5 comments about The Art of Alfred Hitchcock: Fifty Years of His Motion Pictures.

1. Shortly after Donald Spoto completed his book, Alfred Hitchcock read the book and then had a lunch with the author. He agreed with almost everything in the book about Spoto's scholarly approach to the movies Hitchcock directed. If you ever want to study the master's work, watch one of his movies and then read the chapter devoted to that movie (almost all of his movies are featured in this book) and you'll learn stuff you did not know. That's what makes this a good book. Now . . . Spoto did write a second book on Hitchcock, a biography, but avoid that because there is so many mistakes and many people who worked with Hitchcock personally on his movies lost friendships with other actors and technicians that it's best to avoid that book. But this one is one of the three must-reads devoted to Hitchcock.
   
   (The other two must-reads are the Francois Traffaut book and Grams and Wikstrom's "The Alfred Hitchcock Presents Companion". Together with these two and this book, you have the essential library and all-you-really-need references for all things Hitchcock.)



2. Good book, a little long. Gives plenty of details on Hitchock's projects. Good reference book.



3. This is not a biography but rather a discussion of each of Hitchcock's films. For each film there is:
   - Detailed synopsis
   - Cast and Crew details
   - Analysis of the film
   
   These first two of these items can be obtained from the Internet for free and who really wants to know the details of the story anyway?
   The analysis of each film is largely a waste of time as Spoto tends to over-analyse each film to the point of distraction while offering no real insights.
   
   If you want to find out more about Hitchcock's films I would recommend McGilligan's excellent biography. This discusses each film in the context of Hitchcock's life and career and is far more illuminating.



4. While this book covers all of his works, it doesn't cover any of them in any depth. Each chapter is mostly an incomplete synopsis of the plot, followed by an very abbreviated analysis. The analyses are shallow and vary greatly in their acumen.



5. Wonderful book and seller. Thank you!!
   Joan

5 comments about Hamlet (Arkangel Shakespeare).

1. As with most of the Arkangel Shakespeare, this is a very decently done performance, with some great acting. (The music, which is modern and a little sentimental, seems to me a mistake.) But as with all the Shakespeare, I'm a big believer in the Caedmon recordings from several decades ago, which feature simply amazing actors of the last generation: Sir Ralph Richardson, Paul Scofield, Sir John Gielgud, Hugh Griffith, Jeremy Brett, Sir Michael Redgrave, Cyril Cusack, Alan Bates, Vanessa Redgrave...the list goes on. The Arkangel recordings have a lot to offer, but we ought to have the option of listening to the classic recordings of these plays. Protest to Caedmon Music/Harper Collins today!



2. I love this story! The CD audio is very good. It's very easy to get lost in the story.



3. This wasn't as good as I was hoping. I needed more background sound effects--not just people with British accents.



4. This really is "The Tragical History of Hamlet Prince of Denmark" and not only the Prince but his family. Not only his family but his friends. Not only his friends but all though that came before him and is told to those that came after him.
   
   You can slow down and pick apart many underlying themes and may of the phrases that now challenge Bible sayings in today's sound bites. But the real fun is in just reading the story and you will find that it is not as foreign as you may have thought.
   A quick synopsis is that Old Hamlet conquered Old Fortinbras seizing his land. Now that Old Hamlet is dead, Young Fortinbras wants his land back and is willing to take it by force. Meanwhile back in Dänemark Young Hamlet who is excessively grieving for the loss of his father, gets a now insight from his fathers ghost. Looks like he was a victim of a "murder most foul"; it looks like his mother and uncle were in cahoots on the murder.
   
   The story is about what each person felt and acted or did not act upon the situation.
   You will find many movies and perverted imitations of the story but nothing will replace the original that was intended to be watched but reads well.
   You may like different audio and audio dramatizations.
   
   Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead



5. What a terrific find! I got the Romeo and Juliet cd from the same company and was very pleased. So, I tried Macbeth. This is the finest interpretation of the parts I have ever heard. The readers even speak with Scottish accents. This a dramatized version, complete with sound effects. My students love it.

5 comments about The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Book: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of a Television Classic.

1. If you're a die-hard U.N.C.L.E. fan and are looking for a book about the series - this is it - as in, its apparently the only one ever written about a truly great TV series. Sadly, the book fails and suffers in many areas.
   
