MGM British Studios: Hollywood in Borehamwood tells the story behind England's biggest film studio. Based in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, between 1948-1970, it played host to some of the biggest names in Hollywood's history, and over 150 classic movies from the golden age of cinema were produced on its sound stages.From Under Capricorn (1949) directed by Alfred Hitchcock; to Mogambo (1953) Starring Clark Gable, Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly; from Where Eagles Dare (1968) starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood; to 2001 (1968) directed by Stanley Kubrick; this book tells the story of their making, from behind the scenes.Featuring many never before seen photographs, and hundreds of memories from those who worked at MGM British, both in-front of, and behind the camera, this is a nostalgic trip through an important era in British film studio history.Derek Pykett spent many years of his life as a professional actor, working in theatre, television and films, and making his first movie appearance in what is now regarded as a classic, The Princess Bride (1986) directed by Rob Reiner.In 2001 he founded his own theatre company, Theatre Macabre, specialising in horror and fantasy. Shows produced include Dracula, Jack the Ripper and Witchfinder General.More recent years have seen him produce and direct documentaries for DVD, including AMICUS: House of Horrors (Alpha Home Entertainment, USA). Previously published work as an author includes, Michael Ripper Unmasked (Midnight Marquee, USA) and British Horror Film Locations (McFarland, USA). Derek and his partner Ruth live in England, and they have three dogs - Lucy, Willow and Woolly.
Dr. Elinor Barry, a forensic therapist, has been summoned to evaluate the sanity of Dr. Frank Enari, one of two scientists assigned to work on a project involving monkeys at a high-altitude research lab isolated in an Arctic-like wasteland. What they encounter is far more sinister and threatening than anticipated as they begin to suspect someone or something other than their research primates is inhabiting their polar station, driving Enari to an act Elinor must determine: criminality or insanity.
Actor David Hedison may be best-known for playing James Bond's CIA buddy, Felix Leiter, in Live and Let Die (1973) and Licence to Kill (1989), as well as Captain Crane on the television series, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964-1968). Long before those roles, Hedison appeared as a CIA agent of a different sort in the 1959-1960 20th Century Fox Television series, Five Fingers. His role was as Victor Sebastian, a double agent within the then active Communist Party. Through his adventures every week, he was able to thwart their many nefarious plots, all while romancing his lover and muse, chanteuse Simon Genet, in addition to keeping his cover intact as a bon vivant talent agent at Wembley and Sebastian of London, Paris, and New York. Quite a balancing act, yet Victor Sebastian was always able to pull it off. Five Fingers was one of three shows in 1959 that led 20th Century Fox Studios' entry into series television. The other two shows were the successful Adventures in Paradise (1959) and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1959-1963). Some viewers believe that had Five Fingers not been programmed on Saturday nights against the Western, Gunsmoke (1955-1975)-the #1 show on television-Five Fingers might have enjoyed that same success. The sixteen episodes chronicled here were syndicated around the world through 1965 and in the United States until the late 1970s. Five Fingers was a truly class act of a series. Discover why the series has lasted for over fifty-five years in the hearts of the show's fans.
What folks say about Donn Trenner... "Donn, my musical director for twenty-one years, always made me feel so safe and secure as a performer. I would stand on stage, he would lift his baton, the music would begin, and I was home. Loving thanks, my dear friend. Everyone will love your book." - Ann-Margret, singer, dancer and award winning actress of movies and television "Donn was my partner in several productions and we played many engagements touring with my show. As a vocalist, I have worked with numerous musical directors over the years and there is no one better than my good friend, Donn Trenner. This book is a must read." - Peter Marshall, singer, actor and host of the popular TV game show, Hollywood Squares "I first met Donn Trenner when he was heading up The Steve Allen Show and their band in the sixties. Throughout the years, I've seen him again and again, now especially in the Connecticut area. He knows more about music than anyone else. He's worked with so many stars from Bob Hope on. I was lucky enough to inherit him for a two week run on Steve Allen's show while Steve was on vacation, and it was a thrill that I will never forget. But the thing about Donn Trenner that is most important - he's also the nicest guy I ever met. He's had a great career, which is still going on, and I know you'll enjoy reading about it in this book." - Regis Philbin, American media personality, singer, actor and talk show host
"HOW IT HAPPENED" The title pretty much says it. The ups. The downs. The good and the bad. The feasting and the famining. And the people. There were always the people. And what incredible people they were. It's hard even now to think that I told Lee J. Cobb, in real life, to stick his cigar "where the sun don't shine." Or to relive the moment of being kissed by one of the most beautiful women in the world. Or singing with a world renowned orchestra in front of 40 million people and bombing. Accolades, being afraid, escapades and renegades. At least two childhood dreams fulfilled (always wanted to be an actor and a cowboy). 'Twas sometimes a whirlwind, sometimes The Dead Sea. But never, ever dull. And always finding the opportunity to laugh my a - - off, which I hope you will do as you peruse the pages of this titillating tome. PRAISES FROM THOSE WHO KNOW "Even I wasn't strong enough to put this book down." CHUCK NORRIS "This book is not not crap." THE OPTIMIST CLUB "Now you're Getting Smart." MEL BROOKS "I lveod erevy wrod." DYSLEXIC DALE "All I can say is that Gary's book is @#%&*@$% great!" JAMES DRURY (THE VIRGINIAN) "I've never seen anything like this." RAY CHARLES "I'll drink to that." ERNEST HEMMINGWAY "I didn't see this one coming, either!" GENERAL CUSTER "What are you doing with your life? Why don't you get a real job?" RITA L'AMOREAUX (MOTHER OF GARY CLARKE) ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Everything you could possibly ever want to know about Gary Clarke you will find written among the flawlessly chosen, impeccably placed words so lovingly yet sophisticatedly held within the creatively custodial covers of this carefully crafted classic.
