Film guides and reviews Books

Book SynopsisFrancis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972) marked a transition in American film-making, and its success – as a work of art, as a creative 'property' exploited by its studio, Paramount Pictures; and as a model for aspiring auteurist film-makers – changed Hollywood forever. Jon Lewis's study of The Godfather begins with a close look at the film's audacious visual style (the long, theatrical set pieces; the chiaroscuro lighting, the climactic montage paralleling a family baptism with a series of brutal murders). The analysis of visual style is paired with a discussion of the movie's principal themes: Vito and Michael's attempt to balance the obligations of business and family, their struggle with assimilation, the temptations and pitfalls of capitalist accumulation, and the larger drama of succession from father to son, from one generation to the next. The textual analysis precedes a production history that views The Godfather as a singularly important film in Hollywood's dramatic box-office turnaround in the early 1970s. And then, finally, the book takes a long hard look at the gangster himself both on screen and off. Hollywood publicity attending the gangster film from its inception in the silent era to the present has endeavoured to dull the distinction between the real and movie gangster, insisting that each film has been culled from the day's sordid headlines. Looking at the drama on screen and the production history behind the scenes, Lewis uncovers a series of real gangster backstories, revealing, finally, how millions of dollars of mob money may well have funded the film in the first place, and how, as things played out, The Godfather saved Paramount Studios and the rest of Hollywood as well.Trade ReviewCombining narrative analysis and production history, this slender book reminds us why Francis Ford Coppola's first episode in The Godfather trilogy has been accorded the top spot in numerous polls of the greatest film of all time. -- The Independent...the book most definitely provides readers with a wealth of detail and range of approaches which is surely what the BFI Film Classics series invariably does best. -- ScopeTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Foreword to the 2022 edition 1. Believe in America 2. I Believe in Hollywood 3. I Believe in the Mafia Notes Credits.

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Book SynopsisEuro Noir by Britain's leading crime fiction expert Barry Forshaw (author of Nordic Noir) examines the astonishing success of European fiction and drama. This is often edgier, grittier and more compelling than some of its British or American equivalents, and the book provides a highly readable guide for those wanting to look further than the obvious choices. The sheer volume of new European writers and films is daunting but Euro Noir provides a roadmap to the territory and is also a perfect travel guide to the genre. Barry Forshaw covers influential Italian authors, such as Andrea Camilleri and Leonardo Sciascia and Mafia crime dramas Romanzo Criminale and Gomorrah, along with the gruesome Gialli crime films. He also considers important French and Belgian writers such as Maigret's creator Georges Simenon to today's Fred Vargas, cult television programmes Braquo and Spiral, and films, from the classic heist movie Rififi to modern successes such as Hidden, Mesrine and Tell No One. German and Austrian greats are covered including Jakob Arjouni and Jan Costin Wagner, and crime films such as Run Lola Run and The Lives of Others. Euro Noir also covers the best crime writing and filmmaking from Spain, Portugal, Greece, Holland and other European countries and celebrates the wide scope of European crime fiction, films and TV.Trade ReviewAn informative, interesting, accessible and enjoyable guide as Forshaw guides us through the crime output of a dozen nations -- Marcel Berlins * The Times *An exhilarating tour of Europe viewed through its crime fiction -- P D Smith * Guardian *Entertaining, illuminating, and indispensable. This is the ultimate road map for anybody interested in European crime books, film, and TV -- Andy Lawrence * Euro But Not Trash *Exemplary tour of the European crime landscape... supremely readable -- Jane Jakeman * The Independent *This is a book for everyone and will help and expand your reading and viewing -- Jo Harding * We Love This Book *

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Book SynopsisFrom the vengeful ghosts of J-horror to the walking dead in 28 Days Later and World War Z, from the creepiness of Spain's haunted houses to the graphic gore of the New French Extremism, horror is everywhere in the twenty-first century. This lively and illuminating book explores over 100 contemporary horror films, providing insightful and provocative readings of what they mean while including numerous quotes from their creators. Some of these films, including The Babadook, The Green Inferno, It Follows, The Neon Demon, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and The Witch are so recent that this will be one of the first times they are discussed in book form. The book is divided into three main sections: 'nightmares', 'nations' and 'innovations'. 'Nightmares' looks at new manifestations of traditional fears, including creepy dolls, haunted houses and demonic possession as well as vampires, werewolves, witches and zombies; and also considers more contemporary anxieties such as dread of home invasion and homophobia. 'Nations' explores fright films from around the world, including Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, India, Japan, Norway, Russia, Serbia, Spain and Sweden as well as the UK and the US. 'Innovations' focuses on the latest trends in terror from 3D to found-footage films, from Twilight teen romance to torture porn, and from body horror and eco-horror to techno-horror. Parodies, remakes and American adaptations of Asian horror are also discussed.Trade ReviewMeticulously examining the most influential films from the last two decades, this guide provides an original perspective on today's culture for horror fanatics and cinema buffs alike -- Debi Moore * Dread Central *Keesey does an excellent job in his analysis... the material is surprisingly rich with information -- ZigZag * Horror Talk *

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Book SynopsisDescribed by its maker as a 'poem of horror', Vampyr (1932) is one of the founding works of psychological horror cinema, adapted from a collection of gothic stories by Sheridan Le Fanu and directed by the revered Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer. Despite the fact that there is no definitive print and many English versions are marred by poor quality subtitles, the film remains a vivid, extraordinary artwork in which the inner human state is made hauntingly visible. In a reading as passionate as it is analytic, David Rudkin reveals how this film systematically binds the spectator – spatially and morally – into its mysterious world of the undead. This second edition features a new foreword, discussion of the Martin Koerber and Cineteca di Bologna restoration of the film in 2008, and original cover artwork by Midge Naylor.Table of ContentsForeword.- 1. Carl Theodor Dreyer (1889-1968).- 2. Locating Vampyr in Dreyer's Cinema and it its Sources.- 3. The 'Problem' of Vampyr.- 4. Vampyr: Towards a Reading.- 5. The Journey to Our Grave.- Notes.- Credits.

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Book SynopsisThe multiple award-winning Doctor Zhivago (1965) is one of America's finest films of all time. Ian Christie contextualizes the film as an epic Russian love story and a Cold War classic, charts its production and reception, including the contribution of designer John Box, and discusses the unique history of the Bruce Pasternak novel it is based on.

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Book Synopsis"Du rififi chez les hommes" (1955), directed by the exiled American film director Jules Dassin, recounts the nail-biting tale of a Parisian gangster heist gone wrong. Famed for its extended dialog free robbery sequence, it is both a classic French film noir and one of the greatest, most influential crime films. In this lively companion to the film, Alastair Phillips reveals Dassin's role as a director of socially conscious Hollywood film noir and argues that his seminal contribution to the regeneration of the thriller in post war France therefore uniquely complicated relations between French genre cinema and American mass culture. Phillips also examines the film's innovative narrative construction and use of sound, its performance style and mise-en-scene, and discusses the film's legacy, showing how even today, the term 'Rififi' remains a byword for both criminal glamor and the enduring virtues of French popular classical film making.Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgements Synopsis I: Introduction II: The Route to Rififi A Cosmopolitan Life Hollywood and Film Noir The Politics of Exile The Tradition of French Film Noir Auguste le Breton and the Série Noire Production History III: Reading Rififi Beginnings Du rififi chez les hommes and the Aesthetics of the Heist Thriller Space and Genre: the Nightclub Space and Genre: the City Men and Trouble A Transnational Film Noir? IV: Reviewing Rififi A Surprise Success ‘A Film Without Indulgence’ The Politics of Realism Audiences, Trade and Culture V: Reviving Rififi After Du rififi chez les hommes Influences The Rififi Brand Rififi Returns Appendix 1: Credits Appendix 2: Jules Dassin Filmography Appendix 3: Auguste le Breton Filmography Appendix 4: Films referred to in the book Appendix 5: ‘Rififi à travers le monde’ Bibliography Appendix 6: Select Bibliography

