5 comments about The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Book: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of a Television Classic.

1. This book tells the ENTIRE story of the short-lived TV classic. Practically day-by-day. It was published in the '80s so there are some badly reproduced photos. Fans will also want to get the book "Spy-Fi" which has some very good photos of rare props used on the show.



2. As an overview of the inner workings and production of one of the defining television shows of the 1960's, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." book is simply excellent, the best on the subject - much more so than the later "U.N.C.L.E. Tribute Book". Subjects such as writing, photography/cinematography, music, direction, special effects, props, the development of the pilot and series concept and the like are all covered in exhaustive detail. There are also many rare photos, all in B & W.
   
   However, the book does have a serious shortcoming in my opinion, which prevents me from giving it 5 stars, in that it does not really go into much detail in discussing the episodes themselves - the 100 episodes of MFU itself and the season's worth of its sister show, "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.". MFU fans will need to search out the long-out-of-print Files Magazine series "The U.N.C.L.E. Files", which has extensive discussions of every single episode. It must also be said that "The U.N.C.L.E. Tribute Book" does better than this book in reviewing the various MFU novels and the magazine short stories.



3. I watched the show in its original run. As one reviewer below said, as a kid, I wanted it to be real. As an adult fan today, I was delighted to get all the detail and inside information from this well-written book. Mr. Heitland has done all us wannabe UNCLE agents a great service.



4. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put
   Humpty Dumpty together again, so why all the bickering to and
   fro? This book was published after the U.N.C.L.E. Files and
   before the Unofficial Tribute Book. Stating this is the best
   smells like someone's been bought off. Any follower worth his
   salt knows everything that's been written about this show is
   okay, give it or take it. Better to own all or none.
   
   All three sources contain valuable input and share some flaws.
   The Files is a massive source of episodic detail while this
   book contains background regarding the show from a devotee
   determined to rake in a few bucks besides. The Files author,
   as rumored, received no compensation for his work, an attempted
   investment resulting in a labor of love, nevertheless.



5. This book was published in 1987 and is obviously not a rare item, in 2004. The quality does deem it a five star but a three star at most. This book tries in itself try to do what was already attempted at a few years prior, a look at a 60s spy craze era tv series which while being the first, it was in no manner the best, with [...] yet improvised shows like I Spy, Mission Impossible and The Wild Wild West, surpassing the original in either action or realism. The last half of its 2nd year and the complete 3rd year proved its days were numbered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If it were not for this series, the above mentioned shows would certainly not have thrived! Those who praise this book too much need to realize that all books published on this series require perusal, not just this ego-inflating item.

5 comments about Tropicana Nights: The Life and Times of the Legendary Cuban Nightclub.

1. As other reviewers have said, this book is fascinating in depth and breadth and extremely well-written. The book recreates the mood and times of Havana, Cuba, and often of the US across several decades. The author exhibits tremendous balance in spite of the author's genuine affection for many of the primary players in the central drama.



2. This is a great book written by two outstanding ladies who are the experts on the subject matter. First Rosa Lowinger did an outstanding job with her research, and Ofelia Fox Fox (widow of Martin Fox, former owner of Tropicana Night Club) with all the details that she provided. I believe that every Cuban should be very proud of these two ladies, who invested so much time to make this book, and did an excellent job too, about their Country, and the Havana night clubs. The Tropicana ranks above them all. In this book the reader will know how the night club was made, and all the people involved in making it happen. And credit must be given to Martin Fox former owner of the club. It became his obsession in making his dream come true; although I reside in Morocco I can only imagine what Cuba was like in those days. I left my country at the age of eight, and never had the chance to go near the Tropicana, I always remember the stories of the great experience it was to visit the club. Some people would associate the club with the Mafia, and corruption. Well, if the club had any connection with the Jewish and Italian Mafia, they were better off than what the current backward government has to offer today. Corruption exists everywhere in the world, and Cuba was booming with with success in those days. After all, the Jews and Italians owned most of the Hotels and other casinos in Havana, they also invested great amount of money to assist the Cuban people in making Cuba the best tourist attraction in the world! General Batista was the best president that Cuba had. In those days you did not have the poverty that you find today in the Island. We Cubans are proud of our culture and are happy people, we like the best that life has to offer.This book is a must for all the Cubans and other nationalities who do not know how Cuba was; Cuba was known as the Pearl of the Antilles. The book is also very educative, for those who want to improve their knowledge and overcome their ignorance, for example, Ofelia Fox explains the true meaning of the word guajiro, "When Roosevelt's men came to fight in our war of Independence, and they began calling the Mambises `war heroes'. Well, you can imagine that no Cuban could pronounce that, so it simply became guajiro."Excerpt from the book: Tropicana Nights, The Life and Times of the Legendary Cuban Night Club, Chapter 17, Cabaret in the Sky, page: 269.by Rosa Lowinger & Ofelia. Buy it!



