Showing titles in History & Criticism

Told in his own words, a very personal story from the star of many beloved and classic comedies, including Young Frankenstein, The Producers, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Gene Wilder is one of the great comic actors who defined the 1970s and 1980s in movies. From his work with Woody...

Michael Palin's diaries begin in the late 1960s when he began writing for hugely popular programs. He recounts how Monty Python emerged and triumphed. From the success and cult status brought by Monty Python, Palin shares stories from their world tours, their stay at hotels recently trashed by...

"Shatner narrates his story with touching reverence for a dear friend...Shatner's authentic performance moves the story along with humor and sincerity, making the anecdotes all the more interesting and touching." — AudioFile Magazine A New York Times Bestseller Leonard Nimoy and William...

Charming, engaging, and surprisingly forthright, Michael Caine gives us his insider's view of Hollywood and the story of his brilliant second act When he was in his late fifties, Michael Caine believed his glamorous, rags-to-riches Hollywood career had come to an end. The scripts being sent his...

Actor Rob Lowe's memoir presents a wryly funny and surprisingly moving account of an extraordinary life lived almost entirely in the public eye. A teen idol at fifteen, an international icon and founder of the Brat Pack at twenty, and one of Hollywood's top stars to this day, Rob Lowe chronicles...

Nominated for a 2014 Grammy in the Spoken Word category! Hilarious and heartfelt observations on aging from one of America's favorite comedians, now that he's 65, and a look back at a remarkable career. Billy Crystal is 65, and he's not happy about it. With his trademark wit and heart, he...

Narrated by Peter Guiness, explore the rich history of cinema like never before - from the golden age of black-and-white films to international art-house and 21st-century science-fiction - uncovering the key themes and big ideas behind more than 80 of the world's most celebrated cinematic gems...

La guerra dei vulcani racconta il triangolo di cinema, amore e gelosia tra Roberto Rossellini, Anna Magnani e Ingrid Bergman durante le riprese di Stromboli e Vulcano. Una vicenda di ambizioni e sconfitte, sfide e inganni, che è anche un ritratto appassionante del mondo cinematografico del dopoguerra, tra star osannate e troupe rivali, giornalisti a caccia di scoop e produttori disposti a tutto. Alla fine degli anni quaranta Rossellini e Magnani sono la coppia più celebre del cinema italiano: lui è il regista di spicco del neorealismo, lei la protagonista del suo capolavoro Roma città aperta.

"Remembering Roots highlights the indomitability of the human spirit; and reminds us that, like our ancestors, as long as we continue to breathe, there's hope."—LEVAR BURTON, award-winning actor, director, author, and original cast member of Roots Discover how the book and TV miniseries Roots...

New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman delivers the definitive story of the life and artistic legacy of David Letterman, the greatest television talk show host of all time and the signature comedic voice of a generation. In a career spanning more than thirty years, David Letterman redefined...

Take a trip beyond this Earth to explore the myths of The Mandalorian and uncover the anatomy of the newest space western in the Star Wars Universe. Star Wars dominates the film world. The combined box office revenue of the Star Wars movies equates to over $10 billion, making it the second...

Analysis of High Dam cinema during the July period through cinematic production and direction after the July Revolution. Analysis of the scenario, dialogue, and messages contained in the artworks, analysis of the artistic production process, and how High Dam cinema was presented through cinema at that time, and why.

Analysis of women's cinema during the July period through film production and direction after the July Revolution. Analysis of the scenario, dialogue, and messages contained in the artworks, analysis of the artistic production process, and how women’s cinema was presented through cinema at that time, and why.

Analysis of the conditions of the Egyptian countryside during the July era through cinematic production and direction after the July Revolution. Analysis of the scenario, dialogue, and messages contained within the artworks, analysis of the artistic production process, how the Egyptian countryside was presented through cinema at the time, and why.

The following recording is a discussion between movie star Vivien Leigh, film producer Samuel Goldwyn and British Theatre critic Kenneth Tynan.

Gus Van Sant’s film and the ’90s cult of the alternative Gus Van Sant’s 1991 indie darling My Own Private Idaho perplexed and provoked, inspiring a new ethos for a new decade: being different was better than being good. Gentlemen of the Shade examines how the film was a coming-of-age for a generation of young people who would embrace the alternative and bring their outsider perspectives to sustainability, technology, gender constructs, and social responsibility.

Christina Crawford's book was an immediate bestseller, addressing the infrequently discussed topic of child abuse. When Paramount Pictures released the film, starring Faye Dunaway as Crawford, it was critically panned, and remains one of the most legendary critical bombs in film history. The lavish, big-screen adaptation drew unexpected laughter in the scenes depicting life in the Crawford household. Rarely have such good intentions been met with such ridicule.

When Brian DePalma's operatically violent and profane Scarface debuted in 1983, the film drew almost as much fire as the relentless gunfire in the film itself. The movie was a remake of 1932's Scarface—revamped for a new era of drugs, sex, and graphic violence. Attacked as both a celebration of cocaine-fueled excess and a condemnation of it, the film's reputation only grew as the years went by. But the real story of its success started nearly a century ago—when Hollywood first fell in love with the American gangster....

Lucas: His Hollywood Legacy is the first collection to bring a sustained scholarly perspective to the iconic filmmaker and his legacy beyond the Star Wars films. Edited by Richard Ravalli, this volume analyzes Lucas's overall contribution and importance to the film industry, diving deep into his use and development of modern special effects technologies, the history of his Skywalker Ranch production facilities, and more.

El crítico más seguido y temido del cine español nos cuenta su vida sin tapujos. Carlos Boyero es una de las figuras más seguidas y temidas del cine español. La polémica le persigue desde que hace más de cincuenta años publicara su primer artículo y, desde entonces, nunca ha dejado de...