Films, cinema Books

Book SynopsisCelebrate the season with this one-of-a-kind gift set featuring Dobby in a Wizarding World-themed Christmas stocking, that plays the famous line “Dobby is free!” Specifications: Includes a 3-3/4 inch figure of Dobby the house elf peeking out from a flocked Christmas stocking that can either be displayed on its base or hung as an ornament Actual audio of Dobby: Button at the bottom of the base plays actual audio of Dobby saying the famous line “Dobby is Free” Countdown to Christmas spiral-book included: Includes a mini stand-up Christmas countdown calendar, complete with film quotes and full-color images from the films Perfect Present: This is an ideal gift or self-purchase for Harry Potter fans Officially Licensed: Authentic Harry Potter collectible Includes button cell batteries.

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Book SynopsisCelebrate your love of The Big Bang Theory with the official talking button featuring one of its most iconic phrases: Bazinga!* SPECIFICATIONS A 3-inch collectible talking button that features Sheldon''s saying his signature phrase: Bazinga!* MINI BOOK INCLUDED: Learn about the history behind this popular phrase with this 32-page miniature book complete with full color photographs from the show* PERFECT GIFT FOR BIG BANG THEORY FANS: Keep within arm''s reach on shelf, desk, or bookcase to deliver the perfect Bazinga! for you and your friends* OFFICIALLY LICENSED: Authentic The Big Bang Theory collectibleTHE BIG BANG THEORY and all related characters and elements & Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s22)

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Book SynopsisFrom Peter Bogdanovich - director, screenwriter, actor, and cinema scholar - 25 fascinating portraits of Hollywood''s most acclaimed movie actors and actresses: stars whom he has known, admired, and occasionally worked with. Bogdanovich captures brilliantly - in their own words and his - the personality, the work, the style and the enduring iconic appeal of America''s movie greats.Trade Review'An affectionate collection of pieces on 25 of Tinseltown's biggest stars that is so full of insight it makes you appreciate all the more the subtleties of Bogdanovich's front - of - camera work in The Sopranos.' Sunday Times 'A dazzling album of movie-star portraits... this book brings them to life through a mix of informal conversations, profiles and beautiful black and white photographs.' Sunday Express 'Bogdanovich's engaging assemblage of interviews and pen-portraits clings heroically to the notion that they don't make 'em like that anymore. And he's right.' Empire 'Full of fresh and entertaining details.' Sunday Telegraph

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Book Synopsis‘Ferociously smart. A rare combination of guilty pleasure and intellectual insight’ VOGUE ‘Perceptive. Refreshing. Tears away layers of false readings and conspiracy theories’ NEW YORK TIMES Intricately researched. Churchwell’s Marilyn is a complex, well-rounded creature in the best sense – the human sense’ OBSERVER There are many Marilyns: sex goddess and innocent child, crafty manipulator and dumb blonde, screen legend and Hollywood victim. In this incisive and subtle book, Sarah Churchwell looks at how the stories we tell have trivialised a woman we supposedly adore, and at what they reveal about our attitudes towards sex symbols and icons, to women, death, biography and Marilyn herself.Trade ReviewInventive and entertaining ... Churchwell seems to have invented an altogether new form of biography * LITERARY REVIEW *A splendid metabiography of one of the great icons of the twentieth century -- BOOKS OF THE YEAR * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Refreshing … [Tears] away layers of false readings and conspiracy theories * NEW YORK TIMES *Ferociously smart … A rare combination of guilty pleasure and intellectual insight * VOGUE *Untangles the threads of Monroe’s life story, isolating the essential cornerstones of the Monroe myth * INDEPENDENT *

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Book SynopsisJames Kendrick is Professor of Film and Digital Media at Baylor University, USA. He is the author or editor of five books, including Darkness in the Bliss-Out: A Reconsideration of the Films of Steven Spielberg (2014), Hollywood Bloodshed: Violence in 1980s American Cinema (2009), and Film Violence: History, Ideology, Genre (2009), as well as numerous book chapters and journal articles. He is also the film critic for QNetwork.com.

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Book SynopsisExperience the valiant spirit of Rohan's warriors defending their homeland against the forces of darkness as you colour these breathtaking scenes featuring all the characters, creatures and landscapes from the new Lord of the Rings movie.

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Book SynopsisClint Eastwood is Hollywood’s elder statesman and its conscience. He is the standard by which other films and filmmakers are judged. He represents both classical Hollywood and an entirely modern, uncompromising and unfussy directorial presence. There are those who adore him as a cowboy, a superstar, the rugged, unyielding yet introspective face of American machismo. There are those who read him as a great American auteur fashioning uncompromising, fascinating, intellectual films about his country, about life, about whatever the hell takes his fancy.   No single figure in all of Hollywood, operates so freely outside of the strictures of commercial pressure. And yet, or perhaps that is because, he makes hit after hit.   Separation of actor and director is almost impossible. They are intimately related, cross pollinating, but he has become in the latter half of his career to be view as one of the great American artists. While drawing conTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION THE MAGNIFICENT STRANGER The early years (1930–1971) THE DIRECTOR EMERGES Play Misty for Me (1971), Dirty Harry (scene) (1971), High Plains Drifter (1973), Breezy (1973), The Eiger Sanction (1975) WAY OUT WESTERN The strange tale of The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) MAXIMUM MINIMALISM Ten great Clint Eastwood performances AMERICAN STORYTELLER The Gauntlet (1977), Bronco Billy (1980), Firefox (1982), Honkytonk Man (1982), Sudden Impact (1983) THE MAYOR Tightrope (uncredited) (1984), Pale Rider (1985), Heartbreak Ridge (1986), Bird (1988), White Hunter Black Heart (1990), The Rookie (1990) MAYOR OF CARMEL The tale of Clint Eastwood’s brief foray into politics THE LAST RIDE The greatness of Unforgiven (1992) THE INTREPID ICON A Perfect World (1993), The Bridges of Madison County (1995), Absolute Power (1997), Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997), True Crime (1999), Space Cowboys (2000), Blood Work (2002), Mystic River (2003) AMERICAN SOUL The emotional triumph of Million Dollar Baby (2004) COMPLETING CLINT Rounding out a fifty-year career as filmmaker HOLLYWOOD NOBILITY Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Letters from Iwo Jima (2006), Changeling (2008), Gran Torino (2008), Invictus (2009), Hereafter (2010) THE UNQUENCHABLE FLAME J. Edgar (2011), Jersey Boys (2014), American Sniper (2014), Sully (2016), The 15:17 to Paris (2018), The Mule (2018), Richard Jewell (2019), Cry Macho (2021) SOURCES