3. Tropicana Nights brings to life the second most famous nightclub of the 20th century, and the events of the Castro revolution. Rosa Lowinger weaves into the story just enough personal history to give context to all the larger events. Details are included when they are relevant to the story told, but the story is allowed to move along quickly, and this book is entertaining and illuminating. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get an idea of what pre-revolutionary Havana was like, whether or not they are interested in nightclubs. My parents, who often went to Tropicana, said that the book tells it like it was. The book also includes wonderful vintage photos.



4. Tropicana Nights gives the reader a sense of what life was like in Havana during the 1940s and 1950s. The Tropicana nightclub embodied the creativity and glamour of that era.
   
   Tropicana still exists in Havana today. In the 1940s and 50s, it was a nightclub, cabaret and casino. It hosted performers such as Nat "King" Cole, Ginger Rogers and Liberace. Its audience was composed of the rich and famous, politicians and people wanting a special night out. Tropicana consistently met and raised people's expectations. The shows were legendary due to the imaginative choreography, live animals and beautiful Tropicana models.
   
   This book is a collaboration of two women who are brought together to tell Tropicana's story. Ofelia Fox is the widow of Martin Fox who owned the Tropicana from 1950-1962. Rosa Lowinger was born in Havana but raised in Miami. As they work together on the book, some issues are raised.
   
   Rosa and Ofelia have different views on Cuban politics. Ofelia claims that both Batista and Castro are dictators. Rosa must be sensitive about what she writes about Castro or risk being denied entry back into Cuba.
   
   Rosa is curious about the possible Mob involvement at Tropicana. Ofelia and Martin went to Trafficante's daughter's wedding and were personally entertained by Frankie Carbo (a hit man for Bugsy Siegel in the 1930s) when they visited New York. Ofelia maintains that this was just a good business relationship. but Rosa isn't so sure. It is up to the reader to decide who is right.
   
   There are also questions about Ofelia's relationship with her roommate (Rosa Sanchez). They have been together for more than 30 years yet when asked, Ofelia states that Rosa is a close friend but they are not a couple.
   
   Lowinger has written a book that reads like a juicy novel. She has a great writing style, I kept turning the pages to find out what happened next. After reading the personal anecdotes and seeing the photos, I felt like I knew the various characters (the showgirls, the dancers and roulette dealers). I also enjoyed finding out what happened to everyone in recent years.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Come spend some time at the Tropicana and find out why it was paradise under the stars.



5. Rosita Lowinger brings Cuba in the '40s and '50s to vibrant life in this excellent book. Anybody interested in learning about the island of Cuba should read it, because it's chock-full of historical facts. In addition, you learn all about the politics, the music, the cabaret circuit, the culture, even the Mafia connections! Rosita is an excellent writer who puts lots of "sabor" in her prose. I hope she's working on the screeplay right now. You cannot put the damn book down! It's easily the best I've read all year.

1 comments about Ibsen's Selected Plays (Norton Critical Editions).

1. You have here the essential Ibsen plays and some of the best criticism in one place; an invaluable resource, but more than that, a really enjoyable read.

1 comments about Glamour Girls of Sixties Hollywood: Seventy-Five Profiles.

1. Contributing writer for "Cinema Retro" magazine Tom Lisanti presents Glamour Girls of Sixties Hollywood: Seventy-Five Profiles, an homage to seventy-five different models, Playboy centerfolds, beauty queens, and Las Vegas showgirls of the 1960s who moved on to become "decorative actresses" who showed off their scantily clad skin on film and television. Black-and-white photographs illustrate the profiles, each only a few pages long, which include a physical description of the actress in her prime, notes on which movies or shows the casual browser may remember her from, a list of her 60's credits, the "beginning" or origin of the woman's career in show business, and how she fared in the 70's and beyond. Sometimes the actress herself offers in-her-own-words interview concerning the highlights of her career. Interviewed women include Victoria Carroll, Melodie Johnson, Vicki London, Lee Meredith, Anne Randall, and more. A lightheartedly sexy treasury sure to delight 60's pop culture fans and cinema buffs.

5 comments about Breaking into Commericals: The Complete Guide to Marketing Yourself, Auditioning to Win, And Getting the Job, 2nd ed..

1. This is an easy to read, excellent reference book for anyone starting out in commercials. I read Terry's book, took a couple of workshops and booked several commercials. It has everything you need to know in order to be prepared to walk into an audition.



2. Okay... seriously...this woman knows how to break an industry down. This book is the ABC's of the television commercial industry. Terry Berland goes from headshots to the extreme selection process to how much you can make on residuals. If you plan on making it in commercials, (by the way-"If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail."- Quoted by Ms. Berland) buy this book NOW!



3. i thought this book was great but i wish it had a section on not blinking, the how-tos. I'm taking a TV Commercial class and was told i blink a lot. If anyone has any advice or can point me in the right direction, i would appreciate it.



