Mr. Strangelove: A Biography of Peter Sellers Review

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Mr. Strangelove: A Biography of Peter Sellers ReviewPeter Sellers has been the subject of more than a few books, some significantly better than others. Aside from Graham Stark's beautiful memoir "Remembering Peter Sellers" (still only available in the U.K., unfortunately), this is the best. Certainly it is the most comprehensive, in part because it works from, and builds upon, the many books that came before it.
In more ways than one, "Mr. Strangelove" is not a light read. Sikov's research is extensive and detail is heavy, but his writing is surprisingly nimble over the 300+ page length.
The life of Sellers was fraught with private and public turmoil, and a significant career dry spell. Some previous studies of him and his work treated both with almost cruel insensitivity (and I haven't even read Roger Lewis' much-pilloried "Life and Death of..."), emphasizing the pain he brought into the lives of others. Meanwhile, memoirs like his son Michael Sellers' "P.S. I Love You" and Stark's book, while certainly willing to admit to Peter's faults, made a case for his personal pain and his virtues.
Happily Sikov understands Sellers' good side as well as his bad one. Though this is definitely a warts-and-all portrait of the man - his bad behavior on sets and his unhappy relationships with wives and children are not spared us - and sometimes painful to read, it is also sensitive, careful to stress Peter's humanity. (His fresh interviews with some of Sellers' colleagues do much to acheive this end.) In the end, this is the story of a man who, in Sikov's words, had an "essentially good heart".
Understandably some will be (and have been, to judge from other reviews) frustrated by the extremely detailed coverage Sellers' work, especially his films, are given. But to do justice to the life of such a gifted performer requires a close look at his work, and "Mr. Strangelove" covers his work more compellingly than any previous biography has, particularly where his more obscure films are concerned.
"Mr. Strangelove" is a full, rich portrait of a tragicomic life, one that will be compelling reading for those with even a mild interest in its subject...though once it's been read, "mild" may well turn to "major".Mr. Strangelove: A Biography of Peter Sellers Overview

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Big Screen Rome Review

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Big Screen Rome ReviewWhat's written in this work is just fine, but one can't help but feel a bit cheated that I, Claudius is missing, to say nothing of HBO's Rome, the most masterful depiction of ancient Rome in perhaps any medium (yes, the title says "big screen" but most folks these days find HBO dramas more cinematic than the vast majority of contemporary movie dreck). Some of the titles are a bit obscure, and some hardly Roman recreations (Life of Brian, for example), but all of them are nonetheless interesting and enjoyable movies, as are the detailed descriptions and analysis of them in this book.
It smacks a bit of course notes that have grown into a book, and this has had the unfortunate side effect of limiting the coverage of films, and lending an overall back to school feel to the work. Even a cursory summary or list of other relevant titles and TV works (easily accomplished by Amazon List searches and IMDB searches) would have been useful. Maybe in her revised edition?
If you're a hard core fan of Roman history and cinema, like I am, buy this book - you'll enjoy it despite my constructive criticisms. Otherwise, I'd suggest passing on this (or borrow it) and simply watch the movies instead, or read an engrossing history book (such as any published by Thames and Hudson on the subject).Big Screen Rome OverviewBig Screen Rome is the first systematic survey of the most important and popular films from the past half century that reconstruct the image of Roman antiquity.
The first systematic survey of the most important and popular recent films about Roman antiquity.
Shows how cinema explores, reinvents and celebrates the spectacle of ancient Rome.
Films discussed in depth include Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus, Ridley Scott's Gladiator and Terry Jones's Monty Python's Life of Brian.
Contributes to discussions about the ongoing relevance of the classical world.
Shows how contemporary film-makers use recreations of ancient history as commentaries on contemporary society.
Structured in a way that makes it suitable for course use, and features issues for discussion and analysis, and reference to further bibliographic resources.
Written in an energetic and engaging style.


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Larry the Stooge in the Middle Review

