"Opinionated, slightly cranky, vastly entertaining, endlessly
informative. Of all the reference books I have, this is always the
hardest to put down."
--Philip Pullman
"The single most stunningly informative, learned and provocative
book I've encountered about the movies...The breadth of Thomson's
research and his skill in writing about that knowledge will take
your breath away, whether you are a scholarly aficionado or a
weekend filmgoer."
--William W. Starr, "The State" (Columbia, SC)
"Thomson's love for the medium is proprietary, possessive, suffused
with an academic's breadth of knowledge and a fan's mad crushes. He
is by turns analytical and ardent, dryly appalled and moistly
enthralled-and his book deserves a home on whatever flat surface is
available between you and your DVD player."
--Mark Harris, "Entertainment Weekly
"
"Even more seductive than the last edition . . . One of the most
influential books on cinema ever written."
--Henry Cabot Beck, "New York Daily News
"
"And now, [The Biographical Dictionary of Film]" "stands before us
again, as grand and eccentric as Samuel Johnson's dictionary, or
one of the madder, more imaginary encyclopedias you'll find in the
pages of Borges . . . Mr. Thomson is, I think, the last of the
great film writers, up there with Graham Greene and Pauline
Kael-not least because he has the courage to wonder aloud whether
film is greatness' proper medium . . . [He] is here to sing the
multiplex blues-sitting there, at the back to the cinema, amid the
torn velour and spilled Pepsi-but this book is the most beautiful
of torch songs, and more than bright enough to light up the
gloom."
--Tom Shone, "New YorkObserver
"
"Thomson has demonstrated wit and originality beyond a reasonable
doubt . . . in the latest edition of his deservedly treasured
reference work, the book's third and biggest revision since it
first appeared in 1975, Thomson proves anew that he is
irreplaceable. . . . [The New Biographical Dictionary of Film] is
starting to feel like a public resource . . . Thomson's monologue
has blossomed into an unlikely, searching dialogue about what to
value in the movies . . . Thomson adds another honest wrinkle to
one of the most probing accounts ever written of a human being's
engagement with the movies."
--Sarah Kerr, "New York Times Book Review
"
"A reference book of extraordinary literary merit, this eccentric,
audacious, sparkling work returns-revised, updated, and bulging
with 300 new entries . . . Probably the greatest living film critic
and historian, Thomson, an Englishman who lives in San Francisco,
writes the most fun and enthralling prose about the movies since
Pauline Kael . . . The book is a marvel."
--Benjamin Schwarz, "Atlantic Monthly" (lead review)
"When this book was first published in 1975, it ignited arguments
among many film buffs . . . This latest upgrade-which includes 300
new entries-promises to do the same . . . Thomson often nails the
essence of a personality or career in less than a dozen words . . .
One still turns to [him] for witty writing and potent, razor-sharp
insights. With immense passion for pictures, he plunges past the
IMDb [Internet Movie Database] into the very soul of film."
--"Publishers Weekly
""Thomson's massive, invaluable attempt to comprehend and compress
more than 100 years of movie history into a single volume. . . The
massiveness of his erudition and the brisk confidence of his
manner-he's an awfully good writer-render Thomson something of a
dangerous character . . . Earlier editions have been my constant
compansions for decades, consulted almost weekly . . . I happily
welcome this latest . . . May our quarrels never end."
-Richard Schickel, "Los Angeles Times
""An intellectual Filmgoer's Companion . . . an invaluable standard
text for students, fans, and serious enthusiasts."
-Peter Bogdanovich
"One of the finest film critics in the English language."
-Philip Lopate, "New York Times Book Review
""This dictionary could be declared the best book on the movies
ever written in English . . . It is a delight to browse through, to
leaf through, to read aloud to a constant companion in the dark . .
. The secret of this book is the secret of the movies: it gives you
pleasure . . . Thomson is the Dr. Johnson of film."
-Guillermo Cabrera Infante, "The New Republic
""A treasure . . . Unique, fascinating and more than a little
addictive . . . A great critic's great work."
-Laura Miller, "San Francisco Examiner
""Delicious, one of the best and most useful books written about
the movies."
