CATALOGUES - Art & Entertainment - Entertainment

Exposing the real stories behind 100 hit reality-based movies, this captivating resource offers interesting facts about some of the most well-respected and much-loved films. For both film buffs and casual moviegoers, this invaluable guide explores Hollywood's ardent and often uncomfortable relationship with the factual accounts it converts into fantasy. Illuminating films such as A Beautiful Mind; Adaptation; Apollo 13; Black Hawk Down; Catch Me If You Can; Erin Brockovich; The French Connection; The Perfect Storm; and Titanic; thi... read more

Bounty is a cornucopia and a ship. Ships envelop you and land you in new worlds. The opening sequence of sonnets pays hommage to Frank Hurley, the photographer on Shackleton's Endurance, which was crushed in the pack-ice in Antarctica in 1915. The central sequence of the collection recounts the voyage of the Bounty alongside that of the Odyssey, through sonnets addressed to blind fiddler, Michael Byrne, who enjoyed 'allurements of dissipation beyond anything that can be conceived' in Tahiti, was shipped back in chains to England an... read more

"The Maltese Falcon" has been widely lauded since its original publication in 1930. In its movie adaptation, it not only birthed American film noir but also ranks as one of the 100 greatest movies of all time, as selected by the American Film Institute. Now, this treasury of memorabilia on Sam Spade and his creator, Dashiell Hammett, uncovers a wealth of documents and photos about the book and movie from institutional and private archives, many of which are previously unpublished and are available nowhere else. Providing far more i... read more

Even the most ardent fans of "It's a Wonderful Life" will be surprised and delighted by the insightful discussions of film details, cast anecdotes, curiosities, and gaffes found in this charming guide. Providing a fresh perspective, this companion includes a handy film chronology and an overview of the plot, a complete breakdown of the musical score, a fun and challenging quiz, a DVD bookmarking feature designed to give instant access to favorite scenes and other points of interest, informative historical sidebars, the complete lyr... read more

Contrary to the belief that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone assassin in Dealey Plaza at the time that President John F. Kennedy was shot, this account maintains that a gunman located on the grassy knoll delivered the final, fatal shot. Based on interviews with James E. Files, the alleged gunman, the chronicle proposes that the assassination was initiated by the CIA in collaboration with organized crime--Sam Giancana, Charles Nicoletti, and Johnny Roselli, in particular. Subsequent discoveries made through the assistance of a number ... read more

From the jolting summer electricity of "Jaws" to mending a broken heart with "When Harry Met Sally," this entertaining and unique guide takes movies off the silver screen, offering viewing recommendations tailored to everyday situations. Equipped with more than 1,300 movie suggestions, this informative resource covers every landmark event, social situation, and annual occurrence from having a baby to watching the Super Bowl. Organized by categories such as holidays, seasonal passages, life phases, and emotional trials and eruptions... read more

The ultimate biography of National Lampoon and its cofounder Doug Kenney, this book offers the first complete history of the immensely popular magazine and its brilliant and eccentric characters. With wonderful stories of the comedy scene in New York City in the 1970s and National Lampoon's place at the center of it, this chronicle shares how the magazine spawned a popular radio show and two long-running theatrical productions that helped launch the careers of John Belushi, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, and Gilda Radner and went on to ... read more

Based in part on the recent interviews with over 125 people - among them Tommy Ramone, Chris Stein (Blondie), Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), Hilly Kristal (CBGBs owner), and John Zorn - this book focuses on punk's beginnings in New York City to show that punk was the most Jewish of rock movements, in both makeup and attitude. As it originated in Manhattan's Lower East Side in the early 1970s, punk rock was the apotheosis of a Jewish cultural tradition that found its ultimate expression in the generation born after the Holocaust.Be... read more

This is the book that restarted the James Dean cult by celebrating him as the cool, defiant visionary of pop culture who made adolescence seem heroic instead of awkward and who defined the style of rock ’n’ roll’s politics of delinquency. The only book to fully show how deliberately and carefully Dean crafted his own image and performances, and the product of still unequalled research, vivid writing, intimate photographs, and profound meditation, James Dean: The Mutant King has become almost as legendary as its subject.

