My Review (5 stars out of 5) Writer, director, and actor Bryan Forbes has contributed much to British film-making, and in this informative autobiography he recounts insights into the industry, including his time as head of production for EMI at Elstree. I’ve long been a fan of Bryan Forbes as an actor and director, though…
Category: Film
‘Broadsword Calling Danny Boy’ by Geoff Dyer
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Writer and critic Geoff Dyer serves up a scene-by-scene analysis of the classic war movie, ‘Where Eagles Dare’ highlighting his favourite scenes as well as commenting on some of the actors’ proclivities – such as Richard Burton’s drinking, and Clint Eastwood’s stock-in-trade expressions. ‘Where Eagles Dare’ is one…
‘Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption’ by Stephen King
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, Andy Dufresne is sent to prison where he meets up with Red: a man who can get pretty much anything into the jail. But Andy’s needs are simple – all he wants is a small rock-hammer for carving stones and…
‘Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli’ by Mark Seal
My Review (5 stars out of 5) Charting the story of how the hit movie The Godfather came to be made, Mark Seal’s book is as exciting as the film itself. From Mario Puzo’s early struggles as a writer, to his creation of a novel that would become one of the greatest movies of all…
‘Anything for a Quiet Life’ by Jack Hawkins
***** Jack Hawkins has always been one of my favourite actors, so it was a real treat to read this self-penned account of his early life, his theatre work, movies and his battle with cancer. Though initially only interested in theatre, Hawkins eventually made it onto the big screen and from 1953, his film work…
Colin Garrow 