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Book SynopsisFeast your way through the world of Marvel Comics with celebrity chef Justin Warner in Marvel Eat the Universe: The Official Cookbook. Prepare to eat like a Marvel superhero with Marvel Eat the Universe: The Official Cookbook. Chef Justin Warner invites you to pull up a chair and explore the Marvel Universe through these creative dishes inspired by its heroes. Based on Marvel's hit web series hosted by Warner, this ultimate compendium of recipes will feature dishes that span a variety of skill levels, including: - Phoenix Hot Chicken and Egg Bowl - Storm's Tournedos - Dazzler's Glittering Pizza Bagels - Hulk Smashed Potatoes - Green Goblin Pumpkin Bombs With recipes inspired by Marvel Comics' rich history, Marvel Eat the Universe: The Official Cookbook offers something delicious for fans from every corner of the multiverse.

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Book SynopsisPacked with witty career advice for budding entrepreneurs, this Star Wars self-help book is full of brilliant business advice and funny quotes from Lando Calrissian and other Star Wars characters.As the galaxy''s resident wheeler-dealer, Lando has lots of useful advice for the business novice. If you''re setting up a start-up and want to know how to win over investors, when to back away from a deal, or how to gamble away the fastest starship in the galaxy, this is the book for you! With additional tips from other galactic scoundrels, including Han Solo, Jabba the Hutt, Watto, Qi''ra and even some sound business advice from Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, you''ll be well and truly equipped to grow your amazing new venture and win at life! The perfect gift for colleagues and friends alike, Star Wars: Be More Lando is a tongue-in-cheek guide to winning over heroes and influencing droids. It features favourite moments from the Star Wars

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Book SynopsisA remarkable visual guide to Glenn Hetrick's prosthetics department (from concept art to physical application), which is behind the magic of all 5 seasons of Star Trek: Discovery.

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Book SynopsisA deluxe, fully illustrated look at the making of the original Star Wars trilogy: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. This collection of hardcover books features a behind the scenes guide to the making of the original Star Wars trilogy from the early script ideas and concept art, costume designs, through to filming and eventual release. Lavishly illustrated with rarely seen photography and art from the Lucasfilm Image Archives, this must-have collection also includes vintage interviews with stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher.

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Book SynopsisStanley Kubrick hailed The Shining as 'the scariest horror film of all time' before its release in 1980. Though the film opened to poor reviews, it has since become one of the most admired horror films in cinema history. Exerting an enormous influence on popular culture, The Shining has spawned a vast array of interpretations and conspiracy theories. Roger Luckhurst's illuminating study explores the film's themes, tropes and resonances through a detailed analysis of sequences and performances. Situating The Shining in a series of fresh contexts, Luckhurst looks at the complex nature of horror cinema at the end of the 1970s and early 80s. Taking the maze of the haunted hotel as a key motif, he offers numerous threads with which to navigate the strange twists and turns of this enigmatic film. This limited edition features original cover artwork by Mark Swan.Table of Contents'The Shining' Notes Credits Bibliography

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Book SynopsisWhy try to fit in when it''s so fun to stand out? Loki knows a thing or two about making friends with the right people and getting to the top. Let the Marvel Cinematic Universe''s most mischievous Asgardian show you how to live life on your own terms.Known across the universe for his unique sense of style, charm, and supreme self-confidence, Loki is perfectly placed to give you great tips on how to manage those pesky sibling rivalries or change the mindset of those who always seem to be disappointed in you. Teaming pithy advice with iconic images and witty quotes from almost a decade of blockbuster Marvel Studios movies, Be More Loki is the perfect gift tongue-in-cheek guide to doing things a little differently for family, friends, and colleagues alike. Shake up the status quo with Loki''s special brand of alternative thinking! 2021 MARVEL

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Book SynopsisLike founder Godric Gryffindor, the members of Hogwarts’s Gryffindor house, including Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, are known for their bravery, courage, and determination. Now you can capture the magic of Gryffindor house like never before and collect a stunning array of artifacts inspired by the Harry Potter films. Inside, fans will learn about all things Gryffindor, relive moments from the films, and delve into the behind-the-scenes magic that brought Harry Potter to life on the big screen.

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Book SynopsisWe can’t shoot good pictures without good lighting, no matter how good the newest cameras are. Shooting under available light gives exposure, but lacks depth, contrast, contour, atmosphere and often separation. The story could be the greatest in the world, but if the lighting is poor viewers will assume it’s amateurish and not take it seriously. Feature films and TV shows, commercials and industrial videos, reality TV and documentaries, even event and wedding videos tell stories. Good lighting can make them look real, while real lighting often makes them look fake. Lighting for Cinematography, the first volume in the new CineTech Guides to the Film Crafts series, is the indispensable guide for film and video lighting. Written by veteran gaffer and cinematographer David Landau, the book helps the reader create lighting that supports the emotional moment of the scene, contributes to the atmosphere of the story and augments an artistic style. Structured to mimic a 14 week semester, the chapters cover such things as lighting for movement, working with windows, night lighting, lighting the three plains of action and non-fiction lighting. Every chapter includes stills, lighting diagrams and key advice from professionals in the field, as well as lighting exercises to help the reader put into practice what was covered. www.lightingforcinematography.comTrade ReviewIt's dense, detailed, thoughtful, simply written and highly educational. Lighting for Cinematography: A Practical Guide to the Art and Craft of Lighting for the Moving Image might have been created as a practicum for a 14-week course in cinematography, but David Landau's study of the art and craft of lighting has something for everyone, from the neophyte to the veteran. -- Pauline Rogers * ICG Magazine *Lighting for Cinematography is one of the most comprehensive and engaging texts on the subject this reviewer has read … The author fills the volume with outstanding visuals, including screen captures and lighting plans from actual films and television programs, in so doing bringing the lessons to life. Most notably, Landau includes commentary by current practitioners, thus providing an invaluable glimpse into the minds of creative professionals. This is a compelling read for those wishing to improve their craft as well as for those still learning the ropes. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates, including students in technical programs, through faculty and professionals. -- M. A. Bay, Southern Connecticut State University * CHOICE *Whilst there are some great books with interviews of big time cinematographers out there, there are few books immediately applicable to what emerging cinematographers face on limited budget shoots ... This how-to book addresses how filmmakers on a limited budget and time schedule can achieve professional looking images similar to what they see on the big screen. * British Cinematographer *This unique approach has been needed for a long time and there is simply no other lighting book like this in print. -- Peter Stein, ASC * Student Filmmakers *A master class in cinematography! David Landau’s conversational tone mixed with 35 years of technical experience and aesthetic prowess results in a very accessible text that should be cherished by students and professionals alike. Whether he is describing the process of lighting through a window with a 1200 HMI Par with a double scrim, 250 diffusion and 1/2 CTO or describing his method of achieving a firelight effect with several 250W Inkies with a mixture of amber and orange gels and run through a flicker box, Landau’s multiple accounts from his work in the field give this book a much appreciated practicality and voice of authority that is invaluable for the emerging cinematographer. -- Harlan Bosmajian, Assistant Professor of Cinematography, Emerson College, USA and Local 600 Director of PhotographyDavid Landau has produced an excellent text in Lighting for Cinematography which manages to cover the practicalities of production, the technical aspects of lighting and vitally the artistic importance of this work. Lighting for Cinematography is constructed to appeal and be of value to the practitioner at all levels; it is equally full of detail for careful consideration and quick hints and images for review before filming. Landau's book is helpfully crammed with instructional diagrams and the chosen images act as exemplars of technique. Lighting for Cinematography contains a series of production skills and helpful hints and exercises; these aspects are exceptionally helpful to the student of film wishing to improve their understanding and technique. I would highly recommend Lighting for Cinematography to those to wish to learn more about this field and to all those interested in the technique and process of film making. -- Robert Edgar, Senior Lecturer in Film and TV Production, York St John University, UKSimply written and highly educational, very few books on the market [have such a] wide perspective on the subject. * Luca Pulvirenti, Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo, Italy *Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgements Introduction: No matter how good a camera, good lighting is what sells the picture Chapter 1: The Magic of Light – What lighting does for the image and what light is. Chapter 2: Who and What Makes Light- the lighting crew, lighting units, basic electricity Chapter 3: Lighting the Subject - motivated and three point lighting Chapter 4: Light the shot, not just the subject – three plains of lighting Chapter 5: Common Practical Lighting Set-ups - cross key, chicken coop, china ball, bathrooms Chapter 6: Lighting for Movement – subject & camera, ambient soft light Chapter 7: Dealing with Daylight 1: Shooting Exteriors Chapter 8: Dealing with Daylight 2: Working with windows Chapter 9: Night Light- lighting night exteriors & interiors Chapter 10: Working with Color - using color for mood, gels Chapter 11: Light the scene, not just the shot – High Key, Low Key, contrast ratios, exposure choice, Chiaroscuro lighting, Rembrandt, Butterfly lighting Chapter 12: Special Lighting Considerations & Effects– fire, water, rain, fog, lightening, poor man’s process shot, green screen, product shots, etc Chapter 13: Lighting Non-fiction – Interview, Corporate, News Magazine, Documentary, Reality Chapter 14: Inspiration and Lighting Looks Appendix 1: Tales from the Trade – interviews with professional gaffers, LDs & Cinematographers Appendix 2: Resources – Apps, books, magazines, websites, etc. Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisGo behind-the-scenes and see how the breakout Netflix hit of 2019, The Umbrella Academy, got made.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive, in-depth exploration of the creation and legacy of the classic Withnail & I, featuring interviews, essays, and fascinating never-before-seen archive material. Authorised by author and director Bruce Robinson, who provides an exclusive foreword, Withnail & I: From Cult to Classic charts the extraordinary journey of a beloved cult film from being 'just thoughts really' to becoming a permanent feature in any list of the Best British Films ever made. For the first time the surviving players have been interviewed for this book about their parts in the making of the movie, and the lasting effect it had on their lives. Bruce Robinson offers detailed insights into his creative process and influences, while new interviews with the film's stars Richard E Grant and Paul McGann provide personal insights into the impact that making and living with Withnail & I had. Illustrated throughout with never-before-seen photography and archive material, and featuring contributions from famous fans like Sam Bain, Margaret Cho and Charlie Higson, this is the definitive, must-have book on Withnail & I.Trade Review"A handsome scrapbook of interviews with key personnel, memorabilia and testimonials from celebrity fans – is a matryoshka of nostalgia: a 2023 book about a 1987 film set in 1969, in which multiple characters mourn the end of an era." The Spectator "Toby Benjamin’s handsome book is clearly a love letter to the film, bulging with great photos, snippets of behind-the-scenes gossip, interviews with what remains of the cast and crew and fans’ observations. The publishers have done him proud." Westminster Extra "It combines revelatory insight with deep affection for one of the finest British films ever made." The Observer "It’s full of warmth and insight, and spot on when it notes that the real genius of the film is not its quotability, or even the drinking game in which you try to match Withnail glass for glass, but its lingering sadness." The Times"Writer Toby Benjamin understands [Withnail & I] innately and pours his heart into this compendium of Withnailia. The highlights are his incisive interviews with a rant-heavy Robinson, the two leads and Ralph Brown (Danny the dealer), not to mention key behind-the-scenes folk including DoP Peter Hannan, who all offer richly evocative insights." Total Film"Withnail & I: from Cult to Classic charts the journey of a film that was initially a flop, gained a following among students...and then assumed a granite-like position in the culture, comparable to the King James Bible or Cilla Black" The Guardian"Withnail & I: From Cult to Classic, edited by Toby Benjamin, features Q&As with its cast, as well as its director, and celebrates its ongoing cultural significance." The Independent"It's always good to have the Withnail team reminisce" Empire

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Book SynopsisDiscover the electrifying artwork behind the action-packed blockbuster, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

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Book SynopsisEarning critical acclaim and commercial success upon its 1998 release, Rushmore—the sophomore film of American auteur Wes Anderson—quickly gained the status of a cult classic. A melancholic coming-of-age story wrapped in comedy drama, Rushmore focuses on the efforts of Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman)—a brazen and precocious fifteen-year-old—to find his way. Restless, energetic, struggling, and overcompensating for his insecurities, Max pursues a dizzying range of possible futures, leading him into the orbit of local steel magnate Herman Blume (Bill Murray), elementary school teacher Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams), and a host of cooperative schoolmates who help him to stage lavish film-derivative plays. Kristi McKim’s compelling study of the film argues that despite the film’s titular call for haste and excess (rush/more), it challenges a drive toward perfectionism and celebrates the quiet connections that defy such passion and speed. After establishing Rushmore’s history and reception, McKim closely reads Rushmore’s energetic musical montages relative to slower moments that introduce tenderness and ambiguity, in a form subtler than Max’s desire-built drive or genre-based plays. Her analysis offers an urgent corrective to what might be perceived as an endearing portrait of privilege that perpetuates a status quo power. Drawing out Rushmore’s subtleties that soften, temper, ease, expand, and equalize the film’s zeal, she reads the film with a generosity learned from the film itself.Table of ContentsPreface: Making Rushmore New, Now Introduction 1 Context 2 Rush/More 3 Slowness/Grace 4 A World of Time (Not Things) 5 Teaching and Learning Notes Credits

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Book Synopsis''As hilarious and outrageous as you might expect'' Rosie Ramsey''Funny. Poignant. Fascinating. Just the sort of hilarious, disrespectful, ribald book I love to get stuck into'' Jo Brand ****How did little Jenny Hargreaves become Jenny Eclair and elbow her way into the male dominated world of 1980s stand-up?Daughter of Major Derek Hargreaves (spy?) and June Hargreaves (spy''s wife?) sister of Sara (born to be Head Girl) and Ben (the usurper), Jenny''s comedy career took off via drama school, cider, sausage rolls, sleeping with men who looked like they lived under a carpet, punk poetry, anorexia, bedsit misery, waitressing and not really having a clue about anything.This was a world before microphones, mobile phones, before everyone gave up smoking or started taking coke. Jenny Eclair was on the comedy circuit before there really was a comedy circuit and was the first woman to win the Perrier Award alo

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Book SynopsisCelebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, with this indispensable companion to the epic conclusion to the original Star Wars trilogy. An informative look at how Star Wars: Return of the Jedi came together, from the conception of the story to the design and filming of the movie to the intensive post production process. Full of outstanding, impactful photography and art chronicling the creation of the cinematic masterpiece.

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Book SynopsisA gripping story of sibling loyalty in the last days of medieval Japan. The first novel in a trilogy from the iconic Assassin's Creed universe. Japan, 1868. The Boshin War is about to break out. The Templars have infiltrated the Emperor's closest advisors and push the sovereign to launch an attack against the Tokugawa Shogun, who is supported by the Brotherhood of Assassins. Is the glorious era of the samurai almost over? 16-year-old Atsuko grew up in the affluent areas of the city of Aizu in the shadow of her brother Ibuka. Destined for an arranged marriage, the girl hides a secret: she can wield weaponry just as well as her brother, whose skill with the blade hides an insurmountable fear of combat. When war breaks out, Ibuka must set off to fight alongside his father. Defying the tradition forbidding women from joining the army in order to protect her brother, Atsuko secretly joins up in disguise, desperate to prove her skills. But faced with plots that go far beyond them, will the strength of the siblings' bond prove strong enough?

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Book SynopsisWithnail and I sank almost without a trace when it was first released in 1987. Financed by HandMade Films, the late George Harrison’s production company, and drawing heavily on first-time writer-director Bruce Robinson's experiences, this virtually plot-free story follows two out-of-work actors (Withnail, played by Richard E. Grant, and 'I', played by Paul McGann), eking out a living in a run-down London of the late 1960s, and embarking on a booze-fuelled weekend in the country which takes various unexpected turns. Although it initially failed to find an audience, it did not take long for the film to attract a dedicated cult following which still persists today. Lines from the film such as 'we've gone on holiday by mistake!' and 'Bring me the finest wines known to humanity!' have become popular favourites and the subject of countless internet memes. Kevin Jackson's in-depth study gives a full account of the film's origins and production history. But his main focus is the mood and magic of the film, its aesthetics and sensibility, seeking to show, without ever detracting from the film's comic brilliance, just how much more there is to Withnail and I than drunkenness and swearing. 'It is an outstandingly touching yet witheringly unsentimental drama of male friendship,' Jackson writes, 'a bleak up-ending of the English pastoral dream, a piece of ferocious verbal inventiveness' - and, without question, one of the greatest of all British films. In his new foreword to this edition, writer Bharat Tandon pays tribute to to both Withnail's peculiar genius and enduring appeal, and to his close friend Kevin Jackson.Trade ReviewBruce Robinson's first and most famous outing as a writer/director, Withnail & I has gone down in history as the student film...this book is lively with enthusiasm and full to bursting point with anecdotes and analysis...He doesn't try to come across as anything more than what he certainly is: a die-hard Withnail fan with a keen eye for detail and a delightful nose for a story. -- FilmwerkTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Foreword to the 2022 edition Introduction: Withnail and Me 1. A Terrible Cult? 2. The Arena of the Unwell 3. A Kingdom of Rains 4. The Last Island of Beauty 5. The Company of Wolves Notes Credits

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Book SynopsisCollected together for the first time, this omnibus brings new authors to the Alien universe.

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Book SynopsisDirectly addressing how filmmakers can craft visually powerful films through practical skills that can be used throughout the filmmaking process, author Blain Brown explores how we use space, color, camera angles, composition, motion, POV and all the other methods in the day-to-day work of telling stories visually. Brown interrogates not only the tangible aspects of visual storytelling, but also the more abstract areas as well including visual metaphor, manipulating time and space, and visual subtext. It covers all the aspects of visual storytelling that directors, cinematographers, and editor use to tell stories visually. Written by a working filmmaker with over 30 yearsâ experience as a director and cinematographer, this book looks at both the how and the why of visual storytelling, consistently drawing on the day-to-day real-world environment of making a film. Ideal for intermediate and advanced students of filmmaking as well as professionals working in the i

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Book SynopsisA special souvenir hardcover collection themed around the dark side of the Force.

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Book SynopsisFascinating and authoritative' The Daily ExpressSunday Times bestselling author Sean Smith tells the extraordinary story of a modern cultural icon: Harry Styles.Harry Styles has grown up. The One Direction boy-band member so loved by millions has become a truly global superstar and genuine icon of our times.In this captivating biography for fans from day one as well as a whole new generation, bestselling author Sean Smith follows the journey of a thoroughly modern man with boundless charisma, who represents a better world devoid of prejudice.At 16, Harry's life changed forever when he left his home in rural Cheshire to appear on The X Factor and never went back. Harry Styles: The Making of a Modern Man paints a picture of a man who at times remains an enigma, while embracing the world he cares about his family, his friends and lovers, his music, acting and the world of fashion.Harry is the only British male artist to have his first two albums debut at number one in the US; his movie

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable true story of an unrivalled journey to recreate the greatest run in film history: 15,621 miles, five-times across the United States.Rob Pope has made his name revelling in challenges that range from the unconventional to the extraordinary.' BBC NewsBecoming Forrest is the incredible story of Englishman Rob Pope, a veterinarian who left his job in pursuit of a dream to become the first person ever to complete the epic run undertaken by one of Hollywood's most beloved characters, Forrest Gump. After his momma urged him to do one thing in life that made a difference, he flew to Alabama, put on his running shoes, and sped off into the wilderness.His remarkable journey covered 15,600 miles, the distance from the North to the South Pole and a third of the way back. Over a grueling 18 months, braving injuries, blizzards, forest fires and deadly wildlife, he crossed the United States five times. During one of the most turbulent periods in recent American history, Rob immersed hTrade Review‘Rob Pope is a real-life Hollywood superstar!’Dean Karnazes, author of Ultramarathon Man ‘A simply staggering feat of endurance and storytelling. The tenacity, curiosity and humour of Rob’s amazing journey comes through in every page of this wonderful tale about people, discovery and a very, very long road.’ Mark Beaumont, author of The Man Who Cycled the World ‘With tons of humour Rob Pope takes us into one of the greatest running journeys. Lace up your shoes and enjoy this excellent book!’ Kilian Jornet, runner and author of Above the Clouds ‘What Rob has achieved both physically and mentally is mind-blowing, a true feat of human endurance.’ Tom Evans, Ultrarunner ‘A very readable and entertaining travelogue about an effing extraordinary run.’ Damian Hall, author of In It for the Long Run: Breaking records and getting FKT ‘Most of us watched that scene and thought: cute. Pope watched it and thought: could that be possible? … Like Gump, Pope also experienced what it was like to drift through America when history rears its ugly head. … He brightens people’s day. Pope is serious about running, but, just like Gump, he doesn’t overthink it. Why should someone run? “Because you want to,” he says.’ The Observer ‘A stirring chronicle … What quickly becomes striking — on top of the extreme distance of his runs, often “forty miles every day without rest” — is Pope’s innate curiosity and fascination with the world around him. … This is sure to inspire distance runners as well as those interested in a hearty slice of Americana.’ Publishers Weekly starred review

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Book SynopsisFrom the iconic stylist and fashion provocateur whose designs transformed culture bringing the glitz of Studio 54 and the sophistication of Sex and the City to the mainstream comes a playful yet intimate memoir of a life spent challenging conventions.Carrie Bradshaw's pairing of a tutu with a tank top is one of the most iconic outfits ever seen on television and a look that turned avant-garde New York designer and stylist Patricia Field into a household name. But before she was crowned the fairy godmother of haute couture, Field was the owner of the longtime East Village emporium Pat Field, a haven for drag queens, club kids, starving artists, NYU freshmen, and creative visionaries alike. Presiding over downtown with her distinctive vermillion hair and a constantly lit cigarette, Patricia was a rock 'n' roll den mother to everyone from Amanda Lepore to Lady Bunny to Patti Smith, with her store providing the city's eccentrics with a place to discover a sense of family, home, and a rh