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisIn all film there is the desire to capture the motion of life, to refuse immobility, Agnes Varda has noted. But to capture the reality of human experience, cinema must fasten on stillness and inaction as much as motion. Slow Movies investigates movies by acclaimed international directors who in the past three decades have challenged mainstream cinema's reliance on motion and action. More than other realist art cinema, slow movies by Lisandro Alonso, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Pedro Costa, Jia Zhang-ke, Abbas Kiarostami, Cristian Mungiu, Alexander Sokurov, Bela Tarr, Gus Van Sant and others radically adhere to space-times in which emotion is repressed along with motion; editing and dialogue yield to stasis and contemplation; action surrenders to emptiness if not death.Trade ReviewSuperb... A brilliant writer, Jaffe deftly... [gives] the reader a window into a much wider world of cinema. Yet another excellent film book from Wallflower Press... commands the reader's attention. ChoiceTable of ContentsIntroduction Deadpan: Stranger Than Paradise, Deadman and The Second Circle Stillness: Elephant and Mother and Son Long Shot: Distant and Climates Wait Time: The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days and Safe Drift and Resistance: Liverpool and Ossos Death-Drive, Life-Drive: A Talking Picture, Taste of Cherry, Five Dedicated to Ozu and Still Life Rebellion's Limits: The Turin Horse, Werckmeister Harmonies and 12:08 East of Bucharest Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThe first critical study of Disney films.Trade Review"... a wealth of local insights into many specific Disney projects, from their animated classics up to and including their work produced and distributed under their various other corporate names ..." - American Quarterly "The Disney book with a difference! ...These tightly structured and passionately but thoughtfully argued points should provoke lively debate..." - Brave New WorldTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Walt's in the Movies—Elizabeth Bell, Lynda Haas, and Laura SellsSection I: Sanitizations/Disney Film as Cultural PedagogyBreaking the Disney Spell—Jack ZipesMemory and Pedagogy in the "Wonderful World of Disney": Beyond the Politics of Innocence—Henry A. GirouxPinocchio—Claudia CardDisney Does Dutch: Billy Bathgate and the Disneyficationof the Gangster Genre—Robert HaasThe Movie You See, The Movie Don't: How Disney Do's That Old Time Derision—Susan Miller and Greg RodeSection II: Contestations/Disney Film as Gender ConstructionSomatexts at the Disney Shop: Constructing the Pentimentos of Women's Animated Bodies—Elizabeth Bell"The Whole Wide World was Scribbed Clean": The Androcentric Animation of Denatured Disney—Patrick D. MurphyBambi—David PayneBeyond Captain Nemo: Disney's Science Fiction—Brian AtteberyThe Curse of Masculinity: Disney's Beauty and the Beast—Susan JeffordsSection III: Erasures/Disney Film as Identity Politics"Where Do The Mermaids Stand?"Voice and Body in The Little Mermaid—Laura Sells"Eighty-Six the Mother": Murder, Matricide, and Good Mothers—Lynda HaasSpinsters in Sensible Shoes: Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks—Chris CuomoPretty Woman Through the Triple Lens of Black Feminist Spectatorship—D.Soyini MadisonPachuco Mickey—Ramona FernancezContributorsIndex

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Book SynopsisProvides a comprehensive introduction to and resource for cinema of the "Maghreb". This book examines the political and cultural context of the films and the film industry in the post-independence era. It includes a dictionary of more than 135 North African filmmakers and a chronological filmography.Trade ReviewArmes (Middlesex Univ., London) scrutinizes the formation and characteristics of filmmaking in the Maghreb (Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria), the area of North Africa once colonized by France. The book is the product of years of precise, systematic research, which the author deploys in an effective organization that is almost encyclopedic. Armes divides the contents into two parts: Histories, a chronological, decade—by—decade account of the development of film in all three countries; and Themes and Styles, with ten full—scale analyses of significant films from the region. As a factual history of postcolonial moviemaking in the Maghreb, this book will not soon be superseded, but it is also important for its theory. The author distinguishes among the film cultures of the three nations while allowing their basic similarities, and he also distinguishes the Maghreb movies from French cinema—once again, noting similarities. He concludes that nationalism and colonialism are not simply antagonistic opposites. North Africans become French in the cinema, but they are principally engaged in changing the meaning of the two terms. One of the finest recent studies of national cinemas, this book includes two valuable appendixes: Dictionary of Feature Filmmakers and a complete list of films (1965, 2002). Summing Up: Essential. Lower—division undergraduates and above.R. D. Sears, Berea College, 2005oct CHOICE"Roy Armes's new book Postcolonial Images: Studies in North African Cinema provides an extremely useful survey of films from Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, as well as films made by filmmakers of the North African diaspora in the postcolonial or politically post—Independence period..." —H-Net, April 2005"Roy Armes's new book Postcolonial Images: Studies in North African Cinema provides an extremely useful survey of films from Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, as well as films made by filmmakers of the North African diaspora in the postcolonial or politically post—Independence period...—H—net, April 2005" —"The book is the product of years of precise, systematic research, which the author deploys in an effective organization that is almost encyclopedic....One of the finest recent studies of national cinemas..." —Choice, October 2005"... Armes's well-researched book provides the reader with a major text on a neglected, important, and vibrant cinema." —Ali Abdullatif Ahmida, University of New England, INTNL JRNL MID EAST STD - IJMES, Vol. 40 2008Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsList of AcronymsIntroductionPart I. Histories1. Beginnings in the 1960s2. The 1970s3. The 1980s4. The 1990s5. Into the PresentPart II. Themes and Styles6. An Indigenous Film Culture: El Chergui (1975)7. History as Myth: Chronicle of the Years of Embers (1975)8. A Fragile Masculinity: Omar Gatlato (1976)9. Memory Is a Woman's Voice: La Nouba (1978)10. Imag(in)ing Europe: Miss Mona (1987)11. Defeat as Destiny: Golden Horseshoes (1989)12. Sexuality and Gendered Space: Halfaouine (1990)13. A Timeless World: Looking for My Wife's Husband (1993)14. A New Future Begins: Silences of the Palace (1994)15. A New Realism? Ali Zaoua (1999)ConclusionAppendix A. Dictionary of Feature Filmmakers Appendix B. List of FilmsNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis book offers an eclectic look at how rock ‘n’ roll and its fans have been represented in B-movies, blockbusters, biopics, documentaries, and experimental films. David Sterritt explores how rock ‘n’ roll movies kept pace with rapidly changing musical trends, helping to fuel a worldwide revolution in youth culture. Trade Review"The rock ‘n’ roll movie made its inauspicious debut in 1955 when a second-rate rockabilly record by Bill Haley and the Comets played ironically over the opening credits of the earnest melodrama, Blackboard Jungle. But as David Sterritt thoroughly and engagingly shows us, the movie industry soon produced a kaleidoscopic array of variations on the theme. Rock ‘n’ roll has dominated flashy fan pics, thoughtful documentaries, avant-garde obscurities, and bizarre animated films, but also monuments from auteurs like Martin Scorsese. They’re all here in this highly readable little book." -- Krin Gabbard * author of Jammin’ at the Margins: Jazz and the American Cinema *"Brandishing expert chops in the rhythms of rock and the grammar of cinema, film critic David Sterritt is uniquely qualified to illuminate the beautiful music made by the merging of two great American art forms. Never less than fascinating, Rock ‘n’ Roll Movies offers an all-access backstage pass to the production backbeats and cultural meanings of a gleaming motion picture jukebox stacked with pop musicals, band biopics, star vehicles, concert films, rock docs, and mock-rock docs." -- Thomas Doherty * Brandeis University *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 1 The Fabulous 1950s 6 2 The Swinging 1960s 23 3 The Slippery 1970s 73 4 From the 1980s to Now 113 Epilogue: The Hits Just Keep on Coming 118 Further Reading 121 Works Cited 123 Index 131

