Book Description
“THE BEST.”
–People
“THE BEST ALL-AROUND VOLUME.”
–Newsday
Wondering what video to rent tonight? This bestselling fact-packed guide is the only sourcebook you and your family will ever need. Mick Martin and Marsha Porter steer you toward the winners and warn you about the losers. DVD & Video Guide 2007 covers it all–more films than any other guide, including your favorite serials, B-Westerns, and made-for-TV movies, and even old television programs! Each entry, conveniently alphabetized for easy access, includes a summary, fresh commentary, the director, major cast members, the year of release, and the MPAA rating, plus a reliable Martin and Porter rating–from Five Stars to Turkey–so you’ll never get caught with a clunker again!
THE BEST IN THE FIELD!
Including
• BRAND-NEW DVD LISTINGS
• DIRECTOR AND STAR INDEXES
• COMPLETE ACADEMY AWARD LISTINGS
• WHERE TO GET THOSE HARD-TO-FIND VIDEOS
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
The best DVD guide.......2007-07-26
We are HUGE movie buffs at our house, and to gain knowledge and reference I've owned everyone of these guides since they first hit the scene in the 90's. Comprehensive in its width and breadth, with excellent objective reviews. Additionally, the cast and directors lists are top notch.
A must have for movie lovers.......2007-07-06
I have an early version of this book and it is just about falling apart from the all use it has gotten over the years. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone and it will always be the only review book I buy.
I also like the fact that the authors clearly have a passion for movies of every genre and that translates on every single page. I am highly grateful to the authors because based on their reviews alone I have discovered and enjoyed many movies I might otherwise never have watched.
I have found that these books make great gifts as well. Don't hesitate to buy one; you'll get your money's worth and a lot of enjoyment too.
Good but..........2007-06-21
I often use this book as a reference to as when the movie was made, who directed, and who starred. In the back of the book, a very comprehensive list of stars with movies they did and list of directors with movies they did. I find that a very useful resource since I want to make a link between who and what title pretty fast. There are lots of titles contained in the book, and one best part of the book...when new titles are added in the book annually, you get to see the bullet next to the title, indicating it's a new addition to the book. Then, the following year, it will be removed. If you think about it, you buy the book, read the whole book, make a list of movies you want to see, no matter how many titles, and then done. Now, what happens next year when the authors release the new edition? See what I am talking about? You save time by looking for the bullets and go from there without having to read the whole book again for additions. Now, cons of the book. It's not that comprehensive. There are many titles missing in the book, yet it got at least 20,000 movies titles. Expect the common movie titles in the book, expect fairly known titles for 50/50 of the time, and don't expect obscure film titles in the book. Another part that I dislike about the book is the reviews. Many are insightful, but some are quite misleading. Think about it: (from 5 stars being best to turkey) "Forrest Gump" gets 5 stars while "Pulp Fiction" gets 4 stars and "Shawshank Redemption" 4 stars. "Pink Flamingos", "Gummo", and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" got 2 stars, turkey, and turkey respectively. "Lassie Comes Home" got 4 stars. "Mad Max" got 3 1/2 stars. You get my point? The authors are pretty narrow minded when it comes to judging movies objectively. Anyway, the pros outweigh the cons for film buffs, but for family, it's most suitable if they are knuckleheads about movies.
Great book.......2007-06-10
I get this book every year, just a great book for movie lovers, has all the movies that are on dvd and video, names of all the actors, and names of directors
Very Useful Movie Guide.......2007-05-17
I use this book often to decide which movies to rent or watch on television.Also there is a cast and director index in the back of the book which comes in handy.I have purchased other movie review books in the past.I would have to say that this one is my favorite.
Customer Reviews:
Grace and courage under fire!.......2007-07-09
Now, maybe some people aren't interested in Mr. Garrison's point of view - but I am. And so are many others who repeatedly give On The Trail Of The Assassins a deservedly high mark. He was there in New Orleans and KNEW PERSONALLY most of the major players. How many investigators can say that? His overall conclusion of conspiracy is the same as many, many other independent researchers and the conclusion of 75 percent of the general public - only he was way ahead of his time. Had he known nothing of the truth surrounding the assassination, the CIA would never have bothered to smear his character or try ruin his investigation of JFK's murder by stealing his files for the trial of Clay Shaw. And yet it is Garrison who is accused of not playing fair. That's right... black is white, and white is black.
This book is one of my favorites in the assassination canon. It is brilliantly written, soulful, human, and full of observations about gov't and how it sometimes changes without the people being invited to the party. He knew of Oswald (murdered by Ruby), Ferrie ("suicide"), Bannister ("heart attack" in 1964) and Shaw (no autopsy ever done) - and had most of them not died under conspicuously strange circumstances, Garrison would never have been placed in the position of being the Lone-Nut scape goat for their lack of honesty and insight into this murder investigation - an investigation that is still continuing, though with little help from some of the people who should have known better after all these years.
Garrison's investigation and the trial of Clay Shaw were the inevitable result of the corrupt Warren Commission cover-up. Had the Warren Commission done its job and followed up leads in the first place, Garrison would never have ended up in the position of being the whipping boy for the Oswald as Lone-nut contingent. It was only through the efforts of Garrison that the Zapruder film ("back, and to the left") was viewed for the first time and the public began to see how dishonest the Warren Commision and the CIA were in lying to the American people about at least one more shooter.
Recent revelations about secret CIA assassinations plots can no longer be denied and now are out in the open in recent news events. It's your country. You might think of the 40-year tailspin the country has been in since our president was killed and the efforts of private citizens who've tried to expose the CIA skullduggery during the Kennedy years and beyond. Garrison took on these covert agencies in the name of justice, and had not Clay Shaw lied his head off under oath during his trial, it's conceivable that Garrison would have won and Shaw end up on a chain-gang where he belonged. In a conversation with Oliver Stone, Judge Haggarty, who presided over the Shaw trial, said that he himself never believed a word Shaw said. (This is discussed on the JFK special features dvd.)
The people of the country know all too well that Oswald didn't act alone - that is, if he shot anyone at all - and they're not about to let this conspiracy investigation end until the Federal gov't comes clean with what it knows. Every year more is being found out about certain participants, such as H. Howard Hunt's involvement, or David Morales, who was quoted as saying he was involved with the assassination of both JFK and RFK. Such revelations farther vindicate Garrision's conclusion that the CIA was involved in the murder of Kennedy. Hunt and Morales (a man Hunt mentions) were both CIA. Gee, there seems to be a pattern here unless one has been playing ostrich with these recent CIA revelations.
In the meantime, those who continue to smear Garrison are only making themselves small in comparison. They're not worthy to shine the shoes of this great man - a hero in every sense of the word in this sordid tale of political corruption, murder and media cover-up. Ten stars for On The Trail Of The Assassins and Jim Garrision. ZERO stars for the now documented CIA interference of Garrison's investigation and the perjury on the witness-stand of Clay Shaw. Even certain pro-conspiracy researchers wrongly denegrate Garrison and they should be ashamed of themselves now that Garrison's conclusions are being vindicated. They haven't half the courage of a Garrison, and no one other than he and Mark Lane have ever had the balls to take any of these politically criminal bastards to trial (H. Howard Hunt by Lane) for lying about their complicity in the murder and cover-up of Kennedy's assassination. And I'm not the only citizen who feels this way. For more information on the coup d'etat in Dallas, read District Attorney Garrison's revealing book and witness courage under fire.
Oh. Grow up, America!
