Individual actors Books

Book SynopsisThe great singer, Paul Robeson was born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA on 9 April 1898. His father, William was a Presbyterian minister and a former slave; his mother, Maria was also descended from slaves. For Robeson as an African-American, the 'American Dream' was a nightmare. At Rutgers College he was subjected to deliberate violence on the football field; his concerts were disrupted by the Ku Klux Klan; he was hounded by the government on account of his communist sympathies. And yet, it is difficult to think of any human being in the whole of history who was more multi-talented. At Rutgers he was admitted to the very highest academic societies: he subsequently played football in the newly-created NFL; he became acquainted with more than 40 languages, and played the piano. He played 'Othello' at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon, and 'Joe' in the film, Show Boat. Yet it was his voice, arguably the finest bass baritone ever to be possessed by a human being, and the message contained in his songs and speeches that echoed right around the world. Here was a message of hope for the poor and underprivileged everywhere, of whatever colour or creed. They too could bring down the 'Walls of Jericho'; gain access to the 'Promised Land'; and finally, be carried to Heaven on a 'Sweet Chariot'! As an author, the challenge for me was to see if I could make contact with any of Paul's descendants and any descendants of his slave owner, who might have unique information about the Robeson family, and to find out where exactly his father, William and mother, Maria had been enslaved. The search was a fruitful one; beyond my wildest dreams, as the reader will discover!Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Author's Note: Some Definitions and Preferences Preface: The Author's First Introduction to Paul Robeson 1 Paul Robeson (born 9 April 1898): A Background of Slavery 2 Paul's Father, William Drew Robeson 3 Paul's Mother, Maria Louisa and her Origins 4 The Reverend William Drew Robeson is Ousted from his Post 5 The Tragic Death of Paul's mother, Maria Louisa 6 Paul's Relationship with his Father 7 Princeton, New Jersey (April 1898-1907) 8 Westfield, New Jersey (1907-1910): Somerville, New Jersey (1910-1915) 9 Paul's Siblings 10 Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey (1915-1917) 11 Harlem: Columbia University, New York City (1919-1923): Marriage to Eslanda (1921) 12 Eslanda's Background 13 The Theatre and Concerts: Paul junior is Born (2 November 1927) 14 How Eslanda Helped Her Husband, Paul 15 Paul's Alleged Faults 16 London (1928-1939) 17 Eslanda's Visit to Africa (1936) 18 Paul's Attitude to Colonialism 19 Return to the USA (1939) 20 The Paris Peace Conference (20-24 April 1949): Jackie Robinson 21 Further Strivings (1949-1953) 22 Eslanda Testifies to the HUAC (7 July 1953) 23 Paul Testifies to the HUAC (12 June 1956) 24 1956-1958 25 Wales: A Welcome in the Valleys for Paul (1957 and 1958) 26 Paul Returns to Czechoslovakia (1959) 27 1961-1976 28 Was Paul Racist? 29 Paul's Forebears: Testimony of the Family 30 Paul's Grandfather Benjamin who was Held in Slavery 31 Paul's Grandmother Sabra who was Held in Slavery 32 Temperance Congleton: A Link with the Robersons 33 The Geographical Proximity of the Roberson and the Congleton Families 34 From what Region of Africa did Benjamin and Sabra's Forebears Originate? 35 How and Where did Benjamin and Sabra First Meet? 36 Oak Grove Church, Perkins, Pitt County, North Carolina: Another Congleton/Roberson Connection 37 Benjamin as a Slave for Hire 38 The Birth of William Drew, Ezekiel, and Margaret 39 The Identity of the Slave Owner of Sabra and her family 40 More About George Outlaw Roberson 41 The Escape of William Drew, Ezekiel, and Margaret 42 How did William Drew, Ezekiel, and Margaret Effect their Escape? The 'Underground Railroad' 43 The American Civil War (12 April 1861 to 9 May 1865): The Contribution made by Blacks 44 What Became of Ezekiel and Margaret? 45 What Became of Paul's Father, William Drew Robeson 46 Were Slave Owners Universally Cruel? 47 How Paul's Songs Resonated Throughout the World 48 Paul's Final Years: Charlotte Turner Bell 49 Paul's Religious Beliefs 50 Epilogue Appendix 1 Some of Paul's Lifetime Awards and Recognitions Appendix 2 The Manilla Appendix 3 George Washington's Personal Standard Appendix 4 Evolution of the 'Stars and Stripes' Appendix 5 The Paul Robeson House & Museum, 4951 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. Appendix 6 A Church in Dorset and its Connection with the 'Stars and Stripes'. Appendix 7 Tammy Roberson James, Robersonville, North Carolina, USA, 6 January 2021 Appendix 8 Stephen A. Bess, Rockville, Maryland, USA, 9 January 2021

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Book SynopsisPeter Sellers was one of the biggest stars of the 1960s and 70s. His career began with characters such as Bluebottle on BBC radio’s The Goon Show and he achieved global fame as Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther series. What is less well known is that he served in the Royal Air Force Entertainment Units (known as Gang Shows) for over three years. Now, for the first time, this story can be told, a tale of the formation and education of his remarkable talents, as well as a small corner of Second World War history that seems uniquely British (groups of servicemen and women sent around the world with hampers full of theatrical props and costumes, to rally the troops in distant outposts of Empire). This book reveals previously unknown film footage, photos, performances, broadcasts and recordings, from the very beginning of Sellers’ career.Trade Review"This new book reveals previously unknown film footage, recordings and radio broadcasts, as well as records of more than 100 performances across two continents. It charts [Sellers's] progress from raw recruit to gang show veteran, a journey full of colour and inspiration." -- Chortle (UK)

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Book SynopsisAnalysing Gender in Performance brings together the fields of Gender Studies and Performance Analysis to explore how contemporary performance represents and interrogates gender. This edited collection includes a wide range of scholarly essays, as well as artists’ voices and their accounts of their works and practices. The Introduction outlines the book’s key approaches to concepts in English language gender discourses and gender’s intersectionalities, and sets out the approaches to performance analysis and methods of research employed by the various contributors. The book focuses on performances from the Global North, staged over the past fifty years. Case studies are diverse, ranging from site-specific, dance theatre, speculative drag, installation, and music video performances to Mabou Mines, Churchill, Shakespeare and Ibsen. Contributors explore how gender intersects with sexuality, social class, race, ethnicity, indigeneity, culture and history. Read individually or in tension with one another, the essays confront the contemporary complexities of analysing gender in performance. Table of Contents1 Introduction.Part I 1970s–1990s.2 Pina Bausch’s Kontakthof: Choreographies of Gender and Costume.3 Queer Becomings: The Ridiculous Theatrical Company’s Camille and Split Britches/Bloolips’ Belle Reprieve.4 Théâtre du Soleil and Ariane Mnouchkine: Living and Performing Gender Politics.5 Nora, Lucia, and Lear: Gender and Performance at Mabou Mines.6 Freaks and Not Freaks: Theatre and the Making of Crip Identity.7 Fires in the Mirror: Representations of Race, Gender and Class in Anna Deavere Smith’s Search for American Character.Part II Interruption: Artists Speak About Their Work.8 Black Women Performers: ‘I Don’t Want to Do Anything Else’.9 Trans-body-text: Exploring Performance Disruptions, a Discussion with Lazlo Pearlman.10 Embodied and En-sited Performance: Reflections on Gender in Cooking Miss Julie/Miss Julie Cooks and March of Women.11 A Manifesto of Living Self-portraiture (Identity, Transformation, and Performance).Part III 2000s–2020s.12 Love and Information by Caryl Churchill, or Sexuality and Gender in Non-binary Times.13 Gender and the Aesthetics of Occupation: Making Room for Women’s Labour at the Theatre.14 Performing Reproduction in an Age of Overproduction: Environmental Installations by Ai Hasegawa.15 Loose Wrists: Camp and Intersectional Politics in the Works of Cazwell, Todrick Hall, and Big Freedia.16 Riotous Assembly: Performing Gender and Social Justice in thisispopbaby’s RIOT.17 From Gimmick Casting to Standard Practice: Re-gendering Shakespeare in Performance.18 ‘Women’s Business’: Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife and the Reclamation of Black Australian History.19 Gender-Assemblages: The Scenographics of Sin Wai Kin.