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Larry the Stooge in the Middle ReviewIn this second biography of Larry Fine(The first book to recall Mr.Fine's life was:"A Stroke Of Luck!".Larry's memiors.Which are sadly out of print.)"Stooge In The Middle"looks at the life and career of one member of "The Three Stooges"from the viewpoint of Larry's brother former druggist:Dr.Morris Feinberg.The book looks at his childhood in Philadelphia,Pa.to the accident in his father's jewelry store that introduced him to violin playing lessions(an early form of physical thearpy).Which became his introduction to show business.First as a Charlie Chaplin imitator at local amusement Parks , as a member of a Duplicate version of Gus Edwards' vaudeville kiddie act:"Fun In Hi Skool!"and as a member of several comedy teams:EG:"Fine And Dandy"and "The Haney Sisters & Fine!".Before he married one of the Haney Sisters(Mabel Haney) and he was accepted a job as a performer and MC at The Rainbow Gardens Nightclub in Chicago,Ill in 1925.Where Larry first met:Ted Healy,Moe And Shemp Howard and he was invitied to join "Ted Healy And His Gang!"(The original name of Mr.Healy's act).The book goes onto to look at the boys'difficult relationship with Mr.Healy(Whose drinking,obnoxious pranks and his pay inequity forced the team to part company with Healy.Following some turbulent years working in vaudeville,burlesque,nightclubs,Broadway musicals and some work in the movies).The book relates how Larry almost signed the trio to a contract with Universal Pictures for some feature length comedies.But Moe's deal with Columbia Pictures was signed first.Making Larry's Pact with Universal invalid and The boys began their 24 years with The Studio that featured Hollywood's Stature Of Liberty like symbol.And their other projects that kept the team in the public eye after the unfair dismissal from Columbia Pictures and Larry's years of retirement,following the stroke that forced him to leave the group.For those..who want to read a pleasant and engaging biography of a truly funny and nice man.That has no hint of scathology in it? This is the one book to have.Kevin S.Butler.Larry the Stooge in the Middle OverviewNow back in print, this heavily illustrated, richly anecdotal memoir takes a fond look back at Larry, the wild-haired funnyman who helped make the Three Stooges the most popular slapstick comedy team of all time.

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Writing Television Comedy Review

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Writing Television Comedy ReviewHaving written professionally for thirty-plus years, I've read dozens of books on "how to write." They range from the sublime to the ridiculous, and only a relative few have been -- and continue to be -- helpful. Jerry Rannow's delightful Writing Television Comedy is a welcome addition to my bookshelf, not because I'm interested in writing TV comedy but because it helps me WRITE -- period! While the book does target the aspiring sitcom writer, it also offers valuable tips and inspiration for ALL writers.
I often struggle with so-called writer's block, and Rannow's book provides me with several different techniques for breaking through it. The chapter entitled Managing The Story Muscle is particularly helpful, but I can open the book almost at random and find a jump-start to get me going. Sometime's it's just a reminder, like: "So-called writer's block is simply FEAR, but when you sit down and concentrate and focus on the story at hand, you erase that fear." And sometimes I discover that the problem was in my plot, or a character wasn't ringing true.
The book also reminds me of ways to look for the humorous aspects of life, because I frequently use humor in my own writing: in radio and TV spots, print ads, newspaper articles, and the novel I'm currently completing. So if you're already a paid professional or still a wannabe writer, I highly recommend Jerry Rannow's book. It really IS well worth the price, and a whole lot more!Writing Television Comedy OverviewVeteran television writer/producer Jerry Rannow gives aspiring and experienced comedy writers a humorous and eye-opening guide to conceiving, writing, and marketing a winning TV sitcom. Drawing on more than twenty-five years' experience, he tells how to construct a story outline, structure and format scripts, develop character and dialogue, pitch to producers, collaborate with other writers, and work with network and studio executives, producers, directors, agents, writers, and stars. Full of laughs and profitable tips for making a living in the business, this book is an invaluable tool for any writer who wants to break into TV comedy.

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America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry Review

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America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry ReviewThe National Film Registry is a fascinating endeavour. It collects, in the Library of Congress, what it deems the most important films in our history. NOT the best, necessarily (some of them are downright awful... Elia Kazan's "Wild River", anyone?); not necessarily the most famous (I'll wager there isn't a movie buff alive who won't find at least one or two films he/she's never heard of before). Even being a full-length film isn't required,(any number of 7 minute cartoons and, from earlier days, brief snippets like "The Kiss"). All that IS required is that the film, in some way or other, has contributed something unique to the history and/or art of film. What have each of the films in this book, the first 500 selections, contributed? THAT is what this marvelously readable compendium is all about! Indeed, I can't imagine ANY film fan worthy of the name who WOULDN'T want to read this.America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry Overview

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Lost in the Funhouse: The Life and Mind of Andy Kaufman Review

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Lost in the Funhouse: The Life and Mind of Andy Kaufman ReviewI've read this book and it is a gem. Having kept the flame of Andy's legacy alive on the World Wide Web for the past four years, I must say that I read this book with a little more of a critical eye than your average Andy Kaufman fan. Bill Zehme did not let me down and I am happy to have a copy of this fine book in my possession. Bill's biography is fascinating and sheer poetry.
I know that Andy's family loves the book because I've spoken to them and they've told me so. I don't think a writer can receive higher praise than to receive it from the immediate family of the subject.
This biography will stand the test of time and years from now will surely serve as the only comprehensive biography of Andy Kaufman. Zehme is the guiding light, the North Star when it comes to the life and times of Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman.
Thanks Bill, I wish the movie "Man on the Moon" would have had half the content, spirit and meaning of your fine tome.Lost in the Funhouse: The Life and Mind of Andy Kaufman Overview

