Premiere Film Cuts: Classic Movie Writing

by Various

London, Premiere Faber and Faber (1994) Free giveaway with Premiere Magazine. A bit rolled, light vertical crease at cover, else fine, unread paperback. Clean and tight. Smoke and pet free premises. B316

Genres: Film, Nonfiction

105 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Various is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).

If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.

Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.

Reviews

[Peat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird but intriguing little collection of interviews, diary pieces, and essays from cinema greats. Good view into some of the things going on in their processes. Quality a little uneven for my taste.

[Hamza Ansari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Film Cuts: Classic Movie Writing is a 100% entertaining read. Two things: 1) You get to know your favourite writers / directors / producers a little better and 2) you also get to know about the life of Hollywood and how exactly these people interact with each other!

It offers excerpts from the personal diaries and/or biographies from 10 of Hollywood's elites. I totally loved it and how they explain everything from their personal feelings to how they came *this* close to snapping up and why Woody Allen wasn't satisfied with his film, Manhattan and why Francis Ford Coppola thinks that cooking is much easier than directing!

I would recommend this to all movie-buffs out there and my 3 favourite are:

The Emerald Forest Diary
from Money into Light by John Boorman

River Phoenix Meets Gus Van Sant
from Projections I

Film is a Collaborative Business
from Some Freaks by David Mamet

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1994 (and given away free with Premiere), this collects essays and journal entries from Faber & Faber’s various film related publications and the quality is as good as you’d expect. Stand-outs include John Boorman talking about pitching and the chase for money, Paul Schrader talking himself up on “Taxi Driver” (he’s not shy about singing his own praises), plus Francis Ford Coppola discussing his concerns about not doing a good job (on “Dracula” - thank goodness he didn’t realise “Jack” was in his future) and Martin Scorcese on the trials and tribulations of “Raging Bull” and “King Of Comedy”. In fact, of the 10 essays, only River Phoenix’s interview with Gus Van Sant falls flat (and for me, mere mention of his name is enough GVS!). Recommended, if you can get hold of it, especially as a sampler for the various “On” books that Faber & Faber did so well.