Product Description
Fragments of Fear examines a wide range of Britishhorror films and the stories behind them.The early melodramas of TodSlaughter right through to Hammer and their rivals Tigon and Amicus,plus mavericks like Michael Reeves, sex/horror director Peter Walkerand more recent talents such as Clive Barker, director of "Hellraiser",are all discussed. Films studied range in scope from the sadism of"Peeping Tom" to the mutant SF of "A Clockwork Orange" and the softcoreporn/horror of Jose Larraz' "Vampyres".

Lavishly illustrated throughout, author Andy Boot unravels a tangledhistory and discovers many little-known gems amid the more familiarimages of Hammer, including a wealth of exploitationalcinema. Fragments of Fear establishes the British horror movieas a genre which can easily stand up to its more lauded Americancounterpart in the depth and diversity of its scope. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Illustrations worth the price alone
This is an overview of British horror films. Yet the subject is much wider than just horror; that is unless you consider "The Giant Behemoth" and "Fire Maidens From Outer Space" horror. In all, there are approximately, 400 films (an eight page Filmography) mentioned in this book.

It is well organized in like subject matter with several sections on Hammer films. It even comes with a warning that there is adult material; this is probably due to body and body parts being uncovered.

This is not just another pretty picture book as Andy Boot goes into many descriptive comparisons that go beyond the juicy facts.

Great overview of British Horror films
This book is a great overview of British Horror films. I have found several films that I now need to try and find on DVD or video that I had either not thought about in decades or had never heard of (The Ghoul, Horrors of the Black Museum, The Earth Dies Screaming, et al.) The writing is well done and the author does a fine job of covering a ton of films in too little space. I own several books from the film series by Creation Books and this title is one of my favorites. ... Read more

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The story of Walt Disney and the company he built based entirely on the creations of his extraordinary imagination. It covers Walt's early career, including Mickey Mouse's 1928 debut in "Steamboat Willie", all of the animated feature films from "Snow White" to "Fantasia 2000", live action films, and the theme parks such as Disneyland. The author was granted access to archives and people, interviewing hundreds of Disney staff members past and present, from chairman Michael Eisner, to the animators, to the imagineers who design the theme parks. Illustrations include concept art, background paintings, film stills and views of theme park attractions, all selected in consultation with the artists and animators themselves. This book has been revised and updated to include all major projects since the last edition, including "Toy Story 2", "Tarzan" and "Fantasia 2000". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Good only for its art
As a book that produces the art of disney (particularly its animation) this book excels! It provides a complete history of Disney art and animation.

As an art book however it is quite disappointing. I was expecting the book to explore Disney art, instead it just describes what each film or piece of art is about - something that i found to be very disappointing and underwhelming.

The book is still great if your a fan of disney animation, especially considering its size!

a puff piece, however spectacular the images may be
This book goes through the entire Disney legacy, in what is supposed to be art criticism.As far as it goes, the text is pretty good, but they are mere accompaniments to the photos, which is the bane of many art/design books.Finch makes an effort at being comprehensive, though ultimately - if you read through the whole thing - it comes off as a vanilla milk shake, with virtually no depth and ultimately flattering to just about everything Disney.

Moreover, the beginning of the text is far stronger than the end, reflecting hte fact that this is an update.As such, the author worked much harder and dug deeper on the sections that covered Walt Disney's work and ideas directly - the subject of the first edition and far more interesting than later work - and then feels the rest is pasted on to update it.To cover the post-Walt Disney things, many of which represent great art in and of themselves - would merit an independent work like the first volume.

Futhermore, by separating the book into discrete sections devoted to film, TV, parks, etc., the author misses one of the most important aspects of the Disney company:its work is self-reinforcing through all the media.Thus, though the early TV shows did not get enough commercial sponsorship and hence lost money, Walt Disney viewed the shows as the ultimate tool to implant his brand in the minds of the young.Even the toys were part of this, though they are almost entirely neglected in this book. It all fits together, each part morphing into the others, which Finch fails to see.

