The Essentials Vol. 2: 52 More Must-See Movies and Why They Matter

by Jeremy Arnold, Turner Classic Movies, Ben Mankiewicz (Foreword)

A guide to fifty-two examples of must-see cinema, The Essentials Vol. 2 -- based on the Turner Classic Movies series -- is packed with behind-the-scenes stories, illuminating commentary, moments to watch for, and hundreds of photos spotlighting films that define what it means to be a classic.Since 2001, Turner Classic Movies' The Essentials has been the ultimate destination for cinephiles both established and new, showcasing films that have had a lasting impact on audiences and filmmakers everywhere. In this second volume based on the series, fifty-two films are profiled with insightful notes on why they're Essential, a guide to must-see moments, and running commentary from Essentials hosts past and TCM's Ben Mankiewicz and the late Robert Osborne, as well as Rob Reiner, Sydney Pollack, Molly Haskell, Carrie Fisher, Rose McGowan, Alec Baldwin, Drew Barrymore, Sally Field, William Friedkin, Ava DuVernay, and Brad Bird.Enjoy one film per week for a year of stellar viewing or indulge in your own classic movie festival. Spanning the silent era through the late 1980s with such diverse films as Top Hat, Brief Encounter, Rashomon, Vertigo, and Field of Dreams, it's an indispensable book for movie lovers to expand their knowledge of cinema and discover -- or revisit -- landmark films that impacted Hollywood forever.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Media Tie In, Reference, History

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2020

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Please remember, this compilation is a delicious sampler. We are not claiming these are THE definitive fifty-two essential films. It's merely a collection of delights, culled from more than three hundred movies we've featured [.] since 2001 . . . I mean, if we'd included [Stanley Kubrick's] Paths of Glory this might have been a perfect book." -- from the foreword by TCM host Ben Mankiewicz

Film fans reunite! Showing much of the same style and quality as the initial book, Vol. 2 again presents mini-essays, photographs, and host / hostess opinions on 52 flicks that were featured on the Turner Classic Movies network's weekly The Essentials program. The text once more focuses mainly on American output - with the Italian docudrama The Battle of Algiers and director Akira Kurosawa's influential Rashomon being the rare exceptions - and includes dozens of 'must-see' or acknowledged classics from Hollywood like Stagecoach, The Maltese Falcon, High Noon, Rebel Without a Cause, Psycho, The Sting, and Network. However, I also appreciate the wild cards thrown in the mix, such as the offbeat The Night of the Hunter, which was a major commercial disappointment during its initial release, but now rightfully regarded as a distinguished film, or the striking (haha) documentary Harlan County, U.S.A., which set the tone for a number of subsequent non-fictional chronicles.

[Jim Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the most part, the book was a delightful excursion down memory lane for me. There were a few movies that I’ll be adding to my Watchlist, though!

The format is everything I wanted from the book. For years, TCM has been hosting a series of film “Essentials”: recommendations for films that stand out from the usual fare. Chapters begin with a listing of the main “behind the screen” and “on the screen” personnel, a picture of the poster, a discussion of why this film is “Essential,” a brief overview of the plot (being careful ... when possible ... to avoid Spoilers), quotes from the program’s hosts, special points of interest to watch for, and Loads of photos. At the end of the book is a listing of the over 300 films so far selected for inclusion among this select group.

The writing style is engaging and made me want to race to my movie room with a large bucket of popcorn. It is a book that can be used for cinema “newbies” who want some film history, but I think the focus is on the film fan looking for that “can’t miss” viewing experience with friends, or wanting to know about titles that “got away.” I really enjoyed this one.

[Anna]

Another great book from the TV Library

TCM is indeed a treasure and if you haven't read any of their books, do yourself a favor and try one. The films in both volumes are, indeed, essentials. I can't wait for volume 3!

[Mfaiella2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It could just be in my head, but I felt this version lacked a little bit of the magic from the first. Maybe I just read them too close together? Maybe it's just that the first batch of films were truly the ones the author most wanted to represent? That said, these are still all great films and the book delivers again. A great companion to cinephiles and casual fans alike

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've seen all by but two of these films and while I don't like all of them, they are worth watching. The book does a great job describing each film and telling you things to look for. There are also tons of fantastic pictures, both movie stills and behind the scenes, as well as lots of movie posters.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A list of 52 "essential" movies. The value is usually the "what to watch for" blurb, though I also liked looking at the old film posters. For whatever reason, my library has this second volume, but not the first one.

[John Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great trip through 52 more essential films. This along with Vol 1 are an absolutely fantastic intro to classic film.

[Steven Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

More interesting backstories about how these movies impacted the industry and audiences alike.

[Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

En massa bra filmtips och kul kuriosa

[Ron Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and entertaining! Great for classic movie lovers.

[East Greenbush Community Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second volume continues to remind the reader of the value that great films are worth seeing for the first or beyond the first time.

[Christine Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this! Reading it is like going to the movies all day long. Great photos, a wide selection of movie genres, and lots of inside info, plus quotes from the hosts of The Essentials on TCM. (I still miss Robert Osborne!) There are a few movies I haven't seen yet, so now they're on my list. Every movie lover should read this book!