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Book SynopsisDuring the course of a career that began in the late 1940s, Lenny Bruce challenged the sanctity of organized religion and other societal and political conventions he widened the boundaries of free speech. Critic Ralph Gleason said, So many taboos have been lifted and so many comics have rushed through the doors Lenny opened. He utterly changed the world of comedy.Although Bruce died when he was only forty, his influence on the worlds of comedy, jazz, and satire are incalculable. How to Talk Dirty and Influence People remains a brilliant existential account of his life and the forces that made him the most important and controversial entertainer in history.Trade ReviewPraise for How to Talk Dirty and Influence People "I read this book for the first time when I was twelve years old. It made me want to be in showbiz, have a lot of sex, and be Jewish. I've rethought that last one."--Penn Jillette, author of God No! "If there was a God, then he sent down Lenny Bruce to create the art form of modern stand-up comedy. He sought the truth fearlessly and hilariously until his tragically muffled First Amendment rights surely enabled his dying for our sins."--Richard Lewis, author of The Other Great Depression Playboy, 8/3/16 "Outside every American comedy club there ought to be a statue of Lenny Bruce--the type of big bronze statue that commemorates and immortalizes heroes...Bringing Bruce's ideas and stories to a new generation might just be the next best thing to erecting those bronze statues." Spectrum Culture, 10/11/16 "Sheds light on the mind behind some of the most controversial comedy routines of the mid-20th century."

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Book SynopsisComedy writer, journalist, radio DJ and screenwriter Danny Baker charts his 30 years in showbizDanny Baker was born in Deptford, South East London in June 1957, and from an early age was involved in magazine journalism, with the founding of fanzine Sniffin'' Glue, alongside friend Mark Perry. From there he moved to documentary series for LWT and over the years worked on a variety of quiz shows (Win, Lose or Draw, Pets Win Prizes, TV Heroes), as well two television commercials which made him a household name - Daz and Mars Bars.This book charts Danny''s showbiz career, the highs and lows, and everything in between, including the accusation that he killed Bob Marley ...Trade ReviewDanny Baker's passion runs deeper still as he attempts to squeeze the maximum amount of amusement from everything in his path in this hilarious first chronicle of his wonderful life. * THE OLDIE *Full of warmth and laughter -- Ian Hyland * Daily Mirror *A lively, memorable autobiography. * THE SUNDAY BUSINESS POST *

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Book SynopsisA Times and Sunday Times Book of the Year''Delicious and endearing'' Observer''Comedy gold'' Sunday Times ''A riveting account of what it takes to be an actor'' Christina Patterson''A writer of considerable urbanity and wit'' Lynn Barber, Daily TelegraphHugh Bonneville is one of Britain''s most accomplished actors, familiar to audiences worldwide for his roles in Notting Hill, the Paddington films and Downton Abbey. What is it like working with Judi Dench and Julia Roberts, or playing Robert de Niro''s right leg, or not being Gary Oldman, twice? A wickedly funny storyteller, Hugh also writers with poignancy about his father''s dementia and of his mother, whose life in the secret service only emerged after her death. Whether telling stories of working with divas, Dames or a bear with a penchant for marmalade, this is a richly entertaining account of his life Trade ReviewA writer of considerable urbanity and wit. Gary Oldman says it is 'beautiful, touching and funny'. I agree. -- Lynn Barber * Daily Telegraph *Comedy gold... I don't remember when I last read a book that gave me so many laughs... A riveting account of what it takes to be an actor -- Christina Patterson * Sunday Times *Tremendously entertaining... if collapsing into laughter is what you need at the moment, then Playing Under the Piano could be the book for you... a delicious and endearing mode somewhere between utmost sincerity and utter bafflement -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *A great read * Graham Norton *An enormously entertaining memoir * Daily Mirror *The tone of Hugh Bonneville's autobiography is very much like the man himself - warm, charming, funny and thoroughly embraceable... There is a refreshing lack of narcissism in a narrative poised between detached observation and amused self-reflection... An enormously entertaining memoir -- Neil Norman * Daily Express *Really enjoyed this. Wonderfully funny and utterly charming - just like the man himself! -- Jack WhitehallBy turns funny, touching, revealing - full of insights, delights and surprises. I couldn't have enjoyed it more -- Gyles BrandrethA gorgeous book. Warm, friendly, funny and sometimes surprisingly emotional. Very like Hugh himself -- Richard CurtisWhen other books have been forgotten, this one will be remembered. Hugh Bonneville's considerable talent for writing is on display page after page. Beautiful. Touching. And funny. -- Gary OldmanCharming, joyous and entertaining, just like Hugh. -- Griff Rhys JonesA collection of stories painting a brilliantly vivid picture of a career on stage and screen * Yorkshire Post *Bonneville is entertaining, with a clear-eyed view of his trade... Reliving it all so far with light and shade, bite and bonhomie, as a memoirist Bonneville passes the audition with flying colours * Mail on Sunday *You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love Hugh even more * Woman & Home *Bonneville tells of his life with appealing modesty... he gives us plenty of backstage gossip * Reader's Digest *Witty and moving * Country Living *The Downton star proves himself to be a polished raconteur -- Books of the Year * Daily Telegraph *A beautifully poised memoir, both insightful and - occasionally - laugh-out-loud funny, with the gift for comic timing he reveals on screen and a sharp eye for detail... warmly engrossing -- Books of the Year * The Times *Bonneville's affable screen presence richly translated onto the page through anecdotes and adventures... there are many howling laughs in this frequently entertaining memoir * RTE Guide *Playing Under the Piano made me hoot -- Ben Macintyre, Books of the Year * The Times *Though a funny raconteur, Bonneville also writes poignantly about his father's dementia and of his mother, whose life in the secret service only emerged after her death * The Gloss *Gloriously funny... Between the laugh-out-loud anecdotes are revealing stories of the less glamorous side of an actor's life, as well as poignant family memories -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisA powerful, timely memoir of Black immigrant identity, maternal love, and a unique coming-of-age story by Emmy-winning Orange Is the New Black star Uzo Aduba. Actress Uzo Aduba - known for Emmy-winning roles in Orange Is the New Black and Mrs. America - grew up in one of the few Black families in a white Massachusetts suburb. But she and her siblings were also grounded by a fierce sense of belonging and worth that stemmed from their mother''s powerful vision for her children, and by their connection to generations of family in Nigeria. The alchemy of being out of place yet driven by fearless conviction powered Uzo to success - and fuels her intimate and inspiring memoir.Deeply mining her family history and the gripping tales handed down to her by her mother, aunts and uncles, Uzo weaves together a moving story filled with guiding lessons that are both personal and profoundly universal. Framed by two powerful turning points - Uzo''

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Book SynopsisIn the decades following his death, many of those who knew James Dean best––actors, directors, friends, lovers (both men and women), photographers, and Hollywood columnists––shared stories of their first-person experiences with him in interviews and in the articles and autobiographies they wrote. Their recollections of Dean became lost in fragile back issues of movie magazines and newspapers and in out-of-print books that are extremely hard to find. Until now. The Real James Dean is the first book of its kind: a rich collection spanning six decades of writing in which many of the people whose lives were touched by Dean recall their indelible experiences with him in their own words. Here are the memorable personal accounts of Dean from his high school and college drama teachers; the girl he almost married; costars like Rock Hudson, Natalie Wood, Jim Backus, and Raymond Massey; directors Elia Kazan, Nicholas Ray, and George Stevens; entertainer Eartha Kitt; gossip queen Hedda Hopper; the passenger who accompanied Dean on his final, fatal road trip; and a host of his other friends and colleagues.Trade Review"A fascinating compendium..." Library Journal"Editor Peter L. Winkler provides cogent commentary on the validity of the various stories presented here." Edge Media Network"A rich and remarkably well-done anthology." The National Book Review" The Real James Dean by Peter L. Winkler is a fascinating read with each essay offering a unique reflection from one of Dean's contemporaries. It's much more approachable than a full in-depth biography." Out of the Past"The book reveals an individual of complexity, admired by some and despised by others, but always fascinating. It's a must read for anyone interested in James Dean and Hollywood." Twenty Four Frames"[A] corrective to fans, and crazies, who have done so much to keep Dean's flame alive and shape his image since he died." Critics at Large"[T]he most balanced and courageous portrait of Dean we've seen." Classic Movie Chat

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Book SynopsisCrosby, Holiday, Sinatra, Fitzgerald, Garland, and Streisand were the major interpreters of the American songbook, and this is the interlocking story of their lives and careers.Here is the epic tale of how these artists dominated American popular music over a fifty-year period, colourfully described like a roller coaster ride that gains momentum through the 1930s and ’40s, reaches a crest of magical creativity in the 1950s and early 1960s, and then crashes down by the early 1970s, a half century when the great American songbook dominated the airwaves and the fight for racial equality came to the forefront.Frank is still the king of the songbook, but Bing’s legacy is just as vital once you start listening to his unprecedented 1930s output. The legend of Billie grows by the year, and the basis of this should be appreciation and wonder for her own great artistry in the 1930s. Barbra is a living legend and still a commercial force to be reckoned with, the last exemplar of the songbook and its glories. All six of these singers reach out to us and show us new ways of expression and new ways to dream. Their song is largely ended but the melody lingers on.Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Democracy of American Music Bing: Out of Nowhere Bing: Just One More Chance Billie’s Blues Frank in Hoboken Ella: You’re Going to Hear From Me Baby Gumm Diana’s Dream Bing at the Top Billie and Ella The Hoboken Four Judy Swings Sweet Leilani and Mexicali Rose Billie Swings Her Way and Ella Finds a Hit Band Canary Frank Judy and Mickey and the Rainbow Bing: Minstrelsy and Father O’Malley Billie and Ella Travel Light Frank: The Voice Judy: The Girl Next Door Barbara and the Mirror Bing: Homecoming and Feet of Clay Billie: Lover Man Ella Bebop Judy and Frank at MGM Bing and Dixie Billie’s Clef Blues Frank’s Fall and Rise Judy on the Comeback Trail Frank and Ella Make Album History Lady in Satin and Billie at the Met Judy and Barbra Ella and Frank Judy: After You’ve Gone Barbra at the Top Frank and Ella at the Crossroads Bing in Winter Movie Star Barbra and Frank and Ella on the Road Coda: Barbra in the 21st Century Index

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Book SynopsisBertrand Tavernier was widely considered to be the leading light in a generation of French filmmakers who launched their careers in the 1970s. In this collection of interviews he discusses the arc of his career following in the lineage of the Lumiere brothers, in that his goal, like theirs, is to ""show the world to the world.

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Book SynopsisMost people know that Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993) was a Hollywood movie star and world famous fashion icon. What, perhaps, they don't know is that she is one of a few select people to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony; that she could speak five different languages; that she owned a pet deer named Pippin; and that she broke her back after being thrown off her horse during the filming of Unforgiven. Biographic: Audrey presents an instant impression of her life, work and legacy, with an array of irresistible facts and figures converted into infographics to reveal the actor behind the movies.

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times bestselling author and star of Little House on the Prairie returns with a hilarious and heartfelt memoir chronicling her journey from Hollywood to a ramshackle house in the Catskills during the COVID-19 pandemic. Known for her childhood role as Laura Ingalls Wilder on the classic NBC show Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Gilbert has spent nearly her entire life in Hollywood. From Dancing with the Stars to a turn in politics, she is always on the lookout for her next project. She just had no idea that her latest one would be completely life changing. When her husband introduces her to the wilds of rural Michigan, Melissa begins to fall back in love with nature. And when work takes them to New York, they find a rustic cottage in the Catskill Mountains to call home. But “rustic” is a generous description for the state of the house, requiring a lot of blood, sweat, and tears for the newlyweds to make habitable. When the pandemic descends on the world, it further nudges Melissa out of the spotlight and into the woods. She trades Botox treatments for DIY projects, power lunching for gardening and raising chickens, and soon her life is rediscovered anew in her own little house in the Catskills.

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Book SynopsisTHE THEATRE MAY SEEM GLAMOROUS, BUT SECRETS WAIT BEHIND THE CURTAIN1926. Running a theatre may appear to be all about the showbiz, but times are hard at The Empire. Following a turbulent period Jack Treadwell, erstwhile proprietor, his mother Lillian, and his playwright wife Grace, know they need to get things back on track - and how better than with the annual pantomime, a new venture, and an all-singing all-dancing talent contest, showcasing the best performers around.But could Lillian's new admirer, Grand Duke Nikolai Kuznetsov, be bringing disaster in his wake? Will The Empire be caught up in the scandal surrounding West End star, Stella Stanmore? And what are their enemies in Highbridge planning?While Jack and Grace fight to ensure the show does go on, a royal visitor raises the stakes and a young widow, Sally Blow, dares to dream that the talent contest might be her big break.As the talent contest draws closer, tragedy strikes. Amid t

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Book SynopsisOver nearly sixty years, Agnès Varda (b. 1928) has given interviews that are revealing not only of her work, but of her remarkably ambiguous status. She has been called the ""Mother of the New Wave"" but suffered for many years for never having been completely accepted by the cinematic establishment in France. Varda's first film, La Pointe Courte (1954), displayed many of the characteristics of the two later films that launched the New Wave, Truffaut's 400 Blows and Godard's Breathless. In a low-budget film, using (as yet) unknown actors and working entirely outside the prevailing studio system, Varda completely abandoned the ""tradition of quality"" that Truffaut was at that very time condemning in the pages of Cahiers du cinema. Her work, however, was not ""discovered"" until after Truffaut and Godard had broken onto the scene in 1959. Varda's next film, Cleo from 5 to 7, attracted considerably more attention and was selected as France's official entry for the Festival in Cannes. Ultimately, however, this film and her work for the next fifty years continued to be overshadowed by her more famous male friends, many of whom she mentored and advised. Her films have finally earned recognition as deeply probing and fundamental to the growing awareness in France of women's issues and the role of women in the cinema. ""I'm not philosophical,"" she says, ""not metaphysical. Feelings are the ground on which people can be led to think about things. I try to show everything that happens in such a way and ask questions so as to leave the viewers free to make their own judgments."" The panoply of interviews here emphasize her core belief that ""we never stop learning"" and reveal the wealth of ways to answer her questions.

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Book SynopsisPaul Darrow's career has encompassed theatre, television and film. Famed for his portrayal of Kerr Avon, a ruthless and calculating computer expert, in Terry Nation's science fiction series Blake's 7, Darrow has also appeared in Coronation Street, Emergency Ward 10 and many other productions - including two guest appearances in Doctor Who. Populated by familiar names and productions, You're Him, Aren't You? is Paul's own story of his life and career. It tells of his association with Blake's 7 - how he was cast, his experiences of making the show, what has happened since and his memories of Terry Nation, the cast and the crew. It also tells of his childhood, his time playing Elvis Presley and his near miss with James Bond.

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Book SynopsisThe moving, gripping and tell all autobiography of Traci Lords, a former child porn queen, electronica maven and cult movie and TV star.Trade Review"Frank, opinionated, intelligent, drenched in emotion...Will have readers cheering Lords on as they speed through its gritty, big-souled pages." -- Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisPeter Sallis is known to millions as Norman Clegg in the classic BBC series Last of the Summer Wine, and to millions more - whether they realise it or not - as the voice of Wallace in the Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit. Peter was to raise the curtain on richly diverse in the most unlikely of circumstances; as an amateur actor whilst serving on the RAF groundcrew during World War 2. A scholarship to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts followed, and it was from these humble beginnings that Peter would go on to become one of Britain's best loved actors.

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Book SynopsisColin Baker's career as an actor spans six decades of television and theatre. Millions know him best as the colourfully-dressed Sixth Doctor in Doctor Who, a character that has endured - and will continue to endure - through generations. This is Colin's own story, in conversation with interviewer Nicholas Briggs.

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Book SynopsisA thoughtful and deeply personal book by a master theatre-maker. In Tip of the Tongue, Peter Brook takes a charming, playful and wise look at topics such as the subtle, telling differences between French and English, and the many levels on which we can appreciate the works of Shakespeare. Brook also revisits his seminal concept of the 'empty space', considering how theatre – and the world – have changed over the span of his long and distinguished career. Threaded throughout with intimate and revealing stories from Brook's own life, Tip of the Tongue is a short but sparkling gift from one of the greatest artists of recent times.Trade Review'Engaging and thought-provoking… Brook is constantly enthralled but never daunted by contemplation of the art he serves, as this short work shows with grace and eloquence' * Shakespeare Survey *'A gem… like sitting down with Brook after a meal… this simple and accessible book contains insights and lessons from someone who has lived and breathed theatre for over seventy years' * Drama Magazine *'Full of aphoristic wisdom' * Guardian *'Short, sweet and brimming with wise saws and modern instances' * The Stage *'Peter Brook's exploration of words, theatre and everything attached is loving and heartfelt, taking his readers on a journey through his experiences and giving meaning to what he's seen and done' * Broadway World *'Filled with wisdom… devotees will be enchanted by the great director’s latest ruminations on language and the theatre' * British Theatre Guide *

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Book SynopsisUsing Chow's transnational and trans-regional star persona as a case study, Lin Feng investigates stardom as an agent for mediating the sociocultural construction of Hong Kong and Chinese identities.

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Book SynopsisHugh Jackman is a true Hollywood juggernaut. The magnetic Australian has joined countrymen Mel Gibson and Russell Crowe as an international superstar thanks to his role as Wolverine in the X-Men series, and is loved by fans worldwide thanks to his extremely varied career in film and theatre. When a young Jackman turned down a role in Neighbours to study at the prestigious WAAPA in Perth, his gamble would pay off handsomely. After a string of successful Australian musicals, Jackman's Hollywood break came as he was cast as Wolverine in 2000, catapulting him to heavyweight stardom. He has since reprised the role in box office hits The Last Stand, Origins and The Wolverine. Premium offers including 2006 animation Happy Feet, Baz Lurhmann's epic Australia - and even a rumoured shortlist spot for James Bond - soon followed. With a 2013 Academy Award nomination for his tour de force performance as Jean Valjean in the epic Les Miserables, and a star turn as Wolverine in X-Men: Days of Future Past on the horizon, Hugh is set to dominate the silver screen for the foreseeable future.

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Book SynopsisAn enthralling appreciation of the monumentally gifted popular artist and cultural icon who challenged Hollywood's standards of beauty and glamour Barbra Streisand has been called the most successful...talented performer of her generation by Vanity Fair, and her voice, said pianist Glenn Gould, is one of the natural wonders of the age. Streisand scaled the heights of entertainmentfrom a popular vocalist to a first-rank Broadway star in Funny Girl to an Oscar-winning actress to a producer and director. But she has also become a cultural icon who has transcended show business. To achieve her success, Brooklyn-born Streisand had to overcome tremendous odds, not the least of which was her Jewishness. Dismissed, insulted, even reviled when she embarked on a show business career for acting too Jewish and looking too Jewish, she brilliantly converted her Jewishness into a metaphor for outsiderness that would eventually make her the avenger for anyone who felt marginalized and powerless. Neal Gabler examines Streisand's life and career through this prism of othernessa Jew in a gentile world, a self-proclaimed homely girl in a world of glamour, a kooky girl in a world of conventionand shows how central it was to Streisand's triumph as one of the voices of her age.Trade Review"[A] spirited and entertaining cultural appreciation."—Jennifer Senior, New York Times"In this fascinating and insightful exploration of what it means to be Barbra Streisand, and what it took to become her, Mr. Gabler writes with the heart of a fan and the mind of a Freudian. He delves into Ms. Streisand’s tragic childhood and her anguish at the hand of neighborhood bullies, who taunted her for her big nose and relative poverty, and shows how they engendered in her an implacable—and stupefyingly correct—belief in the singular power of her talent as a performer."—Rachel Shukert, Wall Street Journal"Gabler, the estimable journalist, pop-cultural historian and author . . . returns to his interest in the intersection of Jews, gentiles and Hollywood in BARBRA STREISAND: Redefining Beauty, Femininity, and Power. . . . The author does a neat job of weaving every thread he can pull into the cloth. . . . This brief biography looks at a well-documented star in a new way."—Lisa Schwarzbaum, New York Times Book Review"Gabler . . . argues that Streisand could never have triumphed as she did if she were a natural winner . . . a convincing account of how, once, Streisand really did bend the world to her will."—Victoria Segal, Sunday Times"Gabler’s immensely readable book demonstrates through Streisand’s remarkable story that . . . it is talent that matters most, and for her embracing who she was and accepting with confidence what she looked like was instrumental in displaying that talent to the world."—Richard Edmonds, Birmingham Post"Gabler’s enthusiasm is so infectious and Barbra Streisand’s star quality so magnificent that I found myself singing the songs."—Jessica Weinstein, Jewish Chronicle"[A] smart new book, a biography-cum-critical essay on the Brooklyn-born diva. It may be the best book about Streisand you will ever read, an acute and sympathetic rendering of a career forged from yearning and steel."—Tom Shone, New Statesman"A clear-eyed, frank, and energetic look at Streisand, filled with revealing details, that fuses her life and career into vivid focus."—Bob Spitz, author of The Beatles: The Biography

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Book SynopsisA smart health and fitness bible from inspirational actress Kate Hudson.A smart beautiful book from a smart inspirational actress and fitness icon. Kate Hudson will share her insights into how every woman can live healthy, strong and beautiful from the inside out. For Kate Hudson the key to living healthfully is simplicity and positivity. The book includes lots of real-world ideas for eating better, making exercise enjoyable and for clearing the mind to leave space for positive thinking. Kate Hudson's subscription-based fitness clothing retailer, Fabletics, has been a massive success. Packed with information and inspiration, Kate Hudson's relatable beauty and dedication to wellness will come through on every page.Trade Review“This guide to becoming "pretty happy" is a simply charming path to calm self-confidence.” – Publisher’s Weekly “Kate Hudson’s Pretty Happy is a smart, insightful and realistic primer for making healthy habits part of your everyday life. From exercise to mindfulness to knowing what your body really needs to thrive, she pushes you to throw away your ideas around perfection and find your own Pretty Happy.”—Alejandro Junger, New York Times bestselling author of Clean, Clean Gut, and Clean Eats “Kate Hudson’s path to happiness is an active one. She refuses to wait for happy to happen. Instead, Pretty Happy details all the ways she makes it a priority every day. And if you've ever found yourself wondering how she maintains that famous bod, Kate is spilling the beans on that too!”—Daphne Oz

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Book SynopsisEveryone's favourite game of dilemmas, in a handy pocket book, perfect for parties and goodie bags!Ryan Gosling, Idris Elba or Benedict Cumberbatch?Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin or Boris Johnson?Your boss, work spouse or office rival?This rapid-fire game is perfect for any party or gathering and once you start playing, you won't want to stop! From historical figures to film stars, music idols to secret crushes, we provide the options the decisions are up to you So get to know your friends/family/colleagues a little better with the ultimate game of choice no passes allowed!

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Book SynopsisThis biography draws on a series of unpublished interviews and offers a startling and intitmate portrait of one of the most glamourous icons of the 20th century.In just seven years (from 1950 through 1956), Grace Kelly made eleven feature films. They established her as one of the screen''s iconic beauties, and as a performer of rare intelligence and wit. Donald Spoto, a personal friend of Kelly''s in whom she confided, is in a unique position to tell the story of her transformation from convent girl from Philadelphia to last star of Hollywood''s Golden Age to European princess. In this revelatory biography, Spoto draws on interviews with those who knew her - from James Stewart and Cary Grant to Fred Zimmerman - as well as a series of taped interviews with Kelly which have never before been published.A film of Grace Kelly''s life, Grace of Monaco, starring Nicole Kidman and Tim Roth will be released in 2014.Trade Review...an intimate portrait of one of the world's most famous women. A fine tribute to a true star * Waterstone's Books Quarterly *Spoto tells her story movingly and well * Sunday Express *Spoto was a close friend of Kelly's, so this is as definitive a biography as we will ever get * S, Sunday Express magazine *Drawing on previously unpublished conversations, Spoto explores how Kelly changed Hollywood * Harpers Bazaar *Kelly's life as told here reveals a gentler Donald Spoto than we're used to: his friendship with the star has ensured a generosity of judgement throughout...Some may yearn for a less sympathetic portrait, but it's hard to imagine that any subsequent biography could do such consummate justice to her life and career * The Times *

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Book SynopsisBest remembered for his role as the Scarecrow in the 1939 MGM musical The Wizard of Oz, Ray Bolger led a rich and extraordinary career in the decade before and more than four decades after the creation of the film. Ray Bolger: More Than a Scarecrow is the first biography of this classic American entertainer, covering the luminous and forgotten career of the eccentric dancer outside of his burlap mask. The product of a fragmented, working-class Boston Irish family, Bolger learned tap and eccentric dance steps as solace for a difficult life before running away to repertory theater and Vaudeville. From there, he would go on to become a Broadway star, a contract player at Hollywood''s major studios, one of the first performers to tour the South Pacific for the USO, a Tony Award winner, an early sitcom star, and the opening headliner of the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. Using unprecedented access to Bolger''s papers and many never-before-published photographs, Ray Bolger: More Than a ScarecrowTrade ReviewThe book is most engaging in reconstructing the creation of shows, with offstage difficulties set in counterpoint to onstage creativity. Summing up: Recommended * CHOICE *Not only does Van Leuven provide an exploration of Bolger's life and career, but she also re-creates the eras in which he worked. Written in an inviting style without being overcomplicated, the author introduces readers to vaudeville in the 1920s, then the growing popularity of film, and later, television. * Judd Hollander, The Epoch Times *Holly Van Leuven transfigures Ray Bolger from a tall and gangling man of straw, with a long face and sad-drooping eyelids over bulging eyes, tripping over his steps in wobbling legomania, to an elegant and ever-so-smooth soft-shoe dancer whose entwining slides, crossover steps, and graceful tapping turns ennobled him as one of the greatest stylists of all. Why has it taken three decades from Bolger's death to write about this dancing vaudevillian who was dubbed the Jazz Nijinsky? A terrifically entertaining and insightful read. * Constance Valis Hill, author, Tap Dancing America, A Cultural History *Deftly written and astutely researched, Holly Van Leuven's Ray Bolger: More Than a Scarecrow is as enchanting as her subject. Van Leuven skillfully places the beloved hoofer at the center of a history of the American entertainment industry- from Vaudeville to Broadway to Hollywood- that reads as vividly as Ray Bolger danced. * Megan Marshall, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Margaret Fuller: A New American Life and Elizabeth Bishop: A Miracle for Breakfast *Holly Van Leuven has written an outstanding book about Ray Bolger, which tells the compelling story of his career at the same time as it powerfully places him in the greater narrative of American show business in the 20th century. The tales of Bolger's legendary career are filled with fascinating, meticulously researched details, and simultaneously feel personal and emotionally engaging. * Jennifer Ashley Tepper, author of The Untold Stories of Broadway, volumes 1, 2, and 3 *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Timeless Wanderer Chapter 1: "What Will You Be? It's Up to You!" Chapter 2: Entering Show Business Chapter 3: Steppin' in Society Chapter 4: Depression Days Chapter 5: Broadway Goes West Chapter 6: Jupiter Forbid Chapter 7: Soldiers in Greasepaint Chapter 8: Where's Charley? Chapter 9: The New Triple Threat Man Chapter 10: All American Epilogue: No Sad Songs Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBeautifully written * Christopher Bray, Mail on Sunday *So revolutionary - and so urgently needed...a healthy corrective to preordained, punitive accounts of her life. * Tim Robey, The Telegraph *Eye-opening and always engaging... Barrios has fashioned a wonderful biography of Marilyn Monroe. * Leah K. Huey, Library Journal *This eloquent and thoughtful book focuses on Marilyn Monroe's work - yes, her work, not her private life and not her mysterious death...With its mouthwatering prose, this book achieves the desired effect of luring us back to Monroe's films, the good and the bad. * Ysenda Maxtone Graham, The Times *...beautifully written ...critical biography [that] takes its subject very seriously indeed. * The Mail on Sunday *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter One: A Life in Days Chapter Two: Apprenticeships Chapter Three: Breakthroughs Chapter Four: The Fox Blonde Chapter Five: Seriously Chapter Six: Detonating Chapter Seven: Tiffany's Chapter Eight: Due Diligence Chapter Nine: No Name Required Chapter Ten: Course Correction Chapter Eleven: A Sense of Self Chapter Twelve: Wait for Sugar Chapter Thirteen: Off Broadway Chapter Fourteen: The Desert Chapter Fifteen: Full Stop Chapter Sixteen: Legacies Epilogue Filmography Annotated Discography Television And Miscellaneous Selected Annotated Bibliography

