Customer Reviews

Nixon on Stage and Screen: The Thirty-Seventh President As Depicted in Films, Television, Plays and Opera

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Richard Nixon still fascinates us- probably because no one knows who the "real" Nixon was. I was looking for a book that outlined Nixon as "depicted" in Films, etc. Monsell unfortunately considers Nixon's own personal appearances in TV and films as "depictions", which they are not. For example, he includes the infamous Checkers Speech. These are not "depictions"- which would be portrayals of Nixon by others. There are 4 basic schools of thought re: RN- the "Tricky Dick" school - the man who could say with a straight heavy jowled face that "If the President does it, it's not illegal", the "He was hounded out of office" school (which conveniently overlooks the fact that it was a bi-partisan effort that dislodged him), the grudging admiration group (who don't exonerate him, but found that they have to admit they like the man) and the "Everybody does it" apologists-defenders school (which overlooks the fact that while lies and manipulation come with politics, nobody before Nixon had ever gone so far as to sanction breaking and entering, or illegal wiretaps, or using the IRS to punish enemies, or obstruction of justice). Monsell falls between the second and the last groups. He comes across as an unabashed supporter and far from impartial reviewer not only of Nixon in Film, etc, but Nixon the man. It's easy to see that he's willing to gloss over Nixon's crimes by the way he reviews the different "depictions" of Nixon. This book was a disappointment. A far better read is the recently released "Nixon's Shadow".

A must for political readers as well as theater and movie buffs. Donald G Pile, Shawnee Mission, Ks.

The information is fascinating... production background, interviews with directors and actors who have played Richard Nixon.... anything that is relevant to the interpretation of RNix as a character in plays and films.... Great to nibble away at over time or feast on right away!

A must for political readers as well as theater and movie buffs. Donald G Pile, Shawnee Mission, Ks.