Edit
Not a rehash of "A Heritage of Stone.".......2007-01-27
I avoided reading this book when it was first published thinking it was but a mere rehash of Garrison's earlier book "A Heritage of Stone." However, thirty years on, I have pleasantly discovered that I was greatly mistaken. "On the Trail of the Assassins" is not a rehash, but stands quite sufficiently on its own.
More than anything else, it is first a devastating critique of the Warren Commission's Report; perhaps the best there is so far. Second, it is written by a first-class legal mind. And whatever else one might say about Jim Garrison, it is difficult to ignore the fact that he has one of the best legal minds in this nation. Third, it is a summary report of the Garrison investigation, which again, it is difficult to ignore that Garrison, on a shoe string budget, and with a handful of mostly volunteers, did a much better job investigating the JFK assassination than all of the nation's institutional police and intelligence machinery combined. And finally, the book is Garrison's own defense of the case he lost against the only man ever to be charged with JFK's assassination, Clay Shaw.
As a critique, Garrison attacks the slipshod way in which federal and Texas investigations pursued (or failed to pursue) the evidence and suspects -- other than the "carefully prepared patsy" Lee Harvey Oswald. Among these ways is the fact that Oswald was interrogated for more than 30 hours without a transcript; that the three tramps found in the rail car a few feet from the grassy knoll were released without even recording their names; and the general lack of curiosity on the part of the FBI and Dallas police authorities in following leads, protecting evidence, and in interrogating witnesses.
Garrison's legal astuteness is on display in a number of ways in the book: in the way he corralled information from informants; the way he collated and peeled back his evidence to attain maximum courtroom effect; the way he shaped theories based on where the evidence led; and in the way he parried defense moves and the counter-moves against him made generally by the federal authorities, who curiously always viewed him as a threat and hindrance to their limp but "predetermined" investigation.
With only a handful of investigators, researchers and contributors, Garrison fell just short of cracking the crime of the century. One must wonder out loud what would have happened if, instead of trying to derail and undermine his investigation, the government would have supported him?
It seemed clear even to Garrison, that his case against Clay Shaw was a lost cause even before he entered the courtroom. However, if one looks carefully at the theoretical framework Garrison constructed, in which Shaw was just one of a number of important elements, it is clear that Garrison was on the right track; and that Shaw's acquittal was more about the lack of witnesses to confirm Garrison's evidence, than it was about Shaw's guilt or innocence. That is why after forty years, a great deal, if not all of Garrison's theory has been borne out.
.Whether you believe Garrison's theories or not, this book is a report on investigative, legal, and police work of a very high order. Five Stars.
Not the best........2006-09-24
Up front, I will say I have not read this book - however I would like to suggest reading Final Judgement: The Missing Link in the JFK Assassination Conspiracy by Michael Collins Piper. Piper makes a powerful case that the Israeli Mossad orchestrated the assassination of President Kennedy because of his effective blocking of Ben Gurion and his fellow Zionist's Samson complex fear of preserving their Zionist state with nuclear weapons of mass destruction with the aid of France. Once LBJ took over, all obstruction of Israel's nuclear ambitions ceased. If you think that is far-fetched, look up the USS Liberty and see how that was covered up by LBJ.
The Assassin "Trail" Stops At The Feet Of One Murderer -- Lee Harvey Oswald.......2006-02-22
The late Jim Garrison's book "On The Trail Of The Assassins" was in large part the basis for Oliver Stone's 1991 motion picture "JFK", which is a film containing so many lies, half-truths, and misrepresentations of the facts surrounding John F. Kennedy's 1963 assassination, it's literally difficult to keep up with all of them.
I cannot watch one single scene of Oliver Stone's film without finding some distortion of the evidence in the real JFK or J.D. Tippit murder cases. Some are small things being distorted; and some are great big ones. One example (among dozens) being: Oliver Stone's version of shoe clerk Johnny Brewer's testimony re. Lee Harvey Oswald's manner of dress when Brewer encountered Oswald shortly after Oswald had shot and killed policeman Tippit.
Stone, in his film, has Oswald (Gary Oldman) wearing a jacket as he enters the Texas Theater and is seen by Brewer....and in one of the movie's "Deleted Scenes" (on the DVD version of the film), Kevin Costner (playing Garrison) even does a voice-over (lie) re. Brewer's testimony, with Costner saying "Brewer said the man was wearing a jacket".
Brewer, in reality, said exactly the opposite during his Warren Commission testimony:
Mr. BELIN -- "Will you describe the man you saw?"
Mr. BREWER -- "He was a little man, about 5'9", and weighed about 150 pounds is all. ... And had brown hair. He had a brown sports shirt on. His shirt tail was out."
Mr. BELIN -- "Any jacket?"
Mr. BREWER -- "No."
Another interesting part of the Tippit portion of the movie "JFK" is Oliver Stone's Audio Commentary during this part of the film, which is riddled with inaccuracies. Stone has the audacity to spout the following lie re. the Tippit shooting on the DVD's Commentary soundtrack:
"Not one credible witness has really identified Oswald as a single shooter {of Officer Tippit}. In fact, the only significant testimony applies two to three shooters." -- O. Stone
Therefore, per Mr. Stone (and Garrison said pretty much the same thing years earlier), the "only credible" witness must have been Acquilla Clemmons, who, as far as I am aware, was THE ONLY witness who ever said there was more than one person involved in the Tippit slaying.
Stone, like Jim Garrison before him, would simply rather believe his OWN version of events, rather than the multiple witnesses who never saw more than one shooter (with that one single shooter being positively identified as Oswald by said witnesses).
It's interesting, indeed, that Stone thinks the "only significant testimony" re. the Tippit crime came from Clemmons. Whereas, people like Markham, Tatum, and Scoggins (who were all closer than Clemmons to the scene of the murder) are deemed less "significant", merely, no doubt, because they don't fit into Stone's (or Garrison's) "CT Landscape" surrounding the murder.
I wonder if people realize just how many outright lies are contained in Oliver Stone's 3-hour, 15-minute motion picture? The number is simply staggering. And that number of distortions is increased considerably on the DVD version of the film, when the Audio Commentary Track by Mr. Stone and all of the "Deleted and Extended Scenes" are included as well.
And a great deal of this deliberate misinformation put forth on the movie screen came directly out of this book authored by Jim Garrison.
Another great place to see more of Mr. Garrison's skewed views of the JFK case is to read Garrison's 1967 "Playboy Magazine" interview. Like Stone's movie, that Playboy article will keep you busy as you try to keep up with the inaccurate things Garrison keeps saying in that lengthy piece. The whole interview can be read here:
www.jfklancer.com/Garrison2.html
Selected examples of Mr. Garrison's paranoia and loony-toon conspiracy talk, taken from that Playboy interview, are provided via the quotes below. My own rebuttal arguments follow each quote:
"Though he {Oswald} may not have known why he was instructed to do so, this was undoubtedly why he got the job at the Texas School Book Depository Building. The conspirators knew this would place him on the scene and convince the world that a demented Marxist was the real assassin." -- Jim Garrison; 1967
The above Garrison gem totally distorts (or just flat-out ignores) the true and documented facts about how Oswald got his job at the Depository in mid-October of '63. It was suburban Dallas housewives Linnie Mae Randle and Ruth Paine who were directly responsible for placing Lee Harvey Oswald in the TSBD, by way of ordinary garden-variety happenstance.
Garrison must, therefore, believe that Mrs. Paine, who arranged Oswald's job interview with Depository boss Roy Truly, was one of the main "conspirators" who was setting up Oswald to take the fall for JFK's murder the following month (which would also have to mean that Paine had detailed knowledge of the President's motorcade route more than a month before November 22). Garrison must also think that Roy Truly was a big part of the patsy plot, because it was Mr. Truly who actually hired Oswald (even though nobody was holding a shotgun to Truly's head forcing him to hire Lee).
