History & Criticism

Wildflower is a portrait of Drew Barrymore's life in stories as she looks back on the adventures, challenges, and incredible experiences of her earlier years....

From the archives of the American Film Institute comes a unique picture of what it was like to work in Hollywood from its beginnings to its present day....

The long-awaited first work of nonfiction from the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: a deliriously entertaining, wickedly intelligent cinema book as unique and creative as anything by Quentin Tarantino....

A wryly funny and surprisingly moving account of an extraordinary life lived almost entirely in the public eye....

From actor Cary Elwes, who played the iconic role of Westley in The Princess Bride, comes a first-person account and behind-the-scenes look at the making of the cult classic film....

Robert McKee's screenwriting workshops have earned him an international reputation for inspiring novices, refining works in progress, and putting major screenwriting careers back on track....

Surely You Can’t Be Serious is the first-ever oral history of the making of Airplane! by the creators, and of the beginnings of the ZAZ trio (Zucker, Abrahams, Zucker) – charting the rise of their comedy troupe Kentucky Fried Theater in Madison, Wisconsin all the way to premiere night....

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Residence and First Women, the first ever authorized biography of the most famous movie star of the twentieth century, Elizabeth Taylor.

Hilarious and heartfelt observations on aging from one of America's favorite comedians, now that he's 65, and a look back at a remarkable career....

James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales raucously and revealingly take the SNL story up to the present, adding a constellation of iconic new stars, surprises, and controversies....

A deeply personal and revealing Hollywood-survival story.....

Based on original research and dozens of interviews probing the memories of principals from director John Landis and producer Bob Weiss to Aykroyd himself, The Blues Brothers illuminates an American masterpiece while vividly portraying the creative geniuses behind modern comedy....

Instead of focusing on one service, like HBO, Pandora’s Box asks, “What did HBO do, besides give us The Sopranos?” The answer: It gave us a revolution....

Caddyshack is one of the most beloved comedies of all time, but the movie we all know and love didn't start out that way, and everyone who made it certainly didn't have the word classic in mind as the cameras were rolling....

The story of how The Godfather was made is as dramatic, operatic, and entertaining as the film itself. Over the years, many versions of various aspects of the movie’s fiery creation have been told - sometimes conflicting, but always compelling....

A full-speed-ahead oral history of the nearly two-decade making of the cultural phenomenon Mad Max: Fury Road....

This audiobook follows the wild ride that was Hollywood in the 70s - an unabashed celebration of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll and a climate where innovation reigned supreme....

The author of the New York Times bestseller Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep returns with a lively history of the Academy Awards, focusing on the brutal battles, the starry rivalries, and the colorful behind-the-scenes drama....

This is the unauthorized, uncensored, and unbelievable true story behind the making of a pop culture phenomenon....

The definitive biography of the creator of 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, and A Clockwork Orange, presenting the most in-depth portrait yet of the groundbreaking film-maker....

Batman is one of the most compelling characters to come from the Golden Age of Comics, and interest in his story has only increased since his first appearance in 1939. Why does this superhero without superpowers fascinate us? What does that fascination say about us?

On a cold Saturday afternoon in 1975, two men (who had known each other for eight years before they’d ever exchanged a word) met for lunch in a Chicago pub. Gene Siskel was the film critic for the Chicago Tribune....

The definitive, behind-the-scenes look at the most popular sitcom of the last decade, The Big Bang Theory, packed with all-new, exclusive interviews with the producers and entire cast....

Fred Rogers was an enormously influential figure in the history of television and in the lives of tens of millions of children. As the creator and star of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, he was a champion of compassion, equality, and kindness....

Inspired by the diaries of another celebrity-obsessed Andy (Warhol), this honest, irreverent, and laugh-out-loud funny book is a one-of-a-kind account of the whos and whats of pop culture in the 21st century....

The animations of Japan's Studio Ghibli are among the most respected in the movie industry. Their delightful films rank alongside the most popular non-English language films ever made, with each new eagerly anticipated release a guaranteed box-office hit. Yet this highly profitable studio has remained fiercely independent, producing a stream of imaginative and individual animations. The studio's founders, the late Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki, have created timeless masterpieces. Although their films are distinctly Japanese, their themes are universal.

From the Emmy Award-winning Squid Game to streaming sensations like The Glory and Crash Landing on You, Korean television has emerged onto the global pop culture scene as compelling television—but what exactly makes these shows so irresistibly bingeable? And what can we learn about our societies and ourselves from watching them? From stand-up comedian and media studies PhD Grace Jung comes a rollicking deep dive into the cultural significance of Korean television.

Introducing "Lights, Camera, Performance," the ultimate guide to the exciting world of television's performing arts! Embark on a fascinating journey through the history of television performances and discover the groundbreaking moments that have forever changed the way we consume entertainment. From dramas to comedies, reality shows to anthologies, "Lights, Camera, Performance" delves into the world of TV and unveils the secrets behind the most captivating performances of all time. Uncover the evolution of scripted dramas, as well as the remarkable rise of stand-up comedy and sketch shows ...

Introducing "Behind the Screens" - a captivating and immersive eBook that offers a unique and detailed exploration of the dynamic world of television and performing arts! Unveiling the exhilarating journey of how television evolved and transformed the performing arts, this eBook is an absolute must-read for enthusiasts, students, and professionals interested in delving deeper into this fascinating landscape. Embark on the adventure from the dawn of television in Chapter 1 and follow the story all the way through to the impact of streaming services in Chapter 23. Discover breathtaking ...

