"While the subject of this book, movie musicals, is one of the most popular genres of film, it is difficult to describe exactly what constitutes a musical. Most films have soundtracks. And many include a few musical numbers, but how much musical content does a film need before it is officially a musical? Since there are no clear-cut rules, I based this book on a few simple guidelines. First, I excluded all silent films, for obvious reasons. Second, I excluded movies where the musical numbers were not performed by the stars of the film, or movies that are basically comedies or dramas, but include a little music. Third, I excluded concert films or any films that did not have a plot. Finally, since this is a book of images, I tried to always give preference to posters that depict people singing or dancing. It is clear that early movies were dominated by a relatively small group of wonderful performers such as Alice Faye, Betty Grable, and, of course, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers." -- Taken from the Introduction by Bruce Hershenson.

(Applause Libretto Library). Finally, an authorized libretto to this modern day classic! Rent won the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score for Jonathan Larson. The story of Mark, Roger, Maureen, Tom Collins, Angel, Mimi, JoAnne, and their friends on the Lower East Side of New York City will live on, along with the affirmation that there is "no day but today." Includes 16 color photographs of productions of Rent from around the world, plus an introduction ("Rent Is Real") by Victoria Leacock Hoffman.

A one-of-a-kind collection of movie posters spanning fifty years, from silent films to Cinemascope For four decades film historian Ira M. Resnick has been amassing a superb collection of 2,000 vintage movie posters and 1,500 stills, which has never before been published. Starstruck: Vintage Movie Posters from Classic Hollywood features the best of Resnick’s collection, with vivid reproductions of 250 posters and forty stills from the golden age of Hollywood, 1912 to 1962. In a moving introduction, Resnick relates how his love of vintage movie art translated into a career as a collector and the founder of the Motion Picture Arts Gallery, the first gallery devoted exclusively to the art of the movies. Resnick’s firsthand account offers entertaining anecdotes about how he managed to acquire such stellar film artwork, as well as historical information about the stars and films shown on the pieces he collected. Guiding the reader through the best posters and stills of his collection, Resnick provides a tour of cinematic history, starting in the silent film era and continuing up to Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). By showcasing several posters for each performer—such as Lillian Gish, the Marx Brothers, Marilyn Monroe, John Barrymore, and Audrey Hepburn—Resnick offers a unique method of charting the evolution of each movie star’s career. Organizing his account both chronologically and thematically, in later chapters Resnick discusses some of Hollywood’s legendary directors and films, and critiques fantastic graphic art from little-known films. Bonus material includes a list of Resnick’s fifty favorite one-sheets, helpful tips for the collector, and a glossary of terms and poster sizes. A must-have book for every collector and film buff, Starstruck offers a beautifully illustrated, personal tour of a bygone age of the motion picture advertising industry.

Free your mind, and the trash will follow."--BOOK JACKET.

One of the world’s premier collections of horror and sci-fi movie posters amassed, not altogether surprisingly, by the dark mind of Metallica’s lead guitarist, Kirk Hammett. Before Kirk Hammett assumed the heavy metal mantle of one of the most successful and beloved bands in rock history, he was a geek for the imaginative universe of horror. This generously illustrated book highlights the finest examples from Hammett’s personal collection—an astonishing trove of horror and sci-fi film posters that span the history of the genre. The guitarist credits his musical force to a lifelong fascination with the gothic fantasy developed in these films and their original posters. In this volume, several intriguing essays cover the history of the film poster, the brain’s response to fear, and Hammett’s own contributions to the world of the macabre.

Featuring hundreds of movie posters from silent films to the present day. This book includes some of the best known posters for movies such as: The Phantom of the Opera (1925); Dracula (1931); The Mummy's Curse (1944); Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956); Psycho (1960); Clockwork Orange (1971); Nightmare on Elm Street (1984); Scream (1996).

A fabulous series of pictorial movie encyclopedias spanning the early days of the movie industry to the present. Drawn from the author's research and personal archives, this book presents movie posters as an art form as well as a slice of America's history. High quality, all colour reproduction and accurate text makes this book excellent for reference, while movie lovers will delight in the opportunity to remember their favourite film.

Over the years the motion picture industry has (sadly) gravitated to generating poorly cropped and heavily airbrushed posters that rely far too often on celebrity head shots. Thankfully, an underground network of graphic designers and artists has reinvigorated the art of the movie poster, crafting stunning pieces for classic and cult films. Here is the first comprehensive look at the movement, presenting this eclectic and dynamic medium through more than 200 eye-popping posters from over 100 cutting-edge artists, coupled with fascinating commentary and behind-the-scenes information. These new, underground posters have quickly become the most coveted by ardent moviegoers; they are typically produced in very limited runs, sell out within minutes, and command upwards of several hundred dollars each. With a smart, fresh visual perspective, alternative movie posters celebrate classics like Star Wars, A Clockwork Orange, and The Shining as well as cult favorites: The Big Lebowski, Blade Runner, and Pink Flamingos.