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David Thomson

A Biographical Dictionary Of Film: Third Edition Hardcover – November 1, 1994

by David Thomson (Author)

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[The New Biographical Dictionary of Film: Sixth Edition] [By: Thomson, David] [May, 2014]
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A diverse, personal film reference provides some one thousand entries on leading international actors and actresses, directors, and producers, along with frequently provocative critical essays, profiles, and film analyses.

Print length

834 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Knopf
Publication date

November 1, 1994
Dimensions

2.5 x 7 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

0394581652
ISBN-13

978-0394581651
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The latest edition of Thomson's guide contains 1000 entries on leading international directors, actors, and producers, living and dead, including 200 entries added since the publication of the second edition in 1981. A critic for Film Comment and Movieline, among other venues, Thomson balances often acidic critiques with brief biographical data, giving the reader an opportunity to pause for reflection. Coverage is relatively broad, ranging from Federico Fellini to James Coburn, thus giving the casual browser a feel for the breadth of cinema. A few significant personalities (e.g., James Spader) could have replaced others (e.g., Molly Ringwald) of lesser merit, but that is a quibble. Unique in size and scope, Thomson's work is a fitting companion to Halliwell's Filmgoer's and Video Viewer's Companion (HarperPerennial, 1993. 10th ed.). An excellent, highly recommended compact sourcebook for all film collections.
Anthony J. Adam, Prairie View A&M Univ. Tex.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf; 3rd edition (November 1, 1994)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 834 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0394581652
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0394581651
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.24 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 2.5 x 7 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,641,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,572 in Video Reference (Books)
- #1,972 in Movie Reference
- #40,952 in Performing Arts (Books)

Customer Reviews:
9 ratings

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3.4 out of 5

9 global ratings

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2 star		15%
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Jack Rice

Bios by a Badmouth

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 22, 1999

Verified Purchase

I was looking forward to something more opinionated than the useful and comprehensive but rather dry film bios of Katz's Film Encylopedia. Well, I got opinion in this Biographical Dictionary.
Unfortunately, that opinion is from someone who apparently thinks one must be a curmudgeon in order to be a critic. It is obvious from this massive and hard-laboured work, that David Thomson is a pedant and a misanthrope. He really doesn't like much of anyone, especially those whose output is entertainment.
Woe be unto the actor or director deemed here as (a) politically incorrect or (b) an audience pleaser. As George Lucas has said, Thomson doesn't know much about the movie business. But he does know about Ceenéma Art.
If you are the type who thinks himself a cinema Enthusiast, who lives at the Penultimate Picture Palace, swooning at spittle on the faces of Dreyers's close-ups, you will no doubt relish Thomson's tome.

One person found this helpful

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Pamela Wells

The Most Astute Celebrity Biographical Dictionary Around

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 8, 2002

Verified Purchase

If you love good, pointed writing, writing that really goes to the heart of what we see on the big screen when we see certain film actors, this is your book. Really well-written, certainly opinionated (but justifiably, in all cases), thoughtful, insightful, amusing, witty. As you read each entry, you'll be saying to yourself, "That's EXACTLY how I feel about SoAndSo!," because the author expresses each film person's essence so aptly. The author has apparently known and/or met many of the entries, so is able to add personal experience with these people to his vast historical knowledge of their work. A wonderful work.

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Atlas Groaned

encyclopedia with an opinion?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 26, 2002

Not your typical film encyclopedia. Instead of general-information blurbs, Thomson offers a critical assesment of the actors, directors, producers and other filmic figures he references. The best entries attempt to come to terms with their subject's meaning, his or her importance to the development of cinema as an international and a local/national artform -- and this describes virtually every entry in the book. Be aware, Thomson has very definite opinions and no fear of sharing them, but don't let that turn you off. Even if you disagree with his appraisals, his criticism is founded on sound reasoning, and presented in dense, articulate prose. The book does have its faults, of course; Thomson offers only a cursory treatment of contemporary cinema -- he has substantive comments for Tom Cruise and Speilberg, but other contemporary figures receive little more than a filmography. Still, this book should be useful to anyone interested in film history and criticism, or arts criticism in general.

One person found this helpful

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JB69

And they cut down forests for this?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 20, 2001

Why does this thing get all the great scores? Doesn't anyone else see that Thomson's "Dictionary" is mean spirited and condescending? Ok, maybe a couple of others. I guess you could use this snob's eye view of the movie industry for a laugh at the brilliant putdowns with no substance to go with them. For example, Thomson dismisses George Brent because he considers him overweight but spends a lot of time fawning over Johnny Carson. (Johnny Carson?) Like his book about Nevada, Thomson's book about movie people seems to be an exercise in showing everyone how culturally superior David Thomson is. So, Nevada is a "blank," and American filmmakers barely adequate, unless they're the artsy type? Well, behind the words, David Thomson is also a blank, barely worth notice. But he can still get published by the likes of Knopf. Shows how low Knopf has sunk.

4 people found this helpful

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Jeffrey S. Ignatius

Maddening and Essential

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 17, 2000

Thomson's gifts seem to elude many... No, this is not the foundation for a film library; it's a wholly biased supplement...)
Thomson is first and foremost the densest writer about film out there; his economy is unparalleled, and it often takes two or three readings just to figure out how much he's saying in a single sentence. Most people won't agree with Thomson often, but that's the point: He's provocative, contrary, and dogmatic, the latter characteristics redeemed by his incisiveness. The challenge is to read him openly, consider his analyses fully, and form an opinion only then.
It's easy to fault Thomson for his selectivity, and the lapses between editions of his Biographical Dictionary of Film. But that's akin to criticizing your favorite author for not writing enough books. Thomson should be treasured for what he does offer; the world of film criticism would be a far poorer place without him.

5 people found this helpful

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Simon Morgan

The best book ever written on film

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 3, 1999

The author seems to me the greatest writer on film (and just about anything else that interests him). What makes Thomson so good is the style in which he writes is so succinct that even if (like me) at first you disagree, given time you soon come round to his opinion. Why? Because you realise he is a master - hes tough, independant, superbly knowledgable and educates you on what is GOOD and what isnt, based on admirable opinions of art and expression. More than anything this book is a wonderful education.

15 people found this helpful

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Robert Hauser

An eccentric, beautifully written and fun book.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 10, 1999

This book is not encyclopedic; personal favs like Donald Pleasence and John Carradine are omitted despite hundreds of credits. Thomson apparently wrote about just those who interested him. He expresses himself beautifully. He has a real gift for finding just the right words to convey his ideas. As always with critics, one remembers the opinions that seem loopy because he differs with everyone else. The revered directors like Kubrick he hates. The veteran actors I like he dismisses. His weird essays on comedians in which he treats being funny as of secondary importance. But he is always entertaining, and I found his attacks on some of my favorite actors (George Raft, Anthony Quinn) hilarious. Highly recommended.

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A Biographical Dictionary Of Film: Third Edition Hardcover – November 1, 1994

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