I'll Have What She's Having: Behind the Scenes of the Great Romantic Comedies [Hardcover]

Daniel M. Kimmel (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Film writer Kimmel (The Dream Team, The Fourth Network) goes behind the scenes of 15 genre classics to examine what made them great romantic comedies, still able to work their magic years later. Beginning with 1932's Trouble in Paradise and ending with 2003's Love, Actually, Kimmel dishes the dirt on everything from creative teams birthing miracle scripts to sets locked in such tension it's a wonder a movie got made at all. On-set drama is plentiful, including director Billy Wilder driving Humphrey Bogart up the wall with rewrites on Sabrina, and Marilyn Monroe driving Billy Wilder up the wall-and his film half a million dollars over budget-showing up seven hours late to the set of Some Like it Hot. Not all the films suffered such turmoil, evidenced by Katherine Hepburn's 1940 comeback vehicle The Philadelphia Story and Julia Roberts' star-making Pretty Woman, both of which are recalled with candor and affection. There's lots of minutiae and last-minute tweaks that make a film (like When Harry Met Sally's signature happy-couples interludes) to broaden readers' appreciation; the reading experience is akin to watching a classic with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic friend, and sure to revise readers' to-rent lists and Netflix queues.
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Review

"A treat for neophytes and hardcore cineastes alike, not to mention a handy guide for in-home night viewing." --Ty Burr, Boston Globe film critic, author of The Best Old Movies for Families

"A treat for neophytes and hardcore cineastes alike, not to mention a handy guide for in-home night viewing." --Ty Burr, Boston Globe film critic, author of The Best Old Movies for Families

"Tony Curtis said romantic moments with Marilyn Monroe in "Some Like It Hot" were like "kissing Hitler" and Hector Elizondo was paid out of Garry Marshall's pocket for "Pretty Woman" because Disney balked at paying him top dollar for a small role. One of the surprises of this entertaining behind-the-scenes look at romantic comedies is how miserable everyone was. Comedy is hard, love is worse." --New York Post

"This collection of self-contained essays about films, ranging from Adam's Rib to Annie Hall is full of behind-the-scenes details on the making of the movies. It's almost like being there." --Editor's Choice, Chicago Tribune

"This entertaining book is like watching a funny movie while sitting beside a knowledgeable friend who enhances your enjoyment of it." --Cecille Markell, Jewish Journal, October 23, 2008

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Ivan R. Dee, Publisher (September 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566637376
• ISBN-13: 978-1566637374
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,194,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)