4. I have been doing commercials for over 50 years, and I'm always seeking that "extra edge." "Breaking into Commercials" is by far the best book I've ever read to give that "extra edge" to seasoned talent, or to those that are just beginning. It is the most comprehensive guide to give the beginner confidence, and refocus the experienced to a winning career boost.
   This is a must to read. Do yourself a favor and put one in your car and one next to your bedstand. Having this book is giving yourself a raise.



5. After reading Terry's book I feel so much more confident going into auditions - because she gives you the tools to prepare you for whatever the casting director throws at you - whether it's working with a product or a partner or having to improvise a scene. I feel prepared.

1 comments about Terpsichore in Sneakers: Post-Modern Dance (Wesleyan Paperback).

1. The evolution of the roughly twenty-five years of American post-modern dance is expounded upon in Sally Banes' articulate and comprehensive treatment of the period from 1960 to 1985. Pivotal characters in this history, of which there are several, are examined in detail, with many descriptive passages of definitive works and happenings from the era. Post-modern, originally referring only chronologically (and vaguely) to the period following what we now call historical modern dance, actually has several specific and revolutionary veins of philosophy and aesthetics attached to it. Well researched, Terpsichore in Sneakers has several photographs, choreographers' scores, charts, and notes (including some previously unpublished), a selected bibliography, and an alphabetical list of works by and about seminal contributors to the movement. Fascinating and enlightening reading not only for dancers, but for those interested in American cultural history and anthropology.

2 comments about Hawk Moon: Short Stories, Poems, and Monologues (PAJ Books).

1. Seven drunk nurses are attacked by seven twelve year olds on customized Schwinns. A young man covers a nude female corpse with hundred dollar bills and plays Rolling Stones songs to her just before he burns her in the bathtub. A bored guitarist reaches orgasm with his Gibson. A traveler is tormented by a dead raven's feather. These and other stories and poetry make up playwright Sam Shepard's first foray into fiction and poetry (originally published in 1973). His major themes here include blood and violence, sex, love, and America. For any Shepard fan, this is a must-read. Shepard's images of America--the dry, flat desert, the endless highway, the seedy motel--are so dead-on that we are right there with his characters, looking over their shoulders as they commit sins and/or try to find some good in this world. Read it with Shepard's CRUISING PARADISE and MOTEL CHRONICLES.



2. Sam Shepard is one of the unheralded geniuses in American literature. This book, his first foray as far as I know into a 'scrap book' style of fiction, is beautiful, delicate, powerful, intimitely connected to the natural world and perhaps the world of spirits, as well as a pre-cursor to his future prose, poems and plays. If you wish to experience an America that has for the most part vanished for forever, an America that is rarely talked about in truth on our cable, radio, and internet, then pick up either this book, Motel Chronicles, or Cruising Paradise. All three are unique companion pieces, spread some twenty five years apart in publication, and well worth owning.

No comments about A.Hepburn.

No comments about The Wooster Group Work Book.

5 comments about Geisha.

1. This book not only holds your attention, but it opens the doors that have been closed so long to outsiders, even most japanese, for so long. I bought this about a year ago, and i didnt put it down for 3 days, which was the amount of time it took me to finish it. I read this after memoirs of a geisha and i really loved it. Liza Dalby got the experience of a lifetime, one that many of us wish we could have. All in all i have to say this is one of the best books about geisha...or any other book for that matter, i have ever read.



2. Liz Dalby's book from the late seventies is a portrait in time of the flower and willow world of Geisha that no other Western author has ever been able to capture. This makes Arthur Golden's book Memoirs of a Geisha laughable compared to the poignancy of the stories of real Geisha and the lives they led at the time of writing.
   
   Dalby also gives plenty of history (she is an anthropologist) as well as becoming her own test subject by actually portraying geisha herself. These personal accounts are worth every penny for the privelage. I would have much rather seen a film of this book!
   
   There is so much that is deeply moving about her relationships with the Geisha and the dramatic losses of real life that are interwoven throughout the book. I would love to see a follow-up to the book, to see how all of this ultimately became part of her life.
   
   There are excellent photos throughout, though some in color would have been nice. This is a true anthropological memoir but it is never dry, never overly intellectual. Dalby is not a great writer but she is a terrific journalist.
   
   I've read many books about Geisha and this stands alone as the finest.



3. This book by Liza Dalby is the most comprehensive book on geisha I have seen. Also, very readable.



4. Picked this one up years ago after seeing the moving starring Pam Dawbar which I enjoyed.
   
   I found it most interesting reading as far as cultural aspects go as well as most informative.
   
   Very well written.



5. In "Geisha" Ms Dalby invites the reader to wander, with her, through ancient and modern day Japan. Through her eyes you meet and greet people from all walks of life. With dignity and honour she introduces you to her Geisha friends. Before you are aware you a transported into the world of Geisha, a world so different and yet so like your own. When you finish the last page, there is a sadness and a wish to know that the people you've come to care about "live happily ever after". Thank you Liz, your book opened my eyes and touched my heart.