-Edward Guthmann, "San Francisco Chronicle
"
" The single most stunningly informative, learned and provocative
book I' ve encountered about the movies... The breadth of Thomson'
s research and his skill in writing about that knowledge will take
your breath away, whether you are a scholarly aficionado or a
weekend filmgoer."
- William W. Starr, "The State" (Columbia, SC)
" Thomson' s love for the medium is proprietary, possessive,
suffused with an academic' s breadth of knowledge and a fan' s mad
crushes. He is by turns analytical and ardent, dryly appalled and
moistly enthralled- and his book deserves a home on whatever flat
surface is available between you and your DVD player."
- Mark Harris, "Entertainment Weekly
"
" Even more seductive than the last edition . . . One of the most
influential books on cinema ever written."
- Henry Cabot Beck, "New York Daily News
"
" And now, [The Biographical Dictionary of Film]" "stands before us
again, as grand and eccentric as Samuel Johnson' s dictionary, or
one of the madder, more imaginary encyclopedias you' ll find in the
pages of Borges . . . Mr. Thomson is, I think, the last of the
great film writers, up there with Graham Greene and Pauline Kael-
not least because he has the courage to wonder aloud whether film
is greatness' proper medium . . . [He] is here to sing the
multiplex blues- sitting there, at the back to the cinema, amid the
torn velour and spilled Pepsi- but this book is the most beautiful
of torch songs, and more than bright enough to light up the
gloom."
- Tom Shone, "New YorkObserver
"
" Thomson has demonstrated wit and originality beyond a reasonable
doubt . . . in the latest edition of his deservedly treasured
reference work, the book's third and biggest revision since it
first appeared in 1975, Thomson proves anew that he is
irreplaceable. . . . [The New Biographical Dictionary of Film] is
starting to feel like a public resource . . . Thomson's monologue
has blossomed into an unlikely, searching dialogue about what to
value in the movies . . . Thomson adds another honest wrinkle to
one of the most probing accounts ever written of a human being's
engagement with the movies."
- Sarah Kerr, "New York Times Book Review
"
" A reference book of extraordinary literary merit, this eccentric,
audacious, sparkling work returns- revised, updated, and bulging
with 300 new entries . . . Probably the greatest living film critic
and historian, Thomson, an Englishman who lives in San Francisco,
writes the most fun and enthralling prose about the movies since
Pauline Kael . . . The book is a marvel."
- Benjamin Schwarz, "Atlantic Monthly" (lead review)
" When this book was first published in 1975, it ignited arguments
among many film buffs . . . This latest upgrade- which includes 300
new entries- promises to do the same . . . Thomson often nails the
essence of a personality or career in less than a dozen words . . .
One still turns to [him] for witty writing and potent, razor-sharp
insights. With immense passion for pictures, he plunges past the
IMDb [Internet Movie Database] into the very soul of film."
- "Publishers Weekly
"" Thomson' s massive, invaluable attempt to comprehend and
compress more than 100 years of movie history into a single volume
. . . The massiveness of his erudition and the brisk confidence of
his manner- he' s an awfully good writer- render Thomson something
of a dangerous character . . . Earlier editions have been my
constant compansions for decades, consulted almost weekly . . . I
happily welcome this latest . . . May our quarrels never end."
- Richard Schickel, "Los Angeles Times
"" An intellectual Filmgoer' s Companion . . . an invaluable
standard text for students, fans, and serious enthusiasts."
- Peter Bogdanovich
" One of the finest film critics in the English language."
- Philip Lopate, "New York Times Book Review
"" This dictionary could be declared the best book on the movies
ever written in English . . . It is a delight to browse through, to
leaf through, to read aloud to a constant companion in the dark . .
. The secret of this book is the secret of the movies: it gives you
pleasure . . . Thomson is the Dr. Johnson of film."
- Guillermo Cabrera Infante, "The New Republic
"" A treasure . . . Unique, fascinating and more than a little
addictive . . . A great critic' s great work."
- Laura Miller, "San Francisco Examiner
"" Delicious, one of the best and most useful books written about
the movies."
