Richard Schickel

Now in paperback, and with a new afterword: the history and process of moviemaking in general, and of Martin Scorsese's brilliant and varied films in particular, through the words and wit of the master director. With Richard Schickel as the canny and intelligent guide, these conversations take us deep into Scorsese's life and work. He reveals which films are most autobiographical, and what he was trying to explore and accomplish in other films. He explains his personal style and describes many of the rewarding artistic and personal relationships of his career, including collaborations with Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Jack Nicholson, and Leonardo DiCaprio. An invaluable illumination and appreciation of one of our most admired film directors.

Una celebración de la legendaria carrera de seis décadas de Clint Eastwood tanto delante como detrás de la cámara. Incluye comentarios del escritor y documentalista Richard Schickel y una introducción del propio Eastwood. Una retrospectiva de lujo con mas de doscientas imagenes que ofrece un recorrido intimo por la trayectoria de este polifacetico artista. Clint Eastwood ha alcanzado el estatus de icono sin igual en la historia del cine. Durante mas de seis decadas, ha protagonizado peliculas significativas, primero como actor de exito y despues en calidad de director inteligente e inquieto. Practicamente todos los personajes que Clint ha interpretado en la gran pantalla son de clase trabajadora y foraneos, hasta el reciente Walt Kowalski de Gran Torino (2008); su estilo de hacer peliculas es tambien de clase trabajadora: simple, directo y de bajo presupuesto. Tambien subyace su obsesion por las familias, desde el cantante de blues alcoholico y moribundo de El aventurero de medianoche (1982), que se convierte en una atipica figura paterna, hasta el asombroso retrato familiar de Mystic River (2003). Eastwood tambien ha explorado lo que significa ser hombre y norteamericano en el mundo moderno a traves de peliculas como En la cuerda floja (1984) y Sin perdon (1992). Este libro constituye un merecidisimo tributo a esta figura del cine cuyos logros han enriquecido nuestra cultura y arrojado luz sobre los tiempos en que nos ha tocado vivir.

From "Rin Tin Tin" to "Casablanca" to "Harry Potter," the Warner Bros. story is the history of Hollywood. Eighty-five years of screen icons, legendary films, and history-making achievements are detailed in this comprehensive, photo-filled treasure trove, fully authorized by the studio. No production company has had more legendary films, stars, or influence on the course of Hollywood than Warner Bros. Among the superstars who worked for the studio are Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Joan Crawford, Marlon Brando, James Dean, and John Wayne. Filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Stanley Kubrick made history for the studio, and it has been home to blockbuster franchises like "Superman," "Batman," "Lethal Weapon," and "Harry Potter," Produced in conjunction with Warner Bros., this volume is the ultimate guide to the greatest movie studio in history. "You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story" is also the companion to a five part documentary in the PBS American Masters series by author Richard Schickel that will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the spring of 2008 and debut on PBS in the fall, to coincide with publication of the book.

This will make your day! A richly illustrated retrospective celebrating the life and films of Clint Eastwood written by renowned film critic, and acclaimed documentary filmmaker, Richard Schickel and with an introduction by the legend himself. Clint Eastwood is a Hollywoodand Americanicon: beloved by critics and audiences alike, he has carved out a uniquely successful career that's spanned more than half a century and sixty movies. Acclaimed as both actor and director, as well as for his musical compositions, he's won multiple Oscars for his achievements in front of and behind the camera and has established himself as a true cinematic great. This stunning volume presents a chronological look at his astonishing body of work, from the early "spaghetti westerns" to his iconic role as "Dirty" Harry Callahan inDirty Harry(1971), to the soulfulBird(1988) and the revolutionary westernUnforgiven(1992) through to more recent films such as the Academy Award-winningMystic River(2003) and Million Dollar Baby(2004), and his latest picture, the rousing dramaInvictus, starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, which was released in December 2009. Over 300 spectacular images, including dynamic stills from memorable screen performances and revealing behind-the-scenes photos, are accompanied by Richard Schickel's incisive and illuminating commentary.

El escritor Richard Schickel realizó una exhaustiva entrevista televisiva al genial cineasta Woody Allen. Pese a que sólo se emitió una parte de cuanto en ella se dijo, el resultado de dicha conversacion recibio una excelente acogida por parte de criticos y aficionados. Woody Allen por si mismo reproduce la totalidad de la charla que tuvo lugar entre ambos personajes e incluye un profundo analisis de la carrera profesional del cineasta.

