Mary Jane Alexander, I am a New York film critic and enthusiast.

Film historian and authority James Robert Parish has done it again! "The Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Hollywood," like all of Mr. Parish's well-regarded books, is comprehensive, thoroughly accurate and immensely readable. The sheer research is astounding and Mr. Parish uncovers the many fascinating tidbits that enliven film history. This is a book that is a must not only for every film and media library, but also for the general reader and film fan who wants is interested in the careers, lives and place in film history of the many ethnic stars who have thrilled us on screen. Bravo.

Also recommended: The Hollywood Songsters; Hollywood Divaas; and Hollywood Bad Boys

This is a wonderfully concise, detailed, and helpful general reference source for anyone researching ethnicity in the major films, television shows and performers of the past century. The Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Hollywood is easy to read, gives only the important highlights of each title and personality, and is well-indexed. The photographs in the book are nostalgic and illustrative. It's all in here -- the breakthroughs, the award winners, the important firsts, as well as other contributions that make Hollywood history and today's Hollywood unique.

The movies have always help guide and shape moviegoers into an an understanding of who they are, where they're from, and where they're going. But much of the vast American public has been virtually invisible on the screen -- which is why this book is so valuable. Our overlooked ethnic groups -- African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Jewish Americans, and Native Americans -- now have a wonderful reference source to help them understand who they are, where they're from, where they're going. This encyclopedia may be a bit pricey for average bookbuyers (where's the cheaper paperback edition?), but it will be criminal if every library in the country doesn't make it readily available.

Film historians James Robert Parish and Michael Pitts's "Hollywood Songsters" have outdone themselves with this handsomely designed three-volume set that is worth every penny. Filled with rare photos, "Hollywood Songsters" has comprehensive, accurate and fascinating entries on over 100 "singers who act and actors who sing." The lives and careers of everyone from A to Z or June Allyson to Mae West are covered in intriguing and fact-filled detail. Who would have thought that such an indespensible reference book could also be a page-turner. Once you start reading this treasure trove of information it is hard to put down because of the insider tidbits and behind-the-scenes facts that fill the well-written pages. As theater and film critic and lover of musicals, I find this a most wonderful addition to my library as well as a great read. The filmography and lp and CD bibliography on each singer is unparalled. Bravo to Mr. Parish and Mr. Pitts!!!

This is an informative and delightful set that has information on Hollywood songsters that can be found no where else. Each entry has a wonderful picture accompanying. I have spent many, many happy hours pouring over the entries and learning facts about my favorite stars. This is a must have for all libraries and any scholar of musical theatre or musical film or just popular music of the 20th century. Well worth the money! It is clear that Parrish and Pitts have done their homework, but even clearer that they have a love for the subject matter and it shows on every page. As a songwriter with a love for the field, I use this book constantly.

This project has to be a mad labor of love on the part of the authors -- how else / who else would produce a 3-volume directory of singing in the movies? We must applaud and support the authors for this massive work -- I can't imagine it not being definitive -- by urging local libraries to carry it. A database like this should be available to everyone!

excellent book (like all books from James Robert Parish published by McFarland ! ) that covers more than 264 films about angels and ghosts in the movies till about 1993. A reference-work for every serious filmbook-collection. There are not many books covering this filmgenre in such a complete way.

My problem with this otherwise good reference book is that while those born between 1958 and 1964 are also considered baby boomers, no actors born during those years are included. Therefore, you will not see biographies of Tom Cruise, Eddie Murphy, Darryl Hannah, Cathy Moriaty, Michael J. Fox, etc. However, the ones that are included are just as interesting. Nice addition to a film buff's library.

If you are looking for information on 5 great comedic attresses who haven't always gotten their due, then this book is for you. It has information and photos on Joan Davis, Martha Raye, Marjorie Main, Judy Canova and Phyllis Diller. I particularly got this book for the information about Joan Davis. I've found very little information about her or her "I Married Joan" series. Although, it didn't have too many details about that program, it did have a lot of information about her and her films, as well as 33 pages of photos of her. The rest of them are covered the same. If you can still get this book, if you are a fan of any of these "Slapstick Queens" you won't be disappointed in this book.

This book is a great resource on tough guy actors who aren't as well known as Bogart. Has sections on Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Edward G. Robinson, Robert Ryan, and Paul Muni. Grab a copy if you can find it!

i had just bouht this book from amzaon.com and i though it was amazing. the detail the intrest. it seemed like the author was really into whoopu for he explaied her very well. if you are thinking of getting this book i wil reasure you it is awesome! o now have a new respect for whoopi for i know now what she has gone threw.

Everything you always wanted to know about bad behavior -but were too afraid to ask (or didn't know where to find it). Well, here it is! Spent all weekend reading Parish's lively tome about the Silver Screen's most famous rogues - from scoundrels to rascals - & truly, couldn't put the book down. In just under 300 fascinating pages, found out WHO did WHAT to WHOM. What's more, the author tells you HOW and WHY. A phenomenally fun read, and highly recommended.

Hollywood has a long history of bad boys as this fascinating book shows. Bad behavior is as old as Hollywood,but this book is not a simple recap of tabloid stories. It gives an interesting background to the actors' careers, their missteps, and the consequences of their bad behavior. It can also serve as a cautionary book. So much of the bad behavior is a result of booze and/or drugs and in many cases derailed or destroyed very promising careers. I would definitely recommend this book.