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Book SynopsisMARILYN MONROE is the most celebrated and controversial female icon of the 20th century. At last, Donald Spoto has produced an acclaimed biography worthy of this extraordinary and unforgettable star.With access to more than 35,000 pages of formerly sealed documents and interviews with 150 people who have never spoken on record before, Spoto''s definitive biography reveals the truth behind the myths and speculations surrounding Marilyn''s life and death. He exposes the falsehoods and casts new light on every aspect of Marilyn Monroe''s 36 years: her dramatic childhood; her marriages; her relationships with movie moguls; politicians, poets, artists and statesmen. But most astonishing of all, he presents the reality of her death - more horrifying than anything a Hollywood screenwriter could have devised.Moving, often shocking, always absorbing, Marilyn Monroe will stand as the ultimate and compulsively readable biography of the woman who continues to enthrall millions.''Not just sensational, but sensationally good'' - Sunday Telegraph''At long last Marilyn Monroe has found her knight in shining armour...[her] true story has been revealed'' - Daily Mirror''An impressive reminder of the tough, triumphalist Norma Jean...for once she has a biographer worthy of her'' - JULIE BURCHILL, Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisIn this triumphant work David Thomson, one of film''s greatest living experts and author of The New Biographical Dictionary of Film, tells the enthralling story of the movies and how they have shaped us.Sunday Times, New Statesman, The Times, Guardian, Observer and Independent BOOKS OF THE YEARTaking us around the globe, through time and across multiple media, Thomson tracks the ways in which we were initially enchanted by this mesmerizing imitation of life and let movies - the stories, the stars, the look - show us how to live. But at the same time he shows us how movies, offering a seductive escape from the everyday reality and its responsibilities, have made it possible for us to evade life altogether. The entranced audience has become a model for powerless citizens trying to pursue happiness by sitting quietly in a dark room. Does the big screen take us out into the world, or merely mesmerize us? That is ThoTrade ReviewProbably the best overview of the cinema ever written. It sparkles with insight, is packed with anecdote, and pulses with passion ... a glorious celebration of one of humankind's great inventions -- John Banville * Guardian BOOKS OF THE YEAR *A devilish, dazzling, out-there divination ... Criticism is rarely this passionate and brilliant. You come away wanting to watch it all * Empire *David Thomson is a giant in the world of film criticism, and his book is the chest-crusher you might expect: erudite, delightfully tangential and surprisingly polemical -- Kate Muir * The Times *Thomson has composed a grand aesthetic, spiritual, and moral account of cinema history assembled around the movies and artists that have meant the most to him. As Thomson reconstructs film history, movies bring us close to reality and deliver us into ecstatic dreams. A pungently written, brilliant book -- David Denby (author of SNARK)The theme of The Big Screen is the weirdness of desire ... Drawing on his vast stock of knowledge, Thomson takes us on a meander through Nouvelle Vague and Italian neorealism; Coppola and Scorsese; MGM musicals and film noir. He always comes back in the end to the kind of fun it is possible to have only at the movies, sitting in the dark, staring at the light ... Line by line, Thomson is still the greatest biographical writer about film of all time ... to read him on his favourite films is to be sent back with renewed yearning to that land of Californian light and loveliness * Sunday Times *Subtle, erudite and entertaining * Economist *Fascinating ... a loose-limbed, conversational narrative, moving fitfully through time, dawdling over directors and films that interest ... crackling with ideas and vivid impressionisms ... Thomson's stylish prose, simultaneously erudite and entertaining, captivates as it informs ... Buffs and casual fans alike will enjoy this extra-large serving of popcorn for thought * Publishers Weekly *The greatest living writer on the movies ... The Big Screen is surely his magnum opus -- John Banville * New Statesman BOOKS OF THE YEAR *Rigorous and rewarding, and a page rarely passes without insight * Independent BOOKS OF THE YEAR *Nobody else would match its sweep, its erudition, its discernment or its warmth -- David Hare * Guardian BOOKS OF THE YEAR *There are always irreverent arguments about the status of filmmaking in David Thomson's writing: "Story ideas hang around in Hollywood longer than some marriages or buildings." Or "It would be said of British cinema that it was nothing until a band of Hungarians took it over." This goes alongside his real passion for the art: On Sweet Smell of Success - "The film was shot in a glittering harsh black and white by James Wong Howe and looked like the hide of a crocodile in the moonlight." On Colonel Blimp - "There is one scene of Deborah Kerr with auburn hair and in a cornflower blue dress, in shadow and firelight, that must be among the most romantic shots made during the war. No one in Britain before had seen that you could make a film because you were crazy about a girl." David Thomson is, I think, the best writer on film in our time. If Have you Seen? was his most succinct and entertaining book, The Big Screen is a large and vivacious map on the history of 'the screen': beginning with Muybridge and then tracing careers ranging from Korda to Renoir to Hawkes to Mizoguchi, to David Lynch and Tarentino, then swerving over to television shows such as I love Lucy and The Sopranos. He has found and created a marvellous plot for the history of film with insights and revelations on every page, as well as a few mcguffins. He is our most argumentative and trustworthy historian of the screen -- Michael OndaatjeA great critic cuts both ways - he nudges you into reconsidering the films you love, as well as the ones you dislike. David Thomson's sensual prose has always amplified the imagination of a great critic. In broad outline, The Big Screen is a history of the movies, a wide-ranging task which usually carries with it a certain amount of connect-the-dots tedium. But Thomson's emphases are typically fresh and often ecstatic, even when he's disparaging a film you love. Nobody does it better -- Scott Eyman (author of EMPIRE OF DREAMS and LION OF HOLLYWOOD)Of the medium's many distinguished critics, none is better informed or more authoritative than David Thomson ... [The Big Screen is] part film history, part thesis, part love letter and lament ... genuine insights abound ... Like any great work of criticism, the book is essentially an education in good taste, and crucially it sends us back to the movies. Thomson's montage of ecstasies and laments re-awakens in us the thrill and wonder of moving images and the need to know what happens next. In that, it is as close to definitive as any book on film can be. Just as we look at the movies, we should listen to him * Spectator Life *David Thomson is a metaphysician of the movies ... Thomson's brain is the ultimate repertory theatre, perpetually rerunning our favourites and allowing us to wonder at them all over again. The highest praise I can give him is to say that the images he treasures are just as alive on his pages as they were on the big screen -- Peter Conrad * Guardian *A love letter to a dying art, [The Big Screen] is also a scathing indictment of its legacy. In over 500 pages of breathtaking criticism, [Thomson] seeks to understand the impact of the screen upon our collective consciousness * Sunday Telegraph *A cultural overview of the past, present and future of the movies * Sunday Times BOOKS OF THE YEAR *This is a wildly seductive love letter to what Thomson concludes is a 'lost love' ... he rapturously recalls a lifetime's enchantment with the big screen * Metro *A startling analysis of what happens to us in the darkness as we dream with eyes open * Observer BOOKS OF THE YEAR *There's one standout in this year's slew of film literature, The Big Screen written by David Thomson, a giant in the world of film criticism. His book is erudite but readable, delightfully tangential, and surprisingly polemical. He provides a fascinating ride through the past century of mostly American cinema and posits a theory that 'the shining light and the huddled masses' of yore will be replaced by digital anomie, as the big screen is replaced by YouTube on an iPhone -- Kate Muir * The Times BOOKS OF THE YEAR *[The Big Screen] works both as an engaging primer on film history and as a map for more numinous shifts in the path of popular art ... Thomson offers a nuanced portrait ... the details of his narrative glimmer with offbeat insight -- Nathan Heller * New York Times Book Review *

