No comments about Researching Dance: Evolving Modes of Inquiry.

4 comments about The Beatles (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers).

1. It is nice to see that along with Ludwig Van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Peter Tchaikovsky that author/illustrator Mike Venezia is also looking at 20th century types like Duke Ellington, George Gerswhin, Igor Stravinsky, and the Beatles for his Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers series. In case the young readers who come across this book do not know, Venezia points out that from 1964 to 1970 the Beatles were the most popular musical group in the world. Unlike most of the other great composers Venezia looks at the Beatles never had any real musical training and were pretty much self taught. Venezia talks about the origins of rock 'n' roll and the influence of particular artists on the Beatles. He then provides early biographies for John, Paul, George and Ringo, with each of the Fab Four getting their own cartoon, before providing a brief history of the band.

   The actual compositions of the Beatles are dealt with in only general terms. The only songs that get mentioned are "She Loves You," because of the cheery "yeah, yeah, yeah" part, Hello Goodbye" because there is a photo of them performing it, and the 40-second final piano chord of "A Day in the Life" from the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album. Venezia does provide some basic music appreciation lessons talking about the Beatles experimentation with different kinds of instruments, bringing in musicians from symphony orchestras, and such. However, this is no substitute for actually listening to the group's music. Of course, once you start talking about great Beatles songs, where do you stop? Just have your young reader put on a Beatles album while they read the book.

   The biographical sections on the early years of the four Beatles and their early days trying to make a name for themselves will prove of most interest to young readers. My only real complains about this volume would be that it really does not talk about the impact the Beatles had on popular culture, which was immense, and that except for the difference in Ringo's nose you cannot tell the Fab Four apart in Venezia's cartoons. I was sort of looking forward to better caricatures than this, to be honest.




2. This book is a terrific, entertaining, concise history of the Beatles that is easy for children to read. Being a huge Beatles fan myself, I found the book covered all the bases without leaving too much out. I would recommend this book for any aspiring elementary music teacher.



3. This is a book I would have given ANYTHING (within bounds of reason) for as a child. I love it! This is a delightful read that will hopefully introduce this next generation to the Beatles and the social and musical impact they had on the world. It is an excellent teaching tool for parents and educators.

   I have always believed, from the time I was a very little girl, that the Beatles have set new standards in music. I think this book does an excellent job of introducing the act you've known for all these years to the next generation. The Beatles are timeless.




4. A stunning revelation -- indeed, the time has come for our culture to embrace the meshing of education with fun! Thank you, Mike Venezia for engaging us in this clever strategem which challenges the mind by simultaneously making light on the fringe and exerting a powerful exactitude on the mainframe.

5 comments about Gene Kelly: A Life of Dance and Dreams.

1. I have my own personal barometer to indicate whether or not a book is second-rate (or worse). I start counting the typos, and when I hit "five," I officially distrust the author/editors. I hit five by the third chapter and knew I was in for a bumpy ride. This author should have concentrated on spell-checking and fact-checking, rather than obsessing with his thinly veiled,homophobic assertions (as mentioned by another reader, his repeated reference to "Leo McCrary" nearly made me hurl the book across the room!). This really was a maddening read, and it is hardly the biography that the great Gene Kelly deserves. Makes one even sadder to ponder that Kelly's own autobiography was lost when his house burned down in the 80's. That would have been a helluva read.



2. I'm currently only up to page 175, and for the first time in recent memory, I'm giving up on a book. I've wasted way too much time on this piece of utter garbage. I have to thank the other knowledgeable and discerning reviewers here on Amazon for making me realize that there's just no point in continuing with this thing.
   
   From what I've actually managed to get through, it's clear that Yudkoff is many things, but, first and foremost, he's a bad writer. No, strike that: He's a horrible writer. One thing I've always felt is important with biographies is accuracy. Not Yudkoff. He seems to value contradictions and poor research. How poor? I just read the section about HUAC, and he expressed great disdain for director Leo McCarey. He had several paragraphs about him, and mentioned his name numerous times. Now, if you're going to mention someone over and over in your book, one would think that you would at least research him enough to get his name right. Yudkoff calls him Leo McCrary.
   
