Guide for the Film Fanatic [Paperback]

Danny Peary (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Peary, author of Cult Movies and Cult Movies II , offers here an A to Z checklist of over 1600 movies, from Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein to Zombie Island Massacre. The relatively lengthy entries contain synopses, technical information, trivia, gossip, political posturing (liberal to radical chic) and strong, peppery, provocative opinions. Although Peary errs occasionally, his guide reads like a sassy, new wave version of Pauline Kael's 5001 Nights at the Movies (LJ 9/1/82). Classic and mainstream films are included, but the emphasis is on youth, sci-fi, and horror flickshence this is a good candidate for YA collections. Christopher Schemering, formerly with Arlington Cty. P.L., Va.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 521 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Paper) (November 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671610813
• ISBN-13: 978-0671610814
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,107,026 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As a boy I was passionate about sports, movies, television, and music, and now I make my living by writing about each of these topics. Pretty amazing. I was born in West Virginia, grew up in South Carolina and New Jersey, got a B.A. in History at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and an M.A. in Cinema at USC. I have been living in New York City since 1977 with my wife Suzanne (our married daughter Zoe and granddaughter Julianna live too far away in Maryland), publishing books and articles on movies and sports (mostly baseball). I watch an insane number of movies and politely root for the A's, Lakers, Giants, and UConn women in basketball. I am the writer-researcher on the long-running television interview show, "The Tim McCarver Show," and have done three books with Tim, who is a close friend. I also worked with the dear Ralph Kiner on his autobiography, "Baseball Forever." My twenty-first book, written with Tom Clavin, is my first biography, "Roger Maris: Baseball's Reluctant Hero" for Touchstone/Simon&Schuster. We have a facebook fan page for the book, for which we interviewed 130 people. I also contribute celebrity interviews on brink.com and am the New York correspondent for the Australian magazine, "FilmInk." I love to write, but there's nothing more exciting than creating a project or more satisfying than finishing it.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It started my movie addiction, April 24, 2001

By 

"mr_nasty" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guide for the Film Fanatic (Paperback)

This compendium of over 1,000 "must-see" films of every genre imaginable by Danny Peary remains one of the most enjoyable, entertaining movie reference books ever written (how is it POSSIBLE that it could go out of print?). How refreshing to find a book that does away with the idiotic "star" rating system that pollutes most movie guides. The beauty of this book is that you don't have to agree with Peary's assessments of the films to enjoy his writing - it's smart, surprisingly fresh, witty, easygoing, and yet not condescending as some more "educated" film critics are likely to be. Peary sees merit in all types of films (even going as far as to review adult films, a little too far for me), and has the good sense not to judge cult films like "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" by the same standards as "Citizen Kane". Part of his charm is his ability to have FUN with film - as he says in his brilliant introduction, "It's fun to see ALL types of movies." This was the book that encouraged me not to simply gravitate to the new release wall whenever I visited the video store, and to check out some of those classics and foreign films that by and large went unnoticed at my West Virginia Blockbuster. If you can find this volume ANYWHERE, grab it, lock your fingers firmly around it and don't let anyone wrench it from your grasp.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF MY FAVORITE FILM BOOKS, September 28, 2002

By 

Jerry Jancarik Jr. "Jerry Jancarik Jr." (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guide for the Film Fanatic (Paperback)

When you see multiple rave 5 star reviews for a book that has been out-of-print for ten years you know something is up. I picked this book up in the bargain bin section of a Waldenbooks many years ago and it eventually became the MOST tattered and abused film book in my library. Literally, pages were missing from the 'checklist' in the back, and the book had peeled away into three separate sections held together by a thread of a binding. Fortunately, I was able to pick up a mint condition copy from an online used book service last year and so I have a perfect copy that's just like new. I enjoy reading Pauline Kael, Stanley Kauffmann, Andrew Sarris, Roger Ebert, David Thomson...all the usual suspects but for sheer agreement, I tend to share Mr. Peary's opinions more often than possibly any other film writer.

An indispensible book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for film fanatics, April 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Guide for the Film Fanatic (Paperback)

I got this book for Christmas 1986 and it hasn't left my side since. I look at it every day, go through TV Guides circling films I haven't seen, you name it. The reviews are spot-on, always insightful, always entertaining, and best of all, he knows how to review a film without giving the ending away. It only makes me wish Peary wrote for a national paper. One question: why no "Bonnie and Clyde" and no "Dirty Harry"? Oh, and add my name to the calls for a sequel - perhaps his films of the 1990s?