Spoto s book cant help but zip along, although i did. Alfred hitchcock and his leading ladies, crownarchetype. Below are references indicating presence of this name in another database or other reference material. He is known for his bestselling biographies of people in the worlds of film and theater, and more recently for his books on theology and spirituality. The life of preston sturges tells you everything you need to know about the pace of sturges s movies. Preston sturges, who directed just 12 films, is generally and properly. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read.
Christmas in july is a 1940 comedy film written and directed by preston sturges based on his. One of my favorite directors lived a life crazier than his movies. Donald spoto born june 28, 1941 is an american biographer and theologian. According to author donald spoto in his book madcap. Its a wet sunday morning, and im sitting on a sofa reading a book. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. In 1994, the lady eve was selected for preservation in the united states national film registry by the library of congress as being culturally.
See all books authored by donald spoto, including marilyn monroe. Our purpose, he said, is to set the record straight, celebrate lives, and set forth certain aspects of history and human behavior that is good for people to read about. Madcap, the life of preston sturges by donald spoto little, brown, 301 p. Probes the colorful life of the iconoclastic hollywood screenwriter and director. The life of preston sturges, author donald spoto wrote that the director managed to retain an amusing shot in the early part of the film, an intercut from powell and ellen drew on the rooftop to two snuggling rabbits in a corner cage. The film is based on a story by monckton hoffe about a mismatched couple who meet on board an ocean liner. Too often, he takes quotes out of the consensus to make sturges less talented, and less wellreceived in his prime, than he actually was.
Books by donald spoto author of enchantment goodreads. A life diligently assembles a coherent life of sturges and finds. After 19 thoroughly researched books, hes earned the right to say, the biographer is obliged to tell the. Biographer and historian donald spoto believes the goal of the biographer is first and foremost to tell the truth.
The life of preston sturges kindle edition by donald spoto. The life of preston sturges, as a teenager, he had an easy poise and engaging charm, for his innate intelligence and quickness of wit had been naturally augmented by an exposure to the widest variety of cosmopolitan influences he had become, in fact, a young continental, with a keen appreciation of good. Preston sturges has a cameo appearance as the film director in the scene set in a film. In this first critical biography of preston sturges, diane jacobs brings to life the great comic filmmaker whose career andrew sarris described.
The life of preston sturges, macdonald harris hemingways suitcase and bob thomas clown prince of hollywood. His films are distinguished by a zany wit and brilliant, madcap dialogue. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this months biggest new releases. Preston sturges 18981959 was the first writerturneddirector in the history of talking movies, and one of the greatest film directors of any variety. Shadow on front free endpaper where price sticker has been removed, else fine in dustwrapper. As it is, anyone who has marveled at sturges comic ingenuity will experience a shock of recognition perusing madcap. I downloaded an mp3 of her reading the fish, and on an overnight work trip to barcelona i. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
His feet are in my lap, and hes watching a childrens tv program on his. He is best known for the comedies he made in the early 1940s. The lady eve is a 1941 american screwball comedy film written and directed by preston sturges which stars barbara stanwyck and henry fonda. Isbn 97803004667 donald spoto, spellbound by beauty. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. The life of preston sturges, sturges directed christmas in july wearing a straw boater and carrying a bamboo cane. Five screenplays by preston sturges edited and with an introduction by brian henderson. The life of preston sturges donald spoto lets talk about love. A new life donald spoto, author, donald spoto, introduction by st. Read this book and over 1 million others with a kindle unlimited membership. Madcap the life of preston sturges by donald spoto little, brown. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading madcap. Preston sturges by preston sturges adapted and edited by sandy sturges.
The life of preston sturges, donald spoto s new biography of. When james dean died by smashing his porsche into another car, the 24yearold actor leaped from fame into legend. Spoto has written 29 books, including biographies of alfred hitchcock. On one side of me is my eldest son, danny, who is seventeen and autistic. Donald spoto has 35 books on goodreads with 33343 ratings. A passable life of the fabulous whirlwind who produced the lady eve, the miracle of morgans creek, hail the conquering hero, and other lesser successes, and then went into the directorial decline that strikes so many of hollywoods most original directors. Preston sturges was the great writer and director of hollywood screwball comedies of the thirties and forties. Compared to other preston sturges biographers, james curtis and diane jacobs, mr. Peggy robertson 483 words exact match in snippet view article find links to article hitchcocks music yale university press 2008, p.
Writerdirector preston sturges set a new standard for creativity in hollywood. In the movies airplane scene the author of the book o brother, where art. Production on christmas in july began on june 1st, 1940 and continued through june 29th. The life of preston sturges by donald spoto, sturges, who had directed christmas in july wearing a straw boater and carrying a bamboo cane, invariably paraded on this set with a colorful beret or a felt cap with a feather protruding, a white cashmere scarf blowing gaily round his neck and a print shirt in. Preston sturges was born edmund preston biden on august 29, 1898. Three volumes of his screenplays have been published. The life of preston sturges, which concerns the filmmaker responsible for such celebrated comedies as the lady eve and sullivans.
Most of the sources listed are encyclopedic in nature but might be limited to a specific field, such as musicians or film directors. Donald spoto probes the colorful life of the iconoclastic hollywood screenwriter and director known for his broadway plays, social satires, and classic film comedies. Spoto makes little attempt to portray a full, balanced picture of the man. Donald spoto books list of books by author donald spoto. Sullivans travels, the miracle of morgans creek, and the great mcginty have become film classics, demonstrating brilliant, inventive writing and directing. Donald spoto has 35 books on goodreads with 33437 ratings. From being shipped back and forth across the atlantic with his mom, to her dating alister crowley for a time, to his rise from lipstick salesman, to famed playwright, to failed playwright, to the worlds first writerdirector of film.
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