   The inaccuracies aren't the worst part of the book, by far. Yudkoff seems to be a Communist sympathizer, and that viewpoint is one of the main thrusts of his book. A couple years ago, I read Myrna Loy's autobiography. She was one of those who let her politics run her life, instead of the other way around, and every opinion, encounter and experience was tinged/tainted by her political view. She seemed to have a desire to bed every man in Hollywood, but only if they were a "good Democrat." As awash with politics as her book was, though, it pales in comparison to the hammer and sickle-waving contempt for all things right of Lennin found here. Combined with the glaring inaccuracies (not to mention the outright libel in some passages--Yudkoff takes courage from Cary Grant being in the grave to state his rumored homosexuality as fact), it's impossible to take this book seriously, and nearly impossible to take it at all.
   
   One thing that's essential when reading a biography is trust: you have to be able to trust the author and his account of the person's life, otherwise it's a wasted effort. Very little of what Yudkoff writes--outside of direct quotes (and even those are suspect based on his glaringly poor fact-checking)--can be accepted as fact. This book was clearly written with an agenda, but unfortunately, that agenda doesn't seem to include an accurate retelling of Kelly's life. Avoid this like the bird flu.



3. I love Gene Kelly but I don't love this book. I don't see the point in the AFI tribute, just get to the history. The only good thing I can say about this book is that Gene Kelly's talent and determination come through, but that is nothing the author did, that was Gene Kelly and you can get that from any book, any movie, and any story told about him.



4. Ugh, where to begin? As others have written before me, there are so many basic errors in this book that I wonder at the author's "research." If he had spent more time getting the facts straight instead of pretending to know what Gene Kelly was thinking during the AFI tribute, then this book may not be the shambles we readers have had to endure. As I was reading, finding the errors actually became a game for me. I would sit there with my book and pen and paper, just daring Yudkoff to pitch out another mistake. Here are the ones I found: (I'm sure there are several others.)
   
   1. Shirley Maclaine's dress at the AFI Tribute is BLACK not RED. An error that is SO basic, it shows how careless this author is throughout the entire book.
   
   2. In For Me and My Gal, Judy Garland's character was NOT engaged to the George Murphy character. Hey Yudkoff, it would help if you saw the movies of the person about whom you're writing, don't you think???
   
   3. Again, in For Me and My Gal, the Judy Garland and Gene Kelly characters are NOT "immediate sensations," as the author states. Sheesh.
   
   4. Yup, another one regarding For Me and My Gal: the "author" (I'm beginning to use this term more loosely) states that Gene Kelly's character is a solo act in Europe. NOT TRUE. Watch the movie you careless dolt!
   
   5. In Living in a Big Way, Yudkoff says that there is a dance with a trained dog and a dance with a statue. AHEM! They are the same dance. Yikes, this is getting embarrassing! I'm glad I'm not this author!
   
   6. Here's one of the worst: When Yudkoff refers to Vera-Ellen's character in On the Town as "MISS SUBWAYS!" Oh my gosh. Her title was "Miss Turnstiles." Hmm..sounds like someone really needs to sit down with some of the movies before writing any more books.
   
   7. Now here's something I've never seen before in any book, using the exact same quote TWICE. On page 197 and on page 202 he uses the same GK quote in referring to the pioneering on-location film technique of On the Town. (Of course, by this time, who knows if those are even real quotes? So much has already been fabricated!)
   
   SHAME ON THE AUTHOR, THE EDITOR, and THE PUBLISHER who bought the book!!! Gene Kelly fans have waited for 20 years for an updated biography of this legendary dancer, choreographer, and director. The readers deserve better and so does Mr. Kelly himself.
   
   Other annoying things are the way the author's internal monologue Gene Kelly is having with himself at the AFI Tribute(which I gave up on and stopped reading) basically just criticizes and insults everyone. And don't even get me started on the way he keeps hinting at homosexual rumors and portrays a young Betsy Blair as this side of a nymphomaniac. Plus, the book only focuses on about half of Gene Kelly's life. Twenty years are sideswiped in a couple of paragraphs and 40-some years are glossed over in a few pages. How about giving Gene Kelly some credit for being a single widowed father who raised his two younger children who lost their mother to cancer at ages 8 and 11? How about informing your readers that this generous father turned down numerous projects so that he could provide a stable home for his children and this was when he was in his 60's? All Yudkoff cares about are the glamour days. Not a nice way to treat your subject, who you claim to admire.
   