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The Making of Stan Laurel: Echoes of a British Boyhood Review

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The Making of Stan Laurel: Echoes of a British Boyhood ReviewThis surprising little book is not a typical celebrity biography. Rather, it tells of the early years of film comedy legend Stan Laurel and his subsequent struggles to establish his career as a performer. In the process, it also insightfully highlights the correlations between Laurel's boyhood in England and motifs that appear in some of his films produced during his very successful career with Oliver Hardy. The book is well researched and supported with photos and other documents that enliven the narrative of Laurel's early years. Author Danny Lawrence--who was born and raised in Laurel's boyhood home of North Shields--is obviously proud of his hometown's most famous former resident, and his analysis is compelling without being clinical. "The Making of Stan Laurel: Echoes of a British Boyhood" will appeal not only to those interested in the life and career of Stan Laurel, but also to those interested in the history and evolution of the performing arts (theater to vaudeville to motion pictures to television) and most especially to those intrigued by the search for the source of creative and artistic inspiration. By uncovering a new dimension of Stan Laurel through the story of his boyhood and early years as a performer prior to his success in Hollywood, Lawrence deftly proves: "You can take the boy out of North Shields, but you can't take North Shields out of the boy." Ultimately, readers will be reminded of the comic genius of Laurel. And, like me, I suspect most will be prompted to watch a Laurel and Hardy movie (or two)--not just to confirm Lawrence's analysis, but also to enjoy some laughs with a new understanding and appreciation of the North Shields boy who became Stan Laurel, one of Hollywood's most influential and enduring stars.The Making of Stan Laurel: Echoes of a British Boyhood OverviewAs an adult, Stan Laurel (1890-1965) lived in the United States. As a boy, he lived in north-east England, the son of a prominent local theatrical figure. This ground-breaking biography examines Laurel's family background, his formative years and his struggle to establish a show business career. Stan retained the emotional bonds forged in his youth throughout his life and visited his boyhood homes during his UK tours with Oliver Hardy. Describing Stan Laurel's key roles in making his films with his partner Oliver Hardy so successful internationally, the book analyzes how Stan's boyhood experiences are often echoed in those films. It also notes his influence on successive generations of comic actors who, to this day, still pay fulsome tribute to him. Included is a selection of photographs relevant to Laurel's boyhood, some related to themes in the Laurel and Hardy comedies.

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The Three Stooges: The Triumphs and Tragedies of the Most Popular Comedy Team of All Time Review

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The Three Stooges: The Triumphs and Tragedies of the Most Popular Comedy Team of All Time ReviewSome say there were funnier comedy teams than The Three Stooges but the comedy team many women love to hate is undisputedly the most successful comedy team in movie
history. Their films STILL pack `em in at revivals, Stooge conventions brim with Curly imitators and each year yet more books are published on America's favorite knuckleheads (American's LEAST favorite knuckleheads can be found in Congress).
But the question is: with ALL of the countless hours on t.v. devoted to the Stooges, ALL of the videos and DVDs on them, ALL of the books and documentaries can you learn anything NEW from a book -- especially if the book was penned by writers who
wrote four other books on Stooges?

The answer is a RESOUNDING YES.

This is the DEFINITIVE The Three Stooges book, chock full of fascinating NEW INFORMATION on their lives, personalities, and even the "unknown" stage Stooges who performed into the 70s. As if that isn't enough, the authors convincingly suggest that rough-stuff comedy contributed to at least three of the Stooges' strokes, and that the Stooges' vaudevillian creator Ted Healy may have been beaten to death by a Hollywood star and a gangland bigwig.
Stooges fans will go nuts (as if they aren't already) over the superb collection of photos and illustrations, many of them never before published. Plus, this account brims with great new candid quotes from the Stooges and their associates.
And, unlike some other Stooges books, this one is a ABSOLUTE MUST addition to the library of ANYONE interested comedy and comedy history -- since gives the best account yet of the step-by-step evolution of the Stooges' comedy.
There are countless new facts, twists, and explanations in this book. Here are just a few of the new revelations I learned. I read how:
--Stooges founder Ted Healy was the FIRST comedian to play comedy off someone else (now a staple of comedy). Healy, one of the show biz's greatest performers, was on the verge of becoming a major movie star when he died (the authors suggest he was murdered and it may have been covered up). When Healy died, his wise-guy, smart aleck movie persona was taken over by a young comedian named Bob Hope.
--Curly, Shemp, Larry, Joe Besser (the most unloved Stooge) all suffered strokes...and being on the receiving end of the Stooges rough brand of comedy may be a key reason why.

