The Films of Carol Reed

by Robert F. Moss

Once enthroned as a major international filmmaker, Carol Reed has long since been banished to a musty corner of movie history. To dust off his work, however, is to discover a dazzling body of films, a canon as remarkable for its diversity as its quality. Building his case, film by film, Robert Moss argues persuasively for a reassessment of this gifted artist, claiming a place for him in the ranks of the world's greatest directors.

312 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[GoldGato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol Reed ranks with David Lean and Alfred Hitchcock as one of the Three Lions of British cinematic directors. Reed peaked early, then became obsolete until the release of 1968's OLIVER!. He has long needed a reference guide to help review and explain his films, and this is the book.

The author does provide a brief bio of the director, then plunges into Reed's career in film. Sir Carol Reed was a technical virtuoso, as witnessed by the clean preciseness of THE FALLEN IDOL and THE THIRD MAN. There is also a chapter on Reed's experience working in Hollywood as the first director on Marlon Brando's MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY, which Reed quit in frustration. In essence, Carol Reed was a gentle soul who never fit into the Hollywood scene, as he was a true Brit. His British films of the 1930s-1950s remain classics, and thanks to this book, the reader will have fun rediscovering them.

Book Season = Year Round (queue your Netflix)

[Francesca]

Poorly researched with a number of factual inaccuracies. It would have benefited from a better editor