   If you're as frustrated as I am, do what the author did, just learn what you can about Gene Kelly from the 1974 book written by Clive Hirschhorn. You get several treats in one: ACTUAL quotes from Gene Kelly and those who knew him, ACTUAL facts about the man, and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
   
   As for this book: IT IS A DISGRACE! The entire thing is written like the author is wearing a neon sign saying, "Hey everyone! Look at me! I'm writing a book about Gene Kelly!" OK! So you wrote your terrible book, now do something useful like apologize to your readers. If I was Betsy Blair, or Kerry, Timothy, or Bridget Kelly, I would sue the pants off this guy. Ugh, ugh, and again I say, UGH!



5. This is a rather strange little tome that succeeds to some extent almost in spite of itself. It has a cheap look and feel. It is not especially well-written, and it contains many, many factual errors. But it nevertheless turns out to be a fairly interesting read -- especially once Gene hits the big-time on Broadway and in Hollywood. (The first -- and dullest -- part of the book contains way too much detail about Gene's life and times running his chain of dance studios in Pittsburgh, PA, and the surrounding 'burghs. This part may be of some regional interest to those from the Pittsburgh area, but otherwise it can easily be skipped by the reader.) In any event, the author takes the high road throughout, focusing almost exclusively on Gene's many professional successes (and, of course, a few major failures) as he climbed the ladder to 1940s and 1950s superstardom. A bit more information about Gene's family life, particularly with his first wife, actress Betsy Blair (who was blacklisted as a Commie sympathizer during the Red scare of the '50s, and had to leave the United States to find work -- which this book doesn't mention, by the way, and who, also by the way, a few years ago wrote a wonderful and heartfelt memoir of her exceptional life -- including the periods before and after her marriage to Gene -- entitled "The Memory of All That," that is well worth reading) and his three children, might have added some additional interest. But it would also appear Gene may have had a few . . . ummmmm . . . pecadillos (concerning his attraction to "barely legal" young ladies -- one of whom, the aforementioned Betsy Blair, he married when he was over thirty and she was just 18) that are best left to the imagination, so the author's discretion in terms of Gene's personal life may be a blessing in disguise. Anyway, this is not a bad book for what is it, and it may come in handy as a ready-reference the next time "For Me and My Gal," "Cover Girl," "An American in Paris," "Singin' in the Rain," "Brigadoon," and many other film's graced by Gene's one-of-kind talent appears on TV. But if you want a true taste of Gene's genius, get ahold of a copy of the DVD entitled "Gene Kelly: Anatomy of Dancer."

3 comments about Fundamentals of Play Directing.

1. This textbook is the standard work for student directors. It is a dense, dry read (as are most textbooks) but it contains invaluable information about how to stage plays.
   
   Get a used copy at a reasonable price, but definitely read this book if you want to be a director.



2. Arguably the most significant text on directing for the stage, originally published after Alexander Dean's death (1893-1939) in 1941 from his posthumous class notes and revised several times. Alexander Dean was a professor at Yale in the 1930s. Lawrence Carra, now in his 90s, was his student and then went on to head the Drama Department at Carnegie Mellon University, the oldest degree-conferring school of theatre in the United States.

   This book has influenced generations of stage directors and is considered by many the most influential book of its kind. It is both theoretical and practical. Although the prose style is somewhat dry, the content and information is invaluable. The book presents five basic "fundamentals" of directing: composition, picturization, movement, rhythm and pantomimic dramatization. Carra's follow-up book, Controls in Stage Directing, although out of print, is a worthy companion which explains how the five fundamentals may applied to plays of various genres and styles.

   The book presents a true method of how to approach the staging of plays. It is not just an outline of basic principles but also gives insight into the art of directing. The basic principles provide working techniques for the realization of the values of a play onstage. The book begins with an excellent essay on "Drama as Art," continues with a chapter on basic technique for the actor and then the heart and soul of the book are the five major chapters covering the basic fundamentals of directing. It ends with a chapter on Production Procedures.