The worst failing of this book, though, is its utter lack of analysis beyond crude evocations of historical context.Though purporting to be a critic, Finch does not ponder any of the company's impact on, or as a reflection of, American culture, particularly the dark side.Why do many people (myself not among them as I essentially love the DIsney legacy) despise the way the company transforms culture into its own immediately recognizable brand?What does it say about the American predilection to recreate realities, such as a mock European village, rather than seeking out the real thing (even at similar cost)?These are tough questions.

In the end, this reads like something directly out of a PR department.I enjoyed the images and some of the reconstrctions of the films.But this offers little in the way of true criticism.

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!!!!!!!!
This is such a great book with great information about the disney company and of course mickey! and lots of great pictures!

Disney Lovers Dream
If you love animations from Disney, or the Disney success story, this is a must buy. My Wife loves this.

A MUST for any and all Disney fans!!
This is not just a book for Disney art lovers -- it is a terrific background on the Disney Company as a whole and the process in the art of animation.It goes into detail as to the extent of Walt's genius and leadership abilities. Never the less, the art in this collection is phenomenal!!I personally love the preliminary sketches and the process that eventually become what you see on the screen. There is also a chapter on the role the Disney Studios played during WWII.I will cherish this edition for many years to come. ... Read more

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A popular British stage and screen actor, Martin Jarvis, has had a highly successful and, by his own admission, 'strange' career. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Jarvis autobiographical sketches
Martin Jarvis got his big break in the BBC production of "The Forsyte Saga." His autobiographical account, "Acting Strangely: A Funny Kind of Life," traces his adventures, often humorous, as he eventually becomes a respected movie, stage, and television actor and gifted reader of books. His deligtful stylemakes you wish he had written more books. He is never dull, often witty, and highly intelligent. His insight into the Hollywood movie-making scene is worth the price of the book.Jarvis does not take himself too seriously, making you respect him all the more. Highly recommended.

What's good on the page is even better when the author reads
The virtues of Martin Jarvis's breezy, insightful and well-crafted autobiography have been noticed here and elsewhere.I can report that the pleasure to be derived from it is increased ten fold by listening to Martin Jarvis reading it.The voice is beautifully modulated, and apparently undamaged by forty years of theatre, TV, film and radio work.Not only is the text beautifully read, but there are also many demonstrations of Martin's Jarvis's uncanny ability to mimic and adopt other voices.You'll not only hear what Sir John Gielguid, Sir Alan Ayckbourn and Harold Pinter say, you actually believe they are there, speaking to you.Even the great radio actress Marjorie Westbury, to whom Martin Jarvis pays a high tribute, is somehow heard again in Jarvis's reading.There is also a Polish film director, and a Hollywood agent whose impersonations you will never forget.

Whether you're a theater enthusiast, an admirer of Martin Jarvis's work, a budding actor, or just someone who likes to be amused and entertained, you'll find this audio book set to be a great investment.

Oh so readable
Loved Martin Jarvis's acting stories. It's a lesson to some of us who might have thought, in our dreams, that it's all champagne and roses. This elegant Brit warns that it ain't as easy as he and some of his fellow performers make it look - life on stage and screen can be full of downs as well as ups. Jarvis's sense of adventure makes the book a page-turning treat. His Hollywood tales are nothing short of compelling, not to say hilarious. And I have never read a better account of what it is like to be on stage in some of London's most noted theatres. A beautifully written autobiography, bursting with fun, information and wise thoughts about acting. I recently had a good time in the theatre watching this British star play the title role in the Lloyd Webber/Ayckbourn 'By Jeeves, on its way to Broadway. Look out NYC. Will Jarvis be writing about his adventures on the Great White Way? Hope so.