The definitive illustrated retrospective on the Oscar winning director of some of the most resonant and enduring films of all time For more than five decades Steven Spielberg has created inspiring exciting and unforgettable movie magic Jaws E T the Indiana Jones series Close Encounters of the Third Kind Schindler s List Saving Private Ryan and West Side Story are among the many favourites that have thrilled cinema audiences all over the world They are some of the highest grossing most captivating and enduring films of all time contemporary classics that indelibly remain part of our lives This timely retrospective celebrates more than fifty years of Steven Spielberg s boundless energy and his unwavering commitment to excellence in all areas of his work Drawing on his many first person interviews distinguished writer and critic Richard Schickel provides unique insight on every one of Spielberg s thirty four major movies Including a personal foreword by the director himself this is an insider s perspective on Spielberg s legendary achievements Illustrated with more than 400 superb images many sourced specially from the Steven Spielberg Archive this book is an essential companion to the art of making movies and an authoritative tribute to a Hollywood

From the late forties through the sixties Elia Kazan was the most important and influential director in America and the only one who managed simultaneously to dominate both theater and film This is a biography that looks at the man and his art in the context of the social political and cultural environments in which he lived and worked

El retrato definitivo de un gran imperio del entretenimiento: historias, archivos, tesoros, entrevistas e imágenes inéditas. La historia de la Warner Bros. es la historia de Hollywood y la de la América del siglo XX. Una obra de gran belleza visual que deleitara a los amantes del cine de Hollywood. Warner Bros. ha producido peliculas inolvidables en todos los generos: westerns, comedias alocadas, cine negro, musicales desenfadados, elaborados dramas costumbristas o grandes obras de ciencia ficcion. Afrontaron el auge de la television sumergiendose en ese mundo con un exito arrollador, y en los años posteriores el estudio resurgio renovado con directores de la talla de Elia Kazan, Robert Altman, Sam Peckinpah y Stanley Kubrick. A principios de la decada de 1970 se estrenaron muchas y muy variadas peliculas, entre ellas El exorcista, La naranja mecanica, Todos los hombres del presidente y las sagas de Superman, Batman, Arma Letal y Harry el sucio hasta culminar con Harry Potter, la mayor de ellas hasta la fecha. Esta obra es el equivalente en libro al documental de cinco horas de duracion firmado por Schickel para conmemorar el 85 aniversario de los estudios. Con este volumen se presenta por primera vez la historia de la Warner Bros. en profundidad y de manera honesta.

Una retrospectiva que celebra más de cuarenta años de la energía ilimitada de Spielberg y de su inquebrantable dedicación a la excelencia en todos los aspectos de su trabajo. Las claves de las 28 peliculas principales de una carrera prolifica y variada, con numerosas observaciones y comentarios extraidos de las entrevistas realizadas por parte de Richard Schickel al cineasta. Mas de 400 fantasticas imagenes que hacen de este libro un compañero esencial en el arte de la realizacion de peliculas y un tributo autorizado a un icono de Hollywood. Durante mas de cuatro decadas, Steven Spielberg ha creado una magia cinematografica inspiradora, emocionante e inolvidable. Tiburon, E.T., la saga de Indiana Jones, Encuentros en la tercera fase, La lista de Schindler, Salvar al soldado Ryan y Caballo de batalla son algunos de los muchos exitos que han encandilado al publico de todo el mundo. Ademas, son algunas de las peliculas mas taquilleras de todos los tiempos: clasicos contemporaneos que de modo indeleble forman parte de nuestras vidas. La propia historia de Spielberg, que se muestra en este libro, es material de sueños. Como el mismo afirma: [...]Casi todas mis peliculas estan basadas en algo que sucedio en mi infancia. [...]Cada vez que encuentro algo nuevo, siempre es sobre una historia. Cuando encuentro algo nuevo que hacer, vuelvo a emocionarme. Me convierto de nuevo en un niño. La fuente de la juventud para mi es una idea o una historia. O se me ocurre a mi o leo algo que otra persona ha escrito y me digo que tengo que contar esta historia o hacer esa pelicula. Eso es lo que me motiva a seguir.

