Category: Books

Books

HOLLYWOOD VICTORY: THE MOVIES, STARS, AND STORIES OF WORLD WAR II

Michael J. Casey

When America went to war in 1941, Hollywood followed suit. By the end of the 1930s, the dream machine had hit its stride with a roster of homegrown talent and a steady stream of artistic-minded European refugees. Then, when the war got going, the U.S. government discovered that nothing caught the public’s attention quite like the seventh art. And the studios learned nothing engendered goodwill toward their stable of actors than them either in uniform over there or working with the boys back here. The country had come together with a shared goal. “The United States was never as, well, united as it was during World War II.” Continue reading HOLLYWOOD VICTORY: THE MOVIES, STARS, AND STORIES OF WORLD WAR II

Books, Boulder Weekly

Brad Weismann on LOST IN THE DARK: A WORLD HISTORY OF HORROR FILM

Michael J. Casey

“They always say write the book that you want to read,” Brad Weismann says. “I was looking for a reference book that covered the whole history of the horror film, and I found that there wasn’t one. … I thought: Well, there’s a need there. I should probably try to see if I can fill it.” Continue reading Brad Weismann on LOST IN THE DARK: A WORLD HISTORY OF HORROR FILM

Books, Boulder Weekly

NORMAN JEWISON: A DIRECTOR’S LIFE

Michael J. Casey

Chances are when you think of the films and filmmakers of the New Hollywood Cinema, Jewison is not the name that comes to mind first. But, as author Ira Wells points out, Jewison’s career of socially conscious films (In the Heat of the Night, A Soldier’s Story, The Hurricane) and crowd-pleasing hits (Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, Moonstruck) is ripe for reevaluation. Yes, the movies hold up, but the biggest takeaway is Jewison himself, his approach to filmmaking, and his ability to work with big names and bigger budgets without losing sight of his vision. It’s about who has the juice, Steve McQueen told Jewison. Sometimes Jewison had the juice, and sometimes he didn’t. But when he did, nothing could stop him. Continue reading NORMAN JEWISON: A DIRECTOR’S LIFE

Books

SUMMER MOVIES: 30 SUN-DRENCHED CLASSICS

Michael J. Casey

For all intents and purposes, the summer movie season began in 1975 with the release of Jaws. Set during Fourth of July weekend on the picturesque island of Amity (Martha’s Vineyard), Jaws is to summer what It’s a Wonderful Life is to Christmas. It’s inescapable, and both Summer Movies author John Malahy and Leonard Maltin (who wrote the foreword) use the blockbuster as a launching point. Jaws altered how studios made movies and viewed their audience, especially the large population of teenagers out of school and with an abundance of time on their hands. But as Malahy offers in Summer Movies: “Jaws isn’t just the prototypical summer blockbuster. It’s also a classic example of an underappreciated category of movies—those that depict the experiences, traditions, and delights of the summer season.” Continue reading SUMMER MOVIES: 30 SUN-DRENCHED CLASSICS