Baudrillard & Lacan: At the (Exploitation) Movies! uncovers the multifaceted complexity situated in several previously neglected exploitation masterpieces. It examines: *Joe D’Amato’s Porno Holocaust & Emanuelle in America *Jess Franco’s Jungfrauen-Report *Christploitation Classic A Thief in the Night *Harmony Korine’s Gummo *Naziploitation Comedy Liebes Lager *Tim Heidecker’s Urinal Street Station *And Much More! Written for lovers of the Video Nasties, Grindhouse, Mondo, Postmodern Theory, and all things Weird and Sleazy. A truly fun and entertaining gambol through the bizarre ...

Lucas: His Hollywood Legacy is the first collection to bring a sustained scholarly perspective to the iconic filmmaker and his legacy beyond the Star Wars films. Edited by Richard Ravalli, this volume analyzes Lucas's overall contribution and importance to the film industry, diving deep into his use and development of modern special effects technologies, the history of his Skywalker Ranch production facilities, and more.

Apocalypse Television features a dramatic insider's account of the making of and backlash against The Day After. No other book has told this story in similar fashion, venturing behind-the-scenes of the programming and news divisions at ABC, the backlash from the conservative movement and Religious Right, the challenges encountered by the film's production team, and the experiences of the citizens of Lawrence, Kansas, where the film was set and shot.

In The Time of My Life, celebrated music journalist Andrea Warner excavates the layers of Dirty Dancing, from its anachronistic, chart-topping soundtrack, to Baby and Johnny’s chemistry, to Bergstein’s political intentions, to the abortion subplot that is more relevant today than ever. The film’s remarkable longevity would never have been possible if it was just a throwaway summer fling story. It is precisely because of its themes—deeply feminist, sensitively written—that we, over 30 years later, are still holding our breath during that last, exhilarating lift.

The enigmatic and elusive filmmaker Stanley Kubrick has not been treated to a full-length biography in over twenty years. Stanley Kubrick: An Odyssey fills that gap. This definitive book is based on access to the latest research, especially Kubrick's archive at the University of the Arts, London, as well as other private papers plus new interviews with family members and those who worked with him. It offers comprehensive and in-depth coverage of Kubrick's personal, private, public, and working life.

“See Dean Martin Save the World!” – trailer for “Murderer’s Row’ Matt Helm, the literary creation of author Donald Hamilton, was America’s answer to 007 – a two-fisted, hardboiled assassin whose exploits sold millions of paperbacks. Dean Martin was an Italian crooner who rose to fame as the straight man of the comedy duo Martin & Lewis before embarking on a solo singing and acting career that made him one of the most popular performers of the 1960s, appearing in movies and TV and selling millions of records. Martin’s easygoing, boozy. lounge lizard persona was far from ...

The Twin Peaks Unwrapped Podcast has over 200 episodes, and now they have a book. Hosts Ben Durant & Bryon Kozaczka have interviewed just about every actor on Twin Peaks. They have spoken with all the writers, fans and crazy theorists over their 200 episodes. This book compiles all they have unwrapped about David Lynch & Mark Frost's Twin Peaks over the past few years. There also is a ton of new content from people who have not guested on the show like a Special Agent that we all know and love: Agent Cooper. Kyle MacLachlan talked with Ben and Bryon for the book. This book starts with the ...

The Blue Rose Magazine is dedicated to covering the world of Twin Peaks from Mark Frost & David Lynch.This cover was created by painter Lisa Hession who encompassed over 28 different scenes that take place in Twin Peaks over 3 seasons and a movie for this original painting. The hard copy is a wrap around cover. With the Kindle you get the full Jpg picture.This is a special issue where many of our writers return to the magazine to write about their favorite scenes in Twin Peaks. They look at it from a critical, personal, directorial or comic perspective. It is anything and everything that ...

The Blue Rose Magazine is dedicated to covering the world of Twin Peaks from Mark Frost & David Lynch. This is an issue that celebrates a lot of anniversaries. It is the 5 year anniversary of The Blue Rose and our 16th issue. It is also the 5th anniversary of The Return and the 30th of the film Fire Walk With Me. With the release of the managing editor Scott Ryan' Fire Walk With Me: Your Laura Disappeared book coming out in May as well, this issue focuses on mostly The Return. But the cover of Issue 16 is a tribute to both events. So grab the book and get this magazine to celebrate 2022 and...

The Blue Rose is a magazine dedicated to the television show Twin Peaks created by Mark Frost and David Lynch. A perfect read for fans of David Lynch, Twin Peaks and television. Issue 10 contents include: 1. Los Angeles filming locations for Twin Peaks. Yes, much of the series appears to be filmed in Snoqualmie, Washington, but it reality it was filmed in Hollywood. Tour location expert, Melanie Mullen, gives you all the locations from the Gazebo to The Black Lodge. This will be a great map for when you visit Hollywood, forget the stars home's, go visit Twin Peaks' filming locations. 2. ...

The Blue Rose Magazine is a lively, full-color publication that offers discussion, debate, news and analysis about Twin Peaks—David Lynch and Mark Frost's fascinating series (old and new)! Every four months, The Blue Rose will examine Showtime's new season of Twin Peaks. It will also cover the original, classic episodes and the feature film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Expect essays that delve deep into the arcana of Twin Peaks, interviews with cast and crew, reports on current Twin Peaks events, and a regular column about the music of Angelo Badalamenti. Join co-editors Scott Ryan and...