En su juventud, Marlon Brando conoció el éxito como todo el mundo suele soñarlo: desproporcionado, repentino, arrollador. Durante su madurez despreció y aceptó alternativamente sus propias dotes y las que el mundo insistia en atribuirle. Y en la vejez, su vida se ha visto conmovida por la tragedia. En este libro, Richar Schickel no solo cuenta todo esto, sino que lo hce enmarcandolo en la emocion, el peligro y la controversia de los años en que Brando cuestiono -y subvirtio- las ideas que tenia todo el mundo acerca de la vida que debia llevar una estrella cinematografica. Y mas aun, el autor empieza recreando vivamente la epoca en que Brando llego a su mayoria de edad -Hollywood en crisis, Norteamerica confundida entre el ansia de prosperidad y el conformismo de la guerra fria, el nacimiento de una nueva cultura juvenil que emergia del seno de otra cultura mas amplia, etc.-, para pasar luego a relatar con minuciosidad el proceso que le convirtio en algo mas que una estrella, en un mito cultural, una de esas raras figuras cuya vida publica invade permanentemente -y en cierta medida conforma- nuestras fantasias privadas. Al trazar esta andadura, Schickel encuadra la vida inquieta e inquietante de su personaje en el contexto de nuestras vidas, mostrando como Brando ha reflejado las esperanzas de su propia generacion, ha influido en las aspiraciones de quienes han seguido su carrera y, sobre todo, ha redefinido la relacion de su publico con el cine y con el estrellato cinematografico. Escribiendo en un tono unico -a la vez intimo e ironico-, derivado de su singular comprension de la historia cinematografica y social, Richard Schickel consigue asi una biografia unica, sin duda el libro mas completo jamas escrito sobre la carrera vital y cinematografica de Marlon Brando.

In an unprecedented television program last year Woody Allen spoke to the camera for the first time about the entire range of his work in an interview with Richard Schickel the distinguished film critic and historian Mr Allen talked about how he does it why he does it its roots in his early life and his current thinking about the state of his art The result Woody Allen A Life in Film was one of the most popular and critically acclaimed programs in the history of Turner Classic Movies But the presentation contained only a small fraction of Mr Schickel s four hour interview with the famed writer director actor This new book reprints the complete conversation between the two men and includes a long essay of introduction by Mr Schickel which places Woody Allen s entire career in critical perspective Readers will find Mr Allen s reflections on his major preoccupations the battle of the sexes the conflict between reality and fantasy in his major films mortality religion and the role that chance plays in the unfolding of our lives The book also offers insights into Mr Allen s working methods as a writer and the growth of his skills as a director as well as his assessment of himself as an actor and his surprising views of his long life in the publi

One of our most thoughtful film critics here takes on eight of Hollywood s finest directors in conversation reminiscing about their working lives which spanned the most intriguing decades of American filmmaking The directors are Alfred Hitchcock Frank Capra Vincente Minnelli George Cukor Howard Hawks William A Wellman King Vidor and Raoul Walsh Speaking with them Mr Schickel found in these men a special quality They felt in their bones the character and quality of a vanished America There was something valuable to be learned from them not merely about the cinema but about the conduct of life Each of these directors created a canon of work that even today sustains critical analysis without sacrificing popular appeal Each maintained his artistic integrity while working in an atmosphere generally credited with ruining rather than nurturing talent Their attitudes Mr Schickel writes in his introduction were composed of a toughness that was never harsh a pride in achievement that was never boastful a self reliance and an acceptance of the difficulties under which they had labored which contained neither self pity nor a desire to blame others for the things that had gone wrong Rich in behind the scenes stories about such modern classics as It Happ

El escritor Richard Schickel realizó una exhaustiva entrevista televisiva al genial cineasta Woody Allen. Pese a que sólo se emitió una parte de cuanto en ella se dijo, el resultado de dicha conversacion recibio una excelente acogida por parte de criticos y aficionados. Woody Allen por si mismo reproduce la totalidad de la charla que tuvo lugar entre ambos personajes e incluye un profundo analisis de la carrera profesional del cineasta. Breve, incisivo y de agil lectura, Woody Allen por si mismo constituye un documento esencial para todos los que quieran acercarse en profundidad a la vida y la epoca de uno de los cineastas estadounidenses mas grandes e incomprendidos del momento.