Book Description
This is the deliciously entertaining memoir by the coal miner's son who became an international star of stage, screen, and television. Keel speaks his mind about his many co-stars, including Judy Garland, Betty Hutton, Tammy Grimes and Katherine Greyson, to name a few.
Customer Reviews:
Honest, interesting story.......2007-08-23
Very honest! You can feel his mood when he wrote it, when you are reading. Strong language. A complex character, this Howard Keel. He comes across as a fine man, a good-natured down-to-earth man. A true gentleman. But he also has a temper! It was interesting read. I give it 4 stars. Not five, but it was good!
a great book.......2007-05-06
A wonderfully written book, I've been a Howard Keel fan for many years, and his book is great.It will make you smile,laugh and feel sadness as you read about his childhood and his entry into show business and how life was not always easy for him. A wonderful actor,with a beautiful voice,a truly great man and entertainer, a big loss to the entertainment world.I loved the book as well as Howard and urge people to read this book.
GREAT HOWARD KEEL!.......2007-03-12
This book is good and easy to read.
Nice memories about Howard Keel and his life for the
classic movies as well as for the modern TV series.
Thank you for an unusual perspective of this late actor.
Recommended!
A true hero of stage and screen.......2006-09-23
Not only is this book good, I couldn't put it down. He was so damned funny! Maybe it wasn't meant to be that way, but I laughed my butt of several times. He may have not been the best writer in the world, but he was original and honest. I could have done without all of the facts of everyone in every show, but I was so amused that it really didn't matter. Without a doubt, one of the greatest voices ever. I wish he'd have spent more time in discussing Doris Day. I always thought they were a cute couple. All in all, one of my favorite books. Maybe it is because I was in awe of his voice, or maybe it's because he didn't dance around the facts. It was a great read, and I highly recommend it.
Don't Hate Doris Day, She's Great and Howard Keel Loved Her!.......2006-09-07
"Betty Burk's" review is nothing more than a dig at Doris Day. "Calamity Jane" happens to be the BEST musical western in the history of film. The insane jealousy over Miss Day's unequaled success as a movie box office star, drove many close to residence in asylums.
Despite the success Miss Day enjoyed in the 50s and 60s as the top female box office star, she was hated by many. In contrast, her co-stars had nothing but praise for her, including the wonderful, Howard Keel, who felt that Day would have been a better choice for "Annie Get Your Gun."
Howard Keel had one of the BEST baritones in the history of film. The very SOUND of his voice was as unique as Doris Day's fabulous voice. Her's was commercial, however, garnering her many top ten popular hits. Like Julie Andrews, Mario Lanza, Jane Powell and Kathryn Grayson, Howard's voice was operatic and not cogent with the popular music sound.
I have read this book, mainly to see what he said about working with Doris and another favorite of mine, Jane Powell.
Customer Reviews:
Great book on a great Director.......2006-09-30
This book is one of those few that is so hard to put down. It was a fasinating look at the Bond movies,and the faces behind them. I had no idea that the budgets of the movies were so low.(as compared to other action films) This book took me in,and I would recommend it to any fan of film,especially James Bond films!
Definitely a must-have for any Bond fan.......2006-02-01
John Glen directed the five 007 films which basically span the entire decade of the 1980s: For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights, and License to Kill. He was also involved with previous 007 films such as Moonraker, The Spy Who Loved Me, and numerous other British films going back to the 60s. This book is a collection of behind the scenes stories from the making of Glen's films, but with special emphasis on the Bond films. Most Bond fans know the plot details inside and out, so what makes this book interesting is the story and script development, shooting location stories, and cast and crew details. The only downside to the book is I wish there was MORE of everything...more stories, more photos, etc. This is a highly entertaining book if you are a 007 fan, particularly from the Roger Moore - Timothy Dalton era.
Bond Only Bond.......2005-10-09
This is a valuable book for the inside track on the Bond films. Director John Glen did a good job. His services will be greatly missed unless they get him back. After reading this book perhaps the producers should get John Glen back.
A Must Have for All James Bond Fans.......2001-11-14
Director John Glen tells of his experience with the James Bond film series strait up. At the helm of five of the films as director Glen pulls no punches and offers great insight into the creative efforts of the whole Bond film team. This is a great book and even more so if you are a James Bond fan. I really like this book. There is really no gloss here. This is really about what went into making these films while Albert R. Broccoli was still alive and producing them. I highly recommend this book.
Average customer rating:
- Controversy
- Controversy.
- wake up, everybody
- (RAW Rating: 4.5) - Perception or Truth?
