In Search of The Third Man (Limelight) Review

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(More customer reviews)I tell it to you straight. A terrific read. This book is lucid, well-researched, intelligent, and beautifully written. And it is supremely enjoyable. If you think the Third Man is one of the great films of all time (and I do), you will acquire more information on the context, the story-line, the dramatis personae, the music (THAT theme), and the politics, than you might ever thought you could need (ie, Joseph Cotten was a womaniser, Trevor Howard was a soak). And you will clear out of the mental attic of the PR mythologizing which has grown around it (ie, that super-ego Orson Welles was the true eminence grise - when he was hardly even on the set). Right wing, nationalist Americans won't like because it shows how the American side of the co-production was focused on how it should present Americans in the best possible light (ie, brave, smart, democratic, etc) and ended up 'dumbing it down' for the American release (presumably because they cynically thought that Americans couldn't deal with Greene's subtle script).
The author holds the director and prime motivator, Carol Reed, in the highest possible regard. Here is someone utterly lacking in pretension; utterly obsessive on the detail; humanistic; a real charmer -someone cute enough able to deploy those actors' inflated egos to help extract the best possible performances (and in some cases get them just to turn up) yet ultimately the workaholic consumate craftsperson. He also shows that while US producer Selznick was a bullying oaf, he also contributed ideas which provided some of the film's real strengths (ie, the last scene which ducks the predictable happy ever after ending).

It is more than a book about a film. It deals with one of the most fascinating periods in the affairs of men and how a host of really talented, sometimes warring, people can together produce true cinematic art.

Deserves to be very widely read, but, Health Warning to Republicans or other Americans with an inferiority complex towards Europeans, it will challenge your assumptions. For the rest of us film buffs a hugely illuminating book.

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Product Description:
Half a century after its opening, The Third Man remains an unquestioned masterpiece of film artistry and, for many, the greatest British movie ever made. Whether it is Harry Lime's magical first appearance or the celebrated cuckoo clock speech or the climactic chase through the sewers beneath Vienna or the haunting theme music of Anton Karas, the film contains some of the most memorable moments in screen history. Drawing on both contemporary documents and accounts of the people involved, In Search of The Third Man explores the many myths that over the years have grown around this extraordinary film, and seeks to unravel the facts from the fiction."...you'll want to read The Third Man...The story of the film's creation is as intriguing as the film itself" -Leonard Maltin, Playboy

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Exiles in Hollywood (Limelight) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Germans lose their wars because of arrogance, pride, and over confidence. Among their other traits are their desires to get rid of any of the people they don't like.

The story of the contributions of the atomic scientists is well known. Einstein and Szilard writing the letter to Roosevelt. Bohr and Fermi constructing the atomic pile in Chicago, and many more.

This book, however is on Hollywood. Hollowood got its share of Exiles as well. It consists of chapters on some of the most famous people of the movies from just before World War II until well after: Billy Wilder, Fritz Lang, Alfred Hitchcock (OK so he wasn't German), Bertolt Brecht, Otto Preminger and many more.

One chapter is on Hedy Lamarr, perhaps the most beautiful actress ever. She was also a German Jew and an electrical engineer, holding the patent on the frequency hopping spread spectrum technology used in a great deal of modern communications devices.

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Fleeing Nazi persecution, half of Europe's creative talents, including screen legend Greta Garbo and composer Igor Stravinsky, were, in Arnold Schoenberg's words, "driven into paradise," settling in Los Angeles. It was the greatest flight of European cultural and intellectual talent in history, and for a time made Los Angeles a cultural capital. Their presence, enabling the evolution of film noir, also changed American movies forever.In Exiles in Hollywood, David Wallace, author of the national bestseller Lost Hollywood and whom columnist Liz Smith has called "the maestro of entertainment history," tells their dramatic stories. His profiles of refugees include filmmaker Billy Wilder, Alfred Hitchcock, Nobel Prize-winning writer Thomas Mann, the screenwriter Salka Viertel and her controversial relationship with Greta Garbo, the deeply conflicted actor Charles Laughton, and many more. The result is a rich, page-turning look at an era, its triumphs and tragedies, its gossip and hidden facts, and its colorful personalities.

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The Graham Greene Film Reader: Reviews, Essays, Interviews and Film Stories (Applause Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)Graham Greene writes reviews with the authority of someone who has actually written novels and films and his insights are more helpful than a dozen books on screenwriting.

