Book Description
If you care at all about silent pictures, about Chaney, about bravura acting and about film makeup, the book is invaluable and perhaps definitive. --San Diego Union Tribune
Customer Reviews:
The only thorough and ojective source on Lon Chaney.......2002-05-28
This was the most extensive biography I've ever read on Lon Chaney. Micheal F. Blake's account of Chaney was excellent becuase the author explains why the man was so sucsessful.
The book mainly concentrates on the impact he left on critics and movie goers. Also,his agenda and work relationships with film makers and various experts needed for subject matter that was essential for unusual plot elements in some of his greatest films. The author further demonstrates how these relationships enhanced his skill, and how that would inspire him to progress beyond what he already achieved in prior films for futer projects.
The auther accounts for his private life with integrity and honor. However, you'll learn of the private life he wanted people to think he had, regardless of how accurate it was, in comparrisson to the truth, and why.
I am a horror/sci-fi fanatic, with an extensive collection of films, novels and magazines spawned from those very genres-minus Lon Chaney!!! I can only account for two Fangoria magazines that have articles profiling him, and they are not very extensive. It's very hard to find information and literature about this man, which is a shame, considering how much he inspired present day movie makers. That's why this book is a must read, especially for those interested in a medium leading to any type of film carreer. If not, if you want to read something different, Lon Chaney is definately that in every which way, and Micheal F. Blake explains why!
The life of a fascinating personality revealed.......2000-06-16
For the decades since his death, Lon Chaney, while one of the biggest stars of the silent era, had remained one of the least-known (about) talents of said era. The life of this amazing, multi-talented individual is finally revealed to us with Lon Chaney: The Man Behind The Thousand Faces. Chaney fans reap the benefits of author Michael F. Blake's 6 years of research. Of the many things we learn: the son, born to deaf parents and his early mastery of pantomime for the sake of communicating with (and entertaining) them. His rather extensive list of theater credits where he practiced and honed his skills at make-up. His entry into films and the amazing body of work that resulted. His rise from bit player to hugely popular character-actor, adored by the public and respected by his peers. His marriages. All this and much, much more (who knew that Chaney was an adept dancer!). A filmography (as complete as can be known), chronology of major events in Chaney's life, and even a glossary of make-up terminology is also provided.
Two highlights: numerous, never-before-seen (at least by me) photos and Blake (himself a make-up artist) reveals the secrets behind many of the actor's "thousand faces", at the same time dispelling many inaccurate "facts" that have been perpetuated over the years concerning said make-up creations.
Whether you're a fan of Chaney or of film history in general, you will find this book invaluable.
Excellent treatment.......1998-09-21
Mr. Blake presented a thorough and convincing telling of Mr. Chaney's life and career. I found it to be quite readable, informative, and delightful in opening to me the life of one of my favorite screen personalities. Blake's book, as well as its subject, Lon Chaney, deserve a place in the highest levels of cinematic lore and recognition. I recommend this book to anyone wishing to know more about Lon Chaney and his times.
If you want to know who Lon Chaney was, this is THE book!.......1998-09-15
The fans of Lon Chaney have never had a detailed biography of the "Man of a Thousand Faces", but no more! Michael F. Blake has written THE BOOK on Chaney, uncovering a tremendous amount of rare material on the actor's life and career. A film/TV makeup artist himself, Blake is able to finally tell us how Chaney really created his famous makeups. The 120 photos, many I've never seen before, are just amazing! This is the book Chaney fans have been waiting for.
Book Description
In this most complete and detailed filmography of the work of Lon Chaney, Blake provides the cast lists, plot synopsis, critical comments, and the behind-the-scenes information for the actor's 158 known film appearances.
Customer Reviews:
excellently researched book.......2007-06-14
Once again this author astounds with his depth of research - finding in depth descriptions and information about films we may never have a chance of seeing is an amazing feat. Shipping was quick and the book was in excellent condition as well.
The Films of Lon Chaney, a great book........2007-01-11
There's only one thing to say about Lon Chaney; he was probably one of the top ten greatest actors of the twentieth century (considering the difference in acting today). Even with make up aside, he still managed to turn in a great performance. I believe I saw Michael F. Blake on the Turner Classic Movies documentary, "Man of a thousand faces." He obviously knows what he's talking about when it comes to Lon Chaney and wrote one helluva book. It's interesting to read the critics reviews for his films, and one wonders all the reasearch and time it took to find them. Being a fan of Lon Chaney myself, this is a must read for not even Chaney, but silent films fans all around.
Comprehensive reference on Lon Chaney's films.......2000-03-13
This reference book is packed full of cast listings, story-lines, production info, and contemporary reviews of all of Lon Chaney's known films. There are over 100 photos from his films. Author Blake has also included notes about the films including which ones are extant. Finally, there is a list of other films that he appeared in and unrealized film projects.