- Something to think about
|
Black People: For Entertainment Purposes Only
W. Ivan Wright
Manufacturer: Able Journey Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1934249467 |
Product Description
Black People: For Entertainment Purposes Only, is a suspenseful fiction thriller that introduces seasoned characters and humorous dialogues to the reader. The main character, Jurney Swiftwood, has written a book whose title infers that the purpose of black people, is for America's entertainment. Jurney's book has placed him in the cross hairs of community dissension, media scrutiny and family angst. The outcry from an offended public has also placed an unsuspecting Jurney on the hit list of a politically controlled assassin. In the midst of his troubles, Jurney discovers that he is the father of a precious, yet abused nine-year-old girl! Situations and conversations present an entertaining vehicle that serves to remind all communities of the importance, and awesome power of perception.
Customer Reviews:
Controversy.......2007-10-03
Jurney Swiftwood has gone from bestselling to socially conscience author with the release of his controversial new novel, "Black People: For Entertainment Purposes Only." His novel has evoked some strong emotions and ruffled more than a few feathers. So much so that someone wants him dead.
The premise of BLACK PEOPLE: FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY is interesting. However, I initially found this book hard to get in to, as the beginning was rather slow. It wasn't until about the halfway mark that it picked up. Even so, it was entertaining. Solid debut effort.
Reviewed by: Toni
3.5 stars
Controversy........2007-09-07
African-American author Jurney Swiftwood is riding on the road of success until he releases his latest novel Black People: For Entertainment Purposes Only. The title to his book alone is causing a firestorm of controversy in the black community and Jurney finds himself defending the book on various talk shows. On top of all this, Jurney is unknowingly being stalked by a politically connected contract killer and has just found out about a daughter that he didn't know he had. Jurney's girlfriend Selena is right by his side but will her past mistake threaten their future? Will Jurney be able to get his life back on track before it's too late?
Black People: For Entertainment Purposes Only is an engaging read by W. Ivan Wright. This story was not just about an author with a controversial book. It was about how African-Americans are viewed and portrayed by the rest of the world. Wright seamlessly mixed social commentary, love, suspense, and even murder into this novel that will keep the reader on their toes. Black People: For Entertainment Purposes Only is entertaining and insightful. This is the perfect book if you're looking for more than just a run-of-the-mill novel.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert
for Urban Reviews
wake up, everybody.......2007-05-07
W. Ivan Wright's Black People - For Entertainment Purposes Only is an intriquing novel that will wake up whites and blacks. Whites will enter the world of Jurney, Selena, Roland, Tylea and others and see it through a clearer lens. Blacks will see themselves as a sharper image.
"Me and Roland was talking the other day. You know, that man surprises me sometimes. I never realized that he was so knowing about things. But anyway, 'As messed up as this country is, it's the only country where somebody who came from dirt-poor nothing can put his face deep in the books for six to eight years and forever remove himself from the pauper's door, changing the legacy of his seed.'" In a book filled with dialogue full of insight and with real-life characters and listen-to language, Wright weaves a tale full of drama and suspense. I can't wait for his next book.
(RAW Rating: 4.5) - Perception or Truth?.......2007-05-02
June 2006, thirty-two-year-old Jurney Swiftwood was riding the literary surf as a best selling author. July 2006, just one month later, he is feeling the affects of what he calls 'surfer's wipe out'. His latest book, very different from his previous works, is not being perceived as well as he'd hoped. Reactions to people's perceptions of the book, creates much controversy. Jurney's insinuation that we exist primarily for America's entertainment fuels community dissension, especially among African Americans, places him under media scrutiny, and invokes family angst. He finds himself continually defending his mis-interpreted thoughts.
About the same time Jurney has to defend his book, he is assessing his growing feelings for the woman in his life and is just learning he has a nine-year-old daughter. Somewhere between blissful speculation over his newfound fatherhood and the possibility of taking his relationship to another level, attempts are made on his life. Jurney wonders how, in a mere thirty days, his life has become so complicated.
W. Ivan Wright combines conspiracy, murder, and revelations to produce a suspenseful thriller with touches of humor and a good sense of family. The writing is succinct, the characters are real; with just enough foundation, and the message is reflective. There is no wasted drama, just well written situations that present an entertaining vehicle to remind readers of the importance and awesome power of perception. Peppered with secondary issues that have a primary affect on the magnitude of the book, BLACK PEOPLE: For Entertainment Purposes Only brings the message home. Wright has my attention for his next book.
Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Something to think about.......2007-04-28
Black People, For Entertainment Purposes Only is a riveting tale about a young writer who chooses to be true to himself and write a novel which angers some. Even in 2007, when one would expect harmony and equality in America, it is not so. This is well written and is a love story, a mystery, and an adventure all rolled up into a fast paced story. I enjoyed this book very much and am looking forward to this author's next work.