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An anthology of reviews, essays, interviews and film stories by this legendary writer.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Piano/Vocal/Chords) Review

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(More customer reviews)It's books like this that made me wish I had the natural talent for music, or had at least studied and practiced hard enough to develop talent. The motion picture score that Howard Shore composed for The Lord of the Rings trilogy is absolutely brilliant, and while nothing can match his magnificent orchestra, there is something unique and incredible about hearing the same music played on a simple piano -- coming from your very own fingers.
The front cover is one of the promotional posters (NOT the DVD cover as was the case with the other two piano books from the trilogy) showing Saruman from the back commanding his 10,000 Uruk-hai. If you look on the right, although it is geographically incorrect, you can see Edoras in Rohan in the distance. Inside the book are forty pages, eight of which are movie pictures. Once again, there are some gruesome orcs pictured inside, in case you have little hobbits around the house that might get scared.
The music includes:
- Gollum's Song, the end-credits song of the movie. Not very enjoyable to play, I'd say...it's a rather mournful and melancholy song.
- Evenstar, which is all-Elvish, but surprisingly doesn't provide the translation. Shouldn't be too hard to dig one up on the internet, however. The tune is pretty, the background for Aragorn's dream/vision of Arwen in The Two Towers.
- Isengard Unleashed, which begins as the soundtrack score does, with the lament for Haldir upon his untimely death in the battle for Helm's Deep. Then it moves on to the score for the Ents as they march to war. This is probably the longest in the book, maybe of all three books. Afterwards, they give the translation of the war song of the Ents.
- Breath of Life, the quiet but stirring tune/song that you hear when Aragorn lies wounded after a battle, and receives another vision/dream of Arwen that gives him a (let's all say it together now) "breath of life". Elvish lyrics, English translation at the end.
- Forth Eorlingas, my favorite one (at least to HEAR), the tune that shows the rousing of the remaining soldiers at Helm's Deep, their death plunge out the causeway, and Gandalf's near-biblical arrival to the rescue. The second-best in this book, in my opinion.
- Rohan, which was an absolutely necessary piece to include in this book. It's short, *almost* simple enough for a beginner like me to pick my way through, and beyond gorgeous. It begins with the noble theme for Éowyn, and peaks into the majestic score for the kingdom of Rohan. This one alone is worth getting the book for.
This book makes an excellent addition to your piano library, or an excellent gift for your musically-inclined hobbit-heads. Go for it.

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Product Description:
Featuring the music of Academy Award-winning composer Howard Shore, this new Two Towers folio includes eight pages of magnificent full-color photosfrom the motion picture and P/V/C arrangements of the soaring soundtrack -- all printed on high-quality antique paperstock. The titles are: The Riders of Rohan * Evenstar * Breath of Life * Forth Eorlingas * Isengard Unleashed * Gollum's Song.

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The Lord of the Rings for Easy Piano Review

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(More customer reviews)"Easy" is a hard word.I'm just coming back to the keyboard after 30+ years away and I can't say what level of player I was when I left (past Fur Elise; stalled on the Moonlight Sonata).Have been buying a host of popular music for "easy" piano and it varies.Some is so simplified I have it down on the third time through; others send me to the flash cards to learn what those off-staff notes are.LOTR is right in the middle of the range.

--A few songs from each of the three movies.In Dreams and Concerning Hobbits are the ones I'm learning first; will go back to the DVD and listen differently to decide which of the remaining songs I liked enough to want to learn.

--For the most part, no more than four notes in play at any one time, and a lot places where the music is one note, each hand. A smattering of 16th notes but mostly quarters, some eighths, and half notes.

--Easy key signatures; mostly C and the rest two sharps or two flats max.

--Lots and lots of 12-note arpeggios without a lot of fingering assistance in the left hand.

--Notes range two octaves above and below middle C.

In sum?There are enough notes on each page that the song sounds good, yet easy enough to recognize the tune on the first or second time through.Plan:master this book, then buy the individual movie scores one at a time as I get better and want a richer sound.

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Product Description:
The Lord of the Rings trilogy stands as THE definitive epic motion picture of recent times. Essential to the power and beauty of the three films was the evocative musical score by Academy Award[R]-winning composer Howard Shore. Now, twelve major themes from the blockbuster trilogy are available in easy piano arrangements by Dan Coates. Loaded with full-color photos from the many incredible scenes in the movies and printed on high quality antique paper stock, this new easy piano songbook is a must-have for any fan. Be sure to have plenty on hand for the Christmas gift-buying season! Titles from The Fellowship of the Ring: The Prophecy * In Dreams * Concerning Hobbits * Many Meetings * The Black Rider. Titles from The Two Towers: Gollum's Song * Rohan * Evenstar * Forth Eorlingas. Titles from The Return of the King: Into the West * The Steward of Gondor * Minas Tirith

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The Phantom of the Opera Cello (Book Only) (Instrumental Solo) Review

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(More customer reviews)The music is not too difficult, but is a fun way to play some of your favorite melodies from Phantom of the Opera.

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9 songs from the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical: All I Ask of You * Angel of Music * Masquerade * The Music of the Night * The Phantom of the Opera * The Point of No Return * Prima Donna * Think of Me * Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.9 songs from the classic musical: All I Ask of You * Angel of Music * Masquerade * The Music of the Night * The Phantom of the Opera * The Point of No Return * Prima Donna * Think of Me * Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.