The commonly-held belief that Lee Oswald was "placed" in the Texas School Book Depository by evil plotters prior to 11/22/63 is a desperate attempt by CTers like Mr. Garrison to attach unprovable and unsupportable conspiratorial "strings" to a random event that involved several individuals...individuals whose collective and synchronized actions could not possibly have been foreseen and controlled by a group of behind-the-scenes conspirators.
---------------
"Anyone who takes the time to read the Warren Report will find that of the witnesses in Dealey Plaza who were able to assess the origin of the shots, almost two-thirds said they came from the grassy-knoll area in front and to the right of the Presidential limousine and not from the Book Depository." -- Jim Garrison; 1967
This is pure nonsense. There were, indeed, several witnesses who said they heard shots coming from in front of JFK's car, but Garrison has severely skewed the stats to support his claim of Knoll shooters. His "almost two-thirds" figure is not even close to being accurate when talking about the number of witnesses who said they heard frontal shots. And even amongst other CTers, virtually no other pro-conspiracy author has ever rigged those stats in such an out-of-whack manner.
The fact is that more than half of all earwitnesses heard shots coming from the direction of the Book Depository, and not from the Knoll. And an even more illuminating statistic reveals that less than 5% of all earwitnesses heard shots from more than just a single general location (front vs. rear). That stat speaks volumes....because even CTers admit to SOME rear shots.
An interesting tabulation of this data can be found below:
http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/images/shots4.jpg
http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/earwitnesses.htm
---------------
"The second shot struck the President in the back; the location of this wound can be verified not by consulting the official autopsy report, but by perusing the reports filed by two FBI agents who were present at the President's autopsy. Both stated unequivocally that the bullet in question entered President Kennedy's back and did not continue through his body." -- Jim Garrison; 1967
Therefore, Mr. Garrison is, in essence, saying that he is much more likely to trust the word of FBI agents (who, of course, were not doctors and were not conducting the President's autopsy) rather than take the word of the three physicians who each signed the official autopsy report. After all, why believe the autopsy doctors when you COULD just trust as Gospel the word of a bystander? ~sarcasm alert~
Plus: Why didn't these two FBI agents get the conspirators' memo which, if CTers are right about the success of the Patsy Plot, must have been passed out to nearly everyone in Officialdom on 11/22, a memo that probably said: "Attn. All Agents -- We're framing Oswald tomorrow; so remember to falsify as much evidence as humanly possible to ensure conviction of patsy".
Evidently some people who needed to see it never received that important document.
---------------
"We have also located another man who was not involved in the shooting but created a diversionary action in order to distract people's attention from the snipers. This individual screamed, fell to the ground, and simulated an epileptic fit, drawing people away from the vicinity of the knoll just before the President's motorcade reached the ambush point." -- Jim Garrison; 1967
Yet another outright lie from the lips of District Attorney Garrison. The man who had the so-called "simulated epileptic fit" was fully identified by the FBI on May 26, 1964. His name was Jerry Belknap, a man who had a history of epilepsy since childhood. Belknap also proved to the FBI that he had paid the ambulance bill ($12.50) after he was taken to Parkland Hospital.
---------------
"President Kennedy was killed for one reason: because he was working for a reconciliation with the U.S.S.R. and Castro's Cuba. His assassins were a group of fanatic anti-Communists with a fusion of interests in preventing Kennedy from achieving peaceful relations with the Communist world." -- Jim Garrison; 1967
Any solid, verifiable proof of such accusations, Mr. Garrison? Any physical evidence whatsoever that shows JFK was killed by more than one gun? .... The answers to those two questions are: No and No.
But the lack of physical evidence never stopped a hard-boiled CTer....that's been proven over and over again by a vast assortment of conspiracists who have more theories up their sleeve than a dog has fleas.
---------------
"In summation, there were at least five or six shots fired at the President from front and rear by at least four gunmen, assisted by several accomplices. At this stage of events, Lee Harvey Oswald was no more than a spectator to the assassination -- perhaps in a very literal sense. James Altgens snapped a picture that shows a man with a remarkable resemblance to Oswald, standing in the doorway of the Depository. The Altgens photograph indicates the very real possibility that at the moment Oswald was supposed to have been shooting Kennedy, he may actually have been standing outside the front door watching the motorcade. .... I don't believe that Oswald shot anybody on November 22nd -- not the President and not Tippit." -- Jim Garrison; 1967
It seems as though these devilishly-clever conspirators forgot one important thing when they were setting up LHO -- they forgot their brains. For, who WITH brains would allow their lone "Patsy" to casually drift outside and be photographed and seen by countless witnesses when the plotters need to have Lee Harvey on the 6th Floor at 12:30? Per Mr. Garrison's account of Oswald possibly being "Doorway Man", evidently the real assassins were indeed brainless and lacked the common sense to keep Oswald where he wouldn't be able to establish a credible alibi for his 12:30 whereabouts.
Just think about these Garrison remarks for a moment longer too -- "At least five or six shots were fired at the President from front and rear ... by at least four gunmen".
Doesn't a "4-Shooter, 6-Shot, 1-Patsy" assassination plot seem a bit unlikely to anyone else but this writer? Would any professional killers actually attempt to "frame" a lone fall guy in that type of overkill fashion? In my opinion, no pro hit men would go about the complicated task of setting up Oswald (or anybody else) in such a needlessly-reckless way.
A single "pro" hit man could have easily killed JFK with one or two shots (probably just one) from Oswald's "nest", without the need to clog the works with needless back-up gunmen hiding all around Dealey Plaza.
There is no possible way the conspirators could have ensured the success of a multi-shooter plot to frame JUST Oswald in the minutes during and after the shooting. No way. There are way too many uncontrollable factors that could block the success of that One-Patsy venture that Jim Garrison placed his faith in.
"Uncontrollable" items such as:
1.) A frontal shooter might very well have been seen by witnesses (and to think that EVERY witness under the sun could be easily "bought", "taken care of", and/or coerced by these plotters is, again, just too much wishful thinking on the conspirators' part, IMO).
2.) A frontal shooter might strike other occupants in the car, or strike somebody else in Dealey Plaza. But even if ONLY Kennedy is hit by a frontal gunman, there are massive problems to be "corrected" by the conspirators....bullets to be hidden and, of course, who knows how many obvious frontal wounds on the victim to be (somehow) eliminated -- and eliminated immediately before any non-conspirators can spill any beans. .... Only a person straight out of the booby hatch could believe that anyone, regardless of "power" or "pull", could get away with such a thing. It's just plain loony.
3.) The one "Patsy" (Oswald) could have easily, by pure accident and happenstance, established a perfect alibi for himself at the time when he was supposed to be on the 6th Floor shooting the President (as Mr. Garrison apparently DID think occurred, with Oswald being seen in a photo taken as the bullets were flying; even though all reasonable researchers know full well that "Doorway Man" was actually Billy Lovelady, and not Oswald; Lovelady even testified to that effect in 1964). ....
Plus -- If Oswald had really been in that doorway at 12:30, WHY ON EARTH DIDN'T HE SAY HE WAS THERE?! If he's got an ironclad alibi like that, why wouldn't he use it? Instead, he says not a word about being outside on the steps at 12:30, and even tells the police a provable lie re. his whereabouts (the lie about "having lunch with Junior {Jarman}" at the time of the shooting). How much sense does that make if Oswald had really been in the Depository doorway? ....