--Shemp was one of the first Stooges, but even when he stepped out of the act and Curly took his place he played a key behind the scenes role (read what he did).
--Replacing Curly was always difficult since Curly was pure-vaudeville....and by the time he left the act, after a stroke while filming a Stooges comedy, vaudeville was dead. The book wonderfully accounts the searches for Curly replacements -- and the other stage versions of the Stooges, based on the Health vaudeville act.

--Moe believed that SEVERAL comedy teams (the book names them) lifted parts of Curley's stage persona to propel themselves to fame and fortune.
When an author writes too much about a subject, it's said he is "written out." There's no sign the Forrester brothers are written out on The Three Stooges -- but it's hard to see how they (or anyone) will EVER top this superbly written, illustrated and researched book.The Three Stooges: The Triumphs and Tragedies of the Most Popular Comedy Team of All Time Overview

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Fred Allen's Radio Comedy (American Civilization) Review

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Fred Allen's Radio Comedy (American Civilization) ReviewWhile this book is not a barrel of laughs in itself, it's not meant to be. It's a scholarly work on Fred Allen's radio career, and has a factual approach. Alan Havig gives a great deal of detail about Allen's radio programs and the commercial and other circumstances under which they were created. In Allen's day, network radio programming was largely governed by sponsors and advertising agencies. The fact that Allen was able to create such great comedy, despite pressure from overly-cautious ad types and network brass, shows his creativity and strength of character. Those of us who are used to Jay Leno and David Letterman fearlessly poking fun at network executives need to remember that, over sixty years ago, Fred Allen took the risks that made their satires possible. Steve Martin is right about comedy not being pretty; a lot of work, sweat and hassles go into the best of it. Once you read this and find out what was behind Fred Allen's radio career, you will appreciate his jibes against pretentious network vice-presidents and pompous advertising language even more. Enjoy Allen's shows and books by all means, but also read this to learn about the man and what has behind his work.Fred Allen's Radio Comedy (American Civilization) Overview

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Abbott and Costello on the Home Front: A Critical Study of the Wartime Films Review

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Abbott and Costello on the Home Front: A Critical Study of the Wartime Films ReviewAs a long time fan of this great team, books are rare on the duo. I think you can count all the books written about this great team on one hand. I found this to be an enjoyable study of there films. Yes, it does delve more into the 1941 to 1946 period, hence the title, but it does cover all of them as well. I also have to agree with Mr. Nollen on one point. The duos most underrated films (Little Giant and The Time of Their Lives) were two of there best.
A Good Read!
Abbott and Costello on the Home Front: A Critical Study of the Wartime Films OverviewAs two of the most popular entertainers of the mid-century film industry, comic greats Bud Abbott and Lou Costello offered an essential balm to the American public following the sorrows of the Great Depression and during the trauma of World War II. This is the first book to focus in detail on the immensely popular wartime films of Abbott and Costello, discussing the production, content, and reception of 18 films within the context of wartime events on the home front and abroad. The films covered include the service comedies Buck Privates, In the Navy, and Keep 'Em Flying; more mainstream comic relief films such as Pardon My Sarong and Who Done It?; and post-war experiments such as Little Giant and The Time of Their Lives. More than 120 stills and lobby cards from the author's personal collection illustrate the text, including many showing outtakes or deleted scenes.

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Field of Dreams/Laser Review

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Field of Dreams/Laser ReviewHi...
this is a great movie..great transfer and great extra features...commentary, roundtable with hall of fame baseball players...bravo special ...current day update on the actual field of dreams location....BUT , and its a big one...it does NOT contain the fabulous hour long making of documentary from the initial release!!! as well as many of the other bonus features....
so.....if you are a fan , you will most likely want both editions...
I don't understand why they couldn't have included the bonus features from the first "collectors" edition to make this the definitive issue...but Like ON GOLDEN POND ...you get a newer edition with great extras which don't duplicate the original....
anyway...just thought I'd warn fans out there who are thinking of "trading up" for the new edition...Field of Dreams/Laser Overview

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Inside Gilligan's Island: From Creation to Syndication Review