- Edward Guthmann, "San Francisco Chronicle
"
"The single most stunningly informative, learned and provocative
book I've encountered about the movies...The breadth of Thomson's
research and his skill in writing about that knowledge will take
your breath away, whether you are a scholarly aficionado or a
weekend filmgoer."
-William W. Starr, "The State (Columbia, SC)
"Thomson's love for the medium is proprietary, possessive, suffused
with an academic's breadth of knowledge and a fan's mad crushes. He
is by turns analytical and ardent, dryly appalled and moistly
enthralled-and his book deserves a home on whatever flat surface is
available between you and your DVD player."
-Mark Harris, "Entertainment Weekly
"Even more seductive than the last edition . . . One of the most
influential books on cinema ever written."
-Henry Cabot Beck, "New York Daily News
"And now, [The Biographical Dictionary of Film]" stands before us
again, as grand and eccentric as Samuel Johnson's dictionary, or
one of the madder, more imaginary encyclopedias you'll find in the
pages of Borges . . . Mr. Thomson is, I think, the last of the
great film writers, up there with Graham Greene and Pauline
Kael-not least because he has the courage to wonder aloud whether
film is greatness' proper medium . . . [He] is here to sing the
multiplex blues-sitting there, at the back to the cinema, amid the
torn velour and spilled Pepsi-but this book is the most beautiful
of torch songs, and more than bright enough to light up the
gloom."
-Tom Shone, "New York Observer
"Thomson has demonstrated wit and originality beyond a reasonable
doubt . . . in the latest edition of his deservedly treasured
reference work, the book's third and biggestrevision since it first
appeared in 1975, Thomson proves anew that he is irreplaceable. . .
. [The New Biographical Dictionary of Film] is starting to feel
like a public resource . . . Thomson's monologue has blossomed into
an unlikely, searching dialogue about what to value in the movies .
. . Thomson adds another honest wrinkle to one of the most probing
accounts ever written of a human being's engagement with the
movies."
-Sarah Kerr, "New York Times Book Review
"A reference book of extraordinary literary merit, this eccentric,
audacious, sparkling work returns-revised, updated, and bulging
with 300 new entries . . . Probably the greatest living film critic
and historian, Thomson, an Englishman who lives in San Francisco,
writes the most fun and enthralling prose about the movies since
Pauline Kael . . . The book is a marvel."
-Benjamin Schwarz, "Atlantic Monthly (lead review)
"When this book was first published in 1975, it ignited arguments
among many film buffs . . . This latest upgrade-which includes 300
new entries-promises to do the same . . . Thomson often nails the
essence of a personality or career in less than a dozen words . . .
One still turns to [him] for witty writing and potent, razor-sharp
insights. With immense passion for pictures, he plunges past the
IMDb [Internet Movie Database] into the very soul of film."
-"Publishers Weekly
"Thomson's massive, invaluable attempt to comprehend and compress
more than 100 years of movie history into a single volume . . . The
massiveness of his erudition and the brisk confidence of his
manner-he's an awfully good writer-render Thomson something of a
dangerous character . . . Earlier editions have been myconstant
compansions for decades, consulted almost weekly . . . I happily
welcome this latest . . . May our quarrels never end."
-Richard Schickel, "Los Angeles Times
"An intellectual Filmgoer's Companion . . . an invaluable standard
text for students, fans, and serious enthusiasts."
-Peter Bogdanovich
"One of the finest film critics in the English language."
-Philip Lopate, "New York Times Book Review
"This dictionary could be declared the best book on the movies ever
written in English . . . It is a delight to browse through, to leaf
through, to read aloud to a constant companion in the dark . . .
The secret of this book is the secret of the movies: it gives you
pleasure . . . Thomson is the Dr. Johnson of film."
-Guillermo Cabrera Infante, "The New Republic
"A treasure . . . Unique, fascinating and more than a little
addictive . . . A great critic's great work."
-Laura Miller, "San Francisco Examiner
"Delicious, one of the best and most useful books written about the
movies."