And the very fact that Oswald did NOT have a usable, provable alibi for exactly 12:30 PM is absolutely remarkable IF he had really been wandering around on the lower floors of the Depository (or was outside the building), as many CTers firmly believe; and even the most rabid of conspiracy theorists have got to admit, that from the "CT/Patsy" POV, Oswald's not having a usable/believable/solid alibi is certainly, by far, the biggest piece of LUCK in the whole "Patsy Plot". ....
These amazing Patsy Plotters just lucked out, evidently, in that Oswald was not seen by a single person inside or outside the TSBD at precisely the time of the assassination -- except by Howard Brennan, Ron Fischer, and Robert Edwards, of course, who saw Oswald or a nicely-arranged Oswald "imposter" in the Sniper's Nest at 12:30 or just seconds before 12:30.
4.) And the likelihood that all of the non-TSBD bullets are going to somehow get swept under the rug is extremely remote, especially in a Bob Groden-like scenario. Mr. Groden (per his book "The Killing Of A President"), incredibly, has ZERO of the shots coming from the Oswald window, and a total of up to TEN shots being fired...and ALL OF THEM coming from rifles other than the one rifle these idiot plotters are going to attempt to frame Oswald with! Could Groden's scenario BE any more reckless and preposterous?! I doubt it.
5.) And a biggie, that most CTers evidently don't think could have ever happened before 12:30 on November 22nd -- The one Patsy (Mr. LHO) could "get wise" to the plot that is brewing all around him and take measures to guarantee he could never be blamed for the actual assassination of John Kennedy.
When thinking about any "Frame Lee Oswald As The One Patsy" plan, I just cannot visualize any professional assassins (even for a minute) contemplating the use of multiple shooters; let alone some gunmen firing from the Grassy Knoll, i.e., the exact opposite direction from where their single dupe is supposed to be located.
---------------------
As the previously-mentioned quotes from the mouth of Mr. Garrison amply demonstate, if anyone has a desire to set out "On The Trail Of A Lunatic Conspiracy Theorist" -- look no further than Earling Carothers (Jim) Garrison.
a good "read" and an above-average book.......2006-01-16
Jim Garrison's book "On The Trail Of The Assassins" was one of two books used as the basis for Oliver Stone's movie "JFK" (the other was Kim Marrs' "Crossfire"). On that basis alone, highly recommended (for it led to the JFK Act and the ARRB). That said, this is a very good but not a great book. I would put James DiEugenio's book ON Garrison ahead of this one. Still, a good "read" with some good moments.
Vince Palamara
Book Description
As Hollywood insiders know, the first step in selling your story idea for film or television is preparing a treatment, the brief pitch that sells the concept to a busy producer or agent. Now including updates on the latest trends in the industry, writers-producers Kenneth Atchity and Chi-Li Wong tell readers everything they need to know to create an effective and saleable treatment, one that incorporates such key elements as conflict, likeable characters, plot twists, a climax, and visual drama. Using dozens of the latest examples from actual productions, Writing Treatments That Sell distinguishes between scripts designed for feature films, episodic television, and made-for-TV movies, and shows step-by-step how to prepare a selling treatment for each. Also included is essential information on copyrighting and acquiring rights along with a comprehensive glossary of industry terms. This book is essential for anyone hoping to get a foot in the door of the exciting scriptwriting business.
Customer Reviews:
Create then what????.......2007-04-17
The book provided insightful ideas about how to craft movie and tv movie and series treatments (many of which I incorporated into my own treatment), and provided somewhat dated guidance about registration of the treatment and other protections with the Writers' Guild (you can now do it online), but fell dramatically short (sorry!) of providing insight as to how to market it.
Not great for episodic TV.......2007-02-11
Although the writers clearly have expertise and there is some good information, the book is geared more toward film and made-for-tv movies.
useful for marketing screenplays.......2005-12-01
[This review refers to the Second Edition.]
This book provides specific information on who does what in the television and feature film industry, what the corporate structure is, what the relations between various producers are, etc.
The book also provides formats and terminology for treatments and other summary documents used by these film industry people to decide what to buy and what to do with it. Also provides the criteria they use for making their decisions.
Sadly, this information also shows you that TV movies and feature films are "designed by a committee". This explains why 95% of movies contain, not only serious flaws, but idiot-level mistakes. The executives and producers are not screenwriters, yet they change the screenplay anyway.
The book's specificity sets it apart from most other books in screenwriting.
On the negative side: No, this is not the only book you'll ever need. That is ricidulous. The book does not cover screenwriting. Also, the brief, vague remarks about how to write a treatment should be taken with a grain of salt (or maybe a spoonful). If you compare the examples of treatments given in the book, you'll find that they hardly follow these prescriptions.
Another disadvantage is the overwhelming prevalence of C-movies used as examples.
Finally, you find out that even if you do all that the book suggests, it won't do you any good. You still have to have an Agent! No one will read your precious "treatment" unless it comes from an agent.
Still, this is information that every aspiring screenwriter must know, depressing as it is.
A fantastic practical and inspiring text........2005-07-20
"Writing treatments that sell" is a must have for any new writer serious about entering the motion picture of Television Industry.
This text gives specific information about the function of treatments and the industry standards for writing them. Save yourself months of work by writing your treatments first!
"Writing treatments that sell" is a great addition to my collection. Highly recommended!
The Only Book You'll Ever Need!.......2005-06-02
If you possess writing talent and want to break into TV and Motion Picture Industry, "Writing Treatments that Sell" is the only book you will ever need. No, the book won't help you actually sell your story, but it will help you understand the industry, its needs and prepare you to submit a project that will garner serious consideration. "Writing Treatments that Sell" helps you to see your own project from the perspective of the Development Director and guides you through the steps necessary to shape your product from that point of view.
As a writer, I became so intimately involved with my project that I forget the point of the story and was unable to communicate what the story was about because I no longer knew myself. Often times, while writing, it's so easy to get bogged down in the muck and mire and lose the point of the story. "Writing Treatments That Sell" helped me focus on the "meat" of the story. The ideas put forth in the book allowed me to lose sight of myself and become an objective reader of my own story. "Writing Treatments That Sell" helped me set up a road-map in an effort to take my story from point A to Point B without losing the flavor.
If anyone has ever asked you what your story, novel or script is about and you can't tell them in one or two lines, then "Writing Treatments that Sell" is the book for you. Not only will you be able to convince the buyer your story is worthy of production, you will also convince yourself that the story is a cut above the rest.