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Inside Gilligan's Island: From Creation to Syndication ReviewSherwood Schwartz is a comedy writer and creator of "Gilligan's Island" and the "Brady Bunch." In this book he relates the trials and tribulations involved in bringing "Gilligan's Island" to television. His background in comedy makes this an entertaining read. Where most people would have been driven insane by the stress caused by C.B.S. executives, Mr. Shwartz found humor in the endless meetings and backstabbing.
What I found fascinating is that the people in charge of Hollywood still have the same attitudes that they had back in the 1960's. No one wants to back a new idea, even if test audiences prove it will be a hit. C.B.S. didn't have faith in "Gilligan's Island" even when it continually landed in the ratings top ten. Television executives don't want to take chances with a new concept. They want shows taken from already proven source material such as movies, books, and other shows.
Some of the references in this book are a bit dated, as it is a reprint of a text that was originally published in 1988. Television has changed significantly since the 1980's. The sitcom is basicly dead and reality television rules the air waves. This book would have benefited from a new introduction by Mr. Schwartz. I am sure he would have much to say about the state of television today. Instead we have a foreword made up of comments by the original cast. This is rather creepy since only three of the "castways" are still alive; Russ Johnson, Tina Louis, and Dawn Wells.
There is a very useful episode synopsis at the back of this edition. I enjoyed skimming through the descriptions and picking out my favorite episodes. This book is a must for die hard "Gilligan's Island" fans and those who long for the family friendly television shows they grew up watching.Inside Gilligan's Island: From Creation to Syndication OverviewWhile every new TV series has to face some problems, no show had to overcome greater obstacles than Gilligan's Island. In spite of that, no series has achieved greater success, as measured by the fact that Gilligan's Island has given rise to three TV movies, two animated series, and is the most rerun program in the entire history of television. Now, Sherwood Schwartz, creator, writer, and producer of Gilligan's Island, tells the life story of the show: from the labor pains of scripting, casting, and production to its golden years of afternoon reruns. Fascinating history that could be known only by the show's creator is enhanced by wonderful photos, sketches, and other illustrations from the author's personal collection, as well as the guest forewords by all seven "Castaways." An appendix lists plots, writers and directors for every episode. All this behind-the-scenes information makes the book a special treat, not only for fans, but for anyone interested in an inside look at the television industry.

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I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond Review

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I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond ReviewI was fortunate to read an advance copy of this book, and I was truly amazed at what a wonderfully uplifting and inspirational story "I'm Walking As Straight As I Can" was. There have been a lot of ups and downs in Geri's life and career, and a lesser person might have come across as whiny, complaining and bitter. But Geri tells her story with humor, grace and honesty, with her integrity intact -- and in the end, you finish the book with a lump in your throat and tears in your eyes. You'll be amazed at what she has gone through, and so incredibly happy for her. It's unfortunate that the advanced press for this book concentrated so much on her sexual orientation, making it sound as if it's nothing more than yet another in a long (and sometimes boring) list of "coming out" stories. In actuality, that's just a small portion of her life. From her childhood dealing with cerebral palsy, through her struggles to make it in show business (and let's face it -- Hollywood doesn't exactly cast people with disabilities every day), and her ultimate success with her stand-up career and recurring roles on "Facts of Life" and "Deadwood," Geri tells her story in an upbeat, matter-of-fact tone without one iota of "whoa is me." When you finish, it may even put your own troubles into perspective, helping you realize that if Geri wasn't going to let her struggles defeat her, there's no reason why you should either. This book truly is a must-read!I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond OverviewBorn with cerebral palsy, Geri Jewell inspired a generation of young people when she became the first person with a disability to appear in a recurring role on prime-time television, with her groundbreaking character, Cousin Geri, on the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life.

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Back to the Future (Bfi Film Classics) Review

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Back to the Future (Bfi Film Classics) ReviewAnother great entry in the BFI series, this volume on Back to the Future is a fun read with some nice insight on the film. If you are a fan, pick it up and enjoy it for the companion that it is.
Back to the Future (Bfi Film Classics) OverviewBack to the Future was the top-grossing film of 1985 and the eighth highest-grossing film of the 1980s. It was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Original Screenplay in 1986, and won the 1986 People's Choice Award for Favourite Motion Picture. Co-written and directed by Spielberg protégé Robert Zemeckis, it became a landmark of 'New New Hollywood' and has continued to grow in popularity, voted 20th in Empire magazine's 2006 readers' poll of the best films of all time. In 2007, the United States Library of Congress deemed Back to the Future to be 'culturally, historically or aesthetically' significant enough to be 'preserved for all time' in the National Film Registry. Other choices that year included such classics as The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Now, Voyager (1942), Oklahoma! (1955) and 12 Angry Men (1957). Andrew Shail and Robin Stoate's study of the film places it in the historical context of Reaganite America and the cinematic context of the 'New New Hollywood' and Zemeckis's film-making career. They discuss the film's treatment of time travel and its depiction of the potential and pitfalls of science and of atomic energy. Shail and Stoate consider Back to the Future's attitudes towards teen culture of the 1980s and the 1950s, seen in the film as a period in which traditional 'American' values and gender roles held sway to the benefit of family and community life, in contrast to the more troubled decade from which Marty McFly begins his time-travelling adventures.