   First we have the writing style. The book in places reads like it was written for a 10-year-old with the author feeling the necessity to explain to the reader what everyone does on a set (the editor does this, the director does that etc. etc.). Boring.
   
   Second, we have the typesetting. The book looks more like it was produced and run off on a copying machine than actually printed on a press. And its a shame. If there were typesetters they never caught some of the misspelled words and other typos such as letters - usually the letter "s" - left off the end of words.
   
   Third, and last, we have the photos. Most are entirely too dark being all in black-and-white and its absolutely, totally impossible to see the detail in any of the photos. And, in some cases, its impossible to see the faces all that well either which is a shame since there are some photos that could have added a great deal to the book.
   
   Since this book was published in the mid-1980's, it seems somewhat of a crime that it should be selling for full-price, but we'll put that down to its being a "classic" which was never re-printed. This book however, is crying out to be updated!! As it now exists, it is somewhat superficial since the series has come out on DVD and a great deal could be added.
   
   There has to be some saving grace to this book, so let's at least give the author credit for trying. It gets 3 stars because its the only book that has ever apparently been written on the subject. Let someone else come along with one more comprehensive and that would drop to one star.
   
   Caveat emptor! Let the buyer beware! This is for the die-hard U.N.C.L.E. fan!



2. This book tells the ENTIRE story of the short-lived TV classic. Practically day-by-day. It was published in the '80s so there are some badly reproduced photos. Fans will also want to get the book "Spy-Fi" which has some very good photos of rare props used on the show.



3. As an overview of the inner workings and production of one of the defining television shows of the 1960's, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." book is simply excellent, the best on the subject - much more so than the later "U.N.C.L.E. Tribute Book". Subjects such as writing, photography/cinematography, music, direction, special effects, props, the development of the pilot and series concept and the like are all covered in exhaustive detail. There are also many rare photos, all in B & W.
   
   However, the book does have a serious shortcoming in my opinion, which prevents me from giving it 5 stars, in that it does not really go into much detail in discussing the episodes themselves - the 100 episodes of MFU itself and the season's worth of its sister show, "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.". MFU fans will need to search out the long-out-of-print Files Magazine series "The U.N.C.L.E. Files", which has extensive discussions of every single episode. It must also be said that "The U.N.C.L.E. Tribute Book" does better than this book in reviewing the various MFU novels and the magazine short stories.



4. I watched the show in its original run. As one reviewer below said, as a kid, I wanted it to be real. As an adult fan today, I was delighted to get all the detail and inside information from this well-written book. Mr. Heitland has done all us wannabe UNCLE agents a great service.



5. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put
   Humpty Dumpty together again, so why all the bickering to and
   fro? This book was published after the U.N.C.L.E. Files and
   before the Unofficial Tribute Book. Stating this is the best
   smells like someone's been bought off. Any follower worth his
   salt knows everything that's been written about this show is
   okay, give it or take it. Better to own all or none.
   
   All three sources contain valuable input and share some flaws.
   The Files is a massive source of episodic detail while this
   book contains background regarding the show from a devotee
   determined to rake in a few bucks besides. The Files author,
   as rumored, received no compensation for his work, an attempted
   investment resulting in a labor of love, nevertheless.

5 comments about Costume Design 101: The Business and Art of Creating Costumes for Film and Television.

1. 
   
   I find this was a refreshing view point of a designer.He went into the nuts and bolts of the business,not just the artistic side. I enjoyed the book so much I ordered a copy for a gifted student of mine.



2. From the very first chapter, the author made it seem like he was speaking directly to me. This book is definitely for someone who is interested in Costume Design and wants to know absolutely everything about it, in detail (not for someone already in the field and familiar with how it works). It's not just a book that I'll read and then retire to my bookshelf. As I continue to aspire to be a costume disigner, this book will stay by my side for a long time. The ideas he gives you in the first chaper on how to break down the script is easy to learn, with practice. I urdge anyone who is interested in this field to buy this book first.



3. A graduation requirement for my high school is a year-long senior research project on a subject we choose. This project includes a year-long research portfolio, a piece of work applying the research, as well as a 20-30 minute presentation. I decided to research costume design for films. The first book I found was this book by Richard La Motte, and it was the most helpful book out of all 27 that I read for my research project. This book not only tells of costume designing itself, it shows what goes on behind the curtain, the business of it, the organization and preparation involved in costume design, etc. This book truly is a costume designer's manual. There is so much helpful information written in a clear way, there are examples in the book that help the reader understand the information even more clearly, as well as some designs by the author himself. This book helped me ace my Senior Project, and also inspired me to study and pursue costume design for films.



4. I found this book to be incredibly useful. Even though I work in stage theater, its information is immediately applicable for all levels of productions. It has tips for organizational skills, outlines of how things work, who does what, advice on how to manage your time, working with actors, dealing with unexpected problems, etc.
   
   I've read it several times and each time I get something new out of it. Read this book, apply it, and you will be a shining star that gets hired again and again for productions.



5. This book is probably THE most informative book I have ever read, irregardless of the subject. Everthing you need to know about costume design is here, in this book. Critical information when contemplating a career, that you cannot get in a classroom. The author has been there, worked in the "trenches", for years, has had a successful career, and is now willing to share years of accumulated knowledge. I was amazed at all I gained from this book.

4 comments about A Dream of Passion: The Development of the Method.

1. Firstly, if you are not truly devoted to acting, you will not find this book all that interesting. But if you are a Method devotee, then you will find much info & interesting anecdotes here.



2. Probably the most famous acting teacher in modern times. I think this book is a necessary read for any actor, teacher, director. I've read and heard so much controversy over this man. It's fascinating to read about his journey. Some of the stereotypes of his method are crushed in this book. I have to respect these teachers who devoted their lives to finding some kind of answer for their students and actors everywhere. Strasberg, Adler, Meisner, Lewis, Hagen. Even if you don't agree with his ideas or techniques it is an extremely interesting read on the evolution of theater in this country.



3. Probably the most famous acting teacher in modern times. I think this book is a necessary read for any actor, teacher, director. I've read and heard so much controversy over this man. It's fascinating to read about his journey. Some of the stereotypes of his method are crushed in this book. I have to respect these teachers who devoted their lives to finding some kind of answer for their students and actors everywhere. Strasberg, Adler, Meisner, Lewis, Hagen. Even if you don't agree with his ideas or techniques it is an extremely interesting read on the evolution of theater in this country.



4. This book is absoulutly grreat! If you want to get into acting, you must read this book. I gauruntee it :)

2 comments about Henry V (Folger Shakespeare Library).

1. This version of Henry V is helpful because of the corresponding notes on the opposite page.



2. The good folks at the Folger have done a great service to all readers who have ever said, "You know, I think I would like Shakespeare better if I didn't have to contend with all those footnotes." The Folger editions have a page of the play's text on the right, while the footnotes and other applicable explanatory information are on the left hand page. I don't know exactly why that makes it easier to read and digest, but it does. Taking your eye across the page to find the footnotes is much easier and less disruptive than having to go up and down the page.
   
   I have read a couple of these editions now, and reading Shakespeare is getting easier all the time. I give some credit to the essays that begin each book, which explains some of the quirks of Shakespeare's language. The essays are basically the same from play to play, but the specific examples in the essays are taken from whatever play is featured in that particular book. Make sure to read one in detail, but you can probably skim them when you read subsequent plays.
   
   I also have to give a lot of credit to Kenneth Branaugh. After several viewings of his excellent productions, with their beautiful but nearly conversational tone, I have begun to grasp the rhythms and flow of Shakespeare's dialog. I also highly recommend Branaugh's film version of Henry V, if you want to read it and see it.

5 comments about The Official Prisoner Companion.

1. That he had problems with intimacy on the set of his tv show The Prisoner. He never did kiss any pretty lady on the mouth on his tv show. This book testifies by a crewmember of the Prisoner that McGoohan had trouble with intimacy on the set of the show.



2. For thsoe who liked the series and want to know a littlle more about it this book is it. But it is not to much more than a reference book in my opinion and can put you asleep if you are not excited about the subject matter. If you own the TV series on DVD or tape this book is recommended.



