Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, Meryl Streep, James Dean, Anna Magnani, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Cary Grant, Marcello Mastroianni, Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Angelina Jolie, and hundreds more larger-than-life film stars have captured the collective imagination of millions of movie fans around the world. Now, 501 Movie Stars pays homage to these pop culture idols with absorbing essays that describe each star's work, influences, and legacy. Each entry also includes the actor's filmography to date, descriptions of productive alliances with directors and other actors, famous cameos, stylistic innovations, and the many other details that contributed to making these actors unforgettable stars. Entries are listed chronologically by birth date, with movie stills and portrait photos accompanying each star's entry. The entries vary in length, with the most influential stars receiving up to six pages. Collected here in succinct, information-packed biographical sketches are the lives and careers behind the most widely recognized faces of the past hundred years.
Amazon Sales Rank: #382536 in Books Published on: 2007-11-01 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 1.72" h x 6.68" w x 8.54" l, 3.17 pounds Binding: Hardcover 640 pages
From Booklist This is a guide to major movie legends as well as less-known performers, both American and international. Arranged by the decade of the entrant's birth, each entry includes a photo; a list of major films; birth date (and, where pertinent, death date); and an essay. Most entries are a page, but major stars such as Bogart and Brando get more coverage. This title complements the editor's prior title, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (Barron's, 2005), and can function as a delightful book to browse as well as a reference source for film fans. --Patricia Hogan Review "These hefty, valuable volumes are stuffed with tons of information about all your favorite filmmakers."—Scene, January 29, 2008From the article "Some of the stars' best lines are scriptedFunny, clever, philosophicalƒ‚‚--the oldes celebs sait it bestƒ‚‚" ƒ‚‚"501 Movie Stars puts together quite a collection of quotes from stars off-camera with nary a screenwriter in sight." ‚--Hamilton Spectator, October 29, 2007From the article ‚"Some of the stars‚' best lines are scriptedFunny, clever, philosophical‚--the oldes celebs sait it best‚" ‚"The history of Hollywood film is littered with great catchphrases. A while back, the American Film Institute came out with its list of the top movie quotes of all time, and they ranged from Gone with the Wind‚'s ‚"Frankly, my dear, I don‚'t give a damn‚" at No. 1 to Titanic‚'s ‚"I‚'m the king of the world! at No. 100. It doesn‚'t take a move maestro to know Clark Gable spoke No. 1 and Leonardo DiCaprio No. 100. But while Gable and Leo will long be identified with the quotes, they only spoke words someone else wrote.""Writers are the unsung heroes of Hollywood, but a new book shows that Tinseltown‚'s biggest stars did have a lot to say on their own. 501 Movie Stars puts together quite a collection of quotes from stars off-camera with nary a screenwriter in sight. The book is also filled with bios and filmographies. And the best quotes come from the oldest stars, adding strength to another old movie phrase, ‚"They don‚'t make ‚'em like they used to‚'‚".—Hamilton Spectator, October 29, 2007 From the Inside Flap (back cover) Includes: Isabelle Adjani • Lauren Bacall • Warren Beatty • Ingrid Bergman • Cate Blanchett • Humphrey Bogart • Clara Bow • Marlon Brando • Richard Burton • Michael Caine • George Clooney • Sean Connery • Tom Cruise • Tony Curtis • Matt Damon • Bette Davis • Robert De Niro • James Dean • Judi Dench • Catherine Deneuve • G©rard Depardieu • Johnny Depp • Leonardo DeCaprio • Marlene Dietrich • Michael Douglas • Mia Farrow • Henry Fonda • Harrison Ford • Jodie Foster • Jean Gabin • Clark Gable • Greta Garbo • Lillian Gish • Cary Grant • Katharine Hepburn • Anthony Hopkins • Isabelle Huppert • William Hurt • Grace Kelly • Charles Laughton • Vivien Leigh • Sophia Loren • Peter Lorre • John Malkovich • Marcello Mastroianni • Steve McQueen • Marilyn Monroe • Paul Newman • Jack Nicholson • Laurence Olivier • Al Pacion • Gwyneth Paltrow • Gregory Peck • Michelle Pfeiffer • Brad Pitt • Sidney Poitier • Robert Redford • Vanessa Redgrave • Jean Seberg • Barbara Stanwyck • Rod Steiger • James Stewart • Meryl Streep • Donald Sutherland • Jessica Tandy • Elizabeth Taylor • Spencer Tracy • John Travolta • Lana Turner • Peter Ustinov • Rudolph Valentino • Christopher Walken • Denzel Washington • John Wayne • Sigourney Weaver • Mae West • Gene Wilder • Robin Williams • Kate Winslett • Natalie Wood (front flap) From Marilyn Monroe to Meryl Streep, from Charlie Chaplin to Clint Eastwood, this book celebrates the