   An excellent and important book. I am biased, however, as I was a student of Professor Carra.




3. Dean and Carra's FUNDAMENTALS OF PLAY DIRECTING is a step-by-step manual which deciphers the major technical and visual issues of stage directing. It includes specific "tricks of the trade" which remind all directors, beginning or advanced, of the mechanics of stage work. While the authors discuss dramatic theory, the book corrects examines technique, addressing the key concepts of stage focus, framing, stage pictures, and the creation of dynamism on the stage. It allows current students of directing to understand the "fundamentals" first in order to create new and exciting works later. Though expensive, it is the definitive text for directing students. FUNDAMENTALS OF PLAY DIRECTING is an important investment in a young director's theatrical future.

5 comments about If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor.

1. I gave this as a gift to a friend who is a HUGE Bruce Campbell fan.
   She loved it! Definitely worth checking out for anyone who enjoys his work. Hilarious guy, Awesome book!



2. Campbell, Bruce. "If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor". LA Weekly, 2002.
   
   What a Book!
   
   Amos Lassen
   
   Bruce Campbell has written quite a book with "If Chins Could Kill". He writes as if we are having a conversation with him and he gives some very interesting and provocative information.
   Campbell begins with his childhood in Michigan and how the Raimi brothers transformed his life when he was still in high school. He tells us of the various friends he had as a kid and about backstabbing and betrayals which probably are the reason as to why he never became a big star. Eventually he and the Raimis got together and began to produce "The Evil Dread" which quickly became a cult horror classic.
   Campbell has no glamour whatsoever but he is a ham. He does his own stunts, has never studied acting yet he has had a job in the film industry for almost 30 years. He is a hard worker and few of us have any idea of who he is except for those that make "B" movies. In his book he shows us blue collar Hollywood. He is offbeat and he works cheap--but, he works. Campbell makes no pretense about being a god writer but he is honest.
   In following Campbell's career, he tends to be a little private about his personal life but wide open about his career. I have the feeling that he is a very human and down to earth guy. His book is funny and satiric and I had a great time reading it.



3. If you want intreague, laughs, and weather your a Campbell fan like myself or not this book can be enjoyed on so many levels. Best book i've ever read.



4. I have been a long time fan of B.C. and FINALLY bought the book to give it a try. I was so disappointed in myself for waiting so long. If you like B.C. then you well like this fun, easy and entertaining book cover to cover! Bruce Campbell ROCKS! I can't wait to read his other book/books!



5. As a Bruce Campbell fan, I enjoyed this breezy, conversational autobiography, but wish it had included more material about Bruce's TV series work. I suppose most of his heavy-duty fans are most interested in all the details about making and promoting the "Evil Dead" movies, but I'm one of those who first latched onto the inimitable BC through "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr." And hopefully, Bruce's career is far from over, so perhaps we'll get a sequel (or a further revised edition) someday!

5 comments about Beyond Popcorn: A Critic's Guide to Looking at Films.

1. This book was a required text for a film class I took. It is good and interesting, but not very long--I read the whole thing in one sitting. A good choice for those interested in critiquing films.



2. I've been doing a lot of reading about film in the last year and I have to say that Glatzer's guide was not as helpful as the other books I've read. When I compare Glatzer's guide to Jim Piper's guide, "Get the Picture?: The Movie Lover's Guide to Watching to Films," I fnd that while Glatzer may be a good movie critic, he, unlike Piper, is not a very good teacher of the subject.

   Much of Glatzer reads like moive review of films instead of a guide for reading films critically. His first few chapters provide some basic insight on the differences between movies and theatre productions and the role of the camera in flims, but the rest of book is not as helpful as it could be.

   The chapter on laughter in film, for example, is not useful. He tries to explain humor by focusing on the work of Buster Keaton, but many of us contemporary film goers might not find Keaton all that funny. The same goes for his chapters on musicals, foriegn films, and movie credits--each of them are not very helpful for understanding contemporary films.