Average customer rating:
- Froget it
- Maneater by Gigi Levangie Grazer
- Soooo Bad
- not very original
- I just don't understand...
|
Maneater
Gigi Levangie Grazer
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Comic
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Contemporary
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Romance Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Comic
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Contemporary
| Romance
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Romance
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Rescue Me
-
The Starter Wife
-
The Starter Wife
-
The Right Address: A Novel
-
The Botox Diaries: A Novel
ASIN: 1416523340 |
Amazon.com
Gigi Levangie Grazer has written one previous novel (Rescue Me), helped pen the screenplay for Stepmom, and, not least, is married to Hollywood uber-producer Brian Grazer (he of the wacky hair and the not-so-wacky partnership with Ron Howard). At first glance, Mrs. Grazer appears to be a complete parvenu as a novelist. Maneater rips off every girl-power/shopaholic source from early Tama Janowitz right up to Sex and the City. Her prose can be ungrammatical, her plot hopelessly predictable, and her characters paper-thin. But Grazer has a secret weapon: her preternaturally acid powers of observation. When she writes about the freaky mores of Hollywood, the book exerts an irresistible pull. Thirtyish LA It girl Clarissa Alpert reflects on her shallow, jobless, mateless (but fabulous!) life, and decides it's high time she was married. She and her four best friends (hello, Sarah Jessica Parker and company) hatch a plan to snag the cutest, hottest young producer in town. What ensues is hardly new territory, but the book is enlivened by Grazer's amazing ability to nail down pop culture ephemera. To wit: "Clarissa was sentimental--she liked saving messages from old friends and C-level celebrities. She had an answering tape collection that dated all the way back to babydoll dresses, sparkle dust and Hole." Her eye for detail--and her refusal ever to make Clarissa lovable, or even likable--make Maneater a hypnotic read. This is fiction-as-gigantic-chocolate-bar. Halfway through, you feel a little off color, but there's no way you're going to stop. --Claire Dederer
Book Description
Gorgeous, funny, and wildly uninhibited, her exes are a veritable Who's Who of Hollywood power players. At 28 (31), she is blessed with a firm (if curvaceous) bod, a designer wardrobe, a Daddy-subsidized apartment, and an A-list speed-dial.
But with her thirty-second birthday looming, our heroine is starting to panic. Who on earth (read: Hollywood) could possibly make Clarissa Alpert an honest woman? Enter Aaron Mason, the latest hottest new producer in town. From the moment Clarissa sees him, she sets her sights on making him the future "Mr. Alpert."
With the eager help of her vivacious (if neurotic) friends, her aerobicized Latina mother, her philandering (but loving) ex-con father, and the most divine gay waiter in Hollywood, Clarissa finds herself phoning the florist to the stars (his private line) and planning the biggest wedding the town has seen in years -- before the couple's first date. Catching Aaron's eye is not a problem. But it seems her intended might have his own agenda. Could it be Clarissa has finally bitten off more than she can chew?
Customer Reviews:
Froget it.......2007-09-15
I read this book after reading "The Started Wife" (which I enjoyed) and threw it out, waste of time.
Maneater by Gigi Levangie Grazer.......2007-06-11
Wonderful Anytime Read...I bought the book because I really enjoyed The Starter Wife. Gigi impressed me with this book and I would highly recommend this book to others. It's a good book that one can talk about with friends, or in my case co-workers.
Soooo Bad.......2007-05-21
Although I think Sex and the City, the book, was just average (unlike the TV series, which was fantastic), by comparison with Maneater, Gigi Levangie Grazer makes Candace Bushnell look like Leo Tolstoy.
Oh, my God, I can hardly believe how bad this book is. Clarissa is one of the most annoying and shallow characters in publishing history, and there's nothing in the "people" who surround her that's is even slightly interesting. I would criticize the plot for being stupid, but it's more accurate to say that there's no plot--and not a single well-written sentence either.
The only thing Maneater is good for is as proof that today in publishing is not what you know, but who you know. If Gigi weren't the wife of producer Brian Grazer, this ridiculous novel would have never left the slush pile.
not very original.......2007-04-26
Was this book supposed to be funny, humorous, or at least enjoyable?
I don't think it has any of these characteristics. The neurotic nature of the main character Clarissa was not different than other chick lit characters that I have read before. After reading the positive reviews, I really wanted to like this book, but somehow it just fell short. Clarissa was not a like-able character.
I kept looking for some redeeming quality about this novel, but it continued to fall short of expectations. Also, could the plot-line have been anymore predictable? LA Valley girl manages to marry rich guy, it turns out he isn't rich after all, she decides to stay with him anyhow, for love.
To me, that sounds more like something you'd expect from a 1950's Marilyn Monroe movie, not a 21st century novel. Also, do chick lit heroines ever do anything beside be a) novelists, b) columnists for local/alternative newspapers, or c) editor for a magazine? Author alert: it is just plain lazy to think that every character is a writer, if your imagination is so limited, then maybe you shouldn't be one. Write more original characters - it might actually add some much needed character dimension.
I just don't understand..........2007-01-02
I originally picked up this book in an airport bookstore two years ago. After reading the back I thought it sounded like a fun chick-lit read. However, I bought a different book at the time, and after picking this book up multiple times over the course of a couple of years, and after having read some of the reviews on Amazon, I finally bought it.
And now, to the things I just don't understand...
1. Does Grazer have an editor? I mean, really, the number of times she used parenthesis was astounding and only detracted from the already poor writing style.
2. Aren't seriously flawed main characters supposed to have SOME redeeming quality? Clarissa was so over-the-top, so senseless, so atrociously behaved, so manipulative, so...I can't even go on. I can't remember one redeeming quality that Grazer gave her. Clarissa might well be modeled after people Grazer really knows in Hollywood, but she failed to make her "real" for this reader...and I grew up in California, so it's not like I don't understand the culture!
3. Do people really talk that way? I find it unbelievable that anyone could use that many expletives in the course of day-to-day life.
4. Do people really treat other people that badly? While I found Clarissa's mother highly annoying, and her father lacked common sense (at least we see where Clarissa gets it from!), I could not believe Clarissa treated them the way she did, or that Grazer had their characters putting up with it! At least the author did rectify the relationships by the end of the book.
5. How old does Grazer think her audience is? The way she writes, I sometimes felt that she was gossiping with high school girlfriends. Even though I'm only in my twenties, I constantly found myself rolling my eyes at the way things were phrased, unnecessary explanations, and the slang she chose to use.
The only thing that kept me reading, and the only reason that I gave the book 3 stars (instead of the original 2 stars I was going to give it), was that Aaron's character was interesting -- if not just a little bit bizarre. I wanted to find out why in the world he would marry Clarissa. Despite a serious twist in the second half of the book, which somewhat explained his decision, I'm still not sure I understand why he married her.
Despite all of this, I did find myself rooting for Clarissa at the end. However, it wasn't your typical happy-ending that I was rooting for. Instead, I found myself rooting for her to become a better person. In that, I was less disappointed than in the rest of the book.
Book Description
What happens if an employer cuts wages by one cent? Much of labor economics is built on the assumption that all the workers will quit immediately. Here, Alan Manning mounts a systematic challenge to the standard model of perfect competition. Monopsony in Motion stands apart by analyzing labor markets from the real-world perspective that employers have significant market (or monopsony) power over their workers. Arguing that this power derives from frictions in the labor market that make it time-consuming and costly for workers to change jobs, Manning re-examines much of labor economics based on this alternative and equally plausible assumption.
The book addresses the theoretical implications of monopsony and presents a wealth of empirical evidence. Our understanding of the distribution of wages, unemployment, and human capital can all be improved by recognizing that employers have some monopsony power over their workers. Also considered are policy issues including the minimum wage, equal pay legislation, and caps on working hours. In a monopsonistic labor market, concludes Manning, the "free" market can no longer be sustained as an ideal and labor economists need to be more open-minded in their evaluation of labor market policies. Monopsony in Motion will represent for some a new fundamental text in the advanced study of labor economics, and for others, an invaluable alternative perspective that henceforth must be taken into account in any serious consideration of the subject.