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Book Synopsis''Delightfully good ... an exuberant and learned celebration of British culture ... full of love for and fascination with everything from the origins of heavy metal in the metal-bashing industries of the West Midlands to John Lennon''s and Damien Hirst''s lust for money'' Nick Cohen, Observer''Terrific ... I defy you not to be swept up in a narrative that''s as colourful as it is dramatic'' - John Preston, Mail on Sunday''Dramatic, perceptive and often extremely funny'' Spectator, Books of the YearBritain''s empire has gone. We no longer matter as we once did. And yet there is still one area in which we can legitimately claim superpower status: our popular culture. It is extraordinary to think that one British writer, J. K. Rowling, has sold more than 400 million books; that Doctor Who is watched in almost every developed country in the world; that James Bond has been the central character in the longesTrade ReviewDelightfully good ... an exuberant and learned celebration of British culture -- Nick Cohen * Observer *Not only thoroughly entertaining, but crammed with as many serious insights as a shelf-ful of academic studies. -- Alwyn W Turner * The Telegraph *Relentlessly entertaining -- Daisy Goodwin * Sunday Times *I read it in less than two days, my attention never flagging ... It is dramatic, perceptive and often extremely funny -- John Preston * Spectator *I read it in less than two days, my attention never flagging ... Embracing everything from Black Sabbath's guitarist, Tony Iommi, losing his fingers in a sheet metal press to the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, it's dramatic, perceptive and often extremely funny. * Books of the Year, Spectator *It was hard to find a more convincing read ... a highly entertaining look at everything from The Avengers to Harry Potter that proclaims Britain as the champion of culture, spreading words and songs internationally like no other * Books of the Year, Sunday Times *Sandbrook's hugely enjoyable analysis of why we continue to punch above our weight in this area ... covers everything from boarding school tales (Tom Brown to Harry Potter) to country house tales (Brideshead and Downton), the works of Tolkien to the 2012 Olympics. * Books of the Year, Mail on Sunday *Terrific fun ... Sandbrook isn't like other historians ... He heads off down strange, neglected byways, teasing out unexpected connections, with the results often proving far more illuminating - and enjoyable - than conventional narratives ... I defy you not to be swept up in a narrative that's as colourful as it is dramatic. -- John Preston * Mail on Sunday *Engrossing ... delightful ... a book that relishes an argument and likes to challenge received opinion ... not only thoroughly entertaining, but crammed with as many serious insights as a shelf-ful of academic studies. -- Alwyn Turner * Daily Telegraph *Witty ... enthusiastic ... a passionate and admirable defence of coach-party musical theatre, large-print historical fiction, wedding reception rock, Orc sagas, To the Manor Born, Arnold Bennett, Billy Bunter and Billy Elliot ... The hot core of his story, though, is made of the most thrillingly unlikely material. -- Matthew Sweet * Guardian *Splendid ... Sandbrook is always an engaging and perceptive writer and the subject lends itself to his eye for a story and his ability to connect with the reader. This is, after all, a book about the very things that, over the past century, we have most enjoyed, from Hercule Poirot to Sgt Pepper. -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *Sparkling ... fascinating ... always enlightening ... as usual with Sandbrook, there are some lovely vignettes and incongruous details ... Academic writers could certainly learn something from his lightness of touch and ability to build an argument. -- Joe Moran * Literary Review *Beautifully written ... wonderfully counter-intuitive ... with an excellent feel for the contemporary pulse and the surprising killer detail ... I, too, have left out loads that Sandbrook has cleverly and incisively included. -- Nick Curtis * London Evening Standard *A marvellous read ... juicy, irresistible, restoring the past with all its delight, defeats and energy to the ageing spectator ... He delights in the sheer, tumbling crowdedness of British popular culture over the past half century or so, crams in at a terrific pace the innumerable stories of its successes, and lends the status of heroism to his favourite figures. The author catches with infectious excitement the cracking pace and headlong productivity of this teeming crowd. -- Fred Inglis * Times Higher Education Supplement *Masterly ... lively and stimulating ... He loves to debunk received opinion. -- Robert Low * Standpoint *A vivid, endlessly fascinating account of the numerous achievements of this country's national imagination. This book is my personal dream factory ... so invigorating and exciting. -- Jessie Thompson * Huffington Post *Defiantly populist ... Dominic Sandbrook zestfully charts the route that has taken Britain from 'workshop of the world' to 'cultural superpower' ... as Sandbrook rightly insists, 'we still live in the shadow of the Victorians -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *Brilliant. -- A N Wilson * The Tablet *An engaging and very accessible history book about our modern artistic achievements that, provocatively, also debunks some of the very icons it praises. -- Simon Copeland * The Sun *I loved this book about British culture, partly because there's so much in it, and partly because of the brilliant way the author joins the dots ... Sandbrook gets us thinking about cinema, art, country houses, Tolkein, Doctor Who, and, superbly, much more. -- William Leith * Evening Standard *An entertaining trawl through British culture ... [Sandbrook] has produced a book that is not only thoroughly enjoyable to read, but also crammed with as many serious insights as a shelf of academic studies * The Times *It's a great premise, and I dived into, and splashed around in, this book gleefully at first. Here were lucid and often amusing expositions on the work of Lennon and McCartney, Ian Fleming, JRR Tolkien, Christie ... in his books on Britain in the 1950s and 60s, Sandbrook has covered some of this ground before. But he doesn't repeat himself, and his scope is wider than heretofore - he notices, for instance, how ingrained Charles Dickens's influence is, still, in popular entertainment ... It would be impossible to please everyone. But when Sandbrook is pleasing, he is very pleasing indeed. -- Nick Lezard * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisIt is often claimed that the French invented cinema. Dominating the production and distribution of cinema until World War 1, when they were supplanted by Hollywood, the French cinema industry encompassed all genres, from popular entertainment to avant-garde practice. The French invented the auteur and the ciné-club; they incubated criticism from the 1920s to our own day that is unrivalled; and they boast more film journals, fan magazines, TV shows, and festivals devoted to film than anywhere else. This Very Short Introduction opens up French cinema through focusing on some of its most notable works, using the lens of the New Wave decade (1958-1968) that changed cinema worldwide. Exploring the entire French cinematic oeuvre, Dudley Andrew teases out distinguishing themes, tendencies, and lineages, to bring what is most crucial about French Cinema into alignment. He discusses how style has shaped the look of female stars and film form alike, analysing the made up aesthetic of many films, and the paradoxical penchant for French cinema to cruelly unmask surface beauty in quests for authenticity. Discussing how French cinema as a whole pits strong-willed characters against auteurs with high-minded ideas of film art, funded by French cinema''s close rapport to literature, painting, and music, Dudley considers how the New Wave emerged from these struggles, becoming an emblem of ambition for cinema that persists today. He goes on to show how the values promulgated by the New Wave directors brought the three decades that preceded it into focus, and explores the deep resonance of those values today, fifty years later. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: The 'makeup' of French film and its demaquillage: Jeanne Moreau 2: The insurgency of the authentic and the regime of strong fathers : Jean Gabin 3: Renoir and Bresson: two incomparable sources 4: An intellectual cinema looks back to tradition and forward to the end of history 5: The school of the New Wave and the lessons it has taught Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisCinema has had a hugely influential role on global culture in the 20th century at multiple levels: social, political, and educational. The part of British cinema in this has been controversial - often derided as a whole, but also vigorously celebrated, especially in terms of specific films and film-makers. In this Very Short Introduction, Charles Barr considers films and filmmakers, and studios and sponsorship, against the wider view of changing artistic, socio-political, and industrial climates over the decades of the 20th Century. Considering British cinema in the wake of one of the most familiar of cinematic reference points - Alfred Hitchcock - Barr traces how British cinema has developed its own unique path, and has since been celebrated for its innovative approaches and distinctive artistic language.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewWriting with a graceful style and a quiet wit, Barr has made a valuable contribution to the increasing array of cinematic Very Short Introductions. * David Sterritt, Quarterly Review of Film and Video *It's a long time since I've read such a short book that seems so rich in content and offered so comprehensive and lucid approach to a complex phenomenon. This is a book for any intelligent non-specialist reader with an interest in British film. * Brian McFarlane, On Screen *An entertaining and very informative tour of British film history, starting from the silent days of course, but taking a more productive route than a simple chronological tour. * Pamela Hutchison, Silent London *This short introduction is...a shrewd one... it informs and also inspires. * Graham McCann, Former Fellow of King's College, University of Cambridge *Not the least among this small book's many pleasures are its lucid, nuanced prose style and the elegant manner in which thematic threads are teased out and followed through ... it is a sensitive, sensible, and sharply perceptive introduction that will be welcomed by students new to the field, while those who think they know everything about the subject already will find some fresh observations. * Sheldon Hall, Hitchcock Annual *It guides and galvanises; it informs and also inspires. As a starting point for an inquisitive student,... it soon earns ample respect for its selectiveness, as well as appreciation for the additional lines of inquiry that it suggests. * Graham McCann, Society *British Cinema: A Very Short Introduction, despite its format as a pocket guide, offers considerably more than its slender size promises. It will be of particular value to students and to general readers approaching British cinema history for the first time, and it is pleasing that the appendices include a solid section of recommended further reading. * James Shelton, Journal of British Cinema and Television 21.1 *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations 1: Britain and Cinema 2: Varieties of Britishness 3: A very short history 4: 1933 and after 5: The war and after 6: Ealing and after 7: Chariots and after 8: Looking back, looking forward References Further Reading General Index Index of Names