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Book SynopsisThis book offers an eclectic look at how rock ‘n’ roll and its fans have been represented in B-movies, blockbusters, biopics, documentaries, and experimental films. David Sterritt explores how rock ‘n’ roll movies kept pace with rapidly changing musical trends, helping to fuel a worldwide revolution in youth culture. Trade Review"The rock ‘n’ roll movie made its inauspicious debut in 1955 when a second-rate rockabilly record by Bill Haley and the Comets played ironically over the opening credits of the earnest melodrama, Blackboard Jungle. But as David Sterritt thoroughly and engagingly shows us, the movie industry soon produced a kaleidoscopic array of variations on the theme. Rock ‘n’ roll has dominated flashy fan pics, thoughtful documentaries, avant-garde obscurities, and bizarre animated films, but also monuments from auteurs like Martin Scorsese. They’re all here in this highly readable little book." -- Krin Gabbard * author of Jammin’ at the Margins: Jazz and the American Cinema *"Brandishing expert chops in the rhythms of rock and the grammar of cinema, film critic David Sterritt is uniquely qualified to illuminate the beautiful music made by the merging of two great American art forms. Never less than fascinating, Rock ‘n’ Roll Movies offers an all-access backstage pass to the production backbeats and cultural meanings of a gleaming motion picture jukebox stacked with pop musicals, band biopics, star vehicles, concert films, rock docs, and mock-rock docs." -- Thomas Doherty * Brandeis University *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 1 The Fabulous 1950s 6 2 The Swinging 1960s 23 3 The Slippery 1970s 73 4 From the 1980s to Now 113 Epilogue: The Hits Just Keep on Coming 118 Further Reading 121 Works Cited 123 Index 131

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Book SynopsisWith more than 250 images, new information on international cinema, an expanded section on African-American filmmakers, updated discussions of new works by major American directors, and a new section on the rise of comic book movies and computer generated special effects, this is the most up to date resource for film history courses in the twenty-first century.Trade Review"This is the film history book we've been waiting for." -- David Sterritt * chairman, National Society of Film Critics *"A Short History of Film is a comprehensive and detailed overview of the last 100 years of international film history. It will prove to be a useful reference tool for all students of film, both in and out of the classroom." -- Paula J. Massood * Brooklyn College, CUNY *"A new history of international film at an affordable price. Nothing like those text book prices for a change. Includes perspectives on women and minorities in film along with innovations in technology, genres, studios, and conglomerates." -- Stephanie Ogle * Cinema Books *"This excellent introduction stands out in a crowded field with its lively, accessible writing, broad coverage, and particular focus on traditionally marginalized figures in film history...the most striking aspect of the book is the coverage of women, African Americans, and Third World filmmakers, which strongly complements its solid coverage of American and European film. Illustrations abound, and even the best-versed cineaste will find new films to track down after reading the breezy, enthusiastic analysis in this book. Highly recommended for all collections, this text would also make an excellent textbook for introductory film-studies courses." * Library Journal starred review *"With the goal of offering 'a fast paced tour' of movie history, Dixon and Foster have produced a study in the tradition of Paul Rotha's The Film till Now. The authors touch all the bases--they address new trends in international moviemaking, technologies, and critical theory and the emergence of new national and ethnic cinemas--and relate film history to social history. Each new technique, style, school, trend, and newly visible ethnic or feminist group takes its place in the larger history, and Dixon and Foster make it all accessible to the neophyte reader without ever breaking the pace. Uncommonly well-reproduced stills and a topically organized bibliography enhance the discussion. Highly recommended." * Choice *"Significant University Press Titles for Undergraduates, 2012-2013" * Choice *"One of the more important features is the focus on women directors who may not be well known to the general public; this makes the book timely and a welcome change from older film textbooks that are more implicitly biased. A good read for those who are just starting to learn more about the silver screen." * Choice *"A comprehensive and detailed overview of the last 100 years of international film history—what to watch while 'sheltering-in-place!'" * LitHub *Table of ContentsCONTENTS Acknowledgments Timeline 1832–2012 1 The Invention of the Movies 2 The Birth of an American Industry 3 World Cinema: The Silent Era 4 The Hollywood Studio System in the 1930s and 1940s 5 International Cinema through World War II 6 Postwar Challenges to the Movies 7 World Cinema in the 1950s 8 The 1960s Explosion 9 World Cinema 1970 to the Present 10 The New Hollywood Glossary of Film Terms Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisExplores the intersection between movies, reality, and fantasy; between subjective and objective representation. The book shows that surreal fantasies ground their images, sounds, and narratives in quotidian reality. On the other hand, even the most realistic documentaries rely on creative structures that are products of the human imagination.Trade Review"Plantinga gives us a unique, bold and incisive account of how movies blend reality and fantasy, conjoining soaring realms of the imagination with the empirical frames of everyday reality." — Stephen Prince, author of Digital Visual Effects and Digital Cinema “In both content and approach, Alternative Realities is revelatory in its exploration of the cinematic imagination and the ambiguities of realism and verisimilitude. It articulates cinema’s role in calling truths about our society to attention through the creation of realistic and fantastical worlds in screen stories that span documentary to science fiction.”— Jane Stadler, the University of QueenslandTable of ContentsContents Introduction 1 Realism and the Imagination 2 Fantasy and Reality 3 Subjective Realities 4 Ruptured Realities 5 Documentary: Art of the Real? Acknowledgements Further Reading Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisExplores the intersection between movies, reality, and fantasy; between subjective and objective representation. The book shows that surreal fantasies ground their images, sounds, and narratives in quotidian reality. On the other hand, even the most realistic documentaries rely on creative structures that are products of the human imagination.Trade Review"Plantinga gives us a unique, bold and incisive account of how movies blend reality and fantasy, conjoining soaring realms of the imagination with the empirical frames of everyday reality." — Stephen Prince, author of Digital Visual Effects and Digital Cinema “In both content and approach, Alternative Realities is revelatory in its exploration of the cinematic imagination and the ambiguities of realism and verisimilitude. It articulates cinema’s role in calling truths about our society to attention through the creation of realistic and fantastical worlds in screen stories that span documentary to science fiction.”— Jane Stadler, the University of QueenslandTable of ContentsContents Introduction 1 Realism and the Imagination 2 Fantasy and Reality 3 Subjective Realities 4 Ruptured Realities 5 Documentary: Art of the Real? Acknowledgements Further Reading Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisUnravels the never-ending fascination exercised by the film and provides a clear guide to the film's contexts, cinematography, and possible interpretations, covering the political and social contexts.