Average customer rating:
- A book for the non-public-school-types
- Great Book, Strangely Organised
- GREAT Scenes, but Unoragnized
- A Good Selection Of Scenes
- A Good Selection Of Scenes
|
99 Film Scenes for Actors
Angela Nicholas
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Acting & Auditioning
| Theater
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
General
| Drama
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Foreign Languages
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Art Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Reference Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
General
| Art
| Arts & Photography
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Acting & Auditioning
| Theater
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Drama
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Foreign Languages
| Reference
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Great Scenes and Monologues for Actors
-
The Actor's Book of Scenes from New Plays: 70 Scenes for Two Actors, from Today's Hottest Playwrights
-
Duo! Best Scenes for the 90s (Applause Acting Series)
-
Play the Scene: The Ultimate Collection of Contemporary and Classic Scenes and Monologues
-
Contemporary Scenes for Student Actors
ASIN: 0380798042 |
Book Description
Looking for a great piece to work on in your scene study class? For an audition? You want something fresh, juicy, well-written -- something you haven't seen in every scene book. Give Chekov a rest and turn to memorable characters and scenes from the silver screen.
This remarkable anthology offers an incredible range of contemporary dialogues from the pens of the industry's finest talents -- scenes that pulsate with emotional life, scenes that live on their own, out of context. Blistering drama and caustic comedy are excerpted from the classic screenplays of James L. Brooks and Oliver Stone, and there are cutting-edge scenes from the Coen Brothers, Kevin Smith and Spike Lee. These are the scenes of today's films, a wealth of material to motivate any actor -- great scenes that will inspire and challenge you.
Within these pages, actors will find emotionally charged scenes from big studio megahits and small gems from acclaimed independent films. Featuring characters ranging from the larger-than-life to low-key introverts, 99 Film Scenes for Actors is a cornucopia of cinematic classics for actors eager for their close-up.
Customer Reviews:
A book for the non-public-school-types.......2005-08-30
Some of the scenes are a bit more adult. If you are buying this for student actors, pick and choose wisely. Some good movies are selected.
Great Book, Strangely Organised.......2002-01-20
Great, hard to find scenes, but not for monloluges. There are no monologues in this book.
GREAT Scenes, but Unoragnized.......2002-01-19
I found this book great if your doing two-person scenes, but if your looking for a monologue, don't come here. It's also not very organized.
A Good Selection Of Scenes.......2001-07-21
If you are into acting,want to make movies,write them or just watch them,this book is a lot of fun to flip through. Most of the scenes aren't from big "playing everywhere" movies so you don't have to worry about imitating someone else's performance. And with the few that are,it's a good exercise in how to make a charactor"yours" instead of DeNiro's (for example.) A worthwhile scene-book to own!
A Good Selection Of Scenes.......2001-07-21
If you are into acting,want to make movies,write them or just watch them,this book is a lot of fun to flip through. Most of the scenes aren't from big "playing everywhere" movies so you don't have to worry about imitating someone else's performance. And with the few that are,it's a good exercise in how to make a charactor"yours" instead of DeNiro's (for example.) A worthwhile scene-book to own.
Book Description
Markets in Motion is a graphical overview of the economic conditions and events that have influenced the U.S. stock market since 1900. Decade by decade, you'll examine how different economic and policitcal environments can be directly correlated to stock market movements. Each decade features graphs displaying the performance of the Dow Jones Average, the Dow Jones price to dividend ratio, industrial production, money supply, consumer price index, T bill rate, and the Discount rate. Embedded on the graphs are short descriptions of important political, economic, and historical events. Use this information to reference similar environments today and gain an edge in determining the future direction of the market.
Customer Reviews:
No bad..........2007-01-04
...but I wasn't particularly impressed. Investors Business Daily has nice wall charts with all this information. Much nicer. Cheers!
Book Description
Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get--only with what you are expecting to give--which is everything-- Katherine Hepburn
An Intimate Portrait of Films Legendary Lovers--On Screen and Off
During their twenty-six years together, Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy mesmerized movie audiences worldwide with their famous on-screen chemistry like no other couple. Yet their private love affair--which ended only with Tracys death in 1967--remained shrouded in secrecy.
Now, international best-selling author Christopher Andersen draws on his own extensive conversations with the immortal Hepburn as well as others who knew the legendary duo intimately to tell the poignant yet often heartbreaking love story of these beloved American icons and the life they shared . Revealing the strength, wit and dignity that characterized this historic partnership, Andersen offers a captivating portrait of a great American romance.
Customer Reviews:
Spence and Kate: the secret romance.......2003-07-31
These two screen giants met on the set of Woman of the Year in 1942 and were together until Spencer died of a heart attack, shortly after wrapping up Guess Whose Coming to Dinner in 1967. This book chronicles their remarkable, romantic pairing in an era where a movie star's private life could remain hidden from a prying public. Spencer was married to a devoted Catholic, Louise, and he refused to divorce her. He also felt a tremendous sense of guilty about his deaf son. So marriage was out of the question, but Kate didn't care, she just wanted she be with Spencer, and she was, following him all over the world to sit worshipfully at his feet.
Andersen dutifully chronicles the nine classic Tracy-Hepburn films and gives some intriguing behind-the-scenes glimpses into each movie. There is also much information about Tracy's legendary bouts with the bottle, his brief fling with Gene Tierney in the early 50's and Kate's affair with Howard Hughes in the 1930's. All the bases are covered, but I wish Andersen would have interviewed more people close to the duo. Still, an engrossing read and essential for anyone enamored with either Spencer or Kate.
Memorable.......2002-03-26
I found An Affair to Remember a truly remarkable portrait of Hepburn and Spencer's lives (before and after they met). The book was interesting and well written. A great pick for anyone interested in either actor.
Star-Crossed Lovers.......2000-04-06
This novel opened up a world that I knew nothing about. The world that only Katharine & Spencer lived in, together... I've been a huge fan of the acting duo for years. Now I feel like I almost know them. Reading this book is like taking a quick peek behind the scenes. It gives details into their lives prior to their initial meeting. Then continues describing how they had to sneak around in order to keep their affair out of the papers. This novel is heartwarming & also tragic. I loved it. If you're a romantic, you'll love it, too.
A book for all the hopless romantics out there........1999-10-01
One of the best books I have ever read. A great love story for the romantic in all of us. Chronicals the ups and downs of a relationship on the sly with a love that would last a lifetime. Very sad, yet a love we all wish we could find. I couldn't put it down.
Very intriguing........1999-07-19
It was filled with great information about Katharine and Spencer - seperately and together. It is unbelievable that they existed in a 26 year relationship and nobody talked about it until Katharine started talking about it herself. Amazing.
Average customer rating:
- The nitty gritty
- Fascinating study of dysfunctional relationships
- Well written, but kind of ditzy
- A Really Good Memoir With No Loose Ends
- A surprising, fascinating life
|
What Falls Away: A Memoir
Mia Farrow
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Actors & Actresses
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Entertainers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Unruly Life of Woody Allen: A Biography
-
Alice
-
A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy
-
A Paper Life
-
Woody Allen on Woody Allen
ASIN: 0553564668
Release Date: 1997-12-01 |
Amazon.com
There aren't many lives more steeped in celebrity than Mia Farrow's. The daughter of actress Maureen O'Sullivan and writer-director John Farrow, she grew up in Beverly Hills as a member of "the first generation of movie stars' children." Starting at the tender age of 19 she was involved with a succession of famous men--Frank Sinatra, André Previn, and Woody Allen--and has spent many years as a major film star in her own right. The book is casually populated with dozens of high-profile friends ranging from Yul Brynner and Salvador Dali to Michael Caine and Vladimir Horowitz. Yet Farrow's memoir has an unexpectedly honest, soul-searching quality, detailing her troubled inner life, her spiritual longings and pursuits (including a famous stay at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram, where her fellow inmates included the Beatles), and her passionate attachment to children. The book unflinchingly recounts her version of the ugly, very public breakup with Allen, including--rather bizarrely--the state supreme court's custody ruling in her favor in its 27-page entirety.