The ONLY detailed filmogrpahy book on Lon Chaney........1998-09-29
Many actors and actresses have had "The Films of..." books written about them, but Lon Chaney was always overlooked. Now, Michael F. Blake has written a book to fill that void. The book has detailed information relating to cast and crew, ploy synopsis, critical comments of the day and behind-the-scenes information. There are 120 photos from Chaney's films, many never published before. Chaney's film biography, "Man of a Thousand Faces", and a detailed list of unrealized film projects are also included. This book is a necessary reference guide for ALL Chaney fans.
Average customer rating:
- Good book if you don't know anything about Chaney
- This is a fairly good biography of my favorite actor.
- A disappointing biography on Lon Chaney, Jr.
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Lon Chaney, Jr.: Horror Film Star, 1906-1973
Don G. Smith
Manufacturer: McFarland & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0786418133 |
Book Description
Though he was haunted by the shadow of his legendary father and devastated by alcoholism, Lon Chaney, Jr., carved out a very successful film career as Universal's leading horror star in the 1940s, and later as a leading character actor in Westerns, dramas, and on television. While rightly focused on the career of the underrated actor, this study also explores his life and times.
Customer Reviews:
Good book if you don't know anything about Chaney.......2005-09-24
If you know nothing about the films and career of Lon Chaney Jr., then you will get something out of this book. However, if you are like me (and probably most people who would be interested in reading a book about Lon Chaney Jr.), you already know about his film career and most of the books content is going to be stuff you already know. I wanted to read about his life and times, which it has a little of, but mostly it was overviews of his movies. Personally I would rather just watch the movies instead of reading about them.
This is a fairly good biography of my favorite actor........1999-05-01
As a Lon Chaney,Jr.fan,I feel that this book,though interesting,leaves one strangely disatisfied at it's conclusion. I really expected much more from this somewhat one-sided biography. The portrait that Mr.Smith provides about Lon Chaney,Jr,is often far too negative.
A disappointing biography on Lon Chaney, Jr........1998-09-29
There has never been a definitive biography of Lon Chaney, Jr., and this book does nothing to fill that void. Based primarily on other source books, author Don G. Smith displays little eveidence of hard research in this text. It is overladen with long-winded synopses of Chaney Jr.'s films, while the actor's early life, growing up with his father, his mother's attempted suicide and subsequently being lead to believe she was dead are hardly dealt with. It is quite obvious that the author simply pulled a few previously written books and cut-and-pasted the material into his text. A shoddy piece of writing and film research. The filmogrpahy is very minimal, but the TV appearances are well detailed. In all, Lon Chaney, Jr. does deserve a detailed biography. This one isn't it!
Book Description
For the first time, you can put conjecture aside and read definitive proof about the roles Chaney had behind the scenes as well as in front of the camera.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding, lively - like the times it describes.......2001-07-18
This is a fascinating look at a long-gone time. Mr. Blake's book not only gives the reader great insight into the artistry and work of Lon Chaney, it is a peak into the past, of the days of silent film.
Beyond the other rave reviews for this book relative to the artist, what made this book all the more valuable to me was Mr. Blake's description on movie-making at the turn of the 20th century. We can hear, feel and almost smell the greasepaint of that time, the hard work, the ramshackle artistry of these cinema pioneers.
This is one of the best books on early film, and a credit to the magic of Lon Chaney.
A worthy companion.......2000-06-23
Michael F. Blake's second book on Lon Chaney, A Thousand Faces: Lon Chaney's Unique Artistry in Motion Pictures, is a worthy and much-welcome companion volume to the author's first book: Lon Chaney: The Man Behind The Thousand Faces. This book serves a two-fold purpose: First, Blake reveals a lot of new information he uncovered about the actor's life and films since his first book. Second, this time around biography takes a backseat to a detailed look at the films themselves (although there is still plenty to be learned of Chaney's life).
Being THE acknowledged Chaney authority and having acted himself at an early age, Blake is able to provide a knowledgeable and well-balanced analysis/commentary of Chaney's films (at least those that are not "lost"). While certainly the biggest fan of Lon Chaney, Blake maintains the needed objectively to fairly critique each film and performance. As with his first book, a big highlight here is the wealth of rare photos presented (including Lon both in and out of make-up), as is the always fascinating information on how Chaney, a make-up master, created those amazing characters. Blake is to be lauded for his vast efforts in keeping alive the legacy of one of the greatest talents of the silent era. Thanks to author Blake, all the many fans of Lon Chaney can be assured that Chaney's many talents and contributions to the world of film (and film make-up!) will never be forgotten.
A great introduction to a master of film.......2000-03-29
Before reading this book, I knew almost nothing of Lon Chaney except his reputation as a horror actor. I was amazed to discover exactly how misleading that title actually was. Blake's work introduced a genius at makeup and pantomime who was capable of playing any role convincingly. Through it, I gained a respect for a great but seldom-discussed actor.