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Book SynopsisConsiders the complex ways that Sergio Argento weaves together light, sound, and cinema history to construct one of the most breathtaking horror movies of all time, a film as fascinating as it is ultimately unfathomable.Trade ReviewThis is a really sharp book, and an excellent series.... Brief, compact, and authoritative, these are the volumes to beat on these classic genre films. * Frame by Frame *

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive reassessment of British musical films 1946-1972 including King's Rhapsody, Beat Girl, The Tommy Steele Story, Rock You Sinners, The Golden Disc, and Oliver! Acting as a sequel to Adrian Wright's Cheer Up! British Musical Films, 1929-1945 (Boydell, 2020), Melody in the Dark offers the first major reassessment of the British musical film from the end of Second World War up to the beginning of the 1970s. In the immediate post-war world, British studios sought to reflect fast-changing social attitudes as they struggled to create inventive diversions in an effort to rival American competition. Hollywood stars Errol Flynn, Vera-Ellen, Jayne Mansfield and Judy Garland were among those brought in to provide Hollywood glamour. Embedded in the British consciousness, the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan were represented in three productions. Studios occasionally attempted adaptations of British stage musicals, among them King's Rhapsody and Expresso Bongo, and sexploitation movies turned musical via Secrets of a Windmill Girl and Beat Girl. It was left to minor studios to acknowledge the impact of rock'n'roll on social change in three early films, The Tommy Steele Story, Rock You Sinners and the iconic The Golden Disc. Through the sixties, British cinema seemed intent on flooding the market with entertainments promoting pop singers and rock groups such as Cliff Richard, Billy Fury and The Beatles. Towards the end of the period, it aspired to more grandiose projects such as Oliver! and Oh! What a Lovely War.Trade ReviewAdrian Wright's meticulous research has unearthed some gems, and his analyses are suffused with wit, humour and affection. Melody in the Dark shines a light on some fascinating stories, and one is left with a strong desire to watch many of the films. -- John Altman, Emmy and Anthony Asquith Award winner, composer of over 50 movie scores.Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface and Acknowledgements 1945 (from May 1945) Old Mother Riley at Home * Sweethearts for Ever * Here Comes the Sun * What Do We Do Now? 1946 Under New Management * Lisbon Story * George in Civvy Street * Gaiety George * I'll Turn to You * Meet the Navy * Amateur Night * Piccadilly Incident * London Town * Spring Song * The Laughing Lady * Walking on Air 1947 When You Come Home * Life Is Nothing Without Music * The Courtneys of Curzon Street * Holiday Camp * The Hills of Donegal * Comin' thro' the Rye 1948 Nightbeat * One Night with You * Spring in Park Lane * A Song for Tomorrow * Cup-Tie Honeymoon * Holidays with Pay * The Red Shoes * Date with a Dream * Here Come the Huggetts * The Brass Monkey 1949 Vote for Huggett * Somewhere in Politics * Bless 'em All * Melody in the Dark * The Huggetts Abroad * It's a Wonderful Day * Murder at the Windmill * Maytime in Mayfair * Old Mother Riley's New Venture * Trottie True * What a Carry On! * Skimpy in the Navy * High Jinks in Society 1950 The Dancing Years * Old Mother Riley Headmistress * The Lady Craved Excitement * A Ray of Sunshine * Soho Conspiracy * Lilli Marlene 1951 Happy Go Lovely * The Tales of Hoffmann * Lady Godiva Rides Again * London Entertains 1952 Song of Paris * Sing Along with Me * Judgment Deferred * Where's Charley? * Mother Riley Meets the Vampire * Meet Me Tonight * Down Among the Z Men * Tread Softly 1953 Valley of Song * The Wedding of Lilli Marlene * The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan * The Beggar's Opera * Always a Bride * Melba * Laughing Anne * Forces' Sweetheart * The Limping Man * It's a Grand Life * Trouble in Store 1954 The Gay Dog * Harmony Lane * Lilacs in the Spring * One Good Turn 1955 As Long As They're Happy * You Lucky People! * Value for Money * Man of the Moment * Oh ... Rosalinda!! * King's Rhapsody * Gentlemen Marry Brunettes * An Alligator Named Daisy * All for Mary 1956 Fun at St Fanny's * Charley Moon * It's Great to be Young * Ramsbottom Rides Again * Invitation to the Dance * It's a Wonderful World * A Touch of the Sun * On the Twelfth Day * Stars in Your Eyes * Up in the World * Five Guineas a Week 1957 The Good Companions * Let's be Happy * The Tommy Steele Story * Rock You Sinners * After the Ball * These Dangerous Years * Davy 1958 The Golden Disc * 6.5 Special * The Duke Wore Jeans * Wonderful Things * A Cry from the Streets * The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw * tom thumb * Hello London * Life Is a Circus 1959 The Lady Is a Square * Make Mine a Million * Idol on Parade * Serious Charge * The Heart of a Man * Sweet Beat * Tommy the Toreador * Desert Mice * Follow a Star * Expresso Bongo 1960 Jazz Boat * Let's Get Married * Girls of the Latin Quarter * Climb Up the Wall * In the Nick * The Entertainer * Too Hot to Handle * Beat Girl 1961 Rag Doll * The Young Ones * The Johnny Leyton Touch 1962 Play It Cool * The Painted Smile * It's Trad, Dad! * The Road to Hong Kong * Some People * Band of Thieves * I Could Go On Singing 1963 The Cool Mikado * Summer Holiday * Just for Fun * It's All Happening * Take Me Over * A Place to Go * What a Crazy World * Live It Up * Farewell Performance * It's All Over Town 1964 A Hard Day's Night * Wonderful Life * Just for You * Swinging UK * UK Swings Again * Rhythm 'n' Greens * Mods and Rockers * Every Day's a Holiday * Ballad in Blue * Ferry Cross the Mersey * The Rise and Fall of Nellie Brown 1965 Pop Gear * Gonks Go Beat * I've Gotta Horse * Three Hats for Lisa * Be My Guest * Catch Us if You Can * Help! * Up Jumped a Swagman * Cuckoo Patrol * Dateline Diamonds 1966 Stop the World - I Want to Get Off * Secrets of a Windmill Girl * Just Like a Woman * Finders Keepers * 1967 The Mikado * Half a Sixpence * Smashing Time * Red and Blue * Two a Penny 1968 Oliver! * A Little of What You Fancy * Chitty Chitty Bang Bang * Mrs Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter * Les Bicyclettes de Belsize * Popdown 1969 Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? * What's Good for the Goose * Oh! What a Lovely War * Goodbye Mr Chips 1970 Toomorrow * Scrooge 1972 The Boy Friend Notes to the Text Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisSam Raimi’s The Evil Dead (1981) is one of the most inventive and energetic horror movies of the last 40 years. Released during a period in which the stalk-and-slash cycle had blunted the horror genre of much of its creative edge, Raimi’s debut feature transcends its small budget and limited resources to deliver a phantasmagoric roller-coaster ride, a wildly absurd and surreal assault on the senses. Still original enough to stand on its own and be considered as a genre classic, this book will explain its long-lasting appeal and impact. After detailing the unique circumstances of its origin, Lloyd Haynes goes on to analyse key aspects of the film’s abiding success. The Evil Dead is one of a number of horror films which locate their terrors in a single setting and limited time frame. Haynes argues that it creates a ‘bad dream’ effect in which the nightmare is never-ending and increasingly horrific, and how the cabin-in-the-woods location is also a fine example of the ‘bad place’ motif which stretches back to the Gothic novels of the 18th century. The book goes on to consider what character traits Ash Williams, The Evil Dead’s ‘macho’ male hero, shares with Carol Clover’s ‘Final Girl’ model and how effective he is as a ‘Final Guy’. Finally, it explores the critical approaches to the film, in particular its notorious reputation in Britain as a ‘video nasty’. Trade Review'Film journalist Lloyd Haynes gathers the best stories and weaves them together with his own analysis of the film. He connects it to gothic literature through the theory of the ‘Bad Place’ motif, offering insight into its broader cultural significance. [...] If you are looking for a quick yet in-depth dive into the world of The Evil Dead, this latest volume in the Devil’s Advocate series is the perfect place to start.'Adrian Smith, Cinema Retro