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Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy Review

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Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy ReviewSimon Louvish's epic-length biography Stan and Ollie plays like one of those Laurel & Hardy comedies that were padded to feature-length by the inclusion of romantic leads nobody cares about. Like those movies, one has to wade through a lot of guff to get to the really good stuff.
Louvish has done his research (as he all too eager to convince the reader), and it pays off most admirably when debunking previous tales of the Laurel & Hardy history. The most compelling example is the chapter detailing Oliver Hardy's first marriage. Hardy and film historians have long maintained that he moved to Jacksonville, Florida, to pursue a film career, and there was where he met and married first wife Madelyn. Louvish detailingly reveals that Madelyn was in fact Jewish, that Hardy met her in Georgia at the time of an infamous Jewish lynching, and that Hardy and his wife exited Georgia as a result, never to return.
Such dramatic payoffs are alone worth the price of the book. Louvish also often gleans much enlightened insight into Laurel & Hardy's film work (as well he should--Louvish in a part-time film teacher). To cite just one example, his analysis of the finale of L&H's penultimate Hal Roach film A Chump at Oxford is as insightful and moving as the finale itself.
Along the way, though, the reader must endure the obstacle courses that plagued Louvish's previous bios of W.C. Fields and The Marx Brothers (both of which tomes are shamelessly plugged throughout this book). For one thing, Louvish lards his writing with enough precious verbosity to make L&H biographer John McCabe look like an illiterate slacker by comparison. (Prime example: "Babe's inner life has always been a...mystery wrapped in an enigma, hidden behind those folds of flesh.")
My final complaint with the book is that when it gets into Laurel & Hardy at their prime, it quotes other, far superior sources (most notably Randy Skretvedt's) to the point of [being word for word]. And even then, accuracy is not Louvish's strong suit. Louvish quotes a Skretvedt interview with Hal Roach in which Roach, by way of contrasting L&H with other comedy teams, states that "Abbott and Costello worked at our studio, and they used to fight like hell. But with Laurel and Hardy, when I fired Hardy, Laurel cried." This quote has almost as many errors as it has words: A&C never worked for Roach, and Roach never fired Hardy (Roach had Stan and Babe on concurrent, separate contracts and often suspended Laurel or let his contract lapse during certain disputes).
For all of its faults, Louvish's genuine appreciation for Laurel and Hardy's comic artistry makes a considerable amount of Stan and Ollie worthwhile writing for the fervent L&H buff. Just make to sure to avoid Louvish's verbal land mines in order to reach the real meat of the bookStan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy: The Double Life of Laurel and Hardy Overview

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John Landis Review

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John Landis ReviewI was delighted to discover that the first book I've ever seen on legendary director John Landis was not only informative but really funny! Profusely illustrated, this book is really made up of long interviews with Landis and his collaborators including Dan Aykroyd, Elmer Bernstein, Harold Ramis, Chris Miller, Jamie Lee Curtis, B.B. King and many others. There are also essays about Landis movies by such fantastic filmmakers as David Cronenberg, Guillermo Del Toro, Sam Raimi, Frank Oz, Costa Gavras and many others. And articles by film critics Christopher Frayling, Dave Kehr, Bill Khron, and more. Even an interview that Landis did with Jack Arnold for CAHIERS DU CINEMA in the eighties. And I was amazed to find it so up to date it talks about Landis most recent documentary (which aired on HBO in December) MR. WARMTH, THE DON RICKLES PROJECT. An extremely well produced book with tons of photos and illustrations, most of which I had never seen before. A truly great surprise and one of the best movie related books I've ever bought.John Landis OverviewJOHN LANDIS, by film historian and journalist Giulia D'Agnolo Vallan, is the first American book published about the legendary filmmaker. Using an in-depth interview with Landis, as well as original interviews with and essays by his collaborators, colleagues and film critics, the book examines the life and career of the man who gave us such classic films as THE KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE, NATIONAL LAMPOON'S ANIMAL HOUSE, THE BLUES BROTHERS, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, TRADING PLACES, COMING TO AMERICA, THE THREE AMIGOS, and the ground breaking MICHAEL JACKSON'S THRILLER among many others. Contributors include Guillermo Del Toro, David Cronenberg, Frank Oz, Sam Raimi, Costa Gavras, B.B. King, Dan Aykroyd, Aaron McGruder, Elmer Bernstein, Rick Baker, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Frayling, Harold Ramis, and many more. Lavishly illustrated with photographs, production and ad art, many never before published from Mr. Landis's personal collection. Whether you know him for his award winning documentaries, SLASHER, and the recent MR. WARMTH, THE DON RICKLES PROJECT, or his comedies, musicals or horror films, JOHN LANDIS is a fascinating look at the man responsible for many of our pop culture icons. It is available now for the 25th Anniversary of MICHAEL JACKSON'S THRILLER. Giulia D'Agnolo Vallan is an Italian film journalist and curator. She was the director of the Torino Film Festival between 2003 AND 2006 and has also been the US correspondent for the Venice Film Festival. In Italy she has published books on John Carpenter, George Romero, Walter Hill, Clint Eastwood, William Friedkin, John Milius and Robert Aldrich. This is her first English language book.