This book is a worthy sequel to Blake's first book on Chaney.......1998-09-29
This is one sequel that is worth waiting for! Armed with new information from the files of Lon Chaney's former business manager, Blake has written a worthy follow-up to his first book on the famous actor. This time, Blake covers Chaney's performances and the making of many of his films in the reader-friendly tone he established in his first book. Blake has broken new ground in film history, revealing that it was Chaney's idea to make "Hunchback of Notre Dame", NOT Universal's studio head, Irving Thalberg!! It is just amazing what new nuggets of information Blake dug up, including lengthy interviews with probably the only surviving crew memeber from Chaney's MGM days and a nurse who attended him during his last trip to New York where he sought a cure of his cancer. He also debunks the myth that Chaney would have played the title role in "Dracula". It is heavily illustrated with many super rare photos. This book is just as good, if not better, than Blake's first effort. Both are a MUST if you're an admirer of Lon Chaney.
Average customer rating:
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The Next Corner
Kate Jordan
Manufacturer: Little, Brown, and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MWFP7E |
Product Description
Illustrated with black-and-white frontispiece by Wilson V. Chambers.
Average customer rating:
- Boring, Poorly written, dis-jointed
- A GREAT Baseball Book!
- The most important baseball book since Ball Four
- The definitive story of baseball's "renaissance"
- A baseball revival fully explained!
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Juicing the Game: Drugs, Power, and the Fight for the Soul of Major League Baseball
Howard Bryant
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports
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Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big
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The Juice: The Real Story of Baseball's Drug Problems
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Love Me, Hate Me: Barry Bonds and the Making of an Antihero
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Clearing the Bases: Juiced Players, Monster Salaries, Sham Records, and a Hall of Famer's Search for the Soul of Baseball
ASIN: 0670034452 |
Book Description
From the respected sports journalist and author of Shut Out comes a groundbreaking history of steroid use in major league baseball
Despite enjoying an era of unprecedented prosperity and on-field accomplishments, Major League Baseball is in crisis as its greatest players find themselves defending their achievements instead of celebrating them. The reason: steroids and other performance- enhancing drugs. Singled out by the president and Congress, threatened with punitive legislation by Senator John McCain, and under siege as part of the growing BALCO investigation, baseball is desperately trying to get its own house in order after years of willful ignorance that have brought into question the sport's very integrity.
In Juicing the Game, award-winning journalist Howard Bryant raises the most important question the league faces today: In its desperation to recover from the crippling 1994 strike, did baseball ignore warning signals that might have prevented the biggest scandal since the Chicago White Sox threw the 1919 World Series?
Combining hard-hitting investigative journalism with a compelling narrative filled with entertaining anecdotes, as well as interviews with baseball heavyweights such as Jason Giambi, Commissioner Bud Selig, union head Donald Fehr, and Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, among many others, Juicing the Game promises to be the bombshell book of the season.
Customer Reviews:
Boring, Poorly written, dis-jointed.......2006-07-10
After a brief email correspondence with Bryant, it's easy to see why this was such a boring, poorly written book. I'm glad I was given the book and didn't actually waste any money on it.
The book jumps from one newspaper article to another, and never really tells me, an avid baseball fan anything I didn't already suspect about players taking steroids and other performance enhancers.
I mean really, it's been going on for ages in all sports.
Bryant's obsessive fascination with race and racism really comes through when he spends an entire chapter on Barry and Bobby Bonds and race relations between writers and players.
His never really backs up any of his racial assertions with any more then anecdotes and opinions. He blames Bobby's alcoholism on the way he was treated by the baseball world and blames Barry's problems on everyone but Barry.
He claims that white writers make life troublesome for difficult black players but treat difficult white players with kit gloves. Tell that one to Steve Carlton, Howard.
Please do yourself a favor and don't waste even five bucks on a used copy of this.
Your time would be wasted to even get a copy from the library. Mine went in my recycle bin.
A GREAT Baseball Book!.......2006-07-03
I've read a lot of baseball books over the years, and this ranks as one of the best. While it covers the whole steroids mess in illuminating detail, you also get a review of baseball history unlike anything else out there. How this author did not win some kind of writing award is beyond me. If you enjoy reading baseball history sprinkled with interesting details about individual ball players, get this book.
The most important baseball book since Ball Four.......2006-06-24
Howard Bryant has done the baseball world a giant service with his meticulous research and top-notch writing. In careful detail, explaining all sides AND including contextual background for how and why the events unfolded, he lays out the complex history of the past 20 years of baseball. He makes it clear that demonizing Bonds, McGwire, Palmeiro et al cannot be done reasonably without also indicting the management, labor leadership, and even the press.