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Book SynopsisBette Davis’s career becomes a vehicle for a deep examination of American race relations.Trade Review"A prescient book about white people who mean well but fall short . . . There is no other book in which the author takes herself as the object of reception study and, in so doing, exposes the lived aspect of the US race and class divide. The reader who is initially drawn to this book because of a fascination with stardom will find a deeply insightful, impeccably researched study of American culture."--Jane Gaines, author of Pink-Slipped: What Happened to Women in the Silent Film Industries? "A unique take on the work of Bette Davis, Bette Davis Black and White is important not only for extending an understanding of the actor's racial politics, attitudes and practices, but also for raising the profile of several important, but largely unknown, Black supporting actors. This book will appeal strongly to scholars of race, twentieth-century American history, film audiences, and fan studies."--Martin Shingler, author of Star Studies: A Critical GuideTable of ContentsHistorical Note Chapter 1 Introduction: Black and White Chapter 2 Little Foxes and Little Brown Wrens Chapter 3 The Poetics of Color in Jezebel Chapter 4 Melodramas of Blood in In This Our Life Chapter 5 The Whiteness of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Chapter 6 Bette Davis Black and White Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThe incomparable, indestructible Hal Needham broke 56 bones and his back - twice - as a stuntman in movies and TV shows like Mission Impossible and The French Connection. He hung upside down from an airplane in Spirit of St. Louis, jumped between galloping horses in Little Big Man and he taught John Wayne how to really throw a punch.When his stunt career working with the likes of Kirk Douglas and Steve McQueen was over, Needham''s adventures continued. He directed the classics Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball Run, starring his roommate Burt Reynolds. He owned the Skoal Bandit NASCAR team and the Budweiser Rocket Car, which broke the sound barrier. Needham shares all the outrageous stories that could only come from a man who earned a living risking his life.

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Book SynopsisCharacters are central to our experiences of screened fictions and invite a host of questions. The contributors to Screening Characters draw on archival material, interviews, philosophical inquiry, and conceptual analysis in order to give new, thought-provoking answers to these queries. Providing multifaceted accounts of the nature of screen characters, contributions are organized around a series of important subjects, including issues of class, race, ethics, and generic types as they are encountered in moving image media. These topics, in turn, are personified by such memorable figures as Cary Grant, Jon Hamm, Audrey Hepburn, and Seul-gi Kim, in addition to avatars, online personalities, animated characters, and the ensembles of shows such as The Sopranos, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad.Trade Review"This book is a remarkably accessible collection of essays on some of the most theoretically complex aspects of actors and acting on film and in other media. It also covers a wide selection of films, TV-series, and computer games, making it a standard work in the fields of Cognitive Film Studies, Philosophy and Film, and even Celebrity Studies." --Erik Hedling, Professor, Lund University, SwedenTable of ContentsCONTENTS ; ;List of Figures ; ;Acknowledgments ; ;Notes on Contributors ; ;Foreword: Consorting with Characters ; Murray Smith ; ;Introduction: Screening Characters ; Johannes Riis and Aaron Taylor ; ;Part 1: The Importance of Actors ; ;1. Seeing and Hearing Screen Characters: Stars, Twofoldness, and the Imagination ;Ted Nannicelli ; ;2. Character and the Star Vehicle: The Impact of Casting Cary Grant ;Kathrina Glitre ; ;3. Character Collaborations: The Writer-Actor Relationship in Mad Men ;R. Colin Tait ; ; ;Part 2: Social Types, Social Contexts ; ;4. Being Typical and Being Individual ;Henry Bacon ; ;5. The Mark of the Social: Stereotypes, Folk Psychology and Metonymy in Mainstream Film ;Tico Romao ; ;6. Racialized Disgust and Character in Film ;Dan Flory ; ; ;Part 3: Medium-Specific Features and Constraints ; ;7. Impossible Characterizations ;Paisley Livingston ; ;8. Performative Metamorphosis: Animated Characters and Spectator Proximity ;Pete Sillett ; ;9. Social Media as Interface, or How Characters Enter Our Everyday Reality ;Philippe Gauthier ; ;10. Owning Our Actions: Identification with Avatars in Video Games ;Andreas Gregersen ; ; ;Part 4: Emotional and Moral Engagement ; ;11. Ethical Criticism and Fictional Characters as Moral Agents ;Carl Plantinga ; ;12. Absorbed Character Engagement: From Social Cognition Responses to the Experience of Fictional Constructions ;Katalin Bálint and Ed Tan ; ;13. "Familiarity Breeds Contempt:" Why Fascination, Rather than Repeat Exposure, Better Explains the Appeal of Antiheroes on Television ;Malcolm Turvey ; ; ;Part 5: The Character within Genres ; ;14. Girls Who Can Leap Through Time: Shojo and Time Travel in East Asian Media ;Jinhee Choi ; ;15. Action and Affordances: The Action Hero’s Skilled and Surprising Use of the Environment ;Birger Langkjær and Charlotte Sun Jensen ; ;16. Introducing Characters in Television Crime Series: Stylistic and Narrative Strategies ; Lennard Højbjerg ; ;Index ;