3. In this book, it is stated:

   "On a different note, in their "Observations" regarding the episode 'A Change of Mind', the authors suggest that "it is easy to make comparisons between the committee in this episode and McCarthy's House Un-American Activities Committee of the 1950s."
   If the authors knew a little more about the period when The Prisoner was filmed they might have made the rather more relevant observation that the various events in this episode very closely resemble the excesses of the Chinese Cultural Revolution - of the 1960s."

   Even worse than missing the importance of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the authors show even less knowledge of US history. McCarthy was NOT a member of the House Un-American Activities Committee. He was a Republican Senator from Wisconsin, thus, not even a member of the House.

   HUAC's primary interest in those days seemed to be in rooting out left-wingers from Hollywood. McCarthy made his fame from claims, never established, of as many as 205 Communists or sympathizers (whatever that might mean) in the Army and the State Department. McCarthy never undertook investigations of former spies nor did his tactics, based more on implications of guilt by association or skillfully worded queries of the "do you still beat your wife?" type, that trapped witnesses into unintended and incorrect answers, ever kidnap or imprison those suspected of wrongdoing.

   In the days of the Red Scare, simply implying a person was "soft" on Communism could ruin a career.

   The information on McCarthy and HUAC is readily available. Errors of this sort mean sloppy research by the authors. What, then, of their critique can we trust?




4. The book is written for a fan of the show who has average intelligence; unfortunately, the average fan is brighter than that. Much to much of the obvious and not enough insight. A decent book at best.




5. I suspect that a lot of the shortcomings of this book are due to it being written no less than 20 years after the original airing of the series. Put this together with the fact that the authors are (apparently) Americans, and you can begin to see why the book fails to show any great depth of understanding of what is a very profoundly British TV series.

   At one point, for example, we are told that the Scots, Irish and Welsh Napoleans (in 'The Girl Who was Death') "represent various components of the British Commonwealth". I guess they meant the British Isles, or the United Kingdom - though neither of those groups includes Ireland, of course, only Northern Ireland. And in any case, how does this explain the Yorkshire Napolean?

   On a different note, in their "Observations" regarding the episode 'A Change of Mind', the authors suggest that "it is easy to make comparisons between the committee in this episode and McCarthy's House Un-American Activities Committee of the 1950s."
   If the authors knew a little more about the period when The Prisoner was filmed they might have made the rather more relevant observation that the various events in this episode very closely resemble the excesses of the Chinese Cultural Revolution - of the 1960s.

   I was also less than impressed by the actual episode guides. Most of these are written in a very uninspired style and contain regular, if largely trivial, errors of fact and grammar.
   In the commentary for 'It's Your Funeral', for example, one of the photos shows McGoohan standing beside the helicopter with Eric Portman sitting at the controls and holding a phone. In fact, Number 2 in this episode was played by Andre Van Gyseghem (with Derren Nesbitt as his stand-in), whilst Eric Portman played Number 2 back in episode 4 - 'Free for All'.

   Having said that, the book is certainly not a complete waste of space, containing material from production company handouts, script fragments, etc. As in The Prisoner itself, the reader simply needs to be careful about sorting fact (official material) from fiction.

   Be seeing you 8¬)

5 comments about Urinetown: The Musical.

1. Absolutely fantastic is really all I can say about this. Each line is more clever than the next and the music is absolutely genius. Each song is unique and each lyric has value. The show has a great message and is hilarious. I've read the script and listened to the music at least 50 times and I still laugh out loud every time. I can't even pick my favorite song or scene or say anything bad about it.



2. I used this book in our amateur production of the musical and I recommend this script. The pictures and story behind the musical was interesting.



3. I always thought "Forum" was the best musical written but that is now in second place to Urinetown. This one also has a lot to think about as a commentary on our times. Shouldn't be missed.



4. Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) in Reno is performing this play in March 2006. I should add that it is one of the first community theaters to get the rights to producing this still-running show. Having the book in this format has been very helpful while blocking the show instead of lugging around the bulkier copies provided to us; however, as the Music Director pointed out, the lyrics written in the book don't exactly match what is in the score. But if you are an aficionado of Broadway Musicals, this is a fun book to have!



