Think you know everything there is to know about Hammer Films, the fabled "Studio that Dripped Blood?" The lowdown on all the imperishable classics of horror, like The Curse of Frankenstein, Horror of Dracula and The Devil Rides Out? What about the company's less blood-curdling back catalog? What about the musicals, comedies and travelogues, the fantasies and historical epics--not to mention the pirate adventures? This lavishly illustrated encyclopedia covers every Hammer film and television production in thorough detail, including budgets, shooting schedules, publicity and more, along with all the actors, supporting players, writers, directors, producers, composers and technicians. Packed with quotes, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, credit lists and production specifics, this all-inclusive reference work is the last word on this cherished cinematic institution.

Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather is one of the greatest movies of all time and one of the most popular: on its 35th anniversary, it continues to be a to earner on video and DVD. But what has made this classic so compelling is the unique Corleone wit and wisdom. Every fan will want to own this officially licensed, completely fascinating anthology of memorable words from the film. It features a great selection of famous quotes from the "Family," from the Don's unforgettable "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse: to Clemenza's infamous, "Leave the gun. Take the cannolis." Every sharp and witty line will bring back a memory of this great movie- and that makes it a perfect gift for the Godfather aficionado. Who would dare to resist? TM and copyright @ 2007 Paramount Pictures. All right reserved.

In the view of contemporary players and sportswriters, Chicago Cub Johnny Kling was one of the greatest catchers of all time. A strong batter, Kling was even better behind the plate, where his strong arm, quick reactions, and even his chatter harried the opposition. He was by all accounts an indispensable part of Cubs teams that won four National League pennants and two World Series titles between 1906 and 1910. Yet today he is remembered by historians as a player at the center of two unresolved questions: Was Johnny Kling's absence from baseball in 1909--during the prime of his career--the result of a salary holdout? And was he Jewish? This heavily researched biography ends the debate over those questions while restoring Kling to his place among the greats at his position. It covers in detail his exploits on and off the field (which included a world billiards championship in 1909) and his life after his playing career ended, when he became a philanthropist and gentleman farmer. The foreword is provided by Ernie Banks.

Michael Curtiz (1888-1962) was without doubt one of the most important directors in film history, yet he has never been granted his deserved recognition and no full-scale work on him has previously been published. The Casablanca Man surveys Curtiz' unequalled mastery over a variety of genres which included biography, comedy, horror, melodrama, musicals, swashbucklers and westerns, and looks at his relationship with the Hollywood studio moguls on the basis of unprecedented archive research at Warner Brothers. Concentrating on Curtiz' best-known films - Casablanca, Angels With Dirty Faces, Mildred Pearce and Captain Blood among them - Robertson explores Curtiz' practical creative struggles and his friendships and rivalries with other film celebrities including Errol Flynn, Bette Davis and James Cagney, and his discovery of future stars. Casablanca Man is the first comprehensive critical exploration of Curtiz' entire career and, linking his European work and his subsequent American work into a coherent whole, Robertson firmly re-establishes Curtiz' true standing in the history of cinema.

The great American Westerns can be profoundly meaningful when read metaphorically. More than mere shoot 'em up entertainment, they are an essential part of a vibrant, evolving national mythology. Like other versions of the archetypal Hero's Journey, these films are filled with insights about life, love, nature, society, ethics, beauty and what it means to be human, and are key to understanding American culture. Part film guide, part historical survey, this book explores the mythic and artistic elements in 52 great Westerns--some orthodox, some subversive--from the genre's first half-century. Each film is given detailed critical analysis, from the earliest silent movies to Golden Age classics like Red River (1948), High Noon (1952) and Shane (1953).

This publication examines how opening sequences in films, classic and contemporary, act as hooks to draw the viewer into the film, showing frame by frame how graphics, type and animation are used to create atmosphere, set tone, and lend impact to movies. From Hitchcock and Godard to Tarantino, Luc Besson, and Tim Burton, this large format coffee table book finally illuminates this critical role designers play in filmmaking and gives credit to those that often go uncredited.

Walter Brennan (1894-1974) was one of the greatest character actors in Hollywood history. He won three Academy Awards and became a national icon starring as Grandpa in The Real McCoys. He appeared in over two hundred motion pictures and became the subject of a Norman Rockwell painting, which celebrated the actor's unique role as the voice of the American Western. His life journey from Swampscott, Massachusetts, to Hollywood, to a twelve thousand-acre cattle ranch in Joseph, Oregon, is one of the great American stories. In the first biography of this epic figure, Carl Rollyson reveals Brennan's consummate mastery of virtually every kind of role while playing against and often stealing scenes from such stars as Gary Cooper, Humphrey Bogart, and John Wayne. Rollyson fully explores Brennan's work with Hollywood's greatest directors, such as Howard Hawks, John Ford, and Fritz Lang. As a father and grandfather, Brennan instilled generations of his family with an outlook on the American Dream that remains a sustaining feature of their lives today. His conservative politics, which grew out of his New England upbringing and his devout Catholicism, receive meticulous attention and a balanced assessment in A Real American Character. Written with the full cooperation of the Brennan family and drawing on material in archives from every region of the United States, this new biography presents an artist and family man who lived and breathed an American idealism that made him the Real McCoy.

A scholarly work examining the continuing evolution of the magazine—part of the popular Handbooks in Media and Communication series The Handbook of Magazine Studies is a wide-ranging study of the ways in which the political economy of magazines has dramatically shifted in recent years—and continues to do so at a rapid pace. Essays from emerging and established scholars explore the cultural function of magazine media in light of significant changes in content delivery, format, and audience. This volume integrates academic examination with pragmatic discussion to explore contemporary organizational practices, content, and cultural impact. Offering original research and fresh insights, thirty-six chapters provide a truly global perspective on the conceptual and historical foundations of magazines, their organizational cultures and narrative strategies, and their influences on society, identities, and lifestyle. The text addresses topics such as the role of advocacy in shaping and changing magazine identities, magazines and advertising in the digital age, gender and sexuality in magazines, and global magazine markets. Useful to scholars and educators alike, this book: Discusses media theory, academic research, and real-world organizational dynamics Presents essays from both emerging and established scholars in disciplines such as art, geography, and women’s studies Features in-depth case studies of magazines in international, national, and regional contexts Explores issues surrounding race, ethnicity, activism, and resistance Whether used as a reference, a supplementary text, or as a catalyst to spark new research, The Handbook of Magazine Studies is a valuable resource for students, educators, and scholars in fields of mass media, communication, and journalism.

Fifty Hollywood Directors introduces the most important, iconic and influential filmmakers who worked in Hollywood between the end of the silent period and the birth of the blockbuster. By exploring the historical, cultural and technological contexts in which each director was working, this book traces the formative period in commercial cinema when directors went from pioneers to industry heavyweights. Each entry discusses a director’s practices and body of work and features a brief biography and suggestions for further reading. Entries include: Frank Capra Cecil B DeMille John Ford Alfred Hitchcock Fritz Lang Orson Welles DW Griffith King Vidor This is an indispensible guide for anyone interested in film history, Hollywood and the development of the role of the director.