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Book SynopsisSam Raimi’s The Evil Dead (1981) is one of the most inventive and energetic horror movies of the last 40 years. Released during a period in which the stalk-and-slash cycle had blunted the horror genre of much of its creative edge, Raimi’s debut feature transcends its small budget and limited resources to deliver a phantasmagoric roller-coaster ride, a wildly absurd and surreal assault on the senses. Still original enough to stand on its own and be considered as a genre classic, this book will explain its long-lasting appeal and impact. After detailing the unique circumstances of its origin, Lloyd Haynes goes on to analyse key aspects of the film’s abiding success. The Evil Dead is one of a number of horror films which locate their terrors in a single setting and limited time frame. Haynes argues that it creates a ‘bad dream’ effect in which the nightmare is never-ending and increasingly horrific, and how the cabin-in-the-woods location is also a fine example of the ‘bad place’ motif which stretches back to the Gothic novels of the 18th century. The book goes on to consider what character traits Ash Williams, The Evil Dead’s ‘macho’ male hero, shares with Carol Clover’s ‘Final Girl’ model and how effective he is as a ‘Final Guy’. Finally, it explores the critical approaches to the film, in particular its notorious reputation in Britain as a ‘video nasty’. Trade Review'Film journalist Lloyd Haynes gathers the best stories and weaves them together with his own analysis of the film. He connects it to gothic literature through the theory of the ‘Bad Place’ motif, offering insight into its broader cultural significance. [...] If you are looking for a quick yet in-depth dive into the world of The Evil Dead, this latest volume in the Devil’s Advocate series is the perfect place to start.'Adrian Smith, Cinema Retro

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Book Synopsis'Ancient Rome at the Cinema' is a lucid study of the worlds created in Roman historical epics. Based on analysis of the visual and narrative fabric of seven films set in Ancient Rome, 'Ancient Rome at the Cinema' demonstrates how cinematic versions of Ancient Rome have been able to captivate us, and inscribe their versions of the city and its history onto our imagination. Theodorakopoulos uses film theory and criticism to examine the ways in which historical drama creates the past through story-telling and visual effects. Particular emphasis is put on the tension between narrative and spectacle which is an inherent feature of cinema, and a long-standing preoccupation of film critics and theorists from the 1930s to the present. The book also examines the techniques and the rhetoric of realism which feature especially prominently in historical films. 'Ancient Rome at the Cinema' is a companion volume to 'Ancient Greece in Film and Popular Culture' by Gideon Nisbet (9781904675785, 2008, 2nd edition).Trade ReviewTheodorakopoulos ist eine weitgehend koharente Auseinandersetzung mit wichtigen Erzeugnissen des Antikfilmgenres gelungen, wobei gerade die Heterogenitat der Beispiele aus dem Mainstream-Kino und dem Autorenfilm die Untersuchung bereichert. Durch ein gut strukturiertes Theoriekapitel, in dem die Autorin auf wichtige Theorien zum Medium Film, zum Historienfilm sowie zur Thematik der Metahistorie eingeht, werden die Betrachtungen zu den einzelnen Produktionen gut vorbereitet. Die Bezugnahme auf unterschiedliche Theorien aus den verschiedensten interdisziplinaren Bereichen an der Schnittstelle zwischen Medien- und Geschichtswissenshaften macht diese Publikation auch fur den Einsatz im didaktischen Bereich wertvoll. H-Soz-u-KultTable of Contents List of Illustrations vi Introduction 1 1 Narrative and Spectacle, Realism and Illusion, and the Historical Film 9 2 Ben-Hur: ‘Tale of the Christ’ or Tale of Rome? 30 3 Spartacus and the Politics of Story-Telling 51 4 The Fall of the Roman Empire: The Filmmaker as Historian 77 5 Gladiator: Making it New? 96 6 Fellini Satyricon: ‘Farewell to Antiquity’ or ‘Daily Life in Ancient Rome’? 122 7 Titus: Rome and the Penny Arcade 145 Conclusion 168 Notes 173 Further Reading and Viewing 186 Bibliography 190 Filmography 196 Index

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Book SynopsisIn this vibrant and dynamic book-length study drawing on a broad tapestry of research, Terence McSweeney offers an exploration of The Hurt Locker (2009), its stylistic and narrative devices, its cultural impact, its reception, and its relationship to the genre of the war film. McSweeney places the film in a richly textured historical, political, and industrial context, arguing that The Hurt Locker is part of a long tradition of films about American wars that play a considerable role in how audiences come to understand the conflicts that they depict. Thus, films about a nation’s wars are never “only a movie” but rather should be considered a cultural battleground themselves on which a war of representation is waged.

