Customer Reviews

Everybody's Talkin': The Top Films of 1965-1969

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"Everybody's Talkin': The Top Films of 1965-1969" is one of the best written, most interesting, and fascinating books I have ever read about movies. Author Barry Monush did a terrific job. So many classic movies were released in this five year period including "The Graduate," "Funny Girl," "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," and "Bonnie and Clyde." This book shows how truly diverse the movies of the 1960s really were. The Academy Award winner for Best Picture in 1965, "The Sound of Music" is certainly a lot different than the 1969 award winner, "Midnight Cowboy." Until I read this book, I had no idea how successful some of these films were. I had no idea that the highest grossing picture of 1966 was the rarely mentioned Julie Andrews film "Hawaii."

Monush includes many wonderful, rare photographs from the films. It is terrific to see many of the rare promotional materials from the time, including album covers and programs from road show presentations. Many of these great photos are in full color and it is a big treat to see them. Another great thing the author does is that if the film was an adaptation of a previous work, he describes how the film differs from the original source material. This was fascinating to read.

The way Monush describes these films in such great detail made me want to run out and rent many of the films I haven't seen before.

This is an excellent book and I HIGHLY recommend it!

A compulsive read, Everybody's Talkin' explores many truly fascinating and extensively researched trivia about indelible films from a bubbling potpourri of movies that changed cinematic history.

From gritty low-budgets, to sexually charged dramas, to family blockbusters, to grand musical extravaganza's final heyday and much more, tides were turning in Hollywood and a new generation of films were stretching the boundaries of Hollywood tradition.

High profile films from 1965-1969 are ordered by date with compiled details about fascinating production drama, clashing egos, stressful production changes, and analysis of each film's success. Beautiful color photographs of rare soundtrack covers, film cover art and even scarce comic book covers related to a film have a special section in the book.

My jaw dropped on some film nuggets, I laughed out loud at some bizarre turn of events I would have never guessed, and I learned about films that are a must to see. And a clever secret of this book's title can be found in the report of a particular, groundbreaking movie (hint: a parodied Dustin Hoffman moment).

Author Barry Monush's adoration of these multi-genre films, the film craft and the grand public theater experience seduces a reader into some of the dynamics of filmmaking and each films' vigorous backstories throughout his vibrant discussions.

And by devoutly following a practice of reading all of the respective books or source material upon which any film was based (if the story wasn't an original screenplay) and relating them to the film in his writing, one knows they are in good hands with Mr. Monush's vast and keen perspective. Lessons of adaptions are learned.

Further, by framing his prose in a friendly yet authoritative style, his measureless education of the film industry and it's pop culture effects make this book an enriching study and creates a challenge to set this book down. And the treasures of details are so fascinating, they could genuinely get everybody talking!