-Edward Guthmann, "San Francisco Chronicle
"Opinionated, slightly cranky, vastly entertaining, endlessly
informative. Of all the reference books I have, this is always the
hardest to put down."
--Philip Pullman
"The single most stunningly informative, learned and provocative
book I've encountered about the movies...The breadth of Thomson's
research and his skill in writing about that knowledge will take
your breath away, whether you are a scholarly aficionado or a
weekend filmgoer."
--William W. Starr, "The State" (Columbia, SC)
"Thomson's love for the medium is proprietary, possessive, suffused
with an academic's breadth of knowledge and a fan's mad crushes. He
is by turns analytical and ardent, dryly appalled and moistly
enthralled-and his book deserves a home on whatever flat surface is
available between you and your DVD player."
--Mark Harris, "Entertainment Weekly
"
"Even more seductive than the last edition . . . One of the most
influential books on cinema ever written."
--Henry Cabot Beck, "New York Daily News
"
"And now, [The Biographical Dictionary of Film]" "stands before us
again, as grand and eccentric as Samuel Johnson's dictionary, or
one of the madder, more imaginary encyclopedias you'll find in the
pages of Borges . . . Mr. Thomson is, I think, the last of the
great film writers, up there with Graham Greene and Pauline
Kael-not least because he has the courage to wonder aloud whether
film is greatness' proper medium . . . [He] is here to sing the
multiplex blues-sitting there, at the back to the cinema, amid the
torn velour and spilled Pepsi-but this book is the most beautiful
of torch songs, and more than bright enough to light up the
gloom."
--Tom Shone, "New YorkObserver
"
"Thomson has demonstrated wit and originality beyond a reasonable
doubt . . . in the latest edition of his deservedly treasured
reference work, the book's third and biggest revision since it
first appeared in 1975, Thomson proves anew that he is
irreplaceable. . . . [The New Biographical Dictionary of Film] is
starting to feel like a public resource . . . Thomson's monologue
has blossomed into an unlikely, searching dialogue about what to
value in the movies . . . Thomson adds another honest wrinkle to
one of the most probing accounts ever written of a human being's
engagement with the movies."
--Sarah Kerr, "New York Times Book Review
"
"A reference book of extraordinary literary merit, this eccentric,
audacious, sparkling work returns-revised, updated, and bulging
with 300 new entries . . . Probably the greatest living film critic
and historian, Thomson, an Englishman who lives in San Francisco,
writes the most fun and enthralling prose about the movies since
Pauline Kael . . . The book is a marvel."
--Benjamin Schwarz, "Atlantic Monthly" (lead review)
"When this book was first published in 1975, it ignited arguments
among many film buffs . . . This latest upgrade-which includes 300
new entries-promises to do the same . . . Thomson often nails the
essence of a personality or career in less than a dozen words . . .
One still turns to [him] for witty writing and potent, razor-sharp
insights. With immense passion for pictures, he plunges past the
IMDb [Internet Movie Database] into the very soul of film."
--"Publishers Weekly
""Thomson's massive, invaluable attempt to comprehend and compress
more than 100 years of movie history into a single volume. . . The
massiveness of his erudition and the brisk confidence of his
manner-he's an awfully good writer-render Thomson something of a
dangerous character . . . Earlier editions have been my constant
compansions for decades, consulted almost weekly . . . I happily
welcome this latest . . . May our quarrels never end."
-Richard Schickel, "Los Angeles Times
""An intellectual Filmgoer's Companion . . . an invaluable standard
text for students, fans, and serious enthusiasts."
-Peter Bogdanovich
"One of the finest film critics in the English language."
-Philip Lopate, "New York Times Book Review
""This dictionary could be declared the best book on the movies
ever written in English . . . It is a delight to browse through, to
leaf through, to read aloud to a constant companion in the dark . .
. The secret of this book is the secret of the movies: it gives you
pleasure . . . Thomson is the Dr. Johnson of film."
-Guillermo Cabrera Infante, "The New Republic
""A treasure . . . Unique, fascinating and more than a little
addictive . . . A great critic's great work."
-Laura Miller, "San Francisco Examiner
""Delicious, one of the best and most useful books written about
the movies."