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Book SynopsisHaunted Homes is a short but groundbreaking study of homes in horror film and television. While haunted houses can be fun and thrilling, Hollywood horror tends to focus on haunted homes, places where the suburban American dream of safety and comfort has turned into a nightmare. From classic movies like The Old Dark House to contemporary works like Hereditary and the Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House, Dahlia Schweitzer explores why haunted homes have become a prime stage for dramatizing anxieties about family, gender, race, and economic collapse. She traces how the haunted home film was intertwined with the expansion of American suburbia, but also explores works like The Witch and The Babadook, which transport the genre to different times and places. This lively and readable study reveals how and why an increasing number of films imagine that home is where the horror is. Watch a video of the author discussing the topic Haunted Homes (https://youtu.be/_irTEfvtZfQ).Trade Review"Dahlia Schweitzer's brilliantly-crafted book provides a perfect autopsy of the haunted house genre. Haunted Homes is not just a useful dissection of a popular subgenre of horror, it provides the perfect re-watch list for fans seeking to confront their inner fears." — Chris Gore, co-founder of Film Threat Dahlia Schweitzer’s “Haunted Homes” A Little Nerd News— The Mo'Kelly Show "Dahlia Schweitzer’s book Haunted Homes is a fascinating exploration of our culture's nearly insatiable desire for films that explore this genre. It is as hard to put down as it is to avert your eyes from the screen, even as you know you’re going to cower in fear." — Michael Grais, co-writer of Poltergeist New Books Network: New Books in Popular Culture interview with Dahlia Schweitzer — New Books Network: New Books in Popular Culture "Exclusive Excerpt from Dahlia Scweitzer's Haunted Homes"— Film Threat "In this highly entertaining book Dahlia Schweitzer takes readers on a tour of the American middle-class suburbs where true evil lurks, from The Cat and the Canary (1927) to The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix, 2018). The American dream to own one’s home has a flipside, namely to be stuck in a place that can be economically draining and literally the entrance to hell. Haunted Homes is one of those rare finds where state-of-the-art research and excellent prose go hand in hand and make you finish this book faster than a thriller.” — Rikke Schubart, author of Mastering Fear: Women, Emotions, and Contemporary Horror "Haunted Homes is a book for anyone who has ever awoken in the depths of the night, convinced that they heard someone–or something–lurking beyond their bedroom door. Through engaging analyses of American Horror Story (2011–) and Get Out (2017), amongst many others, Schweitzer proves that home ownership really is ‘a literal nightmare’."— Alison Peirse, editor of Women Make Horror SKYLIT: Dahlia Schweitzer, “HAUNTED HOMES”— Skylit: Skylight Books Podcast SeriesTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 The Suburbs 2 The Suburban Gothic 3 Gender, Horror, and the Family 4 Race, Horror, and the Family Conclusion Acknowledgments Further Reading Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisThe 2010s might be remembered as a time of increased polarization in American life. The decade contained both the Obama era and the Trump era, and as the nation’s political fissures widened, so did the gap between the haves and have-nots. Hollywood reflected these divisions, choosing to concentrate on big franchise blockbusters at the expense of mid-budget films, while new players like Netflix and Amazon offered fresh opportunities for low-budget and independent filmmakers. As the movie business changed, films ranging from American Sniper to Get Out found ways to speak to the concerns of a divided nation. The newest installment in the Screen Decades series, American Cinema in the 2010s takes a close look at the memorable movies, visionary filmmakers, and behind-the-scenes drama that made this decade such an exciting time to be a moviegoer. Each chapter offers an in-depth examination of a specific year, covering a wide variety of films, from blockbuster superhero movies like Black Panther and animated films like Frozen to smaller-budget biopics like I, Tonya and horror films like Hereditary. This volume introduces readers to a decade in which established auteurs like Quentin Tarantino were joined by an exceptionally diverse set of new talents, taking American cinema in new directions. Trade Review"American Cinema of the 2010s offers a lively compendium of insights about the complicated relationship between Hollywood cinema and the cultural zeitgeist." -- Virginia Wexman * editor of Directing *"American Cinema of the 2010s offers a lively compendium of insights about the complicated relationship between Hollywood cinema and the cultural zeitgeist." -- Virginia Wexman * editor of Directing *Table of ContentsTimeline: 2010s Introduction: Movies and the 2010s DENNIS BINGHAM 2010 Movies and Recessionary Gender Politics MICHELE SCHREIBER 2011 Movies and Masculinity at a Crossroads DAVID GREVEN 2012 Movies and Myths, Heroes, and History RAYMOND HABERSKI JR. 2013 Movies and Personhood ALEXANDRA KELLER 2014 Movies and the Unexpected Virtue of How the Sausage Gets Made DANIEL SMITH-ROWSEY 2015 Movies and Female Agency LISA BODE 2016 Movies and the Solace of Progressive Narratives CYNTHIA BARON 2017 Movies and the Right to Be Heard JULIE LEVINSON 2018 Movies and Revolution MIKAL J. GAINES 2019 Movies, Anniversaries, and the Limits of Looking Back DENNIS BINGHAM Select Academy Awards, 2010–2019 Acknowledgments Works Cited and Consulted Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisStar Wars may have started out as a film about a Manichean battle between good and evil, but as countless filmmakers, novelists, animators, fan artists and even cosplayers have taken the opportunity to play in the fictional world George Lucas created, it has expanded into something far greater, resulting in a richly layered and diverse Star Wars multiverse. Drawing from a full range of Star Wars media, including comics, children’s books, fan films, and television shows like Clone Wars and The Mandalorian, Carmelo Esterrich explores how these stories set in a galaxy far far away reflect issues that hit closer to home. He examines what they have to say about political oppression, authoritarianism, colonialism, discrimination, xenophobia, and perpetual war. Yet he also investigates subtler ways in which the personal is political within the multiverse, including its articulations of gender and sexuality, its cultural hierarchies of language use, and its complex relationships between humans, droids and myriad species. This book demonstrates that the Star Wars multiverse is not just a stage for thrilling interstellar battles, but also an exciting space for interpretation and discovery.Trade ReviewE2K: Eager to Know podcast, "Seriously Star Wars" episode interview with Carmelo Esterrich— Eager to Know podcast (e2K) "Things are never as simple as they seem. While the stories of Star Wars span multiple media forms, the universes of the franchise are vast and uncharted. In this insightful volume, Carmelo Esterrich mines the unique and multifaceted Star Wars multiverse in all its complexities, delving deeply into discussions of diversity, war, fandom, and gender across the galaxy. Whether discussing the Canon and the Legend, the Fan and the Creator, or the human and the alien (and the droid!), Esterrich proves that the force is strong with Star Wars. Don’t be a nerf herder – get this book now!" — Paul Booth, author of Board Games as Media "Alumnus authors book, a 'conversation starter,' about all things Star Wars"— Penn State News "Associate Professor Carmelo Esterrich to publish Star Wars Multiverse in 2021"— Columbia College ChicagoTable of ContentsPreface: Seriously, Star Wars 1 Navigating a Multiverse: Watching, Reading, Wearing Star Wars 2 Humans and Creatures + Droids: Hierarchies of Life 3 Imperial Desires: War, Order, Colonialism 4 Beyond Princesses and Flyboys: Gender and Sexuality in Star Wars Conclusion: Star Wars, Seriously Acknowledgments Further Reading Works Cited Filmography Index

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Book SynopsisStar Wars may have started out as a film about a Manichean battle between good and evil, but as countless filmmakers, novelists, animators, fan artists and even cosplayers have taken the opportunity to play in the fictional world George Lucas created, it has expanded into something far greater, resulting in a richly layered and diverse Star Wars multiverse. Drawing from a full range of Star Wars media, including comics, children’s books, fan films, and television shows like Clone Wars and The Mandalorian, Carmelo Esterrich explores how these stories set in a galaxy far far away reflect issues that hit closer to home. He examines what they have to say about political oppression, authoritarianism, colonialism, discrimination, xenophobia, and perpetual war. Yet he also investigates subtler ways in which the personal is political within the multiverse, including its articulations of gender and sexuality, its cultural hierarchies of language use, and its complex relationships between humans, droids and myriad species. This book demonstrates that the Star Wars multiverse is not just a stage for thrilling interstellar battles, but also an exciting space for interpretation and discovery.Trade ReviewE2K: Eager to Know podcast, "Seriously Star Wars" episode interview with Carmelo Esterrich— Eager to Know podcast (e2K) "Things are never as simple as they seem. While the stories of Star Wars span multiple media forms, the universes of the franchise are vast and uncharted. In this insightful volume, Carmelo Esterrich mines the unique and multifaceted Star Wars multiverse in all its complexities, delving deeply into discussions of diversity, war, fandom, and gender across the galaxy. Whether discussing the Canon and the Legend, the Fan and the Creator, or the human and the alien (and the droid!), Esterrich proves that the force is strong with Star Wars. Don’t be a nerf herder – get this book now!" — Paul Booth, author of Board Games as Media "Alumnus authors book, a 'conversation starter,' about all things Star Wars"— Penn State News "Associate Professor Carmelo Esterrich to publish Star Wars Multiverse in 2021"— Columbia College ChicagoTable of ContentsPreface: Seriously, Star Wars 1 Navigating a Multiverse: Watching, Reading, Wearing Star Wars 2 Humans and Creatures + Droids: Hierarchies of Life 3 Imperial Desires: War, Order, Colonialism 4 Beyond Princesses and Flyboys: Gender and Sexuality in Star Wars Conclusion: Star Wars, Seriously Acknowledgments Further Reading Works Cited Filmography Index

