The Movie Book

by Phaidon Press

Book Overview

Consisting of A-Z listing of 500 iconic individuals from around the world who have made a landmark contribution to the medium of film, this volume includes actors and directors, cinematographers,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0714838470
• ISBN13: 9780714838472
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Phaidon Press
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 6.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.9" x 10.2" x 11.7"

Customer Reviews

some problems but good overall

I actually like the why this book was set up;alphabetically listing 500 names from cinema history,and providing short and pithy biographies and nice photos for each person.But there are a few problems.One egregious one is that the picture of Gong Li,actaully isn`t Gong Li(It is a picture of Gong Li`s servant girl in the movie Raise the Red Lantern.Also are are some names that should have been in here,and some that probably shouldn`t be in here.Three "major" names that were ommitted from this book were "Fredrich March"( two time Academy award winner for best actor ),"William Holden "(star of Sunset Boulevard,The Bridge on the River Kwi,the Wild Bunch,Network,Stalag 17,and many others.Also I believe he is the only actor to win an acedemy award and an emmy.And lastly "John Barrymore",who started of an a great stage actor and became,as any good movie historian will tell you,one of the greats of early cinema.

Wonderful book!

It's true that this book has many short comings starting with the fact that it is not a movie book per say but a book about the makers of cinema with very little information about them complimented with big, carefully chosen, marvellous pictures. But that's why this book works: because it's not meant to be too intricate, just an introduction to the pioneers of cinema. What makes this book is, of course, the pictures that accompany the little texts at the top. They have a sense of nostalgia about them that just make the book work. My favourite is that of Lauren Bacall standing next to Humphrey Bogart in the set of "To Have And Have Not". It's amazing because even in this still picture, Bogart's coolness, Bacall's class and their chemistry come through so powerful that they are. Apart from the pictures, the book is also good if you want to be introduced to artists you've never heard of. Basically, if you're looking for an elaborate book on cinema, don't buy this. But if you merely want an introduction then this is the book for you. And please: don't forget to check out the Bogart & Bacall picture....

I think it's wonderful!

I love this book - it is big, beautiful and full of lovely pictures that are from off the beaten track (not typical publicity stills). The price is right for such a substantial book and I wouldn't hesitate to give it to anyone who has even a passing interest in the movie industry. I don't think that the person who wrote the previous lengthy, negative review is familiar with coffee table books and "The Movie Book" is a coffee table book of the best kind. It doesn't need a comprehensive index in order to be wildly entertaining - just open it up and let it wash over you and don't wasteüY