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Book SynopsisInterviews with over forty of the most iconic entertainers, broadcasters, writers and stars of British Television.Trade Review"I so enjoyed being interviewed by someone who realises it is the news that is the star and not the newsreader - as my mentor Alastiar Burnet always said!"; Alastair Stewart OBE ;"Josh Barry is without doubt a force of nature.";Larry Lamb ;"Josh Barry is a brilliant interviewer. I am so proud to have had a chance to meet him. His book deserves to be widely read."; Stanley JohnsonTable of ContentsForeword Acknowledgements Introduction Showbiz legends Barry Cryer Tim Brooke-Taylor Jimmy Tarbuck Dame Esther Rantzen George Layton Melvyn Hayes Ray Galton O.B.E. and Alan Simpson O.B.E. Television's coming of age Chris Tarrant Jasper Carrott Richard Digance Peter Duncan Steve Nallon Broadcasters Krishnan Guru-Murthy Jon Snow Alastair Stewart Alan Titchmarsh John Hannam Comedy Ben Elton Arthur Smith Larry Lamb Miles Jupp Vicki Michelle Sue Hodge Jeffrey Holland Brian Conley Joe Pasquale Paul Jackson Writers Tony Jordan Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran David Quantick Colin Edmonds Jonathan Maitland Dick Fiddy Chapter - The 90's Leslie Ash Gaby Roslin Phill Jupitus Mathew Priest from Dodgy Fay Ripley Gordon Kennedy Mike Dixon The New Age of Television Jeremy Kyle Stanley Johnson Lee Ridley Steve Hewlett Shirley Ballas Sum up Sir Michael Parkinson: Liza Tarbuck Michael McIntyre Anthony Joshua Claudia Winkleman About the author

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Book SynopsisThe Curse of Sherlock Holmes is the first definitive account of one of Britain’s most loved actors, Basil RathboneTrade ReviewDavid Clayton is a wonderful writer. His books are as entertaining as they are revealing and he really brings his characters to life. -- Jilly Cooper

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Book SynopsisFeaturing a host of unpublished interviews, this is the first book to explore the greatest year in Hollywood's history - 1971

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Book SynopsisA cinematic and vibrant coming-of-age memoir, Chasing the Panther captures the thrilling and, at times, heartbreaking early years of Carolyn Pfeiffer, a pioneering film producer and one of Hollywood''s first female executives—a “mini-mogul” in the words of the Wall Street Journal.  For a moment in the 1980s, Carolyn Pfeiffer was the only woman in Hollywood who could greenlight a movie. Working with directors like Sam Shepard and Wes Craven, and with actors like River Phoenix and Bette Davis, she had a hand in producing or distributing many landmark films, among them Ridley Scott''s The Duellists, Alan Rudolph''s Choose Me, and the Academy Award-winning Kiss of the Spider Woman. However, long before establishing herself as a player in the world of film, Carolyn was a horseback-riding tomboy who dreamed of exploring the world beyond her small hometown. Her journey turned out to be a tale fit foTrade Review'The young southern girl who stepped through the looking glass at the right time may be the one to explain the magic hold of movies. Immensely pleasurable, vivid, and precise, Carolyn Pfeiffer's beautifully written and acutely felt memoir brings you into her life and puts you in her skin as she discovers the seductions of Europe and the glamour of show business. And she writes so well about what love affairs are made of and how they go'. * Joan Juliet Buck, author of The Price Of Illusion *'Chasing the Panther is the feminist serial you always longed for, dropping you right into the middle of the explosive European film world of the fifties and sixties, where Carolyn Pfeiffer not only is in the right place at the right time but is the right person: she makes her own way, meets everyone, falls in love a lot, works hard on and off the set with directors and actors, and by the seventies, winds up being the only female producer in Hollywood able to green-light a film. And she has wisdom. This book is such a beautiful read.' * Eileen Myles, poet, author of Chelsea Girls *'A terrific read. The education of a pioneering indie studio executive as a young woman whose film school was European art cinema at its heyday, and also an intimate memoir of a life in the fast lane during the Swinging Sixties, careening from Rome to Paris to London, working and partying with the likes of Visconti, Truffaut, and the Beatles.' * Thomas Schatz, professor at the University of Texas at Austin; film historian and author of the bestselling book The Genuis of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era *'Carolyn has experienced firsthand what it's like to be part of the glamour and guts of greatness while still feeling her cheeks blush and heart soar. Those same sensations become ours. This book should be required reading for anyone with a dream.' * Alan Rudolph, multiple award-winning director and writer *'Carolyn Pfeiffer fearlessly joined an international cultural revolution where she gracefully embraced opportunities in fashion, the film industry, and single motherhood. Achievement, glorious highs, and tragic lows . . . her life reads like a novel.' * Joan Tewkesbury, filmmaker, author, and senior advisor at the Sundance Institute *'Carolyn Pfeiffer's adventures in her most unusual and adventurous life have included associations with rogues and royalty, creative changers of culture and wayward souls looking for redemption. She has, in the process, built companies, created media moguls, built schools, produced Academy-recognized films, and crashed through more glass ceilings than imaginable, all with grace and wit and charm. If there was cutting-edge of action of the cultural front, Carolyn was there: brave, confronting, and unbowed. And on top of all of that, her men have generally been famous, good looking, literate rascals, and she always gave them the run of their lives.' * Thom Mount, producer and former president of Universal Pictures *'Carolyn was there at virtually every defining juncture of modern entertainment culture--from the French New Wave to the London music scene through the rise of the American independent film movement.' * Keith Carradine, Emmy and Tony-Award nominated actor and Academy Award-winning songwriter *'This book is a gem. Carolyn's dazzlingly bold and marvelous souvenirs knock one out from page one. Her prose is powerful and graceful, her life fascinating: she worked for the likes of Visconti, Claudia Cardinale, and Alain Delon (to drop a few names) and is always gracious and generous about them. I love her and love her book. So will you.' * Geraldine Chaplin, actor and winner of the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Goya Awards *

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Book SynopsisExplores the key role of dramatic episodes that occur offstage and beyond the knowledge-generating faculty of playgoers' sight. Does Ophelia drown? Is Desdemona unfaithful to Othello? Does Macbeth murder Duncan in his sleep? Site Unscene considers how the drama's non-visible and eccentric elements embellish, alter, and subvert visible action on the stage.

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Book SynopsisPeter Lorre described himself as merely a "face-maker." His own negative attitude also characterizes traditional perspectives on the actor's career which position Lorre as a tragic figure within film history: the promising European artist reduced to a Hollywood gimmick, unable to escape the murderous image of his role in Fritz Lang's M.Trade Review “…in her important new study of Lorre’s career…[the author pursues] a rewarding approach that combines careful archival research with clever film analysis to illuminate Lorre’s career from a new angle that not only impacts our understanding of this actor, but also presents an important new way to understand the complex exchanges between on-screen and off-screen performances more generally.” · Senses of Cinema “In general, the strength of Thomas’s work is that she is familiar with the previous scholarship but also feels free to critique the conclusions of those earlier authors. She focuses much less on biography and gives more attention to theories of drama, which allows her to explore new and interesting aspects of Lorre’s performances…This is an excellent text that adds tremendously to our understanding of the works of Peter Lorre and, by extension, émigré artists in general.” · Journal of Austrian Studies "The author has a sophisticated command of the material and the book is balanced, judicious and very thorough. In particular, the author explores aspects of Lorre’s career that have been neglected or misunderstood: his “Mr. Moto” roles; his extensive work on radio and television; and the final phase of his film career working at AIP" · Andrew Spicer, University of the West of England "[This book] makes a significant contribution to the existing literature on stardom and acting, with not only a useful reappraisal of Lorre’s work and reputation but also with some valuable insights into the nature of “extra cinematic person,” the interrelationship between radio and cinema during the studio era, and the significance of actor collaborations. This is a fascinating study of how misconceptions arise over time regarding an actor’s persona and reputation" · Martin Shingler, University of SunderlandTable of Contents List of Illustrations Introduction Chapter 1. Lorre and the European Stage (1922–1931) Chapter 2. M, Fritz Lang and Hans Beckert (1931) Chapter 3. The Hollywood Leading Roles (1935–1941) Chapter 4. The Supporting Actor (1941–1946) Chapter 5. Der Verlorene (The Lost One)(1951) Chapter 6. The Final Screen Roles (1954–1964) Chapter 7. Alternative ‘Hollywood’ Media Contexts Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times BestsellerONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, NPR, The RootA moving, unflinching memoir of hard-won success, struggles with addiction, and a lifelong mission to give back.When Michael K. Williams died on 6 September 2021, he left behind a career as one of the most electrifying actors of his generation. From his star turn as Omar Little in The Wire to Chalky White in Boardwalk Empire to Emmy-nominated roles in HBO’s The Night Of and Lovecraft Country, Williams inhabited a slew of indelible roles that he portrayed with a rawness and vulnerability that leapt off the screen. Beyond the nominations and acclaim, Williams played characters who connected, whose humanity couldn’t be denied, whose stories were too often left out of the main narrative.At the time of his death, Williams had nearly finished a memoir that tells the story of his past whilTrade ReviewSoul-baring * The Washington Post *Immensely inspiring and candid . . . This bittersweet and poignant work will leave readers in awe * Publishers Weekly *Williams’s cool rasp leaps off every page, his story told in the direct yet impassioned language that defined his greatest characters * Vulture *A bittersweet memento of a generational talent gone too soon * Kirkus Review *A gripping, revelatory memoir * NPR *