   Perhaps it's his last chapters that save this book. Glatzer provides a list of "must see films" and a list of guide questions you should ask yourself about a movie. I wish Glatzer had used those questions to develop his guide.

   Finally, I was also disappointed that neither Glatzer or Piper provide a multicultural examination of films. There are so many films by directors of color that don't get examined in either of the guides. The contributions of Spike Lee, Wayne Wang, Charles Burnett, John Singleton, Melvin Van Peeples, Julie Dash, and Camille Billops (documentary film maker), should have been include in their guide.

   I guess if you're coming from more of classical film tradition, Glatzer guide might be helpful, but if you're looking for guide to more contemporary, as well as classic and foreign films, check out Piper's book.




3. Mr. Glatzer has a wonderful readable style which reminds me of his popular NPR movie reviews. No, I don't agree with all his conclusions --I happen to think THE ENGLISH PATIENT is a virtuoso film --but it is a treat to imagine arguing film with this gentleman. If every non-fiction author had his easy-going and intelligent style, I might be tempted to supplement my fiction diet with a few books the likes of BEYOND POPCORN. It is a triumph.



4. This book was just what I needed. I love to watch movies, and I know what I like, but I never really knew why I liked them. It is the perfect book for someone like me who has never studied film but would like to know more.

   It covers how movies are made, the roles of all the folks involved, and what separates good writing, directing, or acting from the bad.

   Also his "all time best" lists, agree or disagree, are fun to discuss.

   Finally, it is written in a fun, fast-paced style.

   Enjoy.




5. It may not be the definitive guide to movies and/or reviews but this readable book is fun! Any movie buff will relish the opportunity to check his/her own favorites against the authors; to bemoan the absence of a personal favorite; or cheer the mention of a forgotten oldie. A good addition to our shelves so thumbs up (pardon the reference to other critics)

1 comments about Japanese No Masks: With 300 Illustrations of Authentic Historical Examples (Dover Books on Fine Art).

1. fairly high amount of illustrations not much on the substance of the masks which would be difficult because of the great number of masks illustrated

5 comments about The Souls of Your Feet: A Tap Dance Guidebook for Rhythm Explorers.

1. Great Book on Tap! Highly Recommend it!



2. This book helped me a LOT, I have to admit to that. But experienced tap dancers beware: looking at words that describe steps can be extremely frustrating when you can't visually see them done. Acia has written some wonderful pearls of wisdom within this book, and I highly reccommend it to any serious tap dancer



3. Thanks to Acia M. Gray for writing a book that's not just somebody elses steps! I was so excited to see that this book gives tools to make up your own stuff. I will say that some of the terminology is different than I'm used to but it clarifies tap dance in a way that makes sense and lays down a foundation on which to play! An intelligent guide to the "language" of rhythm with your feet.



4. This book is a must for beginners. Ms. Gray's definitions make sense. The concepts if taught from the beginning, carry the dancer easily into the advanced levels. Those who do not like the book are struggling with their own closed minds not any shortcomings on Ms. Gray's part. If we all had learned tap with these unique concepts so many bad habits would not have to be "re-learned." I have taught tap for 19 years and all my students have adapted the curriculum provided in "The Souls of Your Feet." The historical descriptions and resource information have proven invaluable as well.



5. It was more confusing than any other book I have ever read about tap or any other type of dance.

1 comments about Postdramatic Theatre.

1. Hans-Thies Lehmann's thesis provides a thought-provoking, bold and provocative guide to the current and emerging theatrical landscape. Essential reading for every theatrical practitioner, student and scholar in the country.

2 comments about Costume Design.

1. I have Cletus as my design teacher at Carnegie Mellon University this year. I have looked at the book, and it is definitely worth using and referring to regularly. The main thing to know is that Cletus has done everything, knows everything and really, he is the end all source of theatre, costume and artistic information and advice. He got through Yale School of Drama Grad program without ever turning in anything late... think about that. Now why would you choose another book?



2. I have used this book as the text in my Costume Design class for years and find it is the only one to my knowledge that covers both the conceptual aspects of costuming for the theatre as well the craft of rendering and construct. It even addresses historical information briefly. I was saddened to hear that the book was out of print. I am hoping a new edition will be out soon