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L.A. Bizarro: The All-New Insider's Guide to the Obscure, the Absurd, and the Perverse in Los Angeles Review

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L.A. Bizarro: The All-New Insider's Guide to the Obscure, the Absurd, and the Perverse in Los Angeles ReviewYears ago, I read the first L.A. Bizarro. LOL - admittedly, I was too young and too afraid to visit some of the places listed in the book, so I read it with a sort of voyeuristic wistfulness.
Now, Older (not that much!) and braver, I was thrilled to find the new, updated L.A. Bizarro.
This isn't your Grandma's guidebook!
The authors of L.A. Bizarro bring L.A. natives and tourists alike a peephole view into the kitschy, deviant and bizarre L.A. The L.A. you only dream about.
The book is full of information on some of the weirdest and most interesting places in L.A. From stores where you can buy hardcore S&M Furniture, to dive bars, to haunted hotels and nude beaches, L.A. Bizarro brings them all to you.
A quick warning: some of the entries and photos are definitely not appropriate for kids. The book is strictly adults only, but it's a great deal of fun!L.A. Bizarro: The All-New Insider's Guide to the Obscure, the Absurd, and the Perverse in Los Angeles OverviewThe cult classic is back! More than 10 years after pioneering the gonzo guidebook genre, this all-new edition of the beloved #1 best-selling guide to bad taste L.A. has been fully revised. Packed with 75% new material, L.A. Bizarro boasts scores of fresh discoveries plus original photos presented in luscious, lurid color. Connoisseurs of the weird and wonderful, Anthony Lovett and Matt Maranian steer readers into a world of culinary curiosities, morbid museums, sexual sideshows, and dipsomaniacal dives. From pet cemeteries to piata district, hundreds of odd and outr delights are laid bare for visitors and Angelenos alike.

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Andy Kaufman Revealed: Best Friend Tells All Review

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Andy Kaufman Revealed: Best Friend Tells All ReviewOne thing Zmuda's book does that "Man on the Moon" did not is outline the M.O. for Andy's stunts, although it still doesn't really establish a reason for them. Of course, maybe there wasn't one. Andy tried to erase the boundary between comedy on the screen and comedy in the field, but whether or not there was a point to his efforts isn't completely decided in this book -- he still could have just been an idiot savant for all we know. The stories behind Andy's best-known antics are wonderful; he and Zmuda really did operate a precise machine of real-life theatre that, for better or worse, set a lot of precedents in show business. The Jerry Lawlor passage puts to rest one of the entertainment questions I've been wracking myself about for many years.
I also liked Zmuda's chapter on his adventures with Mr. X (btw, Mr. X is allegedly Norman Wexler, who wrote "Serpico" and "Saturday Night Fever," according to Roger Ebert); if it doesn't obviously show the inspiration for Tony Clifton, it's still a great story. But I also agree with many other readers that Zmuda intrudes a bit too much of his own biography upon the story of Kaufman's, and succumbs to cliches, and sometimes embarassing details, about his own sex/love lives too much for my taste.
I haven't read the other bio on Kaufman yet, but I suspect that seeing "Man on the Moon" and reading this book might provide you with a good summary of Kaufman's life and importance. Of course, what's really needed is a comprehensive video release of his television history -- a great idea would be a compilation of his appearances on "Saturday Night Live" and "Fridays" if such a deal could be worked out. Not a bad reference, and definitely an entertaining and quick, if flawed, read.Andy Kaufman Revealed: Best Friend Tells All Overview

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Buster Keaton: Cut To The Chase Review