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Book SynopsisFocusing on contemporary English theatre, this book asks a series of questions: How has theatre contributed to understandings of the North-South divide?Table of Contents1. ​Introduction - A Divided Nation: Theatre and Social Abjection.- 2. Chapter One - ‘Anti-Northern Prejudice’: Representing the Northern Subaltern.- 3. Chapter Two - ‘You’re All the Same, Lads with Bricks’: Riots and Rioters.- 4. Chapter Three - Blighting these Green and Pleasant Lands: Gypsies and Travellers.- 5. Chapter Four - ‘The Beast that Lies Dormant in the Belly of Our Country’: Race, Nation and Belonging.-

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the STR Theatre Book Prize 2023With an exclusive focus on text-based theatre-making, Inside the Rehearsal Room is both an instructional and conceptual examination of the rehearsal process. Drawing on professional practice and underpinned by theory, this book moves through each stage of rehearsals, considering the inter-connectivity between the actor, director, designers and the backstage team, and how the cumulative effect of the weeks in rehearsal influences the final production.The text also includes: - Auto-ethnographic and fully ethno-graphic case study approaches to different rehearsal rooms- Interviews with directors, actors, designers and actor trainers- A consideration of the ethics of the rehearsal room and material selected for production- Practical exercises on how to creatively read a text from an acting and directing perspectiveInformed by over 20 years of directing experience in the UK and Europe, Robert Marsden''s book offers a practical guiTable of Contents1. Introduction 2. The Rehearsal Process – An Historical Overview and Current Challenges and Opportunities 3. Documenting the Process – How have rehearsals been captured by directors, actors and academics. 4. Pre-rehearsal: Early Decisions. 5. The Rehearsal Room: First Steps. 6. The Rehearsal Room: Delving Deeper 7. The Rehearsal Room: Final Stages and the Emergence of the ‘Form’ 8. Technical and Dress: A Unification. 9. Previews and the Production Run: Choices and Impact of a ‘Live’ Medium. 10. Next Stages: How Should Rehearsal Rooms Operate in the 21st Century?

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Book SynopsisWorking with Actors provides the key to unlocking the honest, dynamic performance every actor has within them. It offers a well-articulated formulation of the Meisner Technique easy for directors and actors to use within a working context.Through setting out an accessible training programme for practitioners working across stage and screen, this book establishes a clear-cut route to building a three-dimensional character in an organic, non-intellectual fashion, based squarely on the character's objectives.Few books in this field venture out of the training studio, while in this book - alongside offering an intense and concentrated Meisner training programme - the focus is more on the pay-off': the collaborative act of developing the role and how that plays out in rehearsal and performance. Beyond that, the books uniquely offers:> a new modality for script reading, analysis and rehearsal through which the character is born in relation to other characters;> a prioritisation of thTrade ReviewThis an exciting read, especially for actors like me who have not previously had the good fortune to discover the Meisner Technique of rehearsing a script. Stephen Bayly gently, authoritatively leads us through the method, mapping unknown territory until the way is clear. If you don’t know of the Meisner Technique, this book explains it all, clearly and without fuss. Directors and actors, professional and amateur, now have a bible to believe in. * Sir Ian McKellen *An incredibly useful guide for directors and actors to using Meisner’s principles in theatre, film, or TV projects, even those who are new to the technique. Eminently useable, it leads the reader through the ‘nitty-gritty’ of applying the Meisner Technique to real projects while providing a useful context and background to its principles. * James McLaughlin, Lecturer in Drama at the University of Greenwich, UK *Table of ContentsCONTENTS PART ONE: TECHNIQUE 1. INTRODUCTION 2. SIMPLE TECHNIQUE PERFECTLY 3. FEAR 4. WORKING ‘WITH’ 5. ACTING IS DOING 6. LISTENING 7. BEYOND LANGUAGE 8. THE PINCH AND THE OUCH 9. IMAGINARY CIRCUMSTANCES 10.WHO’S THAT KNOCKING? 11.MAD SAD GLAD 12.NO SUCH THING AS A MONOLOGUE 13.TAKING IT PERSONALLY 14.IT’S JUST AN ILLUSION 15.IN SEARCH OF THE CHARACTER 16.A DIRECTOR PREPARES 17.MAPPING OUT REHEARSALS 18.TAKING SIDES 19.LAUNCHING THE CANOE 20.THE NITTY-GRITTY 21.APPLYING THE ‘AS-IF’ 22.DIGGING DEEPER 23.STRIVING FOR THE SUMMIT 24.THE REAL WORLD PART TWO: PERSPECTIVES 25.WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? 26.PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS 27.BITS NOT BEATS 28.INDICATING 29.LIQUIFIED TROUBLE 30.CAST THE ACTOR NOT THE CHARACTER 31.UNBLOCKING THE WRITER 32.EVERYONE CAN ACT 33.FAKING IT 34.THE CASE AGAINST ACTIONING 35.SUBTEXT 36.SILENCE IS GOLDEN 37.CLIPS 38.MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE 39.THE CASE FOR REALISM GLOSSARY INDEX

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Book SynopsisWritten by a highly influential post-Stanislavskian practitioner, this book offers an accessible and contemporary interpretation of The Method, setting out techniques and exercises to train and develop actors today. Going back to the roots of Method Acting and the work of Lee Strasberg and Stanislavski, and using Barrouk''s own unique practice as a lens through which to view it, The Method here is refreshed as something nuanced, contemporary, safe and practical that will benefit all actors - even those most skeptical of it.Through making a case for the relevance of Method Acting to our modern times and preserving its essence while updating its notions, the book covers the full range of the acting process, including character analysis questions, active analysis, actions, individual and group exploration, identifying actions, and developing/creating a scene in rehearsal. Practical exercises and activities are woven throughout the text, offering a modern framewor

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