When Robert Aldrich directed his unforgettable film, Emperor of the North (1973), featuring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, and Keith Carradine, changes were made to the original screenplay by award-winning Christopher Knopf. The film still managed to please audiences and has remained a revered favorite among many. Even the theme ballad, "A Man and a Train", written by Frank De Vol with lyrics by Hal David and sung by Marty Robbins, reached #40 on the Billboard chart. Despite the vigor of Hollywood hoopla, Knopf always longed to reset the ruthless railroad tale on the right tracks. Now, nearly half a century later, Knopf finally reveals the true story in a riveting new novel that restores the crucial elements that film audiences have never experienced. In 1933, during the Great Depression, Shack, a cruel train conductor wages a personal war to keep anyone from riding his train for free. When A No. 1, an experienced, train-hopping hobo, and Cigaret, his green companion, dare to invade the sanctity of Shack's train, a battle of wills erupts with a pounding intensity rivaled only by the throbbing power of the steel behemoth beneath their feet. A climactic fight with heavy chains, planks of wood, and an axe used as makeshift weapons pits the three desperate men against each other. Will one of the hobos manage to ride Shack's train all the way to Portland and earn the title "Emperor of the North," or will Shack ultimately prevail? Christopher Knopf graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1950. Hired out of school by MGM Studios, he launched a producing and writing career in motion pictures and television that lasted fifty years and earned him an Edgar Alan Poe nomination, two Emmy Nominations, a Humanitas Prize nomination, two Writers Guild of America Award-winning scripts as well as five further nominations, two Writers Guild of America Service Awards, a People's Choice Award, and an NACCP Award. His autobiography, Will The Real Me Please Stand Up, and two novels, Remains To Be Seen and Chill Factor, were published exclusively by BearManor Media.
Edward D. Wood, Jr. has been called the "Worst Filmmaker in History." In this hilarious and reverential study, authors Andrew J. Rausch and Charles E. Pratt, Jr. investigate this claim while providing in-depth looks at the 29 existing films written and/or directed by Wood. In doing so, they manage to fully capture and translate the sensation of watching a Wood film in print. With nearly 300 pages, 13 photographs, and 10 original interviews with Wood associates, The Cinematic Misadventures of Ed Wood is a must-read for anyone interested in the films of Edward D. Wood, Jr. Sure to delight the most casual fan to the most knowledgeable of aficionados, this one-of-a-kind book stands as a testament to the misunderstood life and genius of Ed Wood.
