The It's a Wonderful Life: A Memory Book
by Stephen Cox
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Book Summary Information
Author: Stephen CoxEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-06
ISBN: 1581823371
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: Cumberland House Publishing
Book Reviews of The It's a Wonderful Life: A Memory Book
Book Review: Life in wonderful Bedford Falls
Summary: 3 Stars
Yet another IAWL book. As the years go by publishers appreciate the fascination this stunning movie has for the public and continue to issue titles: a scrapbook; trivia; anniversary; movie stills; (and amazingly) a recipe book plus the video (normal and colorised versions) DVD and audio cassettes. Stephen Cox's book is better than most and he has clearly done a lot of background research on the production and especially the cast. Sort of left no stone unturned, either, for instance he includes the 1986 Saturday Night Live sketch where Potter turns out not to be disabled.
Interesting though the book is I wish the publisher's had made a bit more of an effort with the production, the layout is bland, the paper ordinary so that the many photos look grey and washed out, this especially applies to the stills. There is an eight page color insert section with twenty-one images, some of which are not really worth using. The fact that this color section required a better paper than the rest of the book makes my point and I think buyers deserve better with a title that has lots of photos.
I was made aware of all these short-comings when I compared the book with Jeanine Basinger's The It's a Wonderful Life Book (click to the book site to see some inside pages I've uploaded) published in 1986, this really has to be the definitive title about everybody's Christmas classic and well worth searching out. It has plenty of background material about the stars and Frank Capra's direction but the thing I really liked was the inclusion of the complete shooting script over 215 pages (illustrated with ninety-nine stills) and you'll get to read the original Philip Van Doren Stern short story 'The Greatest Gift' the movie was based on. All the photos and stills look super in this book, too.
Both books are a tribute to a glorious heart-warming experience but the Basinger book is as wonderful as the movie.
Summary of The It's a Wonderful Life: A Memory Book
Few motion pictures have enjoyed a renaissance like the 1946 Frank Capra masterpiece It?s a Wonderful Life. Nominated for five Academy Awards, it was dismissed as syrupy Christmas fare and fell into obscurity until television gave it new life. Today it?s an American tradition.With The It?s a Wonderful Life Memory Book, any fan of the classic film can further appreciate its magic and legacy. The warm reminiscences of the film?s cast are supported by excellent photographs, providing the perfect companion for any fan of the film?or anyone who believes in miracles and angels.
The book features dozens of interviews and rare behind-the-scenes photographs that allow readers to see how the movie was created. Comments from Frank Capra, Jimmy Stewart, Bobbie Anderson, Jimmy Hawkins, Karen Grimes, and many more make the story come alive.
More than a dozen brief biographies of the prominent cast members detail how It?s a Wonderful Life affected their lives and careers. "Then" and "now" photographs supplement the career highlights of Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Beulah Bondi, Gloria Grahame, Frank Faylen, Ward Bond, and others.
Like George Bailey himself, It?s a Wonderful Life was rescued from oblivion in the late 1970s when it was discovered that the film?s copyright had not been renewed and the motion picture fell into public domain and television stations nationwide began freely airing the film. From film remakes and marvelous merchandise to cast reunions and Saturday Night Live?s hilarious parody, The It?s a Wonderful Life Memory Book explores the adoration of generations of viewers who have fallen under its spell.
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