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The Fellowship of the Ring Movie Soundtrack Piano, Vocal, and Chords (The Lord of the Rings) (Pvg) Review

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(More customer reviews)This collection of songs from the soundtrack of the movie 'The Fellowship of the Ring' is a definite gem. The songs, in order, are 'In Dreams' [words and music by Fran Walsh and Howard Shore], 'The Prophecy' [text by J.R.R. Tolkien], 'Aniron' [words by Roma Ryan, music by Enya and Nicky Ryan] 'A lament for Gandalf' [text by Philippa Boyens], 'Many Meetings' [music by Howard Shore], and 'May it Be' [words by Roma Ryan, Music by Enya and Nicky Ryan]. Inside, there are also lots of beautiful pictures from the movie. This is a beautiful accompaniment for the soundtrack. The music is for 'piano, vocal, or chords', but other instruments could play along. I would DEFINETELY rate this 10 stars, only the limit is 5. I recommend this music for anyone who loves music, Enya, or The Lord of the Rings.

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Product Description:
Six selections from the blockbuster The Lord of the Rings, plus fantastic color photos from the movie! Includes: The Prophecy * Many Meetings * Aniron (Theme for Aragorn and Arwen) * Lament for Gandalf * In Dreams * May It Be.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Piano/Vocal/Chords) Review

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(More customer reviews)It's books like this that made me wish I had the natural talent for music, or had at least studied and practiced hard enough to develop talent. The motion picture score that Howard Shore composed for The Lord of the Rings trilogy is absolutely brilliant, and while nothing can match his magnificent orchestra, there is something unique and incredible about hearing the same music played on a simple piano -- coming from your very own fingers. Or, with today's synthesizer technology, you can orchestrate your own versions!
The cover is the same as the Return of the King promotional photo. Inside, one can find fifty-four lovely pages' worth of selections from his score for Return of the King. Included in that tally are six pages of rich photos from the movie. Thankfully, it's just the heroes this time, there are no frightening pictures of orcs which, as in the case of the first and second books, caused the need to keep an eye on little youngsters who might be a little frightened by the ugly and gruesome orcs. Shoot, they still frighten me! ;-)
The songs include:
- Minas Tirith, the theme for Gandalf's ride to the City of Kings, and Pippin Took's first glimpse of the grandeur of the stronghold. Lyrics are included for the Elvish verses sung in the background, including the Retreat from Osgiliath, and The White Rider. This is one of the best songs, if you ask me, because it includes the gorgeous theme for Gondor.
- The Steward of Gondor, which includes the White Tree "theme" (not a really defined royal theme, unfortunately), and Billy Boyd's solo he sung to Denethor as Faramir rode out on his suicide mission.
- Twilight and Shadow, with is essentially a "poor Frodo" score, but also includes some music for Arwen.
- The End of All Things, the tumultuous but awing cacophony that you hear during the battle on the slopes of Mt. Doom and subsequently before the Black Gates as Frodo attempts to destroy the Ring, and Aragorn leads his troops in a last effort to distract Sauron. (As you can imagine, this, like the others, is not exactly a simple tune for beginners, but I was able to pick out some Lord of the Rings tunes, so middling players ought to be able to do okay) Lyrics are included for the many verses sung in the background of this as well.
- The Return of the King, which begins with Frodo's awakening and the reuniting of the Fellowship, and then Aragorn's coronation. At the end, sheet music fans FINALLY get the music for the Hobbiton theme, which is titled "A Toast in the Shire".
- Into the West, Annie Lennox's endearing song which pretty much sings about heaven, or at least Middle-Earth's version of it.
- Use Well The Days, a bonus because fans haven't yet heard how Howard Shore has arranged this one! It's pretty certain it will be crafted into the Return of the King: Extended Edition which releases around Christmas. From the lyrics, one would infer that it is sort of a benediction that Frodo gives to Sam, although I seriously doubt it is sung that way.
For your piano players, guitar-strummers, and singers, make 'em happy, give them some of the most awesome soundtrack ever to be played for the Lord of the Rings movies.

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Product Description:
Arranged For Piano/Vocal/Guitar With Lyrics. Contains 7 principal movie themes, including the Annie Lenox single;Into The West;. Also includes 10 pages of full-color photos from the many incredible scenes in the movie-all printed on classic antique paper stock. Plus, exclusive to this songbook is another song performed by Annie Lenox;Use Well The Days; which will debut in the upcoming DVD release of the movie. A must for all LOTR fans! Contents: Titles include; The Return of the King; The End of All Things; Use Well the Days; Twilight and Shadow; The Steward of Gondor; Minas Tirith; Into the West

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