-Edward Guthmann, "San Francisco Chronicle
"
" The single most stunningly informative, learned and provocative
book I' ve encountered about the movies... The breadth of Thomson'
s research and his skill in writing about that knowledge will take
your breath away, whether you are a scholarly aficionado or a
weekend filmgoer."
- William W. Starr, "The State" (Columbia, SC)
" Thomson' s love for the medium is proprietary, possessive,
suffused with an academic' s breadth of knowledge and a fan' s mad
crushes. He is by turns analytical and ardent, dryly appalled and
moistly enthralled- and his book deserves a home on whatever flat
surface is available between you and your DVD player."
- Mark Harris, "Entertainment Weekly
"
" Even more seductive than the last edition . . . One of the most
influential books on cinema ever written."
- Henry Cabot Beck, "New York Daily News
"
" And now, [The Biographical Dictionary of Film]" "stands before us
again, as grand and eccentric as Samuel Johnson' s dictionary, or
one of the madder, more imaginary encyclopedias you' ll find in the
pages of Borges . . . Mr. Thomson is, I think, the last of the
great film writers, up there with Graham Greene and Pauline Kael-
not least because he has the courage to wonder aloud whether film
is greatness' proper medium . . . [He] is here to sing the
multiplex blues- sitting there, at the back to the cinema, amid the
torn velour and spilled Pepsi- but this book is the most beautiful
of torch songs, and more than bright enough to light up the
gloom."
- Tom Shone, "New YorkObserver
"
" Thomson has demonstrated wit and originality beyond a reasonable
doubt . . . in the latest edition of his deservedly treasured
reference work, the book's third and biggest revision since it
first appeared in 1975, Thomson proves anew that he is
irreplaceable. . . . [The New Biographical Dictionary of Film] is
starting to feel like a public resource . . . Thomson's monologue
has blossomed into an unlikely, searching dialogue about what to
value in the movies . . . Thomson adds another honest wrinkle to
one of the most probing accounts ever written of a human being's
engagement with the movies."
- Sarah Kerr, "New York Times Book Review
"
" A reference book of extraordinary literary merit, this eccentric,
audacious, sparkling work returns- revised, updated, and bulging
with 300 new entries . . . Probably the greatest living film critic
and historian, Thomson, an Englishman who lives in San Francisco,
writes the most fun and enthralling prose about the movies since
Pauline Kael . . . The book is a marvel."
- Benjamin Schwarz, "Atlantic Monthly" (lead review)
" When this book was first published in 1975, it ignited arguments
among many film buffs . . . This latest upgrade- which includes 300
new entries- promises to do the same . . . Thomson often nails the
essence of a personality or career in less than a dozen words . . .
One still turns to [him] for witty writing and potent, razor-sharp
insights. With immense passion for pictures, he plunges past the
IMDb [Internet Movie Database] into the very soul of film."
- "Publishers Weekly
"" Thomson' s massive, invaluable attempt to comprehend and
compress more than 100 years of movie history into a single volume
. . . The massiveness of his erudition and the brisk confidence of
his manner- he' s an awfully good writer- render Thomson something
of a dangerous character . . . Earlier editions have been my
constant compansions for decades, consulted almost weekly . . . I
happily welcome this latest . . . May our quarrels never end."
- Richard Schickel, "Los Angeles Times
"" An intellectual Filmgoer' s Companion . . . an invaluable
standard text for students, fans, and serious enthusiasts."
- Peter Bogdanovich
" One of the finest film critics in the English language."
- Philip Lopate, "New York Times Book Review
"" This dictionary could be declared the best book on the movies
ever written in English . . . It is a delight to browse through, to
leaf through, to read aloud to a constant companion in the dark . .
. The secret of this book is the secret of the movies: it gives you
pleasure . . . Thomson is the Dr. Johnson of film."
- Guillermo Cabrera Infante, "The New Republic
"" A treasure . . . Unique, fascinating and more than a little
addictive . . . A great critic' s great work."
- Laura Miller, "San Francisco Examiner
"" Delicious, one of the best and most useful books written about
the movies."
