Matthew Coniam, author of 'The Annotated Marx Brothers' and 'Egyptomania Goes To The Movies' would dearly love to dedicate his energies to the higher things in life. But alas, cinephilia infected him at a young age and, as yet, there is no cure. In this collection of essays on movies and moviemakers culled from several years' worth of blog posts, magazine articles and book chapters, he shares some of the symptoms in the hope of spreading it further.

MOVIES ARE A CONSPIRACY Selected Essays on Cinema

Coniam, Matthew

Arts & Photography

lulu.com

Have you ever watched a Marx Brothers film and wondered what "habeas Irish rose" is? What is the trial of Mary Dugan with sound? What is a college widow? When exactly did Don Ameche invent the telephone? Their films are full of such in-jokes and obscure theatrical, literary and topical references that can baffle modern audiences. In this viewer's guide to the Marx Brothers you will find the answer to such mysteries, along with an exhaustive compilation of background information, obscure trivia and even the occasional busted myth. Each of the Marx Brothers' 13 films is covered by a running commentary, with points in the film discussed as they appear. Each reference is listed by its running time, with time code given for both PAL and NTSC DVD. An introduction for neophytes and a resource for fanatics, this book is a travel guide to the rambling landscape of these remarkable comedies.

The Annotated Marx Brothers: A Filmgoer's Guide to In-Jokes, Obscure References and Sly Details

Humor & Entertainment

Humor

McFarland Company

It was an 'open and shut' case. Hawley Harvey Crippen, an American quack doctor, had murdered his wife, the music hall performer Belle Elmore, and buried parts of her body in the coal cellar of their North London home. But by the time the remains were discovered he had fled the country with his mistress disguised as his son. After a thrilling chase across the ocean he was caught, returned to England, tried and hanged, remembered forever after as the quintessential domestic murderer.But if it was as straightforward as the prosecution alleged, why did he leave only some of the body in his house, when he had successfully disposed of the head, limbs and bones elsewhere? Why did he stick so doggedly to a plea of complete innocence, when he might have made a sympathetic case for manslaughter? Why did he make no effort to cover his tracks if he really had been planning a murder? These and other questions remained tantalising mysteries for almost a century, until new DNA tests conducted in America exploded everything we thought we knew for sure about the story. This book, the first to make full use of this astonishing new evidence, considers its implications for our understanding of the case, and suggests where the real truth might lie.

Mr Crippen, Cora and the Body in the Basement

History

Europe

Pen and Sword True Crime

Groucho Marx's career as a solo performer began long before the Marx Brothers and lasted almost until the end of his life, with a series of controversial sold-out concerts in his eighties. In between came several films, numerous television and radio appearances, theater performances, dramatic acting and writing and his smash hit radio and TV quiz show You Bet Your Life (1947-1961). This first ever comprehensive study of his work without his famous brothers reveals a Groucho perhaps unfamiliar to the public. Driven to prove he was much more than just a comedian with a greasepaint (later real) mustache, Groucho always thought of himself as essentially a solo performer and strove for individual success in his professional life--and to balance (if not always successfully) his career with his family life. Many rare photographs are included, along with new and previously unpublished interviews.

That's Me, Groucho!: The Solo Career of Groucho Marx

Biographies & Memoirs

Arts & Literature

"Egyptomania," the West's obsession with the strange and magnificent world of Ancient Egypt, has for centuries been reflected in architecture, literature and the performing arts. But the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922, by a sensation-hungry world newly united by mass media, created a wave of fascination unlike anything before. They called it "Tutmania" and its influence was felt everywhere from fashion to home decor to popular music--and notably in the new medium of film. This study traces the origins of 20th century cinema's obsession with Ancient Egypt through previous eras and relates its recurring themes and ideas to the historical reality of the land of the Pharaohs.

Egyptomania Goes to the Movies: From Archaeology to Popular Craze to Hollywood Fantasy

Movies

Abbott and Costello were the most popular comedians of the 1940s, with burlesque-inspired routines that enthralled audiences on both radio and television. Oddly, their films have not received the same level of attention from critics and writers as those of other comedy teams. 
This book is a scene-by-scene, film-by-film guide to their movies, making a compelling case for their inclusion at the very top of comic artists. Featuring new research and some surprising revelations, the book introduces newcomers to the delights of this uproarious team and provides confirmed fans with the ultimate companion to their work. Also included is a foreword by John Landis, the celebrated director and Abbott and Costello devotee.

The Annotated Abbott and Costello: A Complete Viewer's Guide to the Comedy Team and Their 38 Films

Santa Maria, Nick

Reference

McFarland

This beautifully illustrated guide to Jane Austen's novels, released to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her death, is an essential for any Jane Austen fan or literary lover. Revealing key aspects of Jane’s own background and life, this fascinating guide explores the relationships between the key themes of her most celebrated works and her own experience as a woman in 18th-century England. This exploration of her life and works is the perfect way to celebrate the legacy she has left in the past 200 years.

Jane Austen: Inside Her Novels (Pitkin Guide)

The History Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Coniam, Matthew. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Coniam, Matthew

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Coniam, Matthew. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

MOVIES ARE A CONSPIRACY Selected Essays on Cinema

The Annotated Marx Brothers: A Filmgoer's Guide to In-Jokes, Obscure References and Sly Details

Mr Crippen, Cora and the Body in the Basement

Mr Crippen, Cora and the Body in the Basement

That's Me, Groucho!: The Solo Career of Groucho Marx

Egyptomania Goes to the Movies: From Archaeology to Popular Craze to Hollywood Fantasy

The Annotated Abbott and Costello: A Complete Viewer's Guide to the Comedy Team and Their 38 Films

Jane Austen: Inside Her Novels (Pitkin Guide)