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Book Synopsis The woman behind the icon known as the undisputed Queen of Halloween, reveals her full story, filled with intimate bombshells, told by the bombshell herself. The paperback includes 32 new images and an original poem composed by Cassandra when she was 16, perfect for fans to collect. At only eighteen months old, Cassandra Peterson reached for a pot on the stove and doused herself in boiling water, resulting in third-degree burns over 35 percent of her body. She miraculously survived, but burned and scarred, the impact would stay with her and become an obstacle she was determined to overcome. Cassandra left home at fourteen and supported herself as a go-go dancer. By age seventeen, she was performing as a showgirl in Las Vegas. Then a chance encounter with the “King” himself, Elvis Presley, inspired her to travel to Europe where she worked in film and toured Italy as lead singer of a band. She eventually made her way to Los Angeles, where she joined the famed comedy improv group, The Groundlings. In 1981, as a struggling actress considered past her prime, Cassandra auditioned for a local LA station as hostess for their late-night horror movies. She got the job as “Elvira,” never imagining it would lead to fame and a forty-year career. Yours Cruelly, Elvira is an unforgettably wild memoir. Cassandra doesn’t shy away from revealing exactly who she is and how she overcame seemingly insurmountable odds. Always original and sometimes outrageous, her story is loaded with twists, travails, revelry, and downright shocking experiences. It is the candid, often hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking tale of a Midwest farm girl’s long, strange trip to become the world’s sexiest, sassiest Halloween icon.  Instant New York Times Bestseller, Los Angeles Times Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, and Publishers Weekly Bestseller.  A New York Times Best Books to Give This Season selection.

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Book SynopsisRob Lowe is a film and television actor and producer. He also is involved in politics. He lives with his wife and two sons in California.Trade ReviewA slick, seemingly confidential portrayal of a complex, charismatic actor * The Times *Engaging and revealing * Spectator *Compelling -- Mariella Frostrup * Observer *Fascinating... thoughtful... compelling * Heat *A lovely autobiography, equal parts dish and pathos * Vanity Fair *

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Book Synopsis''The only book that will give you a hangover'' Chris Evans Breakfast Show---The hilarious, no holds barred autobiography from sporting legend and broadcaster Alan Brazil.As Alan recounts tales from his extraordinary life, he relives the sporting occasions, radio broadcasts and famously long drinking sessions that have defined his career. He takes readers inside the talkSPORT studio for a behind-the-scenes view of his most memorable interviews, and talks for the first time about the on-pitch rivalries and dressing room debriefs of his footballing career.With his typically outspoken and irreverent delivery, Alan shares everything from his thoughts on how the sports he loves have changed to his top tips for picking winners (and many losers) at Cheltenham. And he revels in wine-soaked jaunts in the South of France and late-night supermarket sweeps with Ray Parlour - if you can keep up.Packed full of never-before-told stories, Trade ReviewThe only book that will give you a hangover. * Chris Evans Breakfast Show *Brazil is a natural raconteur. * The Times *A breathless romp, a highlights reel of Men Behaving Badly with a bit of football and broadcasting sandwiched between boozing sessions. * Mail on Sunday *It's fantastic! * Chris Evans *A snapshot of a life well lived. * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisMatthew Bourne and His Adventures in Dance is an intimate and in-depth conversation between the prize-winning pioneer of ballet and contemporary dance Matthew Bourne and the New York Times dance critic Alastair Macaulay. In 1987, a small, aspirant dance group with a striking name made its debut on the London fringe. In 1996, Adventures in Motion Pictures made history as the first modern dance company to open a production in London''s West End. From this achievement, AMP sailed triumphantly to Broadway - winning three Tony Awards - guided by Artistic Director Matthew Bourne.Even before the inception of AMP, Bourne was fascinated by theatre, by characterization, and by the history of dance. In his early works - Spitfire, Town & Country and Deadly Serious - Bourne brought a novel approach to dance. And in his reworkings of the classics of the ballet canon - Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella - Bourne created witty, vivid, poignant productions that received great acclaim.In the first decade of the new millennium, the company name was changed to New Adventures, and Bourne''s ''classics'', as well as Bourne''s new works - The Car Man, Play Without Words, Edward Scissorhands and Dorian Gray - achieved levels of box-office popularity that have seldom, if ever, been matched in dance. In addition, his choreography for various musicals - My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins and Oliver! - have run for years in the West End and on Broadway.The detail in which Bourne discusses his work with Alastair Macaulay is unprecedented. The two explore Bourne''s upbringing, his training and influences, and his distinctive creative methods. Bourne''s notebooks, his sources and his collaboration with dancers all form part of the discussion in this book.

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Book SynopsisHollywood: The Oral History covers the history of Hollywood from the Silent era up to the 21st century.What makes this book unique from any other survey of Hollywood''s history is that it is the history of an art form through the words of those people who created it - from Harold Lloyd to Katharine Hepburn to Warren Beatty to Jane Fonda and beyond, including directors, writers, producers, editors, designers of sets and costumes.As such, the authenticity of the text is irrefutable.The material in the book - gathered over the decades by the American Film Institute - has never been published before, has never been heard before.It is comprehensive - a monument that will never age nor be surpassed.

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Book Synopsis

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