Book Description
Few Hollywood memoirs have offered as distinctive and candid a perspective on the film industry as producer and studio executive Mike Medavoy's You're Only As Good As Your Next One. Here is a deeply personal history of four decades in American film, told by a pivotal player in the creation of more than three hundred films -- or, as Medavoy distinguishes them, "one hundred great films, one hundred good films, and one hundred for which I should be shot." Included are eight Best Picture Oscar winners. On all of them, he knows the behind-the-scenes dramas, who got credit for whose achievements, and who didn't get credit but should have.
His ties to four major studios mirror the most fascinating chapters in American filmmaking. At United Artists, he and his partners were behind the creative revolution of the hot young directors of the 1970s, and they backed such seminal films as Apocalypse Now, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and Rocky. At Orion Pictures, he backed such '80s smashes as Amadeus, The Terminator, Platoon, and The Silence of the Lambs. He navigated the '90s corporate culture at TriStar Pictures, green-lighting Philadelphia and Sleepless in Seattle. Now at his own Phoenix Pictures, the producer of such acclaimed works as The People vs. Larry Flynt and The Thin Red Line controls his destiny, but never strays far from controversy. Medavoy pulls no punches in telling his story of financial and political maneuvering, great triumphs and the inevitable disasters, and working with the industry's brightest star power including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Milos Forman, Jonathan Demme, Francis Coppola, John Milius, Terrence Malick, Kevin Costner, Tom Hanks, Jane Fonda, Warren Beatty, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Sharon Stone, Michael Douglas, Meg Ryan, Dustin Hoffman, and countless others.
This is also the story of how movie studio buyouts have stymied the creative process and shaped the future of film. Gone is the hands-off golden age that spawned some of the most influential and successful films of our time. An eyewitness to Hollywood history in the making, Mike Medavoy gives a powerful and poignant view of the past and future of a world he knows intimately.
Customer Reviews:
You're Only as Good as Your Next One by Mike Medavoy.......2005-06-17
Mike Medavoy's Bio is a very good educational book
Dear Sirs:
(...) I spend all my days after school and during the week-ends watching movies at home with my friends and our parents. We like, especially, all the Mike Medavoy's movies: Holes, Apocalypse Now, Rocky, Basic, Robocop, Cliffhanger, The 6th Day, Apt Pupil, The Thin Red Line, Terminator, Hook, Platoon... We like his movies because he is a producer with conscience. For these reasons I think that the Mike Medavoy's Bio is a very good educational book. This book really deserves to be distributed in all the Schools, Colleges and Universities of Cinema of the Country (Hey, teacher, thank you!).
Plus I really think that Mr. Medavoy is a Good Man, a Good Son, a Good Father and a Good Friend. He never judge the other People (he just writes the history) and he is always helping a lot of great talents. He is an unique human being in Hollywood. Mike Medavoy knows how to do movies with an extraordinary talent and with great love.
(...)
You're Only As Good As Your Next One.......2005-06-16
Dear Sirs:
Since I was 11 years old I like read "Variety" and now that I'm 12 years old I spend all my days after school watching movies at home with my friends. We like, especially, all the Mike Medavoy's movies: Apocalypse Now, Rocky, Robocop, Cliffhanger, Terminator, Hook, Platoon... We like his movies because he is a producer with conscience. For these reasons I think that the Mike Medavoy's Bio is a very good educational book. This book really deserves to be distributed in all the Schools, Colleges and Universities of Cinema of the Country (Hey, teacher, thank you!).
Plus I really think that Mr. Medavoy is a Good Man, a Good Son, a Good Father that loves fully and truly children and young people and a Good Friend. He never judge the other People (he just writes the history) and he is always helping a lot of great talents. He is an unique human being in Hollywood. Mike Medavoy knows how to do movies with an extraordinary talent and with great love.
From Joe Miller Jr., Philadelphia
You're Only As Good As Your Next One.......2005-06-16
Dear Sirs:
Since I was 11 years old I like read "Variety" and now that I'm 12 years old I spend all my days after school watching movies at home with my friends. We like, especially, all the Mike Medavoy's movies: Apocalypse Now, Rocky, Robocop, Cliffhanger, Terminator, Hook, Platoon... We like his movies because he is a producer with conscience. For these reasons I think that the Mike Medavoy's Bio is a very good educational book. This book really deserves to be distributed in all the Schools, Colleges and Universities of Cinema of the Country (Hey, teacher, thank you!).
Plus I really think that Mr. Medavoy is a Good Man, a Good Son, a Good Father that loves fully and truly children and young people and a Good Friend. He never judge the other People (he just writes the history) and he is always helping a lot of great talents. He is an unique human being in Hollywood. Mike Medavoy knows how to do movies with an extraordinary talent and with great love.
