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HARRY
WARREN No other composer can match his record
for the 25 year period between 1932 and 1957,
when he was employed by all four major studios
when they were specializing in musicals.
PLEASE TELL ME IF
ANY LINK DOESN'T WORK.
CLASSIC
IMAGES, the American Movie Classic Magazine
REID'S 'FILM INDEX',
Australia's and the world's best regularly
published hardcopy guide to classic movies.
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Movie tie-ins have likely enough been
with us since the birth of the motion picture. American
publisher Grosset & Dunlap produced many tie-in
novels based on silent movies in the 1920s. I've none
from this period in jackets but all contain fine b/w
photos taken from the movie of the same name. Unlike most
TV TIE-INS which
usually take the form of a novel based on a TV series,
pre-1960 movie tie-ins were usually a reprint of an
existing novel (or stage play, as for example, in the
case of Channing Pollock's 'The Fool') with b/w photo
plates and a special jacket.
Many tie-ins of the silent period featured now
long-forgotten stars. The more desirable are those based
on original screenplays featuring the great comedians of
the time: Chaplin, Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, and of
course Harold Lloyd. Russell Holman's dedication to
Harold Lloyd in his tie-in to the latter's 'The Freshman'
makes clear his admiration for Lloyd's performance: To
Harold Lloyd, whose genius makes 'The Freshman' live upon
the screen move vividly than one could hope to catch him
between the covers of a book; and of whom Will H Hays so
truthfully said: "He couldn't make anything but
fine, wholesome pictures if he would; and he wouldn't if
he could.""
Probably the most collectable tie-ins are those from
Shirley Temple's and Judy Garland's movies of the 1930s.
Not to mention those based on the big two movies of the
late 1930s, 'Gone With the Wind' and 'The Wizard of Oz'.
During the 1930s the more popular movies generated dozens
of tie-ins apart from the novel. There were story books
for children in different formats: versions for very
young children ('nursery' books), the 7-10 age bracket
and teenagers. Painting books, paper doll books, books on
the stars themselves, cookery books; the list is almost
endless for the two big movies mentioned. For 'Wizard of
Oz' collectors, you should pick up a copy of Fricke's
'Wizard of Oz The Official 50th Anniversary Pictorial
History'.
The Second World
War saw a decline in the tie-in market but novels
continued to be produced on a regular basis. It's always
worth checking copies for autographs, not necessarily on
the front endpapers or title page. I've found autographs
on pages well to the back of such books. British and
Australian publishers also produced tie-in novels, not
always to the level of quality which came from America.
Different artists were usually used for the jackets as a
cost-cutting measure in the late 1940s and throughout the
1950s. I've a copy of Roy Chanslor's 'Johnny Guitar',
published by Robert Hale in 1954, and the jacket is not
what you'd call exciting. Joan Crawford (a fine likeness)
is almost submerged by a poorly executed Sterling Hayden.
The artwork is not credited and it seems likely that two
illustrations by two artists were combined by an art
editor with a glaring lack of taste!
And then of course there were
MOVIE ANNUALS, mostly from England.
There are
numerous books about movie stars, the best being
autobiographies by the stars themselves, the
worst being so-called 'show and tell' tales which
often leave a bad taste in one's mouth.
Occasionally a family member will produce
something special and one of the few I can
recommend is LOU'S ON FIRST (St Martin's Press,
NY, 1981). This is the unforgettable story of Lou
Costello's life and times, recounted by his
youngest daughter, Chris Costello. Tragic, funny,
weird and wonderful; the story of Hollywood life
in the 1940s and early 1950s. |
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WARD LOCK REGAL SERIES of film books
An often seen series of movie tie-in books of the early
1950s. Usually contain 8 colour plates
CHALLENGE TO LASSIE
THE SUN COMES UP (Lassie)
THE THREE MUSKETEERS
ROGUES OF SHERWOOD FOREST
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD 3 versions; 8, 16 and 32
colour plates
KING SOLOMON'S MINES
TOM BROWN'S SCHOOL DAYS scarce
THE PAINTED HILLS
A CHRISTMAS CAROL scarce
Are there any other titles? This list taken from a
dustjacket.
Selected
REFERENCE Works and arguably the
BEST Movie Books of All Time.
Use the
ISBN number to locate copies at your library. This list
is ongoing.