Questioning the assumptions that govern our culture, this book focuses on one medium -- the movies. In particular, it examines how movies are packaged, distributed, and promoted, exposing industry secrets such as how Miramax often buys distribution rights to movies it then fails to distribute, presumably to make sure its competitors don't get them. The book shows, for the first time, how the corporate ownership of movie theaters defies antitrust laws and precedents stretching back over 50 years. While the average American can usual... read more

Based on the hit TV series Outrageous Fortune, this outrageous family album introduce all the characters and their tips for a fulfilling life in the West, including recipes, love stories, defining moments and disasters. Complete with behind-the-scenes photos, actors' interviews, quiz, drinking game and episode summaries.

Novice and aspiring filmmakers seeking to learn how to develop a feature film will find a step-by-step blueprint in this guide. Drawing upon the more than 30-years experience of an industry professional, the book examines how to identify and break down shooting sequences in scripts, scout locations, create a production board and shooting schedule, deal with unions, budget a film, and rebound when it all goes wrong. Along the way, readers learn how to economise to get the most value from limited funds and what to look for in a prosp... read more

In this entertaining book, readers will find interesting and unusual facts about television and movies. What was Lucille Ball's real name? Who almost played Colombo? What are they not telling us about American Idol? No one will know more surprising and stupid stuff than readers of this book. Great for schoolwork, travel fun, or armchair reading. 176 pp.

"Greg Pak's fantasy anthology piece, which details the ways robots have complicated the lives of humans, has a dexterous sense of wonder. . . . Mr. Pak's feel for melodrama adds a piercing and thoughtful end note similar to the emotional gravity found in Stephen King novellas like "The Body" and "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption," both in Mr. King's collection "Different Seasons," But it's Mr. Pak's respect for the actors that he's selected that seems to work hand-in-exoskeleton with the thematic mission of the protagonists i... read more

As each new Michael Crichton book grazes the cutting edge of scientific technology, this innovative guide serves to expose the plausibility behind the inventions of Crichton’s thrilling fiction. This fascinating analysis puts Crichton’s novels to the test, examining shocking developments—regarding dinosaur cloning, global warming, nanotechnology, time travel, animal behavior, and human genetics—and revealing the validity of the science behind them (or lack thereof). Exposing the truth behind the miracles and nig... read more

This book is a celebration of forty years of Scotland's national ballet company, with stunning photographs and a lively appreciation and commentary by Mary Brennan, Scotland's foremost dance critic.

This follow-up to Finding Serenity takes the examination of Joss Whedon's canceled cult favorite even further, addressing the events of the film Serenity as well as offering even more thought-provoking, fascinating, and far-thinking essays on the Firefly universe.

A consummate insider as the girlfriend of Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac singer and guitarist, Carol Ann Harris leads fans into the very heart of the band's storms between 1976 and 1984. From interactions between the band and other stars - Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, and Dennis Wilson - to the chaotic animosity between band members, this memoir combines the sensational account of some of the world's most famous musicians with a thrilling love story. Illustrated with never-before-seen photographs, the parties, fights, drug use, sh... read more

Tinseltown's fascination with the comic icon is detailed in this book, encompassing all the behind-the-scenes machinations that helped shape Superman into a screen legend--and all the derailed projects that have vilified everyone involved. These newly uncovered stories about the odyssey of bringing the Man of Steel to the big screen include the challenge of making Superman appear to fly, and the many casting processes, which at various points had Superman being played by the likes of Bruce Jenner, Robert Redford, Sylvester Stallone... read more

Delving into the world of Dune, this guide offers fascinating scientific speculation on topics including physics, chemistry, ecology, evolution, psychology, technology, and genetics. This companion to the Dune series is a must-have for any fan who wants to revisit this science fiction world and explore it even further