From Joe Miller Jr., Philadelphia
You're Only As Good As Your Next One.......2005-06-16
Dear Sirs:
Since I was 11 years old I like read "Variety" and now that I'm 12 years old I spend all my days after school watching movies at home with my friends. We like, especially, all the Mike Medavoy's movies: Apocalypse Now, Rocky, Robocop, Cliffhanger, Terminator, Hook, Platoon... We like his movies because he is a producer with conscience. For these reasons I think that the Mike Medavoy's Bio is a very good educational book. This book really deserves to be distributed in all the Schools, Colleges and Universities of Cinema of the Country (Hey, teacher, thank you!).
Plus I really think that Mr. Medavoy is a Good Man, a Good Son, a Good Father that loves fully and truly children and young people and a Good Friend. He never judge the other People (he just writes the history) and he is always helping a lot of great talents. He is an unique human being in Hollywood. Mike Medavoy knows how to do movies with an extraordinary talent and with great love.
From Joe Miller Jr., Philadelphia
Did not like this book.......2005-02-16
This book was not compelling and the story of Mike Medavoy simply not interesting. It seems like his life has always been about himself. After all, he's married a half a dozen times, continues to cheat, has kids who are a mess and he is grotesque. So if you are going to learn form somebody read about Ted Turner, Jack Warner...Medavoy shouldn't have a book deal in the first place. This was a total waste of my time.
Average customer rating:
- Missing the Music
- Kirsty MacColl Authorised Biography
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Kirsty Maccoll the One and Only Biography
Karen Obrien
Manufacturer: Andre Deutsch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0233001425 |
Book Description
Everything about Kirsty MacColl defied the conventional "pop" category, yet she embraced and defended the genre, redeeming it with literate writing that had seldom been seen in British pop since the glory days of Ray Davies and the Kinks. Her music was funny, irreverent and endearingly catchy and her five albums in almost twenty years became symbolic rescue missions to retrieve British pop music from all that was saccharine and shallow, manufactured and mainstream. Overcoming agonising stage fright, long periods of writer's block and depression, she created a hugely successful solo career and collaborated with a legion of people from the Rolling Stones to the Happy Mondays. Her tragic death in a senseless boating accident came shortly after the release of her long-awaited album Tropical Brainstorm, an Anglo-Latin pop hybrid that embraced her passion for Cuba. The One and Only is the definitive Kirsty MacColl biography and a tribute to a highly original talent.
Customer Reviews:
Missing the Music.......2005-04-19
As a fan of MacColls music I'm very happy to see that she warrants a biography. Hopefully the presense of such a book will continue to elevate her status in the music world. However, this book is hardly about the the music. It does cover, in sometimes too much detail, her childhood, her early family life and Cuba. There are sections on her marriage to Steve Lillywhite and a bit about her career at Stiff Records. But beyond that the book lacks any sense of Kirsty's diverse musical influences. In fact, acts that clearly influenced MacColl like Twinkle, the Caravells, Sandy Denny etc are not mentioned at all. Sadly, there are enticing quotes about her love for records that are never pursued. For the most part this book is written like a CNN report - it just feels very cold. In parts it is downright silly - a full few pages are devoted to the fact that like Kirsty Che Gueavar had asthma! Protacted sections on the MacColl's visits to Poland go nowhere. I was left feeling like the book was forced or worse that it's main goal is to keep the cases about her death in the public eye (though to be fair the author presents an unbiased view of the case). Clearly Kirsty's family had significant involvement in this book but I wonder why they left out so many of the musical elements of her life? It left me wondering if any of them knew Kirty's music at all. And the photos also hardly show a woman who had been a significant force in pop music. I would recommend the book to any Kirsty MacColl fan but I do so with the caution that you'll not learn much more about her music than you'll find on the CDs. Though that may not be a bad thing it is ashame that an effort to document her life a pop artist has now passed.
Kirsty MacColl Authorised Biography.......2004-11-27
Finally a comprehensive and authorised biography of the late Kirsty MacColl. It is clear that this book has been written with the co operation of MacColls family. This is evident from the inclusion of many personal photographs (in color) and family anecdotes. Of particluar interest are the early chapters outlining MacColls childhood and formative years which are intriguing as little has been previously documented.The book also focus's on MacColls diverse career, over a twenty year period, from early stagefright to prolific songwriting,recording and performing. It is a fascinating read and a respectful testament to the life and career of a greatly missed artist
Customer Reviews:
My thoughts refer to the unabridged audiobook.......2007-02-09
Regis is one of my favorite celebrities! He is a down-to-earth family man who approaches life with good humor and a likeable manner. I enjoyed accompanying him as he talked through some typical days in his very busy life. Listening to him more than a decade after he shared these reflections gave the story an outdated feel, as a lot of the pop-culture personalities he mentions have disappeared from the scene, and the old-timers he reminisced about are way before my time. As well, now that he is paired with Kelly Ripa, he seems younger, hipper and more light-hearted than he was at the time he recorded this memoir. She brings out something special in him that Kathie Lee never did.
