THE HOLLYWOOD BOOK OF LOVE reveals that there's more to
those wonderful old black and white movies on TV than we've allowed ourselves to think about. The author's position is that they're cautionary tales, warning us of the pitfalls of believing in . . . those wonderful old black and white movies on TV. What a delight!

Plenty of plot summaries of all-time favorite love stories organized in interesting, and sometimes, unexpected groups. Plenty of absolutely terrific sidebars filled with REALLY unexpected information. A good read that also doubles as a useful reference book for anyone who loves Hollywood and its loves.

From "Young Love" to "Marriage on the Rocks," James Robert Parish covers all types of Hollywood love in the 20 chapters of his latest tome. As a bonus, the reader is able to enjoy Parish's insights on the contrasts between reel love and real love. We all know that movies and life are not quite the same, but Parish's witty and flowing prose make the subject seem fresh. This is a light -- but highly informative -- fun read.

This is a fascinating book about one of the best (relatively)young directors working. As usual, Mr. Parish has done his homework. The background material is great and helps give a really vivid picture of the person. I really feel I got to know Mr. Van Sandt from reading this book, not only him, but his family and associates growing up. The descriptions of his early works are especially interesting. Mr. Parish is one of the most thorough writers when it comes to work credits of his subjects. I also enjoy this section of his books. I definitely recommend this book.

Parish does it again.
I've been a big fan of Jim Parish's cinematic oeuvre of literature for 20 years. He has tackled film genres, biographies and anything with his name on it I will buy. His "Van Sant" bio is terrific and covers a career that hasn't had much coverage to date.
If you can find Mr. Parish's incredible "The Swashbucklers" you have a great weekend read in store. After 100 books, you would think Parish would be tired but his two recent works proves he is as fresh as ever and on the top of his game.

James Robert Parish is one of the most prolific and knowledgeable film historians and writers around today, and his book on Van Sant lives up to his high standards of writing and research. Van Sant is an interesting character, going from art house (Mala Noche) to mainstream favorites (Good Will Hunting). This is definately a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about Van Sant and the movie making business of today.

The Hollywood Book of Death is heavily padded with excruciating background that seems lifted from allmovie.com. Strangely, many of the dead actor's best work or more interesting aspects of their life are left out. Author James Robert Parish slummed writing this book. Half the book is dedicated to death by natural causes (yawn), while the Murdered, Drugs, Accidents and Suicide sections are stunningly short. I could name another dozen actors to add to each of those categories.

Hollywood Book of Death is okay if you are a novice to such trivia.

As every James Robert Parish book on Hollywood history, The Hollywood Book of Death is highly informative and fun to read. The book discusses numerous Hollywood celebrities who have died -- sometimes mysteriously, sometimes scandalously -- without resorting to sensationalism. That in itself is a feat in the ever more sensational literary world. Parish's writing is concise, incisive, and always entertaining. More than a book about death, Parish's latest is a book about the lives of Hollywood celebrities, mixing important career information with the relevant aspects of the stars' and directors' private lives. A solid, good read for anyone interested in the history of American motion pictures.

I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. IT IS A FASCINATING LOOK AT HOLLYWOOD OLD AND NEW. IT PROVIDES A LOOK AT MANY WHO DIED BEFORE THEIR TIMES. EVEN PEOPLE I WAS ONLY BARELY FAMILIAR WITH MADE FOR INTERESTING READING. IT SEEMS TO BE VERY WELL RESEARCHED. I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE SECTION WHICH LISTS MANY CEMETARIES AND THOSE WHO ARE BURIED THERE. IT IS WELL ILLUSTRATED AND COMPLETELY READABLE.

To those who have read Parish's long list of publications it is obvious he didn't write "The Unofficial Murder, She Wrote Casebook" as a bonafide fan of the series. He wrote it as an addition to his list of conquests as a writer on things Hollywood. I like watching the "Murder, She Wrote" reruns on A & E myself. In comparing what Parish writes in the episode descriptions with what goes on in the corresponding episode being aired on TV it is becomming increasingly apparent there are more mistakes in the book than perhaps Mr. Parish would like to admit to. This isn't to say the book is totally useless -- it just means beware of the pitfalls and proceed accordingly. Mr. Parish has done mystery lovers a disservice by not being more careful with his subject matter.