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Buster Keaton: Cut To The Chase ReviewOn the positive side, this book talks about the lean years in Buster's life, including his second marriage, that are pretty much ignored in other books on Keaton. It offers a complete filmography at the end, and talks about what has happened to Buster's extended family in the years since his death. On the negative side, the author jumps to conclusions or offers her own opinions about what happened as facts. Like everyone else, I vehemently disagree with the functional illiteracy accusation. Did Buster lack formal education? absolutely. Was he illiterate? absolutely not, based on jobs he had at MGM that involved working on scripts and his own diary which prove otherwise. Buster was interested in his craft and had no use for going over contracts and legal issues with a fine-toothed comb, a character trait that was part of his undoing for sure, but not proof he couldn't have read them had he been interested.
The specific errors that the author makes include her claiming that by the late 50's Buster didn't even remember who Dorothy Sebastian was - part of her portrait of Buster as an emotional cripple. However, about the same time, Buster wrote, along with a ghost-author "My Wonderful World of Slapstick" in which he talks about the dilemma he was in when he met his third wife Eleanor while already involved with a woman with which he had an off-and-on relationship for the previous ten years, and how he wanted to break it off with this woman to pursue Eleanor without hurting the woman's feelings. He is obviously talking about Dorothy Sebastian here, but he comes from an era in which he doesn't want to "kiss and tell" and omits her name from the book. There are other erroneous conclusions in which the author totally misinterprets certain magazine articles to claim Buster is actually complaining about this or that. The point is, take this book with a grain of salt. Entertaining it is, entirely accurate it is not.
From reading this book - and others for that matter - the person who comes across as a total mystery to me is Natalie Talmadge - Keaton's first wife. Here again, the author adds her own conclusions about Natalie's attitudes that I can't see Natalie ever conveying to anyone who would have revealed them, but the following facts are inescapible:
a. Natalie spent a huge percentage of Buster's money on clothes she never wore and homes Buster really couldn't afford.
b. Natalie ceased sexual relations with Buster after the birth of their second child.
c. The effect of (a) was that Buster HAD to sign the contract with MGM in order to keep the money pouring in after his own studio closed.
d. The effect of (b) was that Buster looked elsewhere for female companionship.
e. The effect of (c) was that Buster became an alcoholic when he no longer had any creative control over his films and was reduced to a performer in movies he largely held in contempt.
f. Natalie ultimately divorced Keaton because of (d) and (e) and was seethingly angry with him for the rest of her natural life, when in fact her own actions ( (a) and (b) ) contributed to the whole cycle in the first place.
In spite of this obvious chain of events, Keaton never spoke evil of his first wife, a fact that even the author of this book admits. That truly makes him a class act in my book.Buster Keaton: Cut To The Chase Overview

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Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg, Special Collector's Edition Review

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Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg, Special Collector's Edition ReviewI never thought I'd ever say this about anything "Brady", but this is a very multilayered book. Barry Williams is quite the storyteller, and Chris Kreski packaged "Growing Up Brady" very nicely. It remains the standard TV autobiography for the Gen X voyeur who wants to know the details of on-set romances, Hawaii wipeouts, guest star memories, etc. What I really enjoy about "Growing Up Brady" is the easy, affable way that Barry Williams publicly comes to terms with his Brady past. One can only imagine the inane questions, the ignorant comments, and the stares this man has had to endure. And, of course, no matter how good or bad his talents are, there will always be a Brady subtext to anything he does.
Despite the superficial Hollywood tell-all there is a sad undercurrent to Williams' book. Robert Reed's unhappiness as Mike Brady was a surprise to me, although it wasn't unpredicatable. While his mannerisms and on-set antics seem trivial, the man seemed genuinely bothered by how insignificant he perceived his role to be. Watch anything non-Brady from the 1970s and you'll see Reed try to act as different from Mike as he can manage, to the point of extreme hamminess (catch "Pray For The Wildcats", co-starring the king of ham himself, William Shatner). Reed's limits were imposed by himself, and I find it very sad that despite trying very hard, he never seemed to come to terms with his most notable role. Reed's documented generosity and warmth towards his castmates seems to far outweigh any negative insight into his character.
Almost as sad is the inevitable comparison of the actors' post-Brady lives with their former roles. Williams alludes to this many times in the book...fans addressing the cast by their "Brady" names, inane questions about fictional people, and surprised stares from the public when they demonstrate their natural personalities. From the anecdotes, the cast's self-consciousness sometimes manifested itself through refusal to be part of reunions, interview comments, etc. According to Williams, they all turned our remarkably well and very successful in their various pursuits, and hopefully they are all as well-adjusted as Williams seems to be.
For now, I wish Barry well and hope that he and the entire cast can eat at a restaurant free of thoughtless idiots screaming out their "Brady" names. Hopefully we will see more from this talented man.Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg, Special Collector's Edition OverviewThis is the inside story of The Brady Bunch as only Barry Williams could tellit! In this updated Collector's Edition are updated information and numerous never-before-seenphotos of this classic American TV show and its stars.Think you know everything about Greg, Peter, Bobby, Marcia, Jan, Cindy, Mike, Carol, Alice--and the people who played them? Think again! From drunken golf-cart races across theParamount lot to make-out sessions in Tiger's doghouse, Barry tells the real Brady story,previously hidden behind the carefully-groomed facade of TV's favorite family. In 31anecdote-packed chapters, Barry Williams takes readers from the beginnings of the showthrough its wildly successful run, and on through all the Brady Bunch reunions, wrapping upwith a facscinating chapter on "Whatever Happened to..."Also included in this pop culture classic is a play-by-play of every Brady Bunch episode, makingGrowing Up Brady the ultimate Brady Bunch collectible--as well as a delcious slice ofHollywood gossip. The Bradys remain one of America's most loved and admired TV families. From 1969 through1974, The Brady Bunch aired every Friday night on ABC. The show reamins one of TV'shighest-rated shows, reaching 72 million viewers during its two evening repeats on Nick at Nite.

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