larger-than-life movie stars who have captured the collective imagination, inspired millions of fans across the world, and gained immortality through their performances both on and off the screen. From the team behind the best-selling 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, 501 Movie Stars is a comprehensive guide to the brightest lights in cinema history. Lavishly illustrated with portraits, film stills, and behind-the-scenes shots, and bursting with engrossing facts, this volume is indispensable to film students, moviegoers, and lovers of popular culture alike. Each star receives at least a full-page entry, complete with a critical selection of Top Takes, trademarks, and all the off-screen action. Meet the members of the original "Rat Pack," a drinking club founded by hell-raiser and Oscar winner Humphrey Bogart. Who was the mystery woman dressed in black who laid flowers on silent-screen icon Rudolph Valentino's grave every year on the anniversary of his death? Read about Elizabeth Taylor's eight marriages and River Phoenix's tragic early demise, together with a plethora of fascinating off-screen romances that have been fueled by on-screen chemistry. Screen legends of time gone by rub shoulder with emerging talent, Hollywood meets Bollywood, and the stars of blockbusters collide with theater actors. Written by an international team of film critics, film historians, and journalists, this is a complete biography of the last century's stars of the silver screen. Whether you read it from cover to cover or dip into it from time to time, 501 Move Stars will inspire, intrigue, and amuse . . . and continue to do so for many years to come. (back flap) Steven Jay Schneider is a film critic, scholar, and producer, with M.A. degrees in Philosophy and Cinema Studies from Harvard University and New York University, respectively. He is the general editor of the best-selling 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, and 501 Movie Directors, both also available from Barron's.
Most helpful customer reviews 8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Good book, but missing some obvious movie greats! By GloriBee I purchased this as a gift for my son, who is a huge fan of cinema, to put it mildly. Having purchased 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, also by Steven Jay Schneider, it was not much of a jump to order both 501 Movie Stars: A Comprehensive Guide to the Greatest Screen Actors and 501 Movie Directors: A Comprehensive Guide to the Greatest Filmmakers, upon their recent release as soon as they became available.501 Movie Stars is a thick book and interesting to be sure; filled with wonderful info and photos.I would doubtless give it 5 stars if it were not for some glaring omissions. It goes without saying that any reader would come up with a list of actors that they felt should be included and this reviewer understands you cannot include every actor of merit.However, glance at this partial list of actors omitted from this huge hardcover book and tell me they should not have been included (many of whom have been nominated several times and have won Academy Awards):Sean AstinEd Harris (4 nominations)Phillip Seymour Hoffman (1 nomination, 1 win)Diane Lane (1 nomination)Jude Law (2 nominations)Ian McCellan (2 nominations)Viggo MortensonBilly Bob Thornton (1 nomination, 1 win)Most glaring to us is the omission of Joe Pesci, who was nominated twice and won an Oscar for Goodfellas and Robert Duvall, who was nominated 6 times, including for his work in The Godfather and one win for Tender Mercies.Again, this is but a partial list. Each day my son thinks of additional notable actors he is shocked to discover have been omitted. 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Not for the cinemaphile By Ardeal If you watch movies for a hobby, you may get easily disappointed by the superficial selections of both actors and the movies they played in. Just as an example, I was surprised that we have a page dedicated to Divine (I did not even know of this actor), yet David Carradine, the "Kill Bill", "North and South" and "Kung-Fu" guy is missing.The book is titled "...Guide to the Greatest Screen Actors" and therefore commits to a lot. Unfortunately little is offered. The movie titles listed under each actor is very selective and includes low quality ones instead of better ones - at least with AMG you can select their best work. You will be much better off getting one of Roger Ebert's books or the Video Hound. They may not have all the fancy photographs of this book, yet if you're looking for substance, you'll get a lot more for your buck. 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great!! By Surfer Dude If you want the most indepth review on movie stars then this is the book to get. I just wish they would have included some of the newer actors and actresses to the list. See all 7 customer reviews...
