Product Description

An entertaining companion to the author's best-selling Movie & Video Guide presents short reviews of the careers and movies of more than two thousand actors, directors, writers, composers, cinematographers, and others, including information on awards.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #440166 in Books
• Published on: 1995-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 992 pages

Customer Reviews

Not perfect, but indispensable
Initially about a year ago I made the mistake of following the other reviews which panned the book, and did not buy it. I then gradually realized that some of my favorite short bios on IMDB.com were excerpted from Maltin's Encyclopedia. Of course at that point I bought it. There are few, if any, other volumes that quickly give you the sum-up and low-down on 2,000 movie industry people. To say the book has errors and omissions is to me ridiculous...a perfect book would cost a few thousand dollars. Meanwhile, IMDB.com is available as a backstop for searching out hundreds of thousands of details, which wouldn't fit in a reasonably sized volume anyway. Generally speaking, I've gone wrong far more often in rejecting something based on a review or an opinion about a book, movie, etc., than in consuming something recommended -- you can always bail out if a recommender was wrong.

Leonard, how could you?
I can't believe Leonard Maltin would put his name on this compilation of misinformation. He must be spreading himself too thin and hiring interns to do his writing. This book is so full of wrong dates, films, facts--I hope if he comes out with a second edition, Maltin hires someone to go over it with a fine-toothed comb and make corrections. I expected better of him!

TERRIFIC and CONCISE
As a confirmed habitual movie watcher, this book was a much-welcomed addition to my library. Actually, it never made it to my library, as I have it next to my favorite TV chair, right under the TV Guide. I've never seen anything else with such concise thumbnail bios, just the facts. Yes, many stars are not included, such a book would be impossible to pick up. I did miss some oldies such as Marge & Gower Champion. The content is 5-stars, but I deducted 1-star for the book's dire need of updating: additions such as Chris Cooper, Matthew McConaughey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam, etc. But I wouldn't want to be the one to decide who gets removed to include these new additions!