- Edward Guthmann, "San Francisco Chronicle
"
"The single most stunningly informative, learned and provocative
book I've encountered about the movies...The breadth of Thomson's
research and his skill in writing about that knowledge will take
your breath away, whether you are a scholarly aficionado or a
weekend filmgoer."
-William W. Starr, "The State (Columbia, SC)
"Thomson's love for the medium is proprietary, possessive, suffused
with an academic's breadth of knowledge and a fan's mad crushes. He
is by turns analytical and ardent, dryly appalled and moistly
enthralled-and his book deserves a home on whatever flat surface is
available between you and your DVD player."
-Mark Harris, "Entertainment Weekly
"Even more seductive than the last edition . . . One of the most
influential books on cinema ever written."
-Henry Cabot Beck, "New York Daily News
"And now, [The Biographical Dictionary of Film]" stands before us
again, as grand and eccentric as Samuel Johnson's dictionary, or
one of the madder, more imaginary encyclopedias you'll find in the
pages of Borges . . . Mr. Thomson is, I think, the last of the
great film writers, up there with Graham Greene and Pauline
Kael-not least because he has the courage to wonder aloud whether
film is greatness' proper medium . . . [He] is here to sing the
multiplex blues-sitting there, at the back to the cinema, amid the
torn velour and spilled Pepsi-but this book is the most beautiful
of torch songs, and more than bright enough to light up the
gloom."
-Tom Shone, "New York Observer
"Thomson has demonstrated wit and originality beyond a reasonable
doubt . . . in the latest edition of his deservedly treasured
reference work, the book's third and biggestrevision since it first
appeared in 1975, Thomson proves anew that he is irreplaceable. . .
. [The New Biographical Dictionary of Film] is starting to feel
like a public resource . . . Thomson's monologue has blossomed into
an unlikely, searching dialogue about what to value in the movies .
. . Thomson adds another honest wrinkle to one of the most probing
accounts ever written of a human being's engagement with the
movies."
-Sarah Kerr, "New York Times Book Review
"A reference book of extraordinary literary merit, this eccentric,
audacious, sparkling work returns-revised, updated, and bulging
with 300 new entries . . . Probably the greatest living film critic
and historian, Thomson, an Englishman who lives in San Francisco,
writes the most fun and enthralling prose about the movies since
Pauline Kael . . . The book is a marvel."
-Benjamin Schwarz, "Atlantic Monthly (lead review)
"When this book was first published in 1975, it ignited arguments
among many film buffs . . . This latest upgrade-which includes 300
new entries-promises to do the same . . . Thomson often nails the
essence of a personality or career in less than a dozen words . . .
One still turns to [him] for witty writing and potent, razor-sharp
insights. With immense passion for pictures, he plunges past the
IMDb [Internet Movie Database] into the very soul of film."
-"Publishers Weekly
"Thomson's massive, invaluable attempt to comprehend and compress
more than 100 years of movie history into a single volume . . . The
massiveness of his erudition and the brisk confidence of his
manner-he's an awfully good writer-render Thomson something of a
dangerous character . . . Earlier editions have been myconstant
compansions for decades, consulted almost weekly . . . I happily
welcome this latest . . . May our quarrels never end."
-Richard Schickel, "Los Angeles Times
"An intellectual Filmgoer's Companion . . . an invaluable standard
text for students, fans, and serious enthusiasts."
-Peter Bogdanovich
"One of the finest film critics in the English language."
-Philip Lopate, "New York Times Book Review
"This dictionary could be declared the best book on the movies ever
written in English . . . It is a delight to browse through, to leaf
through, to read aloud to a constant companion in the dark . . .
The secret of this book is the secret of the movies: it gives you
pleasure . . . Thomson is the Dr. Johnson of film."
-Guillermo Cabrera Infante, "The New Republic
"A treasure . . . Unique, fascinating and more than a little
addictive . . . A great critic's great work."
-Laura Miller, "San Francisco Examiner
"Delicious, one of the best and most useful books written about the
movies."
-Edward Guthmann, "San Francisco Chronicle
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