A witty and wise acting life
This autobiography by versatile British actor Martin Jarvis answers just about every question you've ever wanted to ask concerning the mysteries - and absurdities - of his profession. Whether he is writing about his experiences in Royal National Theatre productions with Sir Peter Hall or the intense atmosphere on the set of James Cameron's Titanic, Jarvis is never less than spellbinding. He is fascinating, too, about the detailed work that has gone into his many starring roles in the plays of Alan Ayckbourn, Harold Pinter and David Hare. And the account of his Theatre Royal Hamlet is a comic classic.His pen portraits of Sir John Gielgud, Robert Duvall, Angela Lansbury, Leonardo di Caprio, Kate Winslet, and the incomparable Dame Judi Dench leap from the page with a glittering perception. I adored the stories about the author's introduction to Hollywood - the character of the hysterical manager, Travis, has to be read to be believed. But beneath the humour, Jarvis' elegant prose conveys an extraordinary sense of the value and worth of being an actor. He is moving, too, as he takes us back to his beginnings at school in South London and his early successes (and failures) at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. I particularly appreciated the tales of student work with Anthony Hopkins, Mike Leigh and Patrick Stewart. This is the best book on the secret world of actors since William Redfield's brilliant 'Letters from an Actor'. I wholeheartedly agree with Dame Judi's assessment, displayed on the cover of this unmissable paperback: "Marvellously written - I laughed and Laughed!" ... Read more

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This edition considers developments in law relating to government secrecy - the new Official Secrets Act, forensic secrecy, restrictions on broadcasting, libel law, right of reply and privacy. ... Read more

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Richard Harris's death in the winter of 2002 marked the passing of one of the great eccentric spirits of modern cinema. Latterly renowned for his grandfatherly role as Dumbledore in Harry Potter, this couldn't have been further from his heyday as an angry young man. Born into the middle-class family of a failing mill-owner, Harris planned an international rugby career - and would have made it had he not been stricken with TB. The compensatory creativity led him to a controversial theatrical career in London, and into the heart of Hollywood. But it also released the demons that constantly threatened to destroy him. Befriending Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole, the other legendary hell-raisers of the sixties, Harris's madness overshadowed everyone. For twenty years he was a semi-constant drunk, an obsessive experimenter with drugs and a passionate womaniser of Errol Flynn status, yet amazingly he managed to star in hits like Mutiny on the Bounty, Camelot and A Man Called Horse. Along the way were scattered the inevitable casualties - two marriages, bankrupt businesses, deserted friends nevertheless, he managed to retain the affection of a mass audience.This book started out in the eighties as an authorised biography, but Callen has revisited his notes and added to his merviews for this unexpurgated version. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

love richard harris
i have always been a big fan of richard harris.i would love to find a copy of him in "The Snow Goose" which was an outstanding performance by him and film generally.it was so outstanding.wish i could find it.

Its all here..and I like it
If youre a fan of Richard Harris, as I am ,you'll enjoy this biography very much. Richard Harris's life was eccentric on-screen and off; a truly gifted talent of cinema. I recommend watching Man in the Wilderness, Juggernaut, or the Cassandra Crossing. Watch Harris(in fine form) in the Harry Potter movies. Also, Pick up one of his music cds if you can. ... Read more

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The hugely successful drama brings its intelligent writing to a new book. Six Feet Under is a family drama with a macabre twist - it's set in a funeral parlour. The show has quickly grown into a bona fide cultural phenomenon, grabbing many Golden Globe and Emmy Awards in 2002, as well as a UK Comedy Award. Now, Six Feet Under's producers turn their attentions to creating a one-of-a-kind companion book. With an introduction and contributions by Alan Ball as well as the show's head writers, this book will reveal the untold stories of the characters and the events in their lives. The Six Feet Under characters are both people who live next door and the people we have never met. The Six Feet Under book takes us behind the scenes of their complex lives, including material from the yet-unaired third season, as well as providing synopses of the 39 episodes to set the stage. It is designed with an elegant, spare look reflecting the feel of the show and begulles readers as only Six Feet Under can. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

McLuhan Was Right
Much as I love the 6FU series, with its offbeat Alan Ball humor, intelligent scripts, beautifully fleshed-out characters and surprising editing, I was a little disappointed in the book.

I'm not sure what I expected. The strengths of the TV show are in the production; it's not the actors or sets which make it special but the way the show is assembled. It would be difficult therefore if not impossible to capture the unique flavor of the show in a non-moving medium.