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisWomen and men in cinema are imaginary constructs created by filmmakers and their audiences. The film-psychoanalytic approach reveals how movies subliminally influence unconscious reception. On the other hand, the movie is embedded in a cultural tradition: Jean Cocteau's film La Belle et la Bete (1946) takes up the classic motif of the animal groom from the story of Cupid and Psyche in Apuleius' The Golden Ass (originally a tale about the stunning momentum of genuine female desire), liberates it from its baroque educational moral (a girl's virtue and prudence will help her to overcome her sexual fears), and turns it into a boyhood story: inside the ugly rascal there is a good, but relatively boring prince - at least in comparison to the monsters of film history. In the seventy years since it was made, La Belle et la Bete has inspired numerous interpretations and has been employed by theorists of all genres and interests. In this book, Andreas Hamburger and other contributors consider its background, content, and reception, and explore the impact Cocteau has on our perceptions of beauties and beasts.Introducing the monster as a suffering person, Cocteau's film reacts to the disturbing experience of World War II and the Holocaust. It questions hegemonial masculinity, designing a poetic, hallucinatory attempt at healing for a traumatized generation. Moreover, it addresses female and male adolescent development. Its deliberately incredible finale ironically portrays traditional constructs of femininity and masculinity, thus going beyond the scope of a compensatory fairy tale.Table of ContentsBeauties and Beasts in Film Psychoanalysis -- Women and images of men in cinema -- Psychoanalytical film interpretation—possibilities and limitations -- Beautiful beasts—motif tradition and film psychoanalysis in Jean Cocteau’s La Belle et la Bête (F 1946) -- The Beauties -- La Belle, la Bête, et la rose -- “You can’t say no to the Beauty and the Beast …”* Or: an ending and no beautiful beast -- The Beasts -- Once upon a time—Beauty and the Beast—a surrealistic survival attempt in the year 1946? -- Coming over to the wild side: women’s yearning for beastly encounters in the course of film history

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Book SynopsisSuitable for readers of Michael Pollan and fans of independent films, this book focuses on the sex lives of marine animals.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive guide to classic films from one of America's most trusted film critics Thanks to Netflix and cable television, classic films are more accessible than ever. Now co-branded with Turner Classic Movies, Leonard Maltin’s Classic Movie Guide covers films from Hollywood and around the world, from the silent era through 1965, and from The Maltese Falcon to Singin’ in the Rain and Godzilla, King of the Monsters! Thoroughly revised and updated, and featuring expanded indexes, a list of Maltin’s personal recommendations, and three hundred new entries—including many offbeat and obscure films—this new edition is a must-have companion for every movie lover.Trade Review“A must-have for movie buffs, but also… a standard reference for industry insiders.”—Clare Swanson, Publisher's Weekly"Indispensable."—Los Angeles Times "Head and shoulders above the rest."—The New York Times "Belongs next to every TV in every home."—USA Today "The single most important reference book in every American home."—Esquire

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Book SynopsisPresents a wide-ranging selection of Kehr's criticism from the Reader-most of which is reprinted here for the first time-including insightful discussions of film history and his controversial Top Ten lists.Trade Review"Dave Kehr is one of the most gifted film critics in America." -Roger Ebert "Dave Kehr belongs in the pantheon of film critics who have been associated in one way or another with the city of Chicago-in fact, he's one of the best writers on film the country as a whole has ever produced. This collection of his work for the Chicago Reader constitutes an important act of cultural recovery, which provides insights into a crucial period of transition in the film industry. Not only a critic but also a public intellectual, Kehr teaches us about film style, calls attention to pictures that have received too little attention, and makes us care more about an art form. When Movies Mattered is a great pleasure." -James O. Naremore, author of More than Night: Film Noir in Its Contexts"

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewQuite frankly this is a guide book that fans of the sub-genre really need just for the sake of finding films out there that they may not have seen before. That someone out there has managed to not only see all of these but catalogue them in this amount of detail is a film-buffs dream come true. Anything even remotely end of the world related gets a look in. And not just high budget, or 80s Mad Max rip offs, but all of the low brow titles you are likely to have never heard of down through the past few decades get covered (yes Albert Pyun fans he even gets his own index). Its amazing that even in the pages that have A-Z lists that they still find space for colour photos to keep you leafing through, staving off any boredom the eye might find. This is a real film nerds collectors item written by one, for the many. This is time well spent on a great book! Steven Hurst, Filmwerk.co.uk June 2015

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Book SynopsisPeople celebrate the magical holiday of Halloween in a wide variety of ways, but most will, at some point, turn off the lights and allow a movie to take the excitement to the next level. Pumpkin Cinema recommends over 100 titles that are guaranteed to make your Halloween fun and frightening! Halloween only comes once a year, so you can''t afford to waste precious thrill time on a lousy movie! However, a great horror movie doesn''t necessarily translate into a great Halloween flick, and Pumpkin Cinema uses a simple set of guidelines to help you avoid the boo! blues: the films included here are fast paced, have essences of autumn (if they aren''t set on Halloween itself!), and have a trim run time (under two hours). Avoiding the mean-spirited and cruel movies more typical of horror offerings, Pumpkin Cinema also includes Halloween treats from multiple genres, in addition to horror: comedy, animation, science fiction, silent era, and foreign films, all ranging in popularity from blockbusters to the obscure. The films included are, above all, fun to watch and share with others! In addition to descriptive film reviews, you''ll also find plenty of quirky trivia, various Top 5 lists, and a special chapter devoted to the greatest Halloween television episodes of all time.Trade ReviewA Youtube trailer will whet your appetite for Pumpkin Cinema - link below!

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Book SynopsisTrade Revieweach fan should still come away rating the book highly and recommending that solid action fans get hold of it. It will not only educate you on a lot of films you may have yet to see, but take you down that sweet paradise called memory lane with people a team of writers and interviewees who themselves have lived and loved it. David J Moore, Filmwerk.co.uk

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Book SynopsisIt isn't every film that features man-eating zombie sushi. But for those searching for just that and more strange things in their viewing queue, this film guide is for you. Organized by genre, including comedy, horror, action, drama, fantasy, and sci-fi, this title offers 300 reviews of genre films from all over the world, 160+ photos, and exclusive interviews and quotes from the people behind some of the most offbeat films ever made. Alongside this curated list of viewing recommendations, longtime fans and new comers to strange cinema gain bits of fun and informative trivia. For example, David Caruso's film debut was Without Warning (1980), a carefree trip into the woods thwarted by killer flying alien discs. Lurking in these so-bad-they're-good-films, you'll find other familiar actors like David Carradine, James Brolin, , Martin Landau, and Ryan Gosling in films like Death Race 2,000 (1975), The Car (1977), The Being (1983), and Lost River

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Book SynopsisThe perfect small-format, one-stop resource to appreciating and understanding films from Hollywood to Bollywood. Following the success of Isms: Understanding Art and Isms: Understanding Architectural Styles, this guide sorts the great classic films and directors according to the significant movements that have shaped the development of cinema. Beginning with the early silent era, it spans the entire range of movie history up to the present wave of indie films and the growing fascination with international cinema. Each spread is devoted to a distinct movement and explains when it first emerged, the principal directors, themes, and representative films, and is illustrated with film stills, posters, and photos. Important international cinematic breakthroughs are also highlighted, as well as the careers of international auteurs like Kurosawa, Fellini, and Almodóvar. From prewar Expressionism to twenty-first-century Dystopianism, Film Isms… offers an engaging, new way of understaTrade Review“For your favorite film buff: a handy little resource guide about movie history.” ~LAmag