The book is a nice representation of the entertainment business and pop-culture, made all the better when expressed by a personable and respected celebrity like Regis.
Regis 6/15/94-5/19/95 and Some of his yesterdays.......2000-12-28
Regis's book logs many of the days(incl some holidays) between 6/15/94-5/19/95 with some of the yesterdays prior to 6/14/94 .....Good intro by the Regis and Cathy Live staff at that time( Michael Gelman and Cathy Lee Gifford) Gelman still Gelman and Cathy Lee ,has moved on for even better someday.. ,plus there is much levity through out( It was given as a gift to me for Xmas 2000,I've skimmed through the entire book and got a few chuckles without even getting to much into the NY ,NY details(photos were great,& joke about Perry Como quite funny). It ends with smoothness and ease:as Regis, in his biography says to the reader" I've got to find my plane tickets,back my bags and get ready for the next show.After all,I'm only one man". 12/27/00 abj
Funny and enlightening.......2000-05-30
Reading this book is like sitting down with Regis and listening to him tell you stories. You will be able to look deeper into the man that engages in Host Chat with Kathie Lee everyday. This book is an example of how far Regis really came in life and how hard he had to work for it. This can almost be a self-help book in a way because it portrays the commitment to excellence put forth by Regis to achieve his dream....and did he ever!
A great, fun read!.......1999-10-12
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I learned things about Regis that you won't learn by watching him on TV. I enjoyed reading about his trials and tribulations of his career, from his early days to the present. I have recommended this books to others. Whoever has my copy, please return it! This is one book you can read again.
What can I say, this IS my Dad........1998-04-18
I watched my father write this -- longhand, in a spiral notebook, no less. (Dad can barely find the "on" switch for the computer.) I learned things about my family that I never knew. Anyone familiar with him, even if only through his work on television, can absolutely tell that the words are his. Poor Bill Zehme had the unenviable task of keeping him focused. And, he did a great job! It's a good, quick read. Get it. Read it. Pass it on.
Average customer rating:
- Fascinating read.
- Ginger was really the best of the Spice collection
- Superficial, Attention Seeking And Very Shallow!The Book That Is!
- Geri Halliwells book
- on your couch at home
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If Only
Geri Halliwell
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Geri: Just for the Record
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Spice World
ASIN: 0385334753
Release Date: 1999-10-19 |
Book Description
She dreamed of becoming a pop star. She fought her way through personal obstacles to emerge--against overwhelming odds--as an international pop sensation: Ginger Spice of the supergroup the Spice Girls. Then, at the height of her fame, Geri Halliwell walked away from it all.
If Only is the inspiring story of Halliwell's roller-coaster journey from insecure teenager to nineties' pop superstar. With wry humor and rare candor, she reveals the hunger for love and acceptance that propelled her from her working-class beginnings to fame beyond her wildest dreams.
She shares candid thoughts about her battle with bulimia...her unforgettable meeting with Prince Charles...her ongoing quest for spiritual fulfillment...the real reason she left the Spice Girls. And she takes us inside the mind and heart of the outrageously dressed performer whose public persona shouted "Girl Power!" yet who constantly strove to discover who she really was.
When she left the Spice Girls in 1998--with a string of number one hits behind her--she was ready to stop being Ginger Spice and start becoming Geri Halliwell. Today, at twenty-seven, she has already embarked on a new journey--a platinum solo album, three number one singles, and the inspirational role of Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations--rushing toward a future filled with success, fulfillment, and, hopefully, no regrets.
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating read........2007-08-08
If Only by Geri Halliwell is her account on life as a ex-Spice Girl and so much more. Halliwell actually has some talent as a writer, this book was hard to put down. Geri talks about her issues with food, her rise and exit from being Ginger Spice, and the death of her father. Geri doesn't leave anything out, she is open, frank, and quite hilarious as she goes deep into her past. I highly recommend checking this great book out. It was a pleasure to read it. Enjoy!
Ginger was really the best of the Spice collection.......2006-10-19
Geri Halliwell shocked many of her fans when she left the Spice Girls in 1998 after a 2 year mega successful time. The Spice Girls were the biggest girl band in music history.... and Ginger Spice (her moniker back then) was the most exciting personality. Like her childhood idol Madonna, Geri Halliwell grew up in a working class suburb and had a dream to be famous since she was 12. She got it and yet she found that fame had an interesting impact on her life. This book answers a few questions as to why her sudden departure happened at the height of the Spice Girls fame ... and it reveals more of Geri underneath all the Ginger.
