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  • Books about cinema - Guides and more

    Hi there! Let´s post here about books we have read, that have cinema related stuff as it main subject.

    (Sorry if there is already a thread for this, if so I haven´t seen it)

    There are lots of interesting books about all kind of filmic genres, with reviews of our favourite movies, biographies of filmmakers and so on.

  • #2
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    Italian Giallo Movies

    https://www.amazon.com/Italian-Giall...dp/B00FMPDAR8/

    "“Giallo” is the Italian word for “yellow” and this GIALLO term was used in the 1930s to describe the mystery-thriller novels published in Italy that were bound in instantly recognisable yellow covers. But this same GIALLO term has also been used from the early 1970s to definy the mistery/thriller movie genre wich has originated from Dario Argento's THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE and DEEP RED. And this book is the definitive guide to Italian GIALLO movies, the darker side of Italian exploitation cinema: over two hundred sex and horror movies dealing with beautiful, scantily-clad females being menaced by knife-wielding maniacs..."

    (Book description)

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    • #3
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      Shintaro Katsu´s Zatoichi: Complete guide to all movies

      https://www.amazon.com/Shintaro-Kats...dp/1661672663/

      "Zatoichi is a Japanese literary and cinematographic character whose adventures are set in the 19th century (around 1830-1840). He is a wandering swordsman who has the particularity of being blind. Despite his blindness, he is capable of facing numerous enemies (who sometimes attack him simultaneously) and of being victorious in numerous battles. He always travels walking with his cane stick, which also serves as a sword -
      Inside there is a sharp blade. Zatoichi is shrewd and cunning, as well as wise and compassionate at the same time; he feels a strong responsibility to protect the humble. His auditory faculties are highly developed, and he also possesses a "sixth sense" that helps to get him out of more than one trouble.

      The character was created by novelist Kan Shimozawa (1892-1968), who published a series of books starring Zatoichi. Later the adaptations to the big screen would come, starring Shintaro Katsu (1931-1997). This great actor belonged to a dynasty of traditional Kabuki theater performers. In cinema he would specialize in the typically Japanese genre of chanbara or jidaigeki ("samurai" films, which used to be set in the Tokugawa era).

      As a guide, this book compiles critiques and analyses of each and every one of Zatoichi's 26 films shot between 1962 and 1989. They were already published, in Spanish, in my blog "Alucine Cinéfago". These films, based on Shimozawa's stories, were directed by different filmmakers, but the protagonist is always Shintaro Katsu.

      The purpose of this compilation is to offer chanbara fans a review of the blind swordsman's film career. Zatoichi is very popular in his country of origin (in recent years the famous Takeshi Kitano returned to the character for one of his productions), but also in the West he has a huge community of fans."

      (Book description)
      Cinephagous
      Junior Member
      Last edited by Cinephagous; 08-28-2020, 12:13 PM.

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      • #4


        Italian Horror Movies

        https://www.amazon.com/Italian-Horro...dp/B00DU04RQU/

        "In this book Antonio Tentori tells you everything about Italian Gothic and horror movies, providing plot synopses and all kind of informations, while co-author Luigi Cozzi writes his own personal rememberings about directors Riccardo Freda, Lucio Fulci, Pupi Avati, Antonio Margheriti, Umberto Lenzi, Joe D'Amato and Michele Soavi."

        (Book description)

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        • #5


          Mafia Films: A Guide

          https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0892B4CG4/

          "Gangster films are an extremely complete genre, containing elements of drama, tragedy, suspense, action... Since the gangster genre (from classic film noir to current movies on organized crime) is so broad, in this book we will focus mainly on films specifically about the Italian and Italian-American Mafia (La Cosa Nostra). This book offers reviews, comments and analysis of several films about the Mafia. Of course it includes "The Godfather" trilogy. It is a well-known fact that real-life mobsters were influenced by the image given of them in Coppola's famous masterpiece, copying and adapting for their daily lives the clichés and mannerisms seen in the movies. In addition to the plots, and to the data on the feature films, the casts and the film crew, this book provides information on the history and context of the protagonists (when the movies are based on real events, as is the case with "Donnie Brasco", for example). Thus, Mafia movie lovers will have a compilation of critics and reviews of the most representative films of their favorite genre."

          (Book description)

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          • #6
            This is still my go-to giallo guide. I don't think a better book on the genre exists. Tons of posters and stills in color.

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            "Style, sex and savagery are the main ingredients of Italian giallo cinema, a highly salacious art form which thrives on fetishist images of beautiful, scantily-clad females being menaced by knife-wielding maniacs - often for the most obscure of motives! Now this lavish book from the publishers of the best-selling "Video Nasties!" brings you the definitive guide to this much-maligned and rarely chronicled movie genre. Entertainingly and informatively written by Adrian Luther-Smith, Blood And Black Lace contains full reviews, and exhaustive cast and credit Information (including video, laserdisc and DVD release details) on over two hundred giallo movies, most of which have never been listed in any other movieguide !"
            I don't go to church. Kneeling bags my nylons.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Andrew Monroe View Post
              This is still my go-to giallo guide. I don't think a better book on the genre exists. Tons of posters and stills in color.
              I wish they'd collect his Delerium magazines together, I don't have the 1970-75 issue. That was such a valuable resource before the internet exploded and these films became so easy to research.
              I'm bitter, I'm twisted, James Joyce is fucking my sister.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by agent999 View Post
                I wish they'd collect his Delerium magazines together, I don't have the 1970-75 issue. That was such a valuable resource before the internet exploded and these films became so easy to research.
                DELIRIUM 1970-74 is the only one I'm missing too. I wouldn't part with these, or Adrian's BLOOD & BLACK LACE, for the Earth. Wonderful books.