Author / title
/ publisher / date / ISBN (order by author surname)
Forrest J. Ackerman: WORLD OF SCIENCE
FICTION, Aurum, 1997/8, isbn 1 85410 573 6
Adair& Roddick: A NIGHT AT THE PICTURES
[10 DECADES OF BRITISH FILM], Columbus, 1985, isbn 0
86287 188 3
Richard Anobile: ALIEN - movie novel,
Future, 1979 isbn 0788 1688 6
Richard Anobile: WHO'S ON FIRST?,
Darien, 1974, isbn 0 517 138778
Alan Barbour: CLIFFHANGER [The Serial],
A&W, 1977, isbn 0 89104 070 6
Alan Barbour: DAYS OF THRILLS AND ADVENTURE,
MacMillan, 1970, isbn nk
Alan Barbour: A THOUSAND AND ONE DELIGHTS,
Collier-MacMillan, 1971, isbn nk
Behlmer & Thomas: HOLLYWOOD'S HOLLYWOOD,
Citadel, 1975 [79 pb], isbn 0 8065 0680 6
Ronald Bergan: GLAMOROUS MUSICALS,
Octopus, 1984, isbn 0 7064 2550 2
Daniel Blum: A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE SILENT
SCREEN, Spring 1955, isbn na
Daniel Blum: A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF TALKIES,
Spring 1958, isbn na
Simon Brand: PICTURE PALACES AND FLEA-PITS
[80 Years of Australians at the Pictures], Dreamweaver,
1983, isbn 0 949825 03 4
Frank Coffey: ALWAYS HOME [50 Years of
the USO], Brassey's, 1991, isbn 0 08 040576 2
Bill Collins: BOOK OF MOVIES, Cassell,
1977, isbn 0 7269 1369 3
John Eames: THE MGM STORY [50th
Anniversary], Octopus, 1975, isbn 0 904230 14 7
John Eames: THE PARAMOUNT STORY,
Octopus, 1985, isbn 0 7064 2057 8
George
Eels: HEDDA
& LOUELLA (1972) Dual biography of
Hollywood columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons.
From their childhood through to the golden years of
Hollywood in the 30s and 40s, and beyond, this bio gives
a comprehensive overview of the stars and their
hangers-on. Always interesting, often surprising, even
shocking, you will find this 340+ page book holds your
attention from start to finish. Recommended. (JT 7.10)
Bill Feret: LURE OF THE TROPIX [The
Tropic Temptress in Films, Serials and Comics] , Proteus,
London, 1984, isbn 0 86276 281 2
Joel Finler: THE HOLLYWOOD STORY,
Octopus, 1988, isbn 0 7064 2866 8
P. Fox-Sheinwood: GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN,
Bell [Crown], 1981, isbn 0 517 335077
John Fricke et al: THE WIZARD OF OZ
[50th Anniversary], Warner, 1989, isbn 0 446 51446 2
Griffith & Mayer: THE MOVIES,
Spring, 1957, isbn na
Phil Hardy: SCIENCE FICTION [film
sourcebook], Morrow, 1984, isbn 0 688 00842 9
Heide & Gilman: STARSTRUCK [Movie
Memorabilia], Doubleday, 1986, isbn 0 385 19795 0
S & M. Hibbin: WHAT A CARRY ON [30th
Anniversary], Hamlyn, 1988, isbn 0 600 55819 3
Clive Hirschhorn: THE HOLLYWOOD MUSICAL,
Octopus, 1981, isbn 0 7064 1280 x
Clive Hirschhorn: THE COLUMBIA STORY,
Pyramid, 1989, isbn 1 871307 87 2
Clive Hirschhorn: THE WARNER BROS. STORY,
Octopus, 1979, isbn 0 7064 0797 0
Clive Hirschhorn: THE UNIVERSAL STORY,
Octopus, 1983, isbn 0 7064 2731 9
Holliss & Sibley: THE DISNEY STUDIO
STORY, Octopus, 1988, isbn 0 7064 3040 9
Jewell & Harbin: THE RKO STORY,
Octopus, 1982, isbn 0 7064 1285 0
Jones & McClure & Twomey: CHARACTER
PEOPLE, Citadel USA (Barnes, 1976) isbn 0 8065
0669 5
Garson Kanin: GREAT HOLLYWOOD TEAMS,
A&R, Sydney, 1981, isbn 0207 14659 4
Arleen Keylin: HOLLYWOOD ALBUM 2 (and