"Before Oprah . . . before Ellen . . . there was Dinah Shore. She was the queen of the afternoon talk show. For over five decades, Dinah induced a state of joy into people wherever she appeared, a love affair between her and her audience. In the fickle world of popular music, Dinah had a longer run at the top than any other girl singer, and on television, she had no equal in the musical field. Arguably, she was "the first lady of television." Dinah life, however, was not always easy. She was a Jewish girl growing up in the Deep South and, at an early age, suffered a bout with polio. Later, as she was just achieving success as a radio/recording artist, a vicious rumor threatened to scuttle her career. Romantically, the lady was been involved with many men, from her first husband, actor George Montgomery, to Frank Sinatra, to her May/December affair with Burt Reynolds. Then, there were the clandestine relationships. Miss Dinah Shore is the candid story of a beloved woman whose career spanned almost all aspects of show business, from radio, records, movies, television variety and talk shows: a remarkable journey"--publisher's website
Bette Davis answered, "George Brent" whenever asked to name her favorite co-star. Her longtime crush on the actor (they teamed in eleven films) culminated in an off-screen affair while filming Dark Victory (1939) for which she won an Oscar nomination and Brent gave what many consider his "finest performance." Hollywood's top stars clamored to play opposite Brent, who infused his easy-going warmth into such blockbuster films as 42nd Street (1933). Before long, Garbo demanded that MGM cast him opposite her in The Painted Veil (1934). Brent was perfect foil for cinema's leading ladies: Ruth Chatterton (his second wife), Ginger Rogers, Loretta Young, Claudette Colbert, Barbara Stanwyck, Myrna Loy, Kay Francis, Olivia de Havilland, Joan Fontaine, Hedy Lamarr, Merle Oberon, and Ann Sheridan (his fourth wife). Not to be pigeonholed Brent's perfection as the dissipated Englishman in The Rains Came (1939) and surprise turn as the heavy in The Spiral Staircase (1946) fueled the longevity of his career. The personal life of George Brent remained undercover. Upon signing with Warner Bros., studio publicity fabricated a back-story for Brent: a graduate of Dublin University (he dropped out of school at 16); a player in the Abbey Theatre (for which no record exists); a dead mother (who was very much alive); and, a dispatcher for Michael Collins during the Irish Revolution (this . . . was true). Brent's biography offers a fascinating look into the life of Hollywood's elusive lone wolf. Scott O'Brien, whose biography on Ruth Chatterton made The Huffington Post's "Best Film Books of 2013," abetted by Irish filmmaker Brian Reddin, sheds new light on Ireland's gift to Hollywood and its leading ladies: George Brent. (Foreword by Wesleyan University's Chair of Film Studies, Jeanine Basinger.) 331 pages with 125 illustrations capture the glamour and private world of Hollywood's Golden Age.
''And they are reading sociological significance into my performances . . . I was a brave, independent woman in the forest, frisking around . . . Of course, I was blithely unaware that I was a social statement. I was just a hungry actress." - Kay Aldridge on her Nyoka role, New York Times ". . . six beauties, but the only one who stood out was Kay Aldridge, who had a funny little way of winking her eyes and crinking her nose. They liked Kay for that." - On the Navy Blues Sextette, Los Angeles Times The Thrills Gone By: The Kay Aldridge Story presents the life of the photogenic and most-photographed cover girl, model, Hollywood starlet and Serial Queen who has been forgotten today, except for her iconic role in the Republic serial, Perils of Nyoka. Her story is one of unrealized potential. No, she did not become a major star in Hollywood, and sadly so, perhaps simply because she never overcame the limits of being so photogenic and so heart-stoppingly beautiful in person. Kay Aldridge is portrayed here experiencing nine years of thrills gone by. Her ultimate failure to make superstar status puts the familiar and oft-told Hollywood success stories in perspective. This biography is based on material from Aldridge's original scrapbooks as reassembled and annotated by her daughter as well as inclusion of every major newspaper article written about her. It offers a respectful portrait and appreciation of Aldridge's personal life and includes a brief examination of the thrilling moments from her three serials. Jim Manago has authored the first biography of Huntz Hall and two biographies on Shirley Booth. He holds a Master's degree in Cinema Studies from the College of Staten Island/City University of New York.
THEY'LL LOVE YOU TO DEATH! James Bond's bad girls. Wicked queens of ancient myth. Bisexual vampire women. Teenage temptresses. Deadly dinosaur dames in fanciful fur bikinis. Golden princesses of porn. And many, many more. They were the wicked women of the 1960s and 1970s. While there have always been femme fatales in films, no one had ever believed anything like this pop-culture revolution could be possible, as overnight the 'new freedom of the screen' came into being. Censorship was out. Nudity was in. The golden age of the wicked woman lasted for two full decades. During that time, B-movies and exploitation flicks, as well as Hollywood A-movies and international cinema, played host to a remarkable array of deliciously deadly females who had two things in common: They were all drop dead gorgeous and they promised devoted fans "the desired death." Rich with rare photos, filled with previously unknown details from the private lives of the very real women who incarnated these fantasy femmes, here is the ultimate encyclopedia of their on- and off-screen adventures. DOUGLAS BRODE is a novelist, graphic novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and multi-award-winning journalist. He created and taught the Film Classics program at Syracuse University until his retirement in 2013.
