Filmgoers Companion (Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies) [Paperback]

Leslie Halliwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 1997 | Series: Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies

This latest edition of "Halliwell's Filmgoers Companion" continues to provide an unmatched wealth of information on thousands of American, British, and European actors, directors, writers and producers, from the earliest pioneers of cinema to today's hottest box office stars. In its pages, movie buffs will find biographies, filmographies and a complete listing of Academy and European film award winners. In addition, unlike its competitors, this remarkable resource also contains special features such as: entertaining quotes from actors, directors and critics from around the world; entries on fictional characters and popular film themes; the Halliwell "rosette, " which recognizes the outstanding achievers of the industry; a brief chronological history of the cinema; and a specially selected list of recommended books on film history.

Now in its 12th edition, "Halliwell's Filmgoers Companion" has been in continuous publication for more than 30 years, and its reputation as the most comprehensive and authoritative reference on the film industry is well deserved. It is a must for movie fans, students, teachers, critics and anyone else who loves the magic of the silver screen.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A standard directory of actors, directors, and film technicians, this book has since been superseded by more detailed one-volume guides such as Ephraim Katz's The Film Encyclopedia. Still, Halliwell's Filmgoer's Companion--now in its 12th edition--continues to be updated and contains a number of special features the competition doesn't have. Most notable are its citations of quips by famous actors and directors (Errol Flynn: "My difficulty is trying to reconcile my gross habits with my net income"; Alfred Hitchcock: "The cinema is not a slice of life, it's a piece of cake"); its discussion of characters, events, and motifs as they play out in film history (e.g. Tarzan, The Gunfight at the OK Corral, "custard pies"); and its bestowing of special awards to the men and women who have produced significant work in the movies. The volume's appendices, which include guides to further reading, a brief history of the cinema, critical "best films" lists, complete notations of film festival prizes, and every Academy Award given through 1995 make it a terrific source of information.

Review

'Heavy enough to be authoritative, light enough to be idiosyncratic' The Times 'Worth its weight in gold' Film Review 'By any criteria, there's still no beating Halliwell's' Empire --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 864 pages
• Publisher: Collins Reference; 12 edition (June 26, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062734784
• ISBN-13: 978-0062734785
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,670,412 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Pop Culture

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New edition., May 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Filmgoers Companion (Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies) (Paperback)

If you need a new edition of this work, try Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could Be Better, January 10, 2000

By 

Dr. Edward Lorusso (New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Filmgoers Companion (Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies) (Paperback)

Over the last 20 years (or so) I've sent corrective notes to Leslie Halliwell and the subsequent editor, John Walker. For the premiere film encyclopedia, the Filmgoers Companion still has lots of errors, missing information for supposedly complete filmographies, and many many unlisted film stars, especially from the "transition period" to talkies (Anita Page, etc.). Personally, I think Walker was a very bad choice; he doesn't seem to be "into" the encyclopedic format of this valuable resource.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best compliation of movie facts and trivia ever, June 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Filmgoers Companion (Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies) (Paperback)

Halliwell's engaging encyclopedia of film is a treasure trove of information about everything relating to the movies, with exhaustive filmographies, delicious trivia, wonderful quotes, devilish quizzes, and the late critic's inimitable -- and sometimes charmingly eccentric enthusiasm. Warning -- you may dip into it to check one actor's credits, but will find yourself cross-referencing and just leafing through for hours.