5. UrineTown was, i believe, the most unique musical ever been created! The Concept of this play was just fall-to-the-floor funny and has gone beyond what we see in broadway throughout the years. but what this show has is great characters and some witty dialogue and lyrics. It's unique concept gave the script strength and power and was a fame for all viewers who went out and saw it.
   
   I encourage anyone who has heard little of Urinetown to go out and give it a shot. Maybe it could be a well-known musical some day.

5 comments about The Circus Fire: A True Story of an American Tragedy.

1. Good books on historical events usually tell of events before, during and after the occurence. Some much more so than others. What is striking here is how O'nan manages to refer to everything related to Hartford's fire over a fifty year period! Everything is included. We are told of circus fires and accidents back in to the 19th century, circus mishaps in the years after the fire, other disasters of interest, and of the personal lives and fates of those involved. I have extensive knowledge of historic catastrophes, and can attest that nothing of any interest was left out. The author has said the book was a lot of work to write, and this is clear given its detail. There is no other book quite like it.
   
   But the book's strength is also its weakness. So much is included that the writing suffers some. We are constantly introduced to new characters and sub-stories, interrupting the flow, and creating a kind of 'literary turbulence' that is disturbing at times. But don't let this stop you from buying, and reading, this tale of a circus tragedy.



2. My family is from Sarasota, FL, where the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus had their winter quarters for many years. My great-grandmother on my mother's side used to watch some of the circus kids while their parents trained, and my mom had heard stories about this fire, and then when I was younger, I had heard the same stories. We had known Merle Evans, and he told us about that day.
   
   I had not known about this book until reading about it in a thread on LT, so I thought I would give it a try and learn a little bit more about that awful day. O'Nan presents what is clearly a well-researched, if not always well-written, history about that day, and the events that (may or may not have) led up to it, and the circumstances that followed. After O'Nan introduces each person, he continues to write about these people as if the reader is as familiar them as he is due to his researching them. If you can let go of trying to keep track of who is who (there is a huge number of people involved) and simply read the book and accept the facts as they are presented, you will have a better chance of getting something out of this book. I kept trying to keep straight in my head who was who, but after awhile I simply gave up on this and just read.
   
   Due to the nature of the tragedy, I don't know that it's possible for O'Nan to write this without some sense of sensationalizing the facts, but everything that he writes clearly gets across the horror of the day. The accompanying photographs help you visualize exactly what happened during the fire. The book itself suffers from some writing errors throughout, and these probably could have been fixed with a stronger editing, but they are not overly distracting.
   
   O'Nan clearly researched his facts, and while he tries to present some possible explanations to the cause of the fire and circumstances surrounding it, he doesn't try to present these as fact. He relies on the established facts that have been proven, and draws on these to present the story as best he can. This book won't be for everyone. It was a horrible day, and O'Nan doesn't try to sugar-coat the events or what happened to the victims of the fire. For those that are interested in learning more about the fire, however, this will prove to be an interesting read.



3. Having grown up in this area, I was very much aware of the fire and it's consequences. But ... nobody ever really wanted to talk about it. This is a very good account. While reading, though, I grew frustrated because I forgot who was who, where in the tent they were, seemed too much space in chapters before they were mentioned again. But then again, that it reflective of what it was like under that big top. Chaos. Where was everyone in your family or party?
   
   Also good documentation of the investigation. Sometimes a little bit too detailed, but then again, that's what investigations are.
   
   O'Nan did well with this book. Too bad more people in that area refuse to read it. Guess time doesn't always heal pain.



4. I have owned this book for several years and have read and reread it several times. Before picking it up, I had never heard of the fire in Hartford. After reading it, I wanted to find out even more. The best books about historical tragedies and disasters tell not only the story of a single event but convey the mood and atmosphere of the times in which they occurred. Mr. O'Nan does that very well here I think. This is not just a book about a fire but a snapshot of a specific time in American history. I appreciated that he did not shy away from depicting many of the more gruesome details of the fire and its aftermath in detail. To airbrush the details for readers would have shown an utter lack of respect for the victims of the fire as well as the survivors. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning more about American history by studying influential events. The Hartford fire, like the Triangle fire and the Iroquois fire, were great tragedies which created ripples across the entire American landscape. They lead to changes in our values, our workplaces, and our amusements. They are worth remembering, not only to honor their victims but as a part of understanding our American story.



