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Title: The New Biographical Dictionary of Film
ISBN: 0375411283
Author:
David Thomson
Publicate Date: 2002-10-08
Publish: 2002-10-08
List Price: $35.00
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $9.99
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $5.00
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1: The New Biographical Dictionary of Film
I love dipping into David Thomson's book every so often, maybe after watching a film or seeing a documentary on a certain actor or director. Whether I agree with him or not, I always find these mini essays interesting. There are wonderful pieces on Jean Renoir, Jean Vigo, F.W. Murnau, Jeanne Moreau, the great Yasujiro Ozu, and a host of others. Sure there are a few eyebrow raisers: Angie Dickinson his favorite actress? Well, to each his own, but what's with the dismissive Wes Anderson entry or the silly Naruse bit? And in my opinion his description of Ingrid Thulin's character in The Silence is factually incorrect; he's confusing her with Gunnel Lindblom's Anna. And I suppose we could blame an editor on the misspelling of James Dean's Giant character, Jett Rink, or the conflicting release years for Barbet Schroeder's Maitresse. All in all, though, these are minor flaws in what is an enjoyable book read more for the quality of its opinions than any factual, IMDB-like statistics.
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2: The Big Book of Film
Thomson writes the mini-essay like no one else. This book has info aplenty, but more than that it finds resonance in the most unexpected places. Try the entries on Rin-Tin-Tin, or the Lumiere Brothers. Some pieces tend more toward the length of full essay-portraits, but these too are surprises. The longest (I think) is Graham Green, which shows the intersection of life, film, lterature and art (a place full of fascinating wreckage). And where else would Sharon Stone's entry get merged with the one on Frances Farmer?
This is an encyclopedia that lacks as many details as it encompasses, yet it has everything it needs. It's more a way of looking at the movies than a mere listing of data. Along with The People's Almanac of 1975, this is one of the two most readable reference works I've ever experienced. Much of it is worth reading twice.
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3: Opinionated, overwrought, self-important.
There is much ado about nothing in a good part of this book. Thomson has a habit of vast illuminations of celebrities that nobody has ever heard of, while ignoring many acknowledged and well regarded stars, especially the American ones. I bought his first book, which though well written, annoyed me in its cynical certainties, voiced by an author who apparently thinks he is an absolute genius and among the most sagacious critics. I bought his second edition of the same book, hoping that he would include celebs whom he ignored in the first edition. He included a few more in the second edition, and expanded on earlier assessments, most notably of the actor Robert Ryan, on whom he lavished well deserved praise. However, Thomson continued to ignore stars, Barry Sullivan, Vic Morrow, allotted about one hundred words to Dan Duryea. I saw a lot of damning with faint praise. He criticized Frederic March, Robert Wise, John Frankenheimer, and so on. I would not consider buying the third edition because Thomson is just so full of himself that it nauseates me.
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4: IT MAKES SO ME MAD!
To his credit Mr.Thomson loves motion pictures,it is his opinions that drive me crazy,especially in regards to legendary director John Ford,who was certainly a very complex character.He regards Ford as a reactionary Irish sentimentalist who gloried in war.and drunken violence.I agee,somewhat,in his writings on "Fort Apache",where Wayne lets the legend of Thurday stand(in actuality Thurday was a madman and not a hero) but I could be argued that Ford is showing that the militiary is corrupt(Ford in interviews takes the opposite positon).Thompson says "The Sun Shines Bright" shows Ford is attracted to bigotry,and implying he in favor of it of,but it is bigotry that Ford is attacking in that redoing of Ford's own "Judge Priest".The Searchers(minus the "Look" episode) is a woderful film dealing with the hideous nature of racism,showing that it is killing Ethan's(John Wayne)soul.ANTI_BIGOTRY plays major roles in,"The Last Hurrah(anti-Irish),"Two Rode Together"(anti American Indian,anti-non-white,and,to a lesser extent,anti-Catholic),a very underrated film,"Sargeant Rutledge(white racism)and that flawed epic,"Cheyenne Autumn".Henry Fonda,as Owen Thursday in "Fort Apache",shows the arrogance and hatefulness that many European-Americans have toward "inferior races".I don't know of any other diector that has brought this (quasi-Marxist,ultra left)reviewer to tears so often while seeing one("The Grapes of Wrath","How Green Was My Valley","The Searchers","The Last Hurrah","The Long Voyage Home") of his films,and I've seen all the aforemented films at least 20 times and EVERY TIME my eyes water up.Ford was a VERY strange man,see Joseph McBride's,"In Search of John Ford",and MAUREEN O HARA's recent bio,"Tis Herself",just to see how turmoiled he really was.So Mr. Thomsom and I disagree on John Ford,but also on American leftist noir director Nicholas Ray(also a quasi-Marxist),Mr Thompson likes him very much,I think Mr.Ray,is just so-so.
Mr.Thomson likes Joan Bennett,(he we agree)says nice things concerning Linda Darnell,(good),and gives short shrift to Maureen O' Hara(bad)
It is a thought provoking book,so maybe I should give it 3 1/2 stars.He just makes me so mad!
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5: For Movie Buffs
I recommend this book for all serious movie fans. It's a great reference containing brief biographies and film credits of most of the notable actors, directors, and producers from the silent era to the present. It also includes critical commentary on the people and films mentioned. Unlike most reference works, this book is by no means dry or "safe" in its comments. It reflects a distinct point of view, which the reader may not share in several cases -- but that adds to the interest. Reading it is almost like sharing a relaxed discussion over drinks with an extremely well-informed film critic with a sometimes eccentric slant on things. I enjoy leafing through the book and reading entries almost at random. The results are always informative, entertaining, and sometimes enlightening.
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