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Earthbound: David Bowie and The Man Who Fell To Earth
‘Susan Compo has done a marvelous job of laying bare the intricacies, disappointments, and triumphs Nic Roeg faced in bringing The Man Who Fell To Earth to the screen. There have been many books written about movies and celebrities, but this one stands out. You are about to be taken on a fascinating ride.’—Graeme Clifford, editor of The Man Who Fell To Earth, from his foreword to this book
‘In Earthbound, Susan Compo delves deep into every aspect of the film’s making, from its Walter Tevis source novel, through the location shoot in New Mexico, to its stunning costumes and the circumstances surrounding Bowie’s rejected and never-finished soundtrack. Detailed and vivid, Earthbound is a riveting read for Bowie fans, Roeg fiends, and anybody interested in seventies cinema.’ —Simon Reynolds, author of Shock And Glam Rock And Its Legacy
Earthbound is the definitive book-length exploration of a true classic of twentieth-century science-fiction cinema, shot under the heavy, ethereal skies of New Mexico by the legendary British director Nicolas Roeg and starring David Bowie in a role he seemed born for as an extraterrestrial named Thomas Newton who comes to Earth in search of water. Based on a novel by the highly regarded American writer Walter Tevis, this dreamy, distressing, and visionary film resonates even more strongly in the twenty-first century than it did on its original release during the year of the US Bicentennial.
Drawing on extensive research and numerous first-hand interviews with members of the cast and crew, Earthbound begins with a look at Tevis’s 1963 novel before moving into a detailed analysis of a film described by its director as ‘a sci-fi film without a lot of sci-fi tools’ and starring a group of actors—Bowie, Buck Henry, Candy Clark, Rip Torn—later described by one of them, Henry, as ‘not a cast but a dinner party.’
It also seeks to uncover the mysteries surrounding Bowie’s rejected soundtrack to the film (elements of which later ended up on his groundbreaking 1977 album Low) and closes with a look at his return to the themes and characters of The Man Who Fell To Earth in one of his final works, the stage musical Lazarus.
Susan Compo is the author of Warren A Wild Life, as well as three works of fiction plus some music and sports journalism. A fanzine she did during punk’s heyday is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She lives within running distance of Los Angeles.
‘In Earthbound, Susan Compo delves deep into every aspect of the film’s making, from its Walter Tevis source novel, through the location shoot in New Mexico, to its stunning costumes and the circumstances surrounding Bowie’s rejected and never-finished soundtrack. Detailed and vivid, Earthbound is a riveting read for Bowie fans, Roeg fiends, and anybody interested in seventies cinema.’ —Simon Reynolds, author of Shock And Glam Rock And Its Legacy
Earthbound is the definitive book-length exploration of a true classic of twentieth-century science-fiction cinema, shot under the heavy, ethereal skies of New Mexico by the legendary British director Nicolas Roeg and starring David Bowie in a role he seemed born for as an extraterrestrial named Thomas Newton who comes to Earth in search of water. Based on a novel by the highly regarded American writer Walter Tevis, this dreamy, distressing, and visionary film resonates even more strongly in the twenty-first century than it did on its original release during the year of the US Bicentennial.
Drawing on extensive research and numerous first-hand interviews with members of the cast and crew, Earthbound begins with a look at Tevis’s 1963 novel before moving into a detailed analysis of a film described by its director as ‘a sci-fi film without a lot of sci-fi tools’ and starring a group of actors—Bowie, Buck Henry, Candy Clark, Rip Torn—later described by one of them, Henry, as ‘not a cast but a dinner party.’
It also seeks to uncover the mysteries surrounding Bowie’s rejected soundtrack to the film (elements of which later ended up on his groundbreaking 1977 album Low) and closes with a look at his return to the themes and characters of The Man Who Fell To Earth in one of his final works, the stage musical Lazarus.
Susan Compo is the author of Warren A Wild Life, as well as three works of fiction plus some music and sports journalism. A fanzine she did during punk’s heyday is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She lives within running distance of Los Angeles.
- GenresNonfictionMusic
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 12, 2019
Disappointing
I have been a long time fan of the film and have numerous different cuts over the decades since first seeing. It is film that never fails to engage my imagination. It is not an easy film to watch or recommend. It is for a very niche audience. Being a great admirer of director Nicolas Roeg is engages me on an artistic and creative level. So I was happy to have stumbled upon this book. I approach these types of books with a degree of trepidation and wonder if it will spoil my own impressions and interpretation of the film. This book is a quick and superficial read. For novice fans of the film it may offer more information but I found it light on substance and deeper insight into the film, its characters, its origins, its legacy. I came out it with no greater piece of trivia or knowledge. It is not a bad read but it is one I would never read again. Thankfully it was available for free lending and I didn't waste money buying it.
I have been a long time fan of the film and have numerous different cuts over the decades since first seeing. It is film that never fails to engage my imagination. It is not an easy film to watch or recommend. It is for a very niche audience. Being a great admirer of director Nicolas Roeg is engages me on an artistic and creative level. So I was happy to have stumbled upon this book. I approach these types of books with a degree of trepidation and wonder if it will spoil my own impressions and interpretation of the film. This book is a quick and superficial read. For novice fans of the film it may offer more information but I found it light on substance and deeper insight into the film, its characters, its origins, its legacy. I came out it with no greater piece of trivia or knowledge. It is not a bad read but it is one I would never read again. Thankfully it was available for free lending and I didn't waste money buying it.
August 19, 2024
I recommend this book very very highly. It was the first book of a making of a film, and I found it absolutely fascinating! At every turn. The movie making business is hard work.Big risks and perils. The options on the film, the false starts, the British in New Mexico, the scenes, the settings. The cloud….i got a real feel of the place, the time, Candy, Bowie, Rip Torn, Nic Roeg. I was fascinated by the piece on Ola Hudson..I never knew all that. Lillybelle Crawford from New Mexico - pictures of her and Bowie that I have seen elsewhere are a dream.
The book makes me want to go to New Mexico. I’m in England. I might. I read it when it came out. I think it might be time to read it again. First rate book!
The book makes me want to go to New Mexico. I’m in England. I might. I read it when it came out. I think it might be time to read it again. First rate book!
February 27, 2018
Like the original promo for the 1976 film, this book doesn't mind misleading you into the assumption that it's VERY The Bowie heavy with content. And of course, like the movie, he's very present in both, but his Bowieness is not. Which isn't a criticism. No, it just takes a bit to realize that you have to readjust your reading specs and focus that this is a well researched book on the machinations of the movie. I felt like it should have had a big photo of Nicolas Roeg on the cover. But like you, I don't know what he looks like and I probably wouldn't have picked the book up.
December 7, 2017
Not just another Bowie bio, this book focuses on his iconic acting role and the making of Nicolas Roeg's strange, difficult, fascinating film, based on the novel by Walter Tevis. Not particularly profound, but chock full of anecdotes, gossip, and trivia on the subject, including a list of shooting locations for various scenes.
January 12, 2018
Strictly for people who are big fans of the movie and have seen it multiple times...but if you fall into that category, you'll love it. I reviewed Earthbound for The Current.
January 4, 2019
An account of the making of the original David Bowie "The Man Who Fell to Earth".
Interesting.
Interesting.
February 5, 2019
An appreciative and detailed looking at the making reception and legacy of one of my favorite films.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews