Synopses & Reviews
Some of the movies' greatest figures, some of the most important issues raised by the medium, come under close, highly personal, and deeply informed reflection in this new book by one of our most prominent and influential critics. A pleasure to read...intelligent, well-informed, insightful and unfailingly gracious. Martin Scorsese
Table of Contents
Preface: a month of Sundays -- Mind slips: remembering and disremembering movies -- King Vidor: romantic idealist -- Garbo: the legend as actress -- Frank Capra: one man, many films -- Irene Dunne: a secret light -- Bette Davis: marked woman -- Auteur of our misery -- Charles Laughton: no room for genius -- Laurence Olivier: the master builder -- Time out: or, love in a cold climate -- Satyajit Ray: days and nights in the art houses -- Fellini: send in the clowns -- Cinema paradiso: the rise and fall of a film culture -- Sam Fuller: movie bozo -- Richard Brooks: tales out of school -- Real reality bites -- Advantage, Andy -- The star on the stairs -- Clint on the back nine -- The narrative crisis -- Author's note.