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Book SynopsisNow in its fifth edition, Frank Beaver's Dictionary of Film Terms has become an indispensable reference tool for the study of films and filmmaking. This trusted and practical handbook clearly and concisely defines the essential terms of film analysis and film art, with a special focus on the aesthetic parameters and values of filmmaking.The updated and expanded edition includes new definitions ranging from bullet-time optical effects, to the coming-of-age narrative, and LED lighting technology in science fiction films such as Gravity. More than 200 film title references not cited in previous editions have been added. Many classic and contemporary photo stills are included to illustrate terms. Extensive cross-referencing among individual definitions ensures easy access to interrelated terms, and a comprehensive topical index relates to larger concepts of film art.This up-to-date and comprehensive resource is a useful companion for film students and filmgoers, whoTrade Review«The beauty of Frank Beaver's Dictionary of Film Terms is not simply the precision and depth of the individual entries, nor the range of film beyond the Hollywood narrative that is covers, but the citation of a broad range of concrete examples for many of the entries. Beaver's command of motion picture history shines through. He assembles excellent examples – both historical and contemporary – that help the reader call to mind the specific film technique, technical process, narrative device, genre, etc. Beaver's Dictionary is anything but dry Ὰ it's more like reading an enlightening catalog of all the things we love about motion pictures.» (Michael Frierson, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro) «I was so fortunate to get Frank Beaver's Dictionary of Film Terms in my first ever film class. This updated edition promises to deliver on multiple cylinders for the new generation of filmmakers. It expands to cover new trends in the film industry, technological developments, as well as exhibition platforms. It is concise while also managing to be thorough and cover a plethora of subjects. Not only does it provide a platform for understanding individual film topics, it also helps one understand how different elements of cinema are connected. Talking the talk is an essential part of navigating the film industry, from production to development, and this handbook will equip you with the tools to get where you need to go.» (Sultan Sharrief, Award-Winning Filmmaker/Media Educator) «As cinema’s Samuel Johnson, Frank Beaver has thoroughly catalogued the essential terms used in the world of film production and scholarship. He has, for decades, been a trusted guide and companion, helping us to fluently negotiate the many tongues of the motion picture medium. The practitioner, the scholar, the student and the film buff, will all find this text an essential reference.» (Mick Hurbis-Cherrier, Hunter College – CUNY)Table of ContentsContents: Term Index – Movie Index – Topical Index – Artist Index.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[The Big Ideas Simply Explained books] are beautifully illustrated with shadow-like cartoons that break down even the most difficult concepts so they are easier to grasp. These step-by-step diagrams are an incredibly clever learning device to include, especially for visual learners." — Examiner.com"Clever and engaging" — Booklist"Perfect coffee table fodder for your home theater." — Uncrate.com"[A] great refresher for films you haven't seen in a while and an even better resource for populating your watchlist with shows you may have missed." — GeekDad"Richly illustrated." — Parade.com"A fine introduction for budding film buffs." — School Library Journal"A wonderful contribution to film history collections." — Voice of Youth Advocates

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Book SynopsisFeaturing chronological reviews of more than 300 zombie films—from 1932's White Zombie to the AMC series The Walking Dead—this thorough, uproarious guide traces the evolution of one of horror cinema’s most popular and terrifying creations. Fans will learn exactly what makes a zombie a zombie, go behind the scenes with a chilling production diary from Land of the Dead, peruse a bizarre list of the oddest things ever seen in undead cinema, and immerse themselves in a detailed rundown of the 25 greatest zombie films ever made. Containing an illustrated zombie rating system, ranging from "Highly Recommended" to "Avoid at All Costs" and "So Bad It’s Good," the book also features lengthy interviews with numerous talents from in front of and behind the camera. This updated and expanded second edition contains more than 100 new and rediscovered films, providing plenty of informative and entertaining brain food for movie fans.Trade Review"Kay's guide is the zombie movie bible for the film student and horror moviegoer . . . . [It] captures the satire, the fear, the politics, and the humor of both classic and modern horror flicks. From Night of the Living Dead (1968) to Cemetery Man (1994) to Wild Zero (2000), you can't go wrong with this guide. Fun for the whole undead family!" -- PopMatters"A near-perfect reference guide for followers of the shambling dead. With extremely up-to-date coverage . . . this volume will be a welcome addition to zombie connoisseurs' coffee tables." -- Fangoria"The definitive guide to zombie movies. Rated and reviewed, decade by decade, for the reader's convenience. A must-read for all zombie scholars!" --Dan O'Bannon, director, The Return of the Living Dead"...Fans of flesh eaters in film should enjoy the hell out Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide. It's very complete, often amusing, has a wealth of information, a bunch of pictures, and lots of everything else that an (un)deadhead would want in their book about zombie flicks. If you love zombies like I love zombies then do yourself a favor and pick this one up." -- Horror World"Kay's assessments are penned with tons of wit, humor, and playfulness."-- Complex Magazine"I thought I was done with zombies, but with his book he reminded me that even if the sub-genre is currently a broken record, I still have a nice collection that I can always go back to and enjoy. Well played, sir." -- Horror Talk"...Fans of flesh eaters in film should enjoy the hell out Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide. It's very complete, often amusing, has a wealth of information, a bunch of pictures, and lots of everything else that an (un)deadhead would want in their book about zombie flicks. If you love zombies like I love zombies then do yourself a favor and pick this one up." -- Horror World"Its brain food for genre fans..." from article on Movie Talk online magazine.A book which every horror film fanatic will adore as it reviews almost 400 zombie films. Starting with the first zombie film ever to be made - White Zombie in 1932 starring Bela Lugosi in a role equal to although not as famous as his appearances as Dracula. Individual chapters lead through each successive decade ending with the 2010's, and a list of the greatest zombie films ever made. What makes this book stand out as more than just a compilation of films are the highly informative interviews with people like Colin Geddes, Antonella Fulci and Tom Savini. Equally fascinating is the section entitled Some of the Weirdest/funniest/most disturbing things I've seen in zombie film. Definitely weird is Hard Rock Zombies in which a hungry zombie manages to eat himself all up while the spectacular undersea battle between a live shark and a zombie in Zombie (1979) was definitely a one-off. This is a book for dipping into and savouring; it is informative, lively and interesting offering a different slant on the usual run of film guides. 4 stars. Angela Youngman, monstersandcritics.com

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Book SynopsisThe prototypical rust belt city, Cleveland has long served as an emblem of late twentieth-century urban decay. But recent decades have brought a cultural and economic renaissance – a revival that has been reflected and aided by the growing number of films being shot on location there. This new entry in the World Film Locations series offers the first-ever extended look at Cleveland on screen. Richly illustrated with images from dozens of productions, it reveals Cleveland to be usefully chameleonic, appealing to some filmmakers for its modern downtown's ability to mimic more prominent (and more expensive) cities, to others for the way its shuttered factories and decaying docks signify contemporary urban distress. With entries on such classics as The Fortune Cookie , The Deer Hunter , A Christmas Story and Marvel's The Avengers , as well as lesser-known films, the volume reveals Cleveland to be a far more compelling, and far more varied, on-screen presence than even most film buffs would expect. Like all the books in this series, World Film Locations: Cleveland is designed to appeal to cinephiles and scholars alike, while also serving as a silver screen souvenir for those who make the city their home as well as for those who visit it. Table of ContentsForeword John Ewing Introduction Alberto Zambenedetti Maps/Scenes Scenes 1-6 1949-1970 Scenes 7-13 1977-1987 Scenes 14-19 1989-1997 Scenes 20-25 1998-2006 Scenes 26-31 2007-2011 Scenes 32-37 2012-2013 Scenes 38-44 2013-2015 Essays Cleveland: City of Imagination Alberto Zambenedetti & William Patrick Day Views from the Rustbelt: Cleveland's Industrial History Burke Hilsabeck Cleveland Sports, Hollywood Movies William Patrick Day Art Cinema or Porn? Grace An The Rock and Roll Capital of the World James V. Banta Secret Identities: Cleveland and the Comic Book Film Brian Doan The Conceptual Image: The Cinema of Richard Myers Burke Hilsabeck On Race and Infrastructure: The Films of Kevin Jerome Everson Alberto Zambenedetti

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth behind-the-scenes guide to the upcoming Marvel film Spider-Man: Far From Home.A deluxe collector's edition based on the sequel to Marvel Cinematic success Spider-Man Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home.Trade Review"The perfect companion piece to the 22nd MCU film" - Marvel.com

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