5. Having read Stewart O'Nan's novel A Prayer for the Dying and loving it, I decided I would give O'Nan the opportunity to tell a true story of life and death.
   
   As a word of warning for those who come after me, if you are expecting a story centered around 5-10 "main characters," you will be disappointed. This is a story about the Hartford Circus Fire of 1944 and in telling that story, O'Nan attempts to tell the story of EVERYONE who was connected to it. It requires the reader to accept a large "cast of characters" who is willing to follow several threads of the "story" at one time. O'Nan's frenetic, peripatetic telling of the story gives the reader a sense of what it may have been like under the Big Top when it caught on fire.
   
   In telling the story of the Hartford Circus Fire, O'Nan also tells the story of "Little Miss 1565." "Little Miss 1565" was perhaps the most well-known victim of the circus fire. She was named after the number assigned to her body at the city's makeshift morgue. The debate over her identify rages on to this day. O'Nan does refute the contention of Rick Davey and Don Massey's contention that Little Miss 1565 was, in fact Elenaor Cook. For more on Rick Davey and Don Massey, you can check out A Matter of Degree: The Hartford Circus Fire & The Mystery of Little Miss 1565.
   
   Whether Elenaor Cook is properly or improperly identified as "Little Miss 1565" does not change the fact that she died in the Hartford Circus Fire. In telling the story of "Little Miss 1565" O'Nan is really telling the story of those who survived the Circus Fire and those who died.
   
   Dick Hill's narration is utterly breathtaking. He handles O'Nan's frenetic narrative with both style and grace. The only quirk in this production occurs in the one instance in O'Nan's narrative is where a dialog is recounted. Rather than using voice inflection to differentiate the speakers, a production effect is used in which the lines of the opposite speaker are slightly muffled as if Dick Hill is delivering the lines with his hand slightly covering the microphone. Otherwise, Hill's narration is flawless.

5 comments about American Beauty: The Shooting Script (Newmarket Shooting Scripts).

1. I loved reading the screenplay just as much as I enjoyed watching the film. I'm interested in screenwriting myself and bought the screenplay as a guide to my own screenwriting -- what to do and what not to do, and especially how to format shots of a person videotaping as is done throughout this piece. Excellent teaching tool!



2. I loved the film, American Beauty. It is, quite simply, my favorite movie of all time! This screenplay is just as captivating as the movie... Because, in many ways, it is the movie! Alan Ball's script is really what made American Beauty the film that made jaded American moviegoers stand up and say "Thank you!" We can only hope that future filmmakers are taking note... Simply put, it is destined to become a treasured piece of modern Americana. :-)



3. If you have seen the movie, and were deeply touched by it, as seems inevitable, owning this screenplay is definitely worthwhile. Without having to put on the DVD, you can relive particular moments by just leafing through the pages. Alan Ball's script won multiple awards, and rightly so: it is a masterpiece of dramatic writing, merging the comical, the tragic and the spiritual in ways rarely seen in present day (American) film.
   Yet this book isn't all it could, and in my view should, have been. It really offers very little besides the literal text of the final movie version (including some of Annette Bening's and Kevin Spacey's improvisations). Other film scripts I own include in-depth information about genesis, casting, production etc., loads of good still and behind-the-scenes photography, as well as discarded scenes and earlier versions of scenes. None of that here, even though several parts of the film were drastically altered during the filming. There is a 2-page intro by Mendes that adds nothing to the information contained on the DVD, if you own that; and the same goes for the even shorter afterword by Ball (who, on the DVD commentary track, isn't able to get a word in edgewise with Mendes, and so remains something of an enigma). Then there are a few grainy black and white stills that are an insult to the brilliant cinematography of the movie - and that's it. For makers of a film so ostentatiously concerned with the relativity of material things, it does seem like a rather cheap way to squeeze some extra bucks from it...



4. Today is the first day of the rest of your life?

   Yes.The amazing capability that we have to surprise ourselves and the surrounding life makes you to take control of every moment that you live. Live larger.

   Lester has this capability. He never died . He just smiled. before taking a pause.

   AMAZING BEAUTY. That's what I can write about this movie and the writer.




5. If you didn't like the movie as you watched it, then you'll gonna love it after you read this script!