The book tries mightily -- scrapbook entries from the characters' earlier lives, details of documents mentioned only in passing on the show, additional background on the family members and lots and lots of photos. But all this information strikes me as somewhat beside the point, because it's not the characters or the sets which make 6FU what it is. For dedicated 6FU fans the indulgence is a warm fuzzy experience, but it's not like experiencing ths show.

The elaborate packaging and kaleidoscopic content look for all the world like a Marshall McLuhan book -- whose message the book bears out. ... Read more

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This text debates the nature, scope and purpose of dance for young people. The author also offers a rigorous introduction to issues of aesthetic education for those interested in dance. Defending the view that dance is primarily an artistic activity, McFee examines the unique contribution it can make to the emotional and aesthetic development of young people. This book is intended for all student dance teachers and those interested in dance and its place in the curriculum. ... Read more

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Alicia Markova is a dancing legend. Her story is a dream come true, but not one realized without much hardship, dedication and sacrifice. The child star, Lilian Alicia Marks, as she was christened, was discovered by Diaghileff and toured throughout Europe in the acclaimed Ballet Russe. Later, aged nineteen, she returned to London penniless and in despair. It was only when the Vic-Wells ballet was formed that she became ballerina and put British ballet on the map. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

remarkable story
this is a wonderful story that touches all who reads it. It is amazing to think what one can accomplish. Beautifully written, and told. ... Read more

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The CRAC Degree Course guides provide tables that give at a glance comparisons of full-time honours degree courses in the same subject. Included are course contents, entrance requirements, and careers information. ... Read more

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George Perry takes a fresh look at the past achievements of the Monty Python team, tracing their progress from student days, through the heady times of the "Flying Circus", right up to the most recent events in their lives. Despite the completion of the fourth and final series in 1974, the Python's have remained at the forefront of the entertainment business, spanning many different media. Their careers may change direction but all are informed by the same irreverence and humour which marked their early work.In addition to the four Monty Python movies the team have been both hugely creative and amazingly prolific: John Cleese wrote and starred in the hugely successful TV series, "Fawlty Towers" and oscar-winning "A Fish Called Wanda"; Terry Gilliam directed the critically-acclaimed "Brazil" and "Baron Munchausen"; Terry Jones wrote and directed "Personal Services" and scored a great hit with his children's books, including "Eric the Viking"; Michael Palin wrote, directed and starred in a multitude of films and TV programmes including "The Missionary", "The American Friend", "Around the World in Eighty Days" and "From Pole to Pole"; and Eric Idle established his acting career appearing in, amongst others, "Splitting Heirs" and "Nuns on the Run". But the eighties were marked by tragedy with the early death of Graham Chapman. With the help of archive material, a profusion of illustrations and firsthand access to the Python team, George Perry takes an informed look at the history of the extraordinary band of humorists who made up "Monty Python's Flying Circus". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Like a biography of a rock band
Perry's first version of this biography of the Monty Python comedy team was published in 1983 and I read it in 1987. Some good friends who knew that I was python phanatic gave me this, not knowing of an earlier version--and how would they, because there is no indication on this book that it is a rewrite/reprint of anything. The indica page even states that this is a first edition and doesn't list the earlier book as the source of any material. Strange are the ways of publishers. The subject of Perry's writing deserves the update. The team has only grown in popularity over the intervening years and the members continue to entertain audiences with new work, from Gilliam's directing/writing career to Cleese's acting. The Life of Python reads like a biography of a rock band, which Python actually is more similar to than the traditional comedy group such as the Marx brothers. They are also, like the great rock groups of the sixties, now missing one member, making the chance of a true reformation impossible. Graham Chapman's death is not preventing Eric Idle from attempting a reunion "concert," this time to be presented in Las Vegas (the very idea of which appeals to the members' sense of humor).

The basic material of the book is to try to track each member of the group from their comedic beginnings to the formation of the troupe and then to the work following the cancellation of the TV series, all interwoven by time. Sounds like a mess, but it works. Perry interviewed all the members, sometimes more than once, and the book is liberally sprinkled with quotes. This new version has color photos as well as black and white, which fills the book (every page has a picture on it). This is probably the definitive biography of the group, although Kim "Howard" Johnson's The First 20X Years of Monty Python is a close second. ... Read more

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