The Celluloid Muse: Hollywood Directors Speak

by Charles Higham (Editor ), Joel Grenberg (Editor )

Hardback, ex-library, with usual stamps and markings, in good all round condition.

Genres: Nonfiction

268 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Charles Higham was an author and poet. Higham was a recipient of the Prix des Créateurs of the Académie Française and the Poetry Society of London Prize.

Reviews

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this would've been (even) better if they had retained the Q & A format. They probably thought it would be more suitable for the mass reader edited like this (and no doubt it cut the length down quite a bit). There is indeed plenty of interesting stuff here, and the variety of directors was nice; but it can all end up sounding a bit pat without the flow (and give and take) of regular conversation.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like classic movies (1920s to 1970) and are interested in some of the top movie directors' perspectives, this book is for you. It includes chapters on Alfred Hitchcock, William Wilder, George Cukor and other great directors. Some of it was boring and some was fascinating, but I had it on my shelf and am reading anything unread I have at home to clear the shelves.

[Terry McCarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for its interviews of directors conducted during the transition from Old Hollywood to the counterculture-infused New Hollywood of the late 60s-early 70s.