Book Description
In an exquisitely written memoir, Mia Farrow introduces us to the landscapes of her extraordinary life. Moving from her earliest memories of the walled gardens and rocky shores of western Ireland and her Hollywood childhood to her career as an actress, she writes of these experiences and her struggle to protect her children in a painful custody battle with Woody Allen. It was this crisis that led her to reflect upon the incidents that had brought her to a place so incomprehensible. Now, in What Falls Away, a memoir resonant not only in its honesty but also in its beautifully crafted prose, Mia Farrow speaks for the first time.
She was born the third of seven children to the beautiful actress Maureen O'Sullivan and successful writer/director John Farrow, but the isolation of a polio ward brought her childhood to an abrupt end at the age of nine. Several years later, two deaths shattered the security of the family forever, and Mia Farrow embarked upon a journey that would lead her away from the convent education that was to sustain her spiritual courage, to starring roles in Peyton Place and Rosemary's Baby, a marriage to Frank Sinatra, divorce, a defining trip to India, work on the London stage and in film, and marriage to André Previn. Their life together in England brought them three sons and three daughters before that marriage, too, dissolved and she returned to the United States.
The year 1979 saw the beginning of a new career with brilliant performances in thirteen of Woody Allen's most distinguished films.
Told with grace and deep understanding, as well as humor, What Falls Away goes beneath the surface of this amazing life, with all its drama, success, and pain, and exposes the inner workings of a mind and spirit for whom truth, compassion, and faith are essential.
Mia Farrow's story is ultimately one of hope and courage in the face of difficulty; of commitment to others--most important of whom are her children; and of spiritual strength. Readers will not easily forget this remarkable book, even long after the last page has been turned.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
The nitty gritty.......2006-08-18
I had meant to read this memoir for years, mostly because of the curiosity I had surrounding the sordid mess between Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn. I figured reading this book would probably set the record straight, and it definitely seemed to.
The whole book was well-written, and I wonder why, if she had no help from a ghostwriter, didn't she try her hand at further writing efforts. It would make sense that she might be especially cut out for writing for children, as much as she has dedicated her life to them.
Her early life as a child of a famous actress and director was fascinating and I enjoyed the bits and pieces from her various and many acquaintances, friends, and associates. She does not say so much about her siblings throughout the book, which made me constantly wonder throughout the reading of this book if any of them were very close.
Her relationships with men seemed to be tenuous and immature. It seemed like she didn't really fight for either marriage, to Sinatra or Previn. In fact it seemed like she went into marriage both times with blinders on, without really knowing either men.
Unfortunately it seemed to be a mix of naivete and neediness that led her to spend about twelve years with Woody Allen, who she potrays as the most juvenile, immature, temperamental, arrogant, rude, socially inept person I've ever read about in any memoir. Indeed, her biggest mistake was wasting all those years with that person.
It is ghastly to think about what Ms. Farrow went through when the ---- hit the fan with Soon-Yi and Woody Allen (I love how she starts to refer to him as 'Woody Allen' instead of 'Woody' when she finally starts to come to her senses). I don't understand why it took so long to finally extract him out of her family, though. She gave him far too many chances and allowed him way too much access after the accusations began to fly.
Overall, though, it is without a doubt that she has been a doting and loving mother to all her children, and I applaud her humanitarian efforts. Angelina Jolie could take some notes from Ms. Farrow.
Fascinating study of dysfunctional relationships.......2006-08-01
I have always wanted to know what exactly happened between Mia and Woody Allen (I knew he'd been accused of bad things regarding her daughter Soon-Yi but didn't know much more than that) and this book sheds a lot of light on those rarely-talked about circumstances. This relationship takes up a good portion of the book, which is to be expected because of the length of time they'd been together not to mention the custody battles. But I definitely found out way more than I had known coming into the book. She is awfully kind to Mr. Allen in the book by not totally attacking him like she could have, considering what he was accused of doing. I feel like she is honest and forthright enough to be believed in these matters. Fascinating stuff.
I'd always been interested in why she married Frank Sinatra as well, however I still feel like I didn't really get to find out exactly why they became interested in one another. I liked reading what glimpses into their life together she gave, like the time he came out of a casino in Vegas a little steamed over something that had happened inside moments earlier, hopped on a golf cart and drove away only to veer back suddenly (with Mia in the cart with him) and drive it into a plate glass window in the casino. Maybe it's in retrospect, but she really seems to take his behavior in stride.
And that's one little thing that irritated me in this book. Basically, it was how she was (and kind of still is) extraordinarily PASSIVE about things that would elicit much more of a response in people. If she hadn't been such a passive personality, she would never have gotten involved in ANY of her relationships. It's like she was a young girl being led around by whatever guy was interested in her at the time and she just did whatever they wanted to do. She followed Previn on tour and to foreign coutries, basically putting her career on hold; she followed Sinatra around the same way, seeing as how he was a tad bit controlling and didn't want her to work at all and wanted her to be his arm candy 24-7 whenever it suited him to have her there; and as for Woody Allen, she should have seen THAT train wreck coming a mile away but she didn't.
Among other things, this book can serve as a warning to teenage girls in the ways of choosing relationships that are healthy and unhealthy for you.
I do admire her abilities as a mother, though. She must have the patience of a saint. I had no idea how many children she'd adopted. She spends a lot of time writing about her kids and her adoption experiences, which were interesting as well.
Well written, but kind of ditzy.......2005-12-15
This book was a suprisingly interesting read, and Mia Farrow strikes me as a caring, compassionate person, but rather naive and illogical in her thinking. For a person who writes so well and is an avid reader of philosophers, she appears to be quite intelligent but strangely out of touch with reality. Perhaps this is due, in part, to a childhood that was both very happy (except for a bout of polio) and extremely sheltered and isolated from "the real world." It is apparent that she had little parental guidance past childhood as she seems to have received no warning that an affair/marriage to Frank Sinatra, more than twice her age, might be a mistake. Her judgement of the character of others, even as she grows older, is inconsistent at best . . . she calls her father both a "devout Catholic" and a "womanizer" in the same sentence; she identifies with Sinatra's lack of self knowledge (ignoring the fact that he should have had, at that age, twice her maturity); and she "adores" her children and "loves" Woody Allen but turns a blind eye to his emotional detachment from most of her kids while being overly tolerant of his inappropriate behavior toward others. While the book does, very vividly, take you into a "Hollywood" life, it seems sad that, by the end, Mia (while acknowleding how much she has learned) seems very vulnerable to repeating the same mistakes.
A Really Good Memoir With No Loose Ends.......2005-08-24
Ms. Farrow is not only a talented actress, she is also a surprisingly good writer. She takes us behind the scenes of "Old Hollywood" in her memoir WHAT FALLS AWAY, and shares some of the pains and joys of growing up in an atmosphere where the motto seemed to be "Show the World how well you're doing even if you don't have a dime!" Mia bravely talks about her own mistakes which are so much a part of living and growing up. Behind the tall gates, idols and icons become real people with ordinary struggles.
This is not your run-of-the-mill Hollywood memoir. This is an excellent book which happens to be well written. {It should be noted that Mia is also a well recognized humanitarian who has helped and/or adopted numerous children with various challenges.}
A surprising, fascinating life.......2005-08-11
Mia Farrow was born into a privileged Hollywood family; her mother was an actress and her father was a director. She adored him, but he was cold and aloof, and died when Mia was young. By 20, she was a TV and movie star, and Mrs. Frank Sinatra. A few years later, she married conductor Andre Previn. By the time she met Woody Allen, she had a large biological and adopted family; Woody disliked the children and was openly contemptuous of them. He was often distant and abusive to Mia as well, although she appeared in 13 of his movies. The appalling revelation of Woody's affair with one of Mia's daughters and molestation of another made the last part of the book truly horrific.
