When you hear the words Hammer Films, you instantly conjure up mental images of monsters and vampires. Behind the scenes was one man working flat out to produce those wonderful creatures. That man was Roy Ashton, and it was he who created all of the make-up effects for mummies, werewolves and Gothic horrors. Greasepaint and Gore takes a look into the props wardrobe and make up unit where Ashton, long before computer technology existed, created his own high standards of magical illusions. With an introduction from the late Peter Cushing OBE, who had the opportunity to watch Roy Ashton at work countless times (after all make-up can also make you look glamorous as well as horrific), this is a demonstration of a true professional at work. Greasepaint and Gore catalogues the largest single collection of Hammer production artefacts in existence, and is a must have for any horror. or indeed any film fan!

Greasepaint and Gore: The Hammer Monsters of Roy Ashton

Literature & Fiction

Sachs, Bruce

Wall, Russell

Dramas & Plays

Tomahawk Press

The film's troublesome production schedule is brought vividly to life through Tony Earnshaw's enthusiastic style - including new research and original interviews. Earnshaw's book tracks the film's development from the original ghost story Casting the Runes by M R James through the various shooting scripts, alternative titles, and the challenging production work, to the final theatrical release. Along the way there are anecdotes, analysis and fascinating insights into British movie making in the 1950s, as well as previously unseen production designs by Sir Ken Adam, who went on to create the gadgets and secret bases that helped make the Bond series an international phenomenon. With a comprehensive location guide and biographies of all the onstage and backstage players, Beating The Devil - the Making of Night of the Demon is the definitive book on what has been described as "The Casablanca of Horror Films".

Beating The Devil: The Making Of Night Of The Demon

Humor & Entertainment

Earnshaw, Tony

Movies

Ken Annakin was one of the greatest international film directors. The last of the English directors to make it on the international arena (others included Hitchcock and Lean), this 'no holds barred' autobiography traces Annakin's career from his early British films through to Hollywood. He has directed, written and produced over fifty feature films in Africa, India, Malaysia, Scandinavia, China, Europe and America. So You Wanna Be A Director? is an entertaining and witty travelogue, as well as an important document of film history.Annakin's book is forthright and pulls no punches. It has become a classic among directors' autobiographies. Annakin details the dizzying heights and bleak lows of his career. This master of family entertainment sounds a loud clarion call for a return to motion pictures that are fun for all of the family.

So You Wanna Be a Director?

Biographies & Memoirs

Annakin, Ken

Arts & Literature

This biography of James Roberston Justice celebrates the secret life and glittering career of one of British cinema's finest and most recognisable screen personalities. James Robertson Justice made a treasure chest of classic British movies. He is best remembered as the bombastic Sir Lancelot Spratt in Doctor in the House (1954), but also starred in many wonderful films, both comedies and drama, often portrayed as a domineering (if frequently soft-centred) ogre. This book unravels for the first time, through detailed research and original interviews with those close to him, the myriad complexities of one of Britain's finest actors. The book is fully illustrated with many rare photos. A must buy for fans of classic British films. The book features a foreword by Prince Philip.

James Robertson Justice: What's the Bleeding Time?: A Biography

Howard Watson

Robert Sellers

James, Hogg

In 1963, Ian Fleming, the creator of the 20th century's greatest fictional character was in court, accused of plagiarism. The screen version of James Bond was not Fleming's creation. It was the creation of Jack Whittingham, who was employed by maverick producer Kevin McClory to adapt the character to the big screen. Had this screen character never been developed, James Bond might have been just another minor fictional spy character. The Battle for Bond is a tale of bitter recriminations, betrayal, multi-million dollar lawsuits and even death. It is the fabled story of Kevin McClory's 40 year legal battle over the rights to the screen version of James Bond, which he and Whittingham had created.The first edition of this book was banned by the Ian Fleming Will Trust. But the truth never dies!This second edition features a new foreword by Len Deighton.