1) [obituaries from The New York Times], Arno,
1979, isbn 0 405 10311 5 (1), 0 405 12416 3 (2)
Kidder & Daniels: MARILYN MONROE unCOVERS,
Quon, 1994, isbn 0 9695539 7 8
John Kobal: GOTTA SING GOTTA DANCE,
Hamlyn, 1970, isbn 0 600 03126 8
Lloyd & Robinson: MOVIES OF THE FORTIES,
Orbis, 1982/4, isbn 0 85613 661 1
Leonard Maltin: THE GREAT MOVIE SHORTS,
Bonanza, 1972, isbn 0 517 504553
H & M Medved: THE 50 WORST MOVIES OF ALL TIME,
A&R, 1979, isbn 0 207 14521 0
Morella & Epstein: JUDY, Citadel,
1969, isbn8 8065 0206 1
David Quinlan: THE ILLUSTRATED DIRECTORY OF FILM
STARS, Batsford, London, 1981, isbn 0 7134 3891
6
PARRISH,
Robert: GROWING UP IN HOLLYWOOD (1976) Bob Parrish,
perhaps better known as a director, began as a child
actor in Hollywood. His matter of fact recollections,
gleaned from a photographic memory, put the reader there
with him as he takes directions from some of the greats
of Hollywood including Charlie Chaplin and John Ford.
This is without a doubt the best collection of Hollywood
memories ever penned. By the time you reach the final few
chapters, you will be wishing for another book to follow
and there was. That's another story, and another review.
Top recommendation. (JT 6.10)
Danny
Peary: ALTERNATIVE OSCARS, S&S,
1993, isbn 0 671 71239 x
Paul Rotha: MOVIE PARADE, The Studio,
9/1936, isbn na
Ted Sennett: HOLLYWOOD'S GOLD YEAR, 1939,
St. Martin's, 1989, isbn 0 312 03361 3
Siegel & Suares: ALIEN CREATURES,
Harper & Row, 1978, isbn nk
Neil Sinyard: THE FILMS OF STEVEN SPIELBERG,
Bison, 1986, 0 86124 352 8
Neil Sinyard: THE FILMS OF WOODY ALLEN,
Bison, 1987, 0 86124 353 6
John Springer: ALL TALKING! ALL SINGING! ALL
DANCING!, Citadel, 1966, isbn nk
Penny Stallings: FLESH AND FANTASY, St.
Martin's, 1978 isbn 0 517 336502
John Taylor: GREAT MOVIE MOMENTS,
Octopus, 1987, isbn 1 85029 133 0
Tony Thomas: THE FILMS OF THE FORTIES,
Citadel, 1975 [77 pb], isbn 0 8065 0571 0
Tony Thomas and Aubrey Solomon: THE FILMS OF 20TH
CENTURY FOX, Citadel, USA, 1979, isbn 0 8065
0719 5
Thomas & Terry & Berkeley: THE BUSBY
BERKELEY BOOK, Thames & Hudson, London,
1973, isbn 0 500 011125
Twomey & McClure: THE VERSATILES
(Character actors 1930-55) Castle or Barnes, USA 1969
Mark Vaz: THE WAY THE FUTURE WAS LOST IN SPACE,
HarperPrism, 1998, isbn 0 06 105392 9
Jon Warren: WARREN'S MOVIE POSTER PRICE GUIDE,
Harmony, 1986, isbn 0 517 56167 0
Bill Yenne: THE LEGEND OF ZORRO, Bison,
1991, isbn 0 86124 904 6
SOME
GREAT MOVIE READING
Below
you'll find listed (in date order) some of my favourite
articles from various movie publications: Australian,
American and English. This is ongoing, so the list will
take a while to expand.
Author /
title / publication* / date
Eddie Kessler: JACK ARNOLD, in Horror Fan (US), Summer 1989
Winick, Charles: THE FACE WAS FAMILIAR
in Films and
Filming (UK),
January 1965 (The demise of the character actor.)
HELP
REQUIRED
FILM SHOW
ANNUAL and NEW FILM SHOW ANNUAL (UK) See annual
illustrated above far right.
From: johnraynor@optusnet.com.au (John Raynor)
Requires information on dating these otherwise undated
annuals published in the 1950s and possibly 1960s.
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