I didn't know about you, but I thought Warren Beatty had a relationship with Natalie Wood. Not true, writes Jim Parish in his wonderfully entertaining Hollywood Bad Boys, Loud, Fast, and Out of Control. Author of dozens of books on Hollywood, Parish has a well-honed sense for the perfect anecdote to enliven his short bios of the Bad Boys. His list includes some obvious choices, Charlie Sheen, James Dean, Johnny Depp, and some suprises, such as Bing Crosby. If you want your dirt dished with clean and clear prose, I strongly recommend this book. Prepare to go from beginning to end without a break.

Marvelous, darling. That's not a diva talking, but this reviewer giving his assessment of Hollywood Diva's: The Good, the Bad and the Fabulous, the latest from the industrious James Robert Parish. We learn that Tallulah once slept with the bride and the groom, Whitney's thoughts on being a star, and Lucille's problems with Desi, among many things. There's also fascinating material on Sharon, Jennifer, Clara and many more of the ladies we love to love and love to ridicule. As usual, Parish has an uncanny knack for selecting just the right information and the right amount of information to keep the reader enthralled. His brief bios are packed with fascinating and telling material. I was struck by the number of divas that escaped a miserable upbringing by heading to Hollywood. Once there, they achieved fame and glory, but often at a steep price. Did they bring on their disasters themselves? In many cases, yes, but we adore them anyway. Even casual followers of the world of film will find it hard to put down this book. You will want to read about all these women, not just the really big stars. The stories resonate with all of us, whether we are divas, whether we adore divas, or whether we want nothing to do with divas.

The term "high maintenance" used to be a liability for movie stars; now it's a prerequisite. At least, that's one of the two attributes of Diva-hood in motion pictures, the other being talent. As chronicled by James Robert Parish in his latest book, "Hollywood Divas: The Good, the Bad, and the Fabulous," such women have always been the mainstay of movies, they were just known by their own above-the-title names: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, and Elizabeth Taylor, right up through Cher, Whitney Houston, Sharon Stone and Drew Barrymore. Here is a clever sorority roster of nearly a century's worth of unforgettable screen women from Theda Bara to Jennifer Lopez. What they have in common is that they can dominate a scene simply by entering it (that and make their male co-stars go crazy for them). Parish -- the dean of American film historians with over 40 books to his credit -- has the knack of writing in a tone that is both confident and confidential without sounding pandering, like a friend at a party who happens to know the inside story. We learn, for example, that Miriam Hopkins -- who almost played Scarlett O'Hara -- was smart enough to negotiate her own contracts but too volatile to keep them. We shudder at Demi Moore's contract demands yet admire her for her devotion to her child (if not her husband). And we read how Cybill Shepherd trumped the trash-mongers by the "simple" act of having character. But that's not to say there isn't enough scandal in these pages to grease the gossip gears: unwanted pregnancies, substance abuse, divorces, loonies and lovers abound. Yet it's not embarrassing to read about them. Each essay -- there are 70 plus an introduction -- is well-focused and individual, yet finds the quintessence in each great lady of the screen. An index and huge bibliography wrap up the package.

James Robert Parish, the author of The RKO Gals and The Fox Girls, has now written a witty and remarkably informative new book about 70 major "Divas" of the entertainment world. The most surprising thing about this book is that it contains not only current idols like Madonna and Jennifer Lopez, and perennial idols like Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland, but also some rather obscure (in terms of early 21sts century) idols, including Kay Francis, Mae Murray, and Greer Garson. Yes, this book covers the whole gamut, from Theda Bara to Britney Spears. The quotes are fantastic, the photos are great, and the information is fabulous. Highly recommended.

For 30 years, Parish has been a film historian extraordinaire. . . and he just keeps getting better. Except for hardcore fans, Jet Li remains a martial artist about whom little is really known in this country, but Parish, as always, delivers the goods - from Li's humble beinnings to his status as a reigning and legitimate international film star. Along the way, Parish examines the infrastructure of the Hong Kong, Chinese, and Hollywood film industries, illustrating how each has impacted the ascendancy of Li, both as a star and as a man. A must read for any fan. . . and a good, informative read for anyone else.

With his Jet Li biography, James Robert Parish provides his readers with another interesting and insightful book about film. Parish's sympathetic, informative and entertaining narrative traces Li's life from his days as a martial arts student to his success in Hong Kong action flicks and finally Hollywood stardom. If you're interested in Chinese and Hong Kong films, or in action films in general -- or if you're just a fan of good film writing, this is your book.

This is a fascinating look at, not just an action star, but at the prolific Chinese and Hong Kong film industries. Through the life of Jet Li, we see his rise through this colorful industry. There is also a fascinating look at his boyhood in a China dominated by Mae Zedong. Even if you are not a martial arts movie fan, this is an enjoyable book. It is very well researched, including a background on Wushu, the form of martial arts practiced by Jet Li. There are many excellent photos and a complete filmograghy. So read the book, then hit the video store and see some movies that are often overlooked or relegated to the b-movie bins.