What appears on the surface as a featherweight teenage romp is in reality a hotbed for social and political debate. Patty Duke's Billie is celebrating its 50th birthday as a pop culture oddity. And there's no better time to explore this neo-musical's unique thesis on social change, political activism and gender identification disorder... all to the infectious Beat of mid-'60s rock and roll! Authors/debaters Gary Gerani and Casey Bond take readers through every stage of Billie, from its beginnngs as Broadway's celebrated Time Out for Ginger to its current status as a cult classic. Along the way social experts and college professors weigh in with their views pertaining to this study's central question: Is super-athlete Billie a role model for feminism or, because of her final, fateful, give-up-sports-and-put-on-that-pink-dress decision, a betrayer of same? Even Billie herself, Patty Duke, shares her thoughts on the subject. In addition to thematic analysis and behind-the-scenes revelations, rare photographs, many never before published, add to the overall fun of Patty Duke as Billie: Role Model or Sell-Out? So get in the game, readers... and take a stand!
"I had no idea of writing another book on the Dead End Kids, until I was looking thru some of my many the 8x10 stills that I have collected over the past 50 years. While I was looking at them I came across a still of Charles R. Duncan, who was the original actor to play the role of Spit in the 1935 boradway production of the play Dead End. After looking at it for awhile, I thought that no one knows of him or has seen many pictures of him some of the other actos who worked with the Dead End Kids, who were punks"--Introduction.
"With essays from more than 40 noted film writers, this collection is a one-of-a-kind treasure for those amongst us with a passion for the seedier side of cinema"-- Page 4 of cover.
REVISED EDITION: Many unseen photos of Joi and an additional Afterward chapter. Plus two never seen photos of Joi and Rachel."Joi Lansing: A Body to Die For colorfully chronicles personal and intimate details of the last four years of the talented '50's "blonde bombshell" star's fascinating life. After three decades of successful TV and movie appearances and Vegas singing stardom, Ms. Lansing died far too young at just 43. Though her funeral was attended by luminaries of the day (Frank Sinatra sent a huge floral display), her light went out relatively unceremoniously. Always just on the verge of "making it big," Joi packed them in with standing room only in Vegas, but when the curtain came down and the audience was gone, who was she? Sadly, the one relationship where she was loved for the sweet, gentle woman she really was, the friendship that might have given her the strength to finally cross the finish line for that one moment of glory for which she had run since she began in show business as a little girl of 14, was ended at her death from breast Cancer in the arms of her dear friend, "Rachel." "Author Alexis Hunter ("friend/baby sister") was the only person who really knew Joi and knew how she struggled with a suicide-obsessed self-image and deadly drug problem after being a child star at MGM where "uppers" were a common way to keep the kids working 20 hour days. "Stunning black and white photos of Lansing by Maurice Seymour, the era's Superstar Photographer, make this book a collectors dream." -Kate Porter-AveryJoiLansingaBodyToDieFor.com
Unheard and unseen for over seventy years, Lady of the Press is an intriguing, entertaining West Coast CBS radio show from 1944 and 1945. The story follows newspaper reporter Sandra Martin, a modern woman trying to balance her personal life with her working world, as she is falsely tagged by police as a Person of Interest in a grisly murder. Sandra Martin is played by Janet Waldo, went on to fame as the voice of Corliss Archer, Judy Jetson, Penelope Pitstop, and many other characters. The big-city newspaper setting gave the 15-minute daily serial more energy than typical radio soaps. ¿¿This volume reprints for the first time the scripts from two dozen original episodes from the series complete with edits and cuts made by the cast and crew. These Lady of the Press scripts open a window into the World War II home front and the lives people led. * * * * * * *¿About the Generic Radio Workshop: This loose-knit group of radio artists have been performing vintage radio shows in the North Texas area longer than the Golden Age of Radio existed. The Workshop's website, http://genericradio.com, serves as the Internet's original and largest library of Old Time Radio scripts. Audio theatre groups literally from across the globe visit the website to find material for their upcoming productions and share scripts that they have produced with others.¿¿Larry Groebe is one of the cofounders, and he functions as the group's chief archivist and librarian. Larry also does voice work and online marketing.