The Battle for Bond

Every British comic actor that followed Will Hay owes Hay a debt of gratitude - for it was Hay who defined the modern essence of British comedy. Working closely with Hay's family, Graham Rinaldi's definitive tribute to the respected comic actor, takes a close look into Hay's on and off-screen personae. Drawing upon Hay's own writings; - newspaper articles, notes from his astronomy observations and pilot's logbooks and extracts from his unfinished and previously unpublished autobiography I Enjoyed Every Minute - the book gives a unique insight into Hay's childhood, his continuous thirst for knowledge and his passion for aviation, astronomy and comedy.This book is illustrated throughout with previously unpublished photographs from Hay's family albums including a rare photograph of Hay with Amy Johnson, plus memorabilia from his performing career. Extensive research into Hay's stage work includes extracts from his original Fourth Form at St Michael's sketches, The Will Hay Radio Programme and, for the first time, from all of his revue and variety shows including Nosey Knows and Moonstruck for Fred Karno.

Will Hay

Rinaldi, Graham

This is the frank and honest story of the Thornton family and their confectionery business. It's the story of the building of one of Britain's premier brands by a family that was frequently at war: the battles of generations and sibling rivalry. Nothing is held back, the good times, the bad times, the successes, the failures, the conflicts, the battles, the love affairs and the moments of high elation and deep depression.Peter Thornton, Ex-Chairman of the family business tells his story with startling frankness, starting in 1956, through his dismissal from the company in 1987 after a career which had been very successful. It was a dismissal which seemed to be entirely a result of family politics andjealousies and nothing to do with performance - a dismissal resulting from a boardroom coup that tore the heart out of the Thornton family. Themes of destructive and dysfunctional personal relationships, conflict and emotional difficulties are candidly covered. The moralis that success and money can come at a horrible price - even to one of Britain's best-known brands.

Thorntons - My Life in the Family Business

THORNTON, Peter

Professionals & Academics

No one has influenced the horror genre more than the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. Poe’s works have inspired hundreds of films, and this influence is studied in universities around the globe. This is the first time ever that every Poe influenced film has been analyzed in a single book. Poe Pictures is an invaluable resource to film studies programs and also a critical guide for every fan of these films. Included is a detailed analysis and critical review of the importance of each film, perspectives from many who have worked on these classic films, and over 100 black and white photographs from the films. With insights into where Poe ends and cinematic liberties begin, Bruce Hallenbeck has fashioned a film by film analysis of Poe-inspired films, including Corman’s classic AIP series. These films have never left the imagination of the generation that grew up watching them.

Poe Pictures: The Film Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe

Hallenbeck, Bruce G.

All That’s Jazz is about the passion of jazz music; how jazz persists as a genre; its evolving development and how it affects those who play, record, host and manage the industry. Jazz in the 21st century is a huge but little-explored community, consisting of artists, record labels, magazines, jazz venues, jazz festivals and jazz radio stations. Jazz is increasing in popularity in all of the best music colleges. All That’s Jazz explores all of this and more – for the first time all of contemporary jazz culture is explored, with contributions from the leading names in the industry. What makes jazz persist? How is it changing? And what is its future?
Sammy Stein is known for her interviews with many musicians and her insightful reviews of CDs, concerts and articles on jazz history and the current jazz scene. Sammy is columnist for All About Jazz, Something Else Reviews and Jazz in Europe and is renowned for her insightful, honest and accessible writing style. Many in the jazz world are already excited about this book, and so they should be. It is the book that Jazz has been waiting for!

All That's Jazz

Arts & Photography

Stein, Sammy

Music

Roy Clarke’s Last of the Summer Wine was the longest running TV comedy series in the world, largely due to the passion, dedication and creativity of its producer/director – ALAN J W BELL. It has been broadcast in the United States on PBS for years and has become one of PBS' most successful British programs. In this book, Alan takes us on the set and into the studio to get up close and personal with the series and its actors. You will laugh out loud, cry in places and also guffaw as your jaw drops at reading these astonishing anecdotes, all told as only Alan can – from the inside! Last of the Summer Wine – From the Director’s Chair provides a powerful critique of BBC management style from the man who was the very last in the long line of traditional comedy producer/directors who made programs with little or no executive interference. The series is finished, but in this memoir we can still relive that little bit of Yorkshire held so dear to the viewing public.

Last of the Summer Wine - From the Director's Chair

Bell, Alan

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