Superficial, Attention Seeking And Very Shallow!The Book That Is!.......2006-08-01
This book reads like a very tedious conversation with Ms. Halliwell over a long lunch that you can't get away from until she finishes her dessert.She writes about her early impoverished childhood and how she craved the attention of an audience and wanted everybody's approval which sadly most people of any maturity know that this is something you will never get. Ms. Halliwell's "definition" of her "Personal Growth" is when she tries on an outfit which is too small so she asks for a bigger size.The last time I saw Ms. Halliwell in a photo she was being carried away to her limo by a big bodyguard after suffering from "Champagne Fatigue". The only good thing about this book are the revealing photos that were taken during her days as a "Glamour Model". It is no wonder that this woman likes living in Los Angeles.Her greatest accomlishment in life was to stop singing in a Pop Group and start singing solo. Big Deal.
Geri Halliwells book.......2006-04-13
I really enjoyed this book. It was awesome to see into the depth of Geri's life. I had no idea that she actually had eating disorders while she was a spice girl. It really helped me to understand more about her and that she really worked hard for her career. I would love to meet Geri although I don't know that that will ever happen. Her book makes me want to meet her even more if only to say that she did a great job and I understand some of the things she went through. I've been there. I highly recommend this book.
on your couch at home.......2005-09-25
Now that the Spice Girls have become history, I re-read 'If only' out of curiosity: does Geri Halliwell's autobiography still makes a worthy read?
Well, it does. Spanning her life from birth up to 1999, the most profilic Spice Girl has left us a very readable account of a London working-class girl, definitely doing things her own way. Managing to acquire world fame, after a long & painful way up. Geri's tale is to the point, and always provides us with enough details to get an overall picture. While reflecting life in the nineties, it shows human warmth throughout. Some criticism may be found in the absence of quarreling & intrigue, caused by the extreme pressures of a Spice Girl-career.
What makes this book last, however, is the way Geri tells: 'If only' really makes you feel she's sitting on your couch, chatting away at you. Right in your own living room. It's an attitude Geri Halliwell managed to built a career on.
Book Description
It's Only a Movie is the best book ever written about my father. It really is amazing." -Patricia Hitchcock North by Northwest. Psycho. Rear Window. The Birds. Vertigo. When it comes to murder and mayhem, shock and suspense, the films of Alfred Hitchcock can not be surpassed. For this book, Charlotte Chandler interviewed Hitchcock, his wife, daughter, film crew members, and many of the stars who appeared in his films, including Kim Novak, Janet Leigh, Cary Grant, Tippi Hedren and James Stewart. Throughout the book, Chandler shares Hitchcock's wit and wisdom. When actors took themselves too seriously, he would remind them, "it's only a movie." Chandler introduces us to the real Hitchcock, a devoted family man and notorious practical joker, who made suspenseful thrillers mixed with subtle humor and tacit eroticism.
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"Author of acclaimed biographies of Groucho Marx, Federico Fellini, and Billy Wilder, Charlotte Chandler spent several years with Hitchcock discussing his life and his amazing career. She also talked with his wife, Alma, and daughter, Pat, as well as many of the screen legends who appeared in his films. The result is an intimate yet expansive portrait of a unique artist who, from the 1920s through the 1970s, created many of history's most memorable films. A quarter-century after his death, Hitchcock's distinctive profile remains an instantly recognizable icon to millions, while his films continue to grow in popular appeal and critical esteem. Chandler introduces us to the real Hitchcock: a devoted family man, practical joker, and Englishman of Edwardian sensibilities who was one of the great masters of cinematic art. "
Customer Reviews:
Movies From the Past........2005-05-26
I saw many (probably most ) of the Hitchcock's movies in which he always made a surprise appearance. The best part of the occasion was trying to find him out in the crowd somewhere. He always was a practical joker, even in the serious films he directed. He had the most distinctive profile of anyone alive at that time (Twenties to the Seventies).
Now, he has been dead for twenty-five years and Ms. Chandler has released this comprehensive history -- why not earlier? Why now? For many years she talked with the big man himself, and later his wife, Alma and daughter Pat. She also interviewed at least sixteen of the stars he used -- he always chose a blonde female co-star and the best looking males available. Some were Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda, John Gielgud, Grace Kelly, Tippi Hendren, Kim Novak, Doris Day, and Janet Leigh.
Being a Britisher made him different for us young moviegoers, but we could overlook that English accent as it was just plain fun to find him right there in his own movies. He told Ms. Chandler in one of their conversations, "I remember Ingrid Bergman coming up to me in a terrible state. Worried, miserable, high-strung, romantic, idealistic, sensitive, emotional." She said, "There's something I must tell you about my part. I don't feel it. I can't find my motivation." "I said to her, 'Ingrid, fake it. It's only a movie."
Last spring that is what a young man told me when I had written a bad review of ANCHORMAN starring Will Ferrell which I hated -- "it's only a movie." But it did not make me like it any better.
