The Book of Movie Lists: An Offbeat, Provocative Collection of the Best and Worst of Everything in Movies [Paperback]

Joseph McBride (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998

This is the ultimate collection of the Best, Worst, Longest, Cheapest, Funniest, etc. in Hollywood for movie buffs and trivia enthusiasts.'

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Joseph McBride is mostly known for cooking up feasts for the mind--learned books on great directors (Steven Spielberg, Orson Welles, Hawks on Hawks). This book of addictive tidbits is more like a jumbo box of Jujubes. Though it boasts some privileged Hollywood insider gossip (4 Actors Whose Bodies Were Stolen; the untold story of Rock 'n' Roll High School, which McBride cowrote), it's mostly a superb tool for video shopping by someone with diverse tastes, bottomless knowledge, and a yen for fun. Check out these lists: The 10 Unlikeliest Movie Couples; The 10 Sexiest Movie Nuns; 17 Great Close-Ups; 17 Great Female-Female Buddy Movies; The 17 Most Memorable Movie Kisses; The 30 Greatest Overlooked Performances; 23 Credit-Card Movies and What They Cost; The 25 Best Unexpected Musical Numbers in Movies; John Ford's Favorite Movies; Truffaut's Favorite Movies About Kids; Steven Spielberg's Gradeschool Teacher's Favorite Teacher Movies; Movies That Most Embarrass Their Stars and Directors; The 32 Best Screenwriters and Their Three Best Films; 35 Brilliant and 10 Most Ridiculous Literary Adaptations; 48 Movies About Happy Marriages; Best and Worst Performances by Film Directors; Best and Worst Mental-Hospital Movies.

All this, plus short essays about the hidden forces controlling the Oscars, unsung collaborators of famous directors, the best story pitch and the worst director in Hollywood history, and very personal lists by the likes of Leonard Maltin and Jonathan Rosenbaum. This book will put the pizzazz back in your love of film. --Tim Appelo

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Contemporary (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809228912
• ISBN-13: 978-0809228911
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,505,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars response to reader, July 17, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Riverside, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Movie Lists: An Offbeat, Provocative Collection of the Best and Worst of Everything in Movies (Paperback)

This is a response to "Reader from North Carolina July 7, 1999." Yes, the book is a compilation of Mr. McBride's opinions. Yes, it contains lists of movies. That is why it is called "The Book of Movie Lists: An Offbeat Provocative Collection of the Best and Worst of Everything in Movies." Since Joseph McBride is a well-respected film critic and biographer, I was anxious to learn which movies particularly delighted him and which did not. The book did not disappoint me. In fact, I found it delightful. It is filled with fresh insights and anecdotes about movies and it was the catalyst for many discussions among my friends.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK! INTERESTING READ FOR MOVIE BUFFS!, October 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Movie Lists: An Offbeat, Provocative Collection of the Best and Worst of Everything in Movies (Paperback)

I thought this book was very original. It provided movie lists that were unique and offered something different from every other book on movies that I have read. It was a fun read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect holiday gift for your favorite movie buff., December 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Movie Lists: An Offbeat, Provocative Collection of the Best and Worst of Everything in Movies (Paperback)

This is no ordinary book of movie lists. It is an amazing collection of Hollywood insider tidbits, jokes, information and facts. It is not only highly entertaining but also very informative. I thought I knew a lot about the movies until I read Mr. McBriide's book and found out so much more. In addition, it a great book to bring out at holiday parties, resulting in great discussions and many laughs. It is the perfect addition to the festive season. I highly recommend it.