I rented this book from the library, and I absolutly love it. I watch the Murder, She Wrote reruns on A&E and I always look up the episode I'm watching in the book. The Highlights and Trivia sections are great. I also enjoy the biographies of Angela Lansbury and other cast regulars. I highly recomend this book.

This book is a reminder of what MURDER, SHE WROTE was. Let it remind all that Murder, She Wrote was one of the most successful dramas with a female leading role ever. And this book also tells some of the unknown secrets, like who Jessica Fletcher was really ment to be, it wasn't Angela Lansbury. However, more importantly, this book lights the way for new Jessica Fletcher fans that are just discovering the wonder of the female writer from Cabot Cove. I personally recomend that all Murder, She Wrote fans get this book. A collection is incomplete with out it.

This lexica-typ book covers 293 prison films including cast, technical listings, story and comments. As it is a softcover reprint of the 1991 publication all prison-films of the last 10 years are missing ("The Green Mile", "Shawshank Redemption" etc.) which is a kind of sad. Unfortunately european prison-films are missing at all. Trash-Cultmovies from the in europe so popular WIP-Film-Genre (Women in Prison)like "Women in Cellblock 9", "Barbed Wire Dolls" aka "Frauengefängnis" or the "Greta" and "Ilsa"-Films ("Ilsa, She Wolf of the S.S.") feat. Dyanne Thorne are not mentioned at all - but very important for this genre. Most of the european exploitation-directors like Jess Franco, Bruno Mattei, Joe D'Amato or Erwin C. Dietrich have made one or more contributions to this subgenre.
Further most of the POW-Films (Prisoner of War) are missing ("Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" or "Camp On Blood Island")
In order to obtain 5 * this films should have been included in this reference book.
If you want to read more see: "Captured on Film - the Prison Movie" by Bruce Crowther (ISBN 07134 61152)

If you watch her show then this book is waste of time and money. Mostly the book focuses on Rosie's experience of losing her mother, her rocky road to stardom and her hush hush love life. Just by tuning into her show, and seeing/reading a few of her interviews, anybody could write this biography of Rosie with great ease. If you are looking for the juicy tabloid stuff, this book isn't for you. If you enjoy endless jiberish about Tom Cruise, I believe there are a few chapters devoted to this tired old topic. Happy reading

In this unauthorized bio, seasoned Hollywood journalist and author James Robert Parish (The Liza Minelli Story etc.) has reserched O'Donnell's climb to fame drawing on print and TV interviews, critical reviews and press releases, as well as interviews with her colleagues. O'Donnell's comic career, feature films and Broadway show are well detailed here and her story is an inspiring one. Until O'Donnell writes her autobiography this bio may be the most thorough we'll get. Publishers' Weekly March 17, 199

Although the authors provide good factual information, they are never able to pierce the psyche of George Raft. The book is a mean-spirited, one-dimensional view of George Raft; nothing more. A later biography by Yablonski is much, much more insightful and lacks the hateful judgements pronounced in this book. Please visit the George Raft Family and Friends Memorial website to share your views and insights on George Raft

I found Whoopi Goldberg's life to be interesting (dare I say even inspiring?). I commend this biography because it provides plenty of details and Parish backs up his factual account of her life with lots of quotes from Whoopi. But I was really annoyed by how often he mentioned he doesn't think she's good-looking. Also, he sometimes offers long descriptions of movies she herself didn't think much of, but then shorts others like The Long Walk Home. Passable, but there's room for another book or more about this remarkable woman we seem to know so much and so little about all at the same time.

Malacious gossip & rumor. Total waste of time. Instaed of donating it to rhe public library like I normally do, I threw it in the trash. Actually the trash deserves to be in better company than this book!

"Her fans will buy and enjoy this book" - Publishers' Weekly In this unauthorized bio, seasoned Hollywood journalist and author James Robert Parish (The Liza Minelli Story etc.) has reserched O'Donnell's climb to fame drawing on print and TV interviews, critical reviews and press releases, as well as interviews with her colleagues. O'Donnell's comic career, feature films and Broadway show are well detailed here and her story is an inspiring one. Until O'Donnell writes her autobiography this bio may be the most thorough we'll get. Publishers' Weekly March 17, 1997

I have read a few of Mr. Parrishs' book including the jeanette macdonald story. Somehow he misses the boat on the true story and that her marriage to Mr. Raymond was a sham! The tearing apart of Mr. Eddy was totally wrong and misdirected! Mr. Parish I read 2 of the books you have out and this will be my last!!!!!!!!!!!!