Life today is like one of Hitchcock's advice. We fake it. If we worried about terrorism and instant demoliton from an atom bomb, we'd all be basket cases. Just fake it, as he would say.
Some time ago, Ms. Chandler wrote THE ULTIMATE SEDUCTION in which she included an interview with Tennessee Williams. Now, she is finishing a book about Bette Davis. I haven't liked Bette Davis since she was the crazy one in 'What Happend to Baby Jane.' And I hated that song, 'Bette Davises Eyes." You'd think she could chose someone more respected and more talented.
Hitchcock Once Over Lightly.......2005-04-16
It's no wonder that Alfred Hitchcock continues to fascinate a quarter century after his death as his work resonates still. Author Charlotte Chandler has written a breezy history of Hitchcock the master filmmaker. It's by no means the best one on the market, as I feel Donald Spoto wrote the authoritative biography in 1983, "The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock", and Francois Truffaut published his famous comprehensive interview with Hitchcock in 1967. I would recommend either before diving into this dishy memoir, but it's good fun about his professional life nonetheless.
Chandler breaks down Hitchcock's story movie by movie in chronological order. Each section deals anecdotally with each film, noting the little triumphs and failures inherent in any project and including the actors' impressions of working for the master of suspense. Contrary to popular belief, many were genuinely impressed by Hitchcock's genius almost to the point of genuflection, and the book is full of recollections of his kindnesses, hardly the dark portrait Spoto painted nor Hitchcock himself with the characters in his films. In fact, according to Chandler, he did not readily abandon his actors as is widely believed. Rather, everyone simply agreed he knew what he wanted and with supreme confidence, Hitchcock dictated a set like a consummate professional. To the thinner-skinned, he was an icy control freak. His no-fuss filmmaking style comes across in Chandler's colorful descriptions of the classics he directed. Sometimes, Chandler insinuates herself into the narrative to the point of being intrusive, as if she needs to validate her qualifications for writing this biography. It can get irritating, but luckily her insights offset much of the over-personalized perspective. Just reviewing his filmography in such gently provocative detail is reason enough to buy this book, whether it's "Rebecca", "Shadow of a Doubt", "Notorious", "Strangers on a Train", "Rear Window", "Vertigo'', "North by Northwest", "Psycho", "The Birds", or his earlier English pictures. An entertaining read about a true character and a deservedly legendary director.
A gentle, entertaining look at the "Master of Suspense".......2005-04-03
IT'S ONLY A MOVIE: Alfred Hitchcock -- A Personal Biography is the latest (and certainly not the greatest) look at the life of the famed suspense director.
Charlotte Chandler, whose other celebrity biographies include NOBODY'S PERFECT: Billy Wilder -- A Personal Biography; I, FELLINI; and HELLO, I MUST BE GOING: Groucho and His Friends, concentrates on Hitchcock primarily as a movie maker. The aspects of his early and later life get relatively short shrift, which many readers will no doubt appreciate, wanting to get to the meat of the matter.
Chandler presents the talented "Hitch" as a visionary, creating cinematic effects and manipulating the emotions of moviegoers for more than fifty years. His classics --- The Man Who Knew Too Much (both versions), Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window, Rebecca, Lifeboat, Spellbound, Notorious...the list of work from one person seems ridiculous and unfair --- defined fright films that endure to this day, despite the pyrotechnical toys and other gimmicks modern directors employ to get a rise out of us. Hitchcock knew how to use a patch of light or the absence of sound to set up the audience for the constant rude awakening. He was the master of the "MacGuffin," a plot device that defies conventional explanation, which Chandler describes as "something that motivates characters to take dangerous chances for something they must have.... In The 39 Steps it's a secret airplane engine design. In The Lady Vanishes and in Foreign Correspondent it's a secret diplomatic message...."
Hitchcock was a bit of an overgrown imp, she writes, not a stuffed shirt. Despite his formal bearing, he always enjoyed a good joke, particularly when it came at the good-natured expense of one of his actors. And what actors! Jimmy Stewart, Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Kim Novak, James Mason, Anthony Perkins --- a veritable "who's who" of Hollywood nobility.
Although his art was complex, Hitchcock's directorial style was simple: actors should be able to get by with a minimum of instruction. Those looking for guidance learned that it must come from within. Insecurity was tolerated with great reluctance. Hitchcock had little patience for "method" actors who needed to know their motivation. Basically, he believed their motivation should be to do a good job to earn their paycheck. Chandler employs the filmmaker's catchphrase, "It's only a movie," on several occasions as evidence of Hitchcock's refusal to take anything (or anybody) too seriously.