¿I am in awe! Robert Kenny¿s analysis is quite brilliant, and exactly what Lucan deserves after all these years.¿ Anthony Slide, author and film historian¿A timely, fascinating and unique study of an unjustly neglected star.¿ Jeffrey Richards, Emeritus Professor of Cultural History, University of Lancaster¿This is a book I devoured!¿ Richard Anthony Baker, author, broadcaster and former BBC News Assistant EditorDuring the 1930s and 40s, Arthur Lucan and his wife Kitty McShane were among the highest-paid and most admired variety artistes in Britain. They packed theatres throughout the land, and made a series of zany films with Arthur as the belligerent washerwoman Old Mother Riley, and Kitty as her flighty daughter. But fame and fortune went to Kitty¿s head, and offstage she made Arthur¿s life a misery; he collapsed and died¿in costume¿ in May 1954, one week before he was due to appear in court as a bankrupt.The story of the tears behind the Lucans¿ onstage laughter is told here in greater detail than ever before, demolishing old legends, re-assessing the comic genius of Arthur, and revealing the sadness of alcoholic Kitty, who lies today in a forgotten, unmarked grave. Dr. Robert V. Kenny was for many years a lecturer in French Language and Literature at the University of Leicester. He also directed the University Theatre and founded a chamber choir, Coro Nostro, which continues to flourish after his retirement. Throughout his career he produced and directed plays, operas and concerts, in addition to his teaching and research.
The Western Movie Quiz Book - Saddle up for 1250 questions and answers on the greatest movie genre of them all! If you are a fan of Westerns, there are some things a man just can't ride around, and The Western Movie Quiz Book is well worth a mosey. The Western Movie Quiz Book is an affectionate tribute to a much loved and enduring cinematic art form. With 1250 questions ranging from the very easy to 'expert' covering 125 subjects, the book is a comprehensive history of the Western. All the classic Westerns from over a century of movie making, as well as more obscure 'oaters' are covered, and the icons of the genre - the great directors, stars and locations are an integral part of the book. Subjects include Spaghetti Westerns, Comedy Westerns, Catchphrases, Good Guys and Bad Guys, as well as chapters on Wayne, Eastwood, Fonda and many others who helped make the Western the most loved film genre of all. The recent critical and box office success of True Grit and Cowboys and Aliens has demonstrated that there is still an audience for the Western, and with Quentin Tarantino's entry into the Western canon Django Unchained, making the genre fashionable again, the timing of The Western Movie Quiz Book is perfect. With a foreword by Philip French, film critic of The Observer newspaper and author of Westerns: Aspects of a Movie Genre, a seminal history of the genre, The Western Movie Quiz Book will provide many hours of nostalgia, entertainment and escapism for quizmasters, movie buffs and anyone interested in the history of the Western movie. Happy Trails! GRAEME ROSS was born in Greenock in the west of Scotland and has lived and worked in the area all his life. He served as a Firefighter in Greenock for thirty years and now works in the Scottish Football Museum at the home of Scottish football, Hampden Park. THE WESTERN MOVIE QUIZ BOOK is Graeme's sixth book. His other works include histories of his local football (Soccer) club, Morton, and a Frank Sinatra quiz book. Graeme has also contributed many articles to newspapers and magazines such as The Sunday Times, The Scotsman and Mojo. He is a life-long movie fan with a particular love of the Western, and in 2003, Film Review featured his article celebrating 100 years of the Western movie.
Perhaps the first question any journalist has when they land an interview is "How much time do I have?"Chances are you will have 10 to 20 minutes to speak with someone well known. That's not much time and it requires writers not only to prepare to use those few minutes wisely but also to be able to improvise,Journalist G. Michael Dobbs has been fortunate to have spoken with dozens of newsmakers and celebrities during his almost 40 year career. This volume of interviews includes conversations with people such as Vincent Price, Ray Bradbury, Dave Attell, Maureen O'Hara, Don McLean, Leonard Nimoy, Anne Rice, Lillian Gish, Buster Crabbe, Bill Cosby, William Gaines, Paula Poundstone, Rachel Maddow, Bob Backlund and many more.
MICHAEL LANDON: Actor, Writer, Director, Producer For over three decades, Michael Landon's creative gifts touched millions of viewers around the world on Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, Highway to Heaven and in several other productions. This is the first detailed examination of his work both in front of and behind the camera, including information about every Landon script. Among the illustrations are some rarely seen photographs. "I am grateful that one of Michael's greatest admirers has devoted an entire book to a serious study of his productions, and I hope readers will appreciate David Greenland's efforts as much as I do."- CINDY LANDON
Prenumerera på vårt nyhetsbrev för att få fantastiska erbjudanden och inspiration för din nästa läsning.
Genom att registrera dig accepterar du vår personuppgiftspolicy.