                I still have the guides published to accompany the first couple of series of Moviedrome.



                Alan Frank's HORROR FILMS. Who remembers that one? (Who doesn't, to be fair?)

                'You know, I'd almost forgotten what your eyes looked like. Still the same. Pissholes in the snow'

                http://www.paul-a-j-lewis.com (my photography website)
                'All explaining in movies can be thrown out, I think': Elmore Leonard

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Andrew Monroe View Post
                  This is still my go-to giallo guide. I don't think a better book on the genre exists. Tons of posters and stills in color.
                  Love that book!
                  VHS will never die!

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                  • #10


                    Surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet. One of the most important books of its kind. Surely the first place a lot of English readers ever read anything in-depth or let alone positive on the likes of Borowczyk, Larraz or Benazeraf.
                    LA PASIÓN ESPAÑOL: THE EROTIC MELODRAMAS OF VICENTE ARANDA (1991-1999)

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Tom Clark View Post


                      Surprised this hasn't been mentioned yet. One of the most important books of its kind. Surely the first place a lot of English readers ever read anything in-depth or let alone positive on the likes of Borowczyk, Larraz or Benazeraf.
                      Still have my copy. Its a great read. Mondo Macabro was fine too if not as compulsively readable.

                      Danny Pearys Cult Movies series was instrumental for me as I was getting into films. More mainstream than the two mentioned above but it had a great mix of content from mainstream comedies to hard core porn. I think I'm right in saying they were the first guides of that kind.

                      The movie reference book i want most though is my first one. It was a super mainstream thing but it had a list in it of the 250 most important movies of all time with a couple paragraphs on each. Pre internet that was a valuable thing to have. I spent about 5 years trying to track down every title in it. For nostalgia I'd love to have a copy of that book again. But I don't remember its name, I don't remember the author and I don't have a huge amount of hope of ever coming across it again.
                      "Never let the fact that they are doing it wrong stop you from doing it right." Hyman Mandell.

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                      • #12
                        For me, there's also the two Psychotronic books and the Aurum Encyclopedia of Horror which, despite some inaccuracies, remains the most tattered book that I own.
                        I'm bitter, I'm twisted, James Joyce is fucking my sister.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by agent999 View Post
                          For me, there's also the two Psychotronic books and the Aurum Encyclopedia of Horror which, despite some inaccuracies, remains the most tattered book that I own.
                          The Aurum Film Encyclopedia's (Horror, Sci-Fi, Western, Gangster) are/were amazing. Pre-internet, they were an eye-opener for many a foreign film title ( including lengthy alternate titles!). Always hoped Phil Hardy would get around to updating then, but he sadly passed away a couple of years ago . . .

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Mr. Deltoid View Post
                            The Aurum Film Encyclopedia's (Horror, Sci-Fi, Western, Gangster) are/were amazing. Pre-internet, they were an eye-opener for many a foreign film title ( including lengthy alternate titles!). Always hoped Phil Hardy would get around to updating then, but he sadly passed away a couple of years ago . . .
                            The only odd thing was the inclusion criteria. Dawn of the Dead was in Sci-fi and not Horror. Weird, they could have put it in both. I have the mid eighties Horror edition and the early 90s Sci-fi edition. I regret not picking up the Western volume at a local book fair.
                            I'm bitter, I'm twisted, James Joyce is fucking my sister.

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                            • #15
                              In addition to the aforementioned 'Psychotronic Encyclopedia', 'Immoral Tales' and 'Mondo Macabro' (which between them played a pretty big role in setting me on my current demon path of hell), I frequently return to the following:

                              Nightmare U.S.A. - Stephen Thrower (and his Franco books of course)
                              English / Euro / American Gothic - Jonathan Rigby
                              Destroy All Movies - Carlson & Connolly
                              10,000 Ways to Die - Alex Cox
                              Gun and Sword - Chris D.
                              Behind the Pink Curtain - Jasper Sharp

                              All hugely recommended. Each time I watch a movie that falls within the remit of any of these books, I make a habit of pulling them off the shelves to remind myself what they had to say about it.

                              Actually, I really need to add a good reference book or two on noir and/or classic Hollywood to my shelves as my viewing habits head more in that direction... does anyone have any recommendations?
                              BW Haggar
                              Senior Member
                              Last edited by BW Haggar; 08-29-2020, 08:31 AM. Reason: typo
                              https://breakfastintheruins.blogspot.com/
                              http://stereosanctity.blogspot.com/

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