In a way, we're all to blame for the Steroid Era. It's as much a sociological discussion as it is a book about baseball, pharmacology, management and the fight for power. It's also a serious page-turner, and should be required reading for anyone who cares about the game of baseball and the health of the next generation of players.
It's a superb book, and peels back the layers of the onion in a way that nobody had the courage to do before. If you're a baseball fan, READ this book.
The definitive story of baseball's "renaissance".......2006-06-23
This book is about more than just steriods and what they can do to a person's body. It's about the entire story of Major League Baseball from 1994-2004. Bryant tells about how out of control umpires were, and how Sandy Alderson was only too happy to accept their resignations in Richie Phillips' botched attempt to start a new umpires union. Also, the new ballparks that were seemingly designed for more offense and the shrinking strike zone are discussed.
This book also reveals how little the media cared about what was happening. Most reporters just looked the other way during this era, not wanting to believe what they saw wasn't real. Tony LaRussa is revealed to be perhaps the biggest hypocrite of this era when he rips Jose Canseco after Canseco's book is released and vehemently defends Mark McGwire. LaRussa says Canseco used to brag about his steriod use during his days as Oakland manager. Bryant brings up a quote from LaRussa in 1988 defending Canseco after Canseco was accused of taking steriods.
Bryant interviews numerous people for this book, and the multitude of sources makes for a very good read. I took off a star for an error saying that a fan caught a Derek Jeter hit ball while hanging over the outfield wall and the play was called a home run in Game Two of the 1996 ALCS (it was actually Game One) and for a poorly edited epilogue. Despite those things, this is an easy recommendation.
A baseball revival fully explained!.......2006-05-20
I generally shy away from most sports books. But Howard Bryant has done a masterful job explaining just what has happened to our beloved national pastime. His analysis encompasses not only the rise of steroids and other 'performance enhancers' but answers the questions...why? how? when???! His coverage of labor negotiations, the umpires strike fiasco, the birth of Long Ball adoration, and scathing portrayals of the commissioner and club owners does the best job I have read in making sense of the past decade in baseball. It is a 'must read' for most american sports fans and definitely any baseball nuts!
Average customer rating:
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Maze Craze: 46 Puzzles
Albrecht Zipfel
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0486280802 |
Book Description
Find the center of a giant dice cube, reach mid-point of interlocking squares, navigate an ocean of raindrops, more. Solutions.
Product Description
Strategic Business Letters and E-mail - Practical strategies for effective communication. Contains a simple, six-step process for creating messages that get and hold the recipients attention. Chapters include Sales and Marketing with Pizzazz, Successful Job Search and Employment Issues, Customer Relations and Personal Business. Hundreds of handy tips and model letters that can be used verbatim or with minor alterations. Paperback. 512 pages. 6 x 9 x 1-1/8.
Customer Reviews:
A Perfect Reference Book.......2007-08-10
I had always procrastinated writing business letters(letters, faxes, e-mail messages) especially the important ones, thinking I could never write well enough to explain my ideas.
Now I have a concrete 6-step process + several examples which lead me to write what i want in the best way.
" in a well-written & well-formatted document:
the subject line tells the story & mentions the keyword
there's plenty of white space that provides a resting place for your eyes
Paragraphs are short & reliable
Sentences are short, simple & easy to read
Key info pops out without your having to read the entire message
Headlines direct your eye to key pieces of information
Critical information is numbered for easy reading "
Outline just why some messages succeed while others fail.......2005-03-05
Tired of developing perfect business letter and email models, only to lose them in the morass of inbox materials? Frustrated about imparting the right tone and point in a business letter? Use Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts' Strategic Business Letters And E-Mail's series of sequencing steps to write a draft, design for visual impact, and create a winning letter model which can be used as a proven template of success. Letters are grouped by subject such as Customer Relations or Media Relations, and outline just why some messages succeed while others fail.
Books:
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- Memo from David O. Selznick : The Creation of "Gone with the Wind" and Other Motion Picture Classics, as Revealed in the Producer's Private Letters, Telegrams, Memorandums, and Autobiographical Remarks
- Merchant Ivory's English Landscape
- Mobile Macromedia Flash MX with Flash Remoting & Flash Communication Server
- Moviemind For Screenwriters: Write It Right And Get It Written
- Nicolas Cage: Hollywood's Wild Talent
- Oscar and Lucinda: movie tie-in edition
- Peckinpah: THE WESTERN FILMS--A RECONSIDERATION (Illini Books)
- Performing Whiteness: Postmodern Re/Constructions in the Cinema (Suny Series in Postmodern Culture)
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A Thousand Faces: Lon Chaney's Unique Artistry in Motion Pictures
The Films of Lon Chaney
The Penalty
Outside the Law/Shadows
Victory / The Wicked Darling : A Lon Chaney Double Feature
