dance musicians in Paris cabarets and so on. All in all, I'd say that if you're a fan of the great Django Reinhardt's music, this biography will enhance your appreciation of it all the more. (The author, Charles Delaunay, by the way, was a French music critc and contemporary of Reinhardt and Grappelli, who was instrumental in getting their professional careers started and who probably knew them and their music as well as or better than anyone. So this is as authoritative a biography of Django Reinhardt as there is ever likely to be.)

The only tragedy about this book is that there are'nt Moore pages. I was truely in awe after every word that I read. This book kept me glued to my seat. I find the career of Sir Ray Moore a perfect analogie of "The Ship of Dreams", The R.M.S. Titanic. As she left port (Peaty Wheatstraw) she was a strong force to be reckoned with, and she was very long too. As The ship of dreams picked up Moore passengers, she gained momentum (Dolemite) until that fateful night where she stoped so suddenly and sank to rock bottom (Disco Godfather). But much like the memory of the mighty Titanic, Rudy Ray Moore will remain hard, in our hearts. "OH DOLEMITE, IM SO HAPPY, IM GONNA TELL EVERYONE DOLEMITE IS COMING HOME"-Queen Bee

This fascinating biography, written by Julian & David Shabazz, chronicles the meteoric rise of one of the world's most influential comedians of the late 1970's, Rudy Ray Moore. The book explores Moore's unerring lust for comic superstardom, a drive that propelled him to the very top of the entertainment scene for much of his adult life. Powered by sharp wit and raw dynamism, Moore created what is arguably the most popular icon of modern folklore: the sassy, street-smart Dolemite, a man whose sexual and fighting prowess have made him the legend of choice for today's black youths. Dolemite is the very embodiment of coolness and style, created by Moore to be a reflection of his own self. The Shabazz siblings also detail Moore's many other characters, from the affable Petey Wheatstraw (or, as he was known to the many pimps and street hustlers of his day, "Mr. Excitment") to the dangerously-menacing Disco Godfather, who mastered the ancient art of karate in order to win back his plundered nightclub. The book also covers Moore's eventual fall into movie obscurity, the end result of a sickening downward spiral that included drugs, hustling and, ultimately, death. Overall, this biography is very well-crafted and contains just the right combination of hard-hitting drama and steamy sexual hijinks, two elements which Rudy Ray Moore not only pioneered but was made famous for.

Bob Daniels: New York City Rep.of The International Al Jolson Society

Anyone who is interested in and enjoys show business will love this book. Written by Janet Cantor Gari, the youngest daughter of Eddie and Ida Cantor. The book looks into the life and times of the woman behind the great entertainer Eddie Cantor. The book is full of rare family photos, about 60 of them and many candid stories. The liveliness of its style brings to life the era that the author's mother and father lived.
The text is rich and lively, often funny, sometimes heartbreaking, filled with anecdotes that entertain and always interesting. A great read, this is a short book, 97 pages. The book is a page turner, telling the stories which would never get told. A true picture, that brings to life the authors family. This is one of the most enjoyable books, devoted to a show business family and Janet Cantor Gari should do more books on her family and her life. I highly recommend; "Don't Wear Silver in the Winter - Remembering MY Mother" by Janet Cantor Gari.

Bob Daniels

Love Eddie Cantor, love his famly. That's what I found out in a hurry reading Cantor's youngest daughter Janet's account of life with her family with the spotlight on her mom, Ida, (sweet as Apple Cider-as the song goes.) This is a short book but it is filled with gems focusing on the various homes the Cantor's lived in from Long Island to California, and on the background of the earliest family portraits, and how Eddie Cantor became a great comedian and wonderful radio and film personality. Janet is the youngest of the five daughters of Eddie and Ida and tells her story very nicely. There was the time they attended a dinner at Al Capone's house and Eddie wondered that if Capone didn't like him, he might shoot him: " Don't be silly, Eddie, you're a big star," Ida said as she held his trembling hand. Any way, buy and enjoy this sweet and charming book. Janet--you did good! As Eddie Cantor used to sing...."I love to spend each Wednesday with you....as friend to friend I'm sorry it's through.I'm telling you just how I feel....." Richard Grudens