Chandler breaks down Hitchcock's story movie by movie. Each section deals anecdotally with each film, noting the little triumphs and failures inherent in any project and including the actors' impressions of working for the master of suspense (overwhelmingly positive). Many were in awe of the legend, especially those early in their career. There are many recollections of small kindnesses, such as dinner invitations, that portray Hitchcock in an almost saintly light, despite the evil inclinations of many of his characters.
Because of its style, IT'S ONLY A MOVIE gives short shrift to the fine points that define a thorough biography, despite the title. For example, although Chandler devotes a section of the book to "The Last Years," she does not go into any substantial details about Hitchcock's own physical ailments, only that he had lost the will to live, ostensibly depressed over the illness of Alma, his beloved helpmeet.
Chandler writes in a very gossipy mien, insinuating herself into the narrative, letting the reader know that she was in with the "in crowd." One wonders what she had in mind with the subtitle "A Personal Biography." Which "person" is she talking about? It often seems to be herself. She peppers her remarks with phrases like, "He told me..." or "I said to him...." Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it can be wearing after a while.
IT'S ONLY A MOVIE may not be on a scholarly par with other Hitchcock biographies, such as Patrick McGilligan's ALFRED HITCHCOCK: A Life in Darkness and Light or THE A-Z OF HITCHCOCK: The Ultimate Reference Guide, by Howard Maxford, or the dozens of studies of specific films or groups of films (Murray Pomerance's AN EYE FOR HITCHCOCK or FRAMING HITCHCOCK: Selected Essays from the Hitchcock Annual, edited by Sidney Gottlieb and Christopher Brookhouse). But it is a gentle, entertaining look at a paradoxically gentle and entertaining man.
--- Reviewed by Ron Kaplan
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- Fascinating account of feminist victory in feudal Japan
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The Only Woman in the Room: A Memoir
Beate Sirota Gordon
Manufacturer: Kodansha International (JPN)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 4770021453 |
Book Description
The Only Woman in the Room is a vivid and very personal account of one woman's life in Europe, prewar Japan, and the United States. As the daughter of renowned Russian pianist Leo Sirota, Beate Gordon grew up in the cosmopolitan world of the concert tour, then settled in Japan in the 1930s.
During World War ll, while her parents remained in Japan under secret service surveillance, Gordon lived alone in America, monitoring Tokyo Radio in five languages for the government and later writing radio propaganda.
She recounts her dramatic reunion with her parents in Tokyo, where she worked in General MacArthur's headquarters, and evokes the postwar suffering in defeated Japan. Her intimate description of helping draft the women's rights section of Japan's new constitution in less than a week is an astonishing record of history in the making.
On returning to the States in 1947, Mrs. Gordon became a cultural impressario, bringing artists, dancers and musicians from all over Asia to the United States. Her adventures in search of traditional arts in Burma, Tibet, Bengal, and Indonesia make for gripping and sometimes hilarious anecdotes.
The Only Woman in the Room can be appreciated on many levels. Armchair travelers, feminists, history buffs and, above all, people who enjoy well-written memoirs will all find Beate Gordon's extraordinary life a riveting read.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating account of feminist victory in feudal Japan.......1999-02-23
Ms. Gordon, born in Vienna and educated in Japan and the United States, found herself by an accident of history in Japan at age 22 with the American Occupation Forces immediately after World War II. General MacArthur directed her and others to draft a new constitution for Japan. Drawing on European constitutions that she found in the remaining libraries in war-torn Tokyo, she wrote for Japanese women an advanced equal rights clause that Japanese women have treasured ever since. The story of how the Japanese constitution was written is extremely interesting and well-written. Readers interested in Vienna and in European social activity of the early 20th Century will also find interesting descriptions of same. Mrs. Gordon's father was a famous Russian pianist who associated with many other famous pianists of his era, such as Artur Rubinstein.
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Korda: Britain's Only Movie Mogul
Charles Drazin
Manufacturer: Sidgwick & Jackson
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ASIN: 0283063505 |
Book Description
Alexander Kordas own story is as extraordinary as any film hes ever made, taking him from revolutionary Hungary to Hollywood during the advent of sound, and London in the 30s where he set up a film empire. A friend of Churchill, he worked for British Intelligence and was knighted for his war effort. In his new book, Charles Drazin paints a vivid picture of this remarkable man.
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- Operations Management with Student DVD
- Pictures in My Head
- Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior
- Projected Fears: Horror Films and American Culture
- Prometheus Rising
- Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd: The inventories of the Wardrobe of Robes prepared in July 1600, edited from Stowe MS 557 in the British Library, MS LR 2/121 in the Public Record Office, London, and MS V.b.72 in the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC
- Reality Is What You Can Get Away With
- Remember Me When I'm Gone: The Rich and Famous Write Their Own Epitaphs and Obituaries
- Rollback (Sci Fi Essential Books)
- Romeo and Juliet (Folger Shakespeare Library)
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