I listened to the audio cassette version, read by the author. Mia's flat and unexpressive reading voice had no variation in inflection or pace to express either happiness, grief, or anger. Without explanation, another reader took over in the seventh tape, and Mia returned in the eighth.
The events of Mia's life were dramatic and mesmerizing, with an endless parade of the rich and famous. From her childhood, she tried desperately to please the men in her life, to gain the strength she lacked through them, at the expense of her own self-esteem. She finally found the peace she was seeking in her role as mother to her 14 children. It is an absorbing and moving story.
Kona
Average customer rating:
- A peek inside old Hollywood
- a DAMN good book!!!
- Good story
- if you are a fan of Ava's, please read this book
- cant help lovin...
|
Ava: My Story
Ava Gardner
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Acting & Auditioning
| Theater
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
| Actors & Actresses
| Artists, Architects & Photographers
| Authors
| Composers & Musicians
| Dancers
| Entertainers
| Movie Directors
| New Age
| Television Performers
| Theatre
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Ava Gardner: "Love Is Nothing"
-
The Barefoot Contessa
-
Pandora and The Flying Dutchman
-
Mogambo
-
The Girl Who Walked Home Alone: Bette Davis - A Personal Biography
ASIN: 0553293060
Release Date: 1992-02-01 |
Customer Reviews:
A peek inside old Hollywood.......2006-01-24
I thoroughly enjoyed this auto-biography by Ave Gardner. She really said what she thought. Her writing style seemed to be her true personality, since she was from rural N. Carolina. She was the definition of a "broad". She was a great beauty, but she seemed to definitely dwell on her looks. She may have thought she didn't have much else going for her. Having recently read Gene Tierney's autobiography, I noticed that difference between the two. Tierney was fabulously beautiful, but didn't mention her looks but a few times,(possibly because it was so obvious). Ava Gardner also drank heavily. I'm amazed she was able to keep her looks for being such a heavy drinker. But in her films, around the age of 40, when she should have still been gorgeous, not having had children, she began to have a droopy face. That had to be the result of all that alchohol. It saddened me that she felt the need to abort the child she concieved with Frank Sinatra, even though they were married! It's no wonder she died a lonely woman.
a DAMN good book!!!.......2005-05-26
If you can imagine what Ava Gardner was like, then this book is a must. It reads just like you'd imagine it would. This is absolutely the best-of-the-best autobiography I have read to date. I have read Marilyn Monroe's and Maureen O'Hara's, and they weren't nearly as captivating. When I think of Ava Gardner, I use to think of sexuality and booze. Now after having read this book, I still think that. She has quite the sense of humor and makes numerous witty retorts in regards to her life and the studio system that she fervently disliked. This is most evident in her words on husbands Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra, and how they were in bed. Also, not to be ignored is her unique relationship with "the Aviator" himself, Howard Hughes. Ava is the only woman who could have turned him down, and gotten away with giving him a scar to remember her by. She also discusses her love of Spain, which made me want to visit the place instantly, even though I have yet to do so do to limited means (I don't have a job and still live with my parents - get the picture?). This is probably the best book I have ever read.
Good story.......2005-05-19
I also was initially distracted by the country girl narrative ("and honey, let me tell you...") but settled into it. It's a good story and to me writing style is secondary when reading an autobiography.
I have always had the impression that Ava was a man-eating femme fatale but this book cast her in a much more human and humble light. I did get the impression that she softened some stories or left some out entirely. I was touched by what she did reveal - her humble beginnings, painful shyness, lack of self esteem, and her deep love for Frank Sinatra. All in all, this story contained all the elations and tragedies you'd find in anyone's lifetime.
It's a great read and I'd recommend it to anyone who would like to learn more about this beautiful star.
if you are a fan of Ava's, please read this book.......2004-11-27
This is an enjoyable, engaging memoir and while entertaining is also surprisingly sad. I knew, before reading the book, who Ava had married but had no idea how tumultuous were these relationships. As I've not read any other books about Ava Gardner, I can not tell whether this book's contents closely resemble truth but, frankly, I don't really care. I read autobiographies so I get a better sense of the author and in this case, Ava's wit, intelligence and humanity shine through. I certainly don't agree with the reviewer who says Ava painted herself as a goody-goody - that is the last thing she seems to do. This is a woman who, to me, has struggled with relationships, insecurities and addictions and still managed to enjoy and relish life - like many of us. If anything, I felt positive and connected to Ava for her candour! And, if, factually speaking, Ms. Gardner was not completely accurate in her own story, so what? I would rather read her story in her own words. The saddest thing to me was that she passed away at such a young age. I think "Impertinent" gives an excellent and articulate review and all I can say is read this book if you'd like to know about one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood.
cant help lovin..........2002-12-02
In addition to demonstrating a self-deprecating wit and a candor that is often surprising, even in an autobiography, in this memoir Ava Gardner conveys a warmth and genuineness that makes her (in my opinion) an instantly likable narrator. Then, the fact that the events of her life would have given enough material to make a great story even if she herself wasn't such an engaging storyteller.
This book is tempered with irony. Ava's reflections on some of her greatest times are presented through a veil of bittersweet nostalgia. That her life was a sad one is evident; she details three failed marriages to some of the era's more notable celebrities/womanizers and her constant sense that her career path was accidental, and her eventual phase as recluse and expatriate. These events told from the perspective of an aging woman - one who seems to have been truly convinced that her fading (?) beauty is her only marketable asset create an exquisitely tragic heroine. Consistently smart and irreverent, Ava balances this obvious sadness and feeling of being misplaced with a stoic insistence that she's had "a hell of a good time." In all, her willingness to poke fun at herself and her open examinions of her personal weaknesses provide a refreshing counterpoint to the usual self-aggrandizement of the Hollywood auto-biography. I strongly recommend the book, if not for pure entertainment, for a compelling portrait devoid of literary pretensions.
Books:
- E-Myth Mastery: The Seven Essential Disciplines for Building a World Class Company
- Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data
- Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data
- Econometrics: A Modern Introduction (Addison-Wesley Series in Economics)
- Essentials of Corporate Finance (Mcgraw-Hill/Irwin Series in Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate)
- Fast Track to Waste-Free Manufacturing: Straight Talk from a Plant Manager (Manufacturing and Production)
- Financial Accounting: An Introduction to Concepts, Methods, and Uses
- Financial Management: Theory and Practice, 10th Edition
- Financial Markets and Institutions (5th Edition) (Addison-Wesley Series in Finance)
- Financial Reporting and Analysis (3rd Edition)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Retreats That Work: Everything You Need to Know About Planning and Leading Great Offsites
- History: Fiction or Science
- College Accounting: Chapters 1-13
- Depraved and Insulting English
- Fraud Examination, Revised
- History: Fiction or Science
- How the Brain Learns to Read
- Gordon, Gaffney and Graham's Questions in Company Accounting
- Enterprise Management with SAP SEM/ Business Analytics
- Hot Animal Love: Tales of Modern Romance
Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide 2007 (Plume Paperback)
Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever 2007 (Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever)
The World Almanac and Book of Facts, 2007 (World Almanac and Book of Facts)
The Great Movies
DVD & Video Guide 2006 (Mass Market Paperback) (Video and DVD Guide)
