Tom Hanks: A Career in Orbit [Paperback]

David Quinlan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998

In his breakthrough movie 'Splash', Tom Hanks played a guy in love with a mermaid. Later hits had him playing an eight-year-old ('Big'), the romantic lead ('Sleepless in Seattle'), a wise fool ('Forest Gump') and an astronaut ('Apollo 13').

Some of the roles may be weird but the man playing them is always likeable. David Quinlan tells the full story of the world's favourite guy next door, now spreading his wings as director ('That Thing You Do'), as if winning consecutive Best Actor Academy Awards was not enough.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: B T Batsford Ltd; 1ST edition (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0713480734
• ISBN-13: 978-0713480733
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,420,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for all Tom Hanks fans!, September 27, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tom Hanks: A Career in Orbit (Paperback)

From author David Quinlan, the respected film reviewer for Britain's TV Times magazine, comes what is by far, the best--and most accurate--Tom Hanks biography to date.

The book is well written and easy to read. It is also nicely illustrated with a large selection of film stills and candid photos. There's plenty of information about Tom's personal life which is sure to satisfy even the most curious fan. The only negative in the whole book is that the author continually ridicules Tom's emotional Oscar acceptance speeches.

The book is divided into ten chapters, most of which are named after Tom's films. These include: "Making a Splash" (documents Tom's successful movie debut in Splash), "Nothing in Common" (Tom's failed marriage to Samantha), "Bosom Buddies" ((Tom meets--and marries--his beloved Rita), and "A League of His Own" (Tom's "Sleepless in Seattle" success and subsequent Oscar wins). There is also an index and detailed filmography which concludes with That Thing You Do! (The pending release of Saving Private Ryan is mentioned in the final chapter).