Showing results by publisher "BearManor Media" in All Categories

In 1937, it seemed as if Cary Grant had it all: the fame and fortune of being a leading man for one of Hollywood’s biggest studios, with a life of luxury that was a world away from the hardship and misery he knew growing up in Bristol, England. But all that glitters is not gold. Grant felt that he had no say in the development of his own career, and he was seeing signs that the studio was losing interest in him…other than to just be a handsome face. He yearned for better roles to prove himself as an actor. And so, he did the inconceivable.

Arguably the greatest comedy duo in show business history, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy delighted filmgoers and theatregoers for over 30 years. The public not only found Laurel's serene simpleton and Hardy's pompous buffoon hilarious, but they also thought of them as friends. Laurel and Hardy may have been nitwits, but they were loveable nitwits.

Everything you always wanted to know about the 1975 monster-movie hit Jaws and the other monsters that swam in its wake.

Autobiography of the King of Porn In the world of adult cinema, one name stands out above all others: John Holmes. For nearly 20 years, from 1967 to 1987, Holmes reigned as the undisputed king of X-rated films, having appeared in a record 2,200 plus productions, from the landmark Johnny Wadd movies (one of which became the first adult motion picture to gross over $1 million) to the legendary Insatiable with Marilyn Chambers.

Drawing from over three decades as an assistant director, McGiffert charts a revealing and informative journey through the making of many major films working with noted directors such as Robert Zemeckis, Tim Burton, Cameron Crowe, Sydney Pollack, Milos Forman, Peter Weir, Steve Zaillian, Jon Avnet, and Terry Gilliam. This behind-the-scenes book is a must-listen for casual moviegoers and committed film lovers alike.

Despite the tragic brevity of his career and life, Andy Gibb still has a strong fan base around the world, but his story has never been told—until now. Arrow Through the Heart: The Biography of Andy Gibb draws upon extensive research, rare archival interviews with Andy Gibb and members of his family, and interviews conducted by the author with nearly fifty of Andy’s friends and associates to examine the life and career of this beloved pop idol.

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye: The Barbara Payton Story is the only family-authorized biography of the late Hollywood actress whose promising film career in the 1950s was quickly overtaken by a disastrous and scandal-ridden personal life that left her career in ashes. Barbara Payton’s story has long been considered one of the saddest and most potent cautionary tales the town has ever known.

Dottie Ponedel knows how to amuse with rouge. Her autobiography, the story of a pioneering woman makeup artist, whose career spanned the entire length of Hollywood's Golden Era from silent movies to the great films of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, puts a new foundation on the stars.

Packed with interviews from director John Carpenter, screenwriter Bill Phillips, producer Richard Kobritz, stars Keith Gordon and Alexandra Paul, plus various members of the cast and crew including co-composer Alan Howarth and SFX artist Roy Arbogast, Hell Hath No Fury: The Making of Christine is a definitive look at the 1983 cinematic adaptation of Stephen King’s terrifying novel about the eponymous demonic Plymouth Fury and the obsessive teenage boy who loves her.

Arthur Godfrey, The Romance of Helen Trent, Our Gal Sunday, The Goldbergs, President Roosevelt's Address to Congress, Amos 'n' Andy, Joe E. Brown, Major Bowes, Louis Prima, and more all in a row! This is a recording of a full broadcast day, remastered (from the National Archives transcript disks) by Joe Bevilacqua.

Critic-producer Nat Segaloff was granted access to private papers, production records, never-before-published interviews, and specialized archives in reconstructing the colorful, touching, and sometimes scandalous stories behind the making of the last films of some of Hollywood's top directors.

In their star-studded memoir, Hollywood Lights, Nashville Nights, coauthors Victoria Hallman and Diana Goodman are the first of the iconic Hee Haw Honeys to write about their lives as the glamour gals of TV's longest-running syndicated variety show.

Gen X is the “forgotten generation.”

Don't miss this never-before-released recording of the Dr. Seuss story, dramatized for radio and directed by Daws Butler! Performed by Daws Butler and his sons, Chas and Don Butler, this radio play was produced by veteran award-winning producer Joe Bevilacqua, who talks with Daws' sons before the play.

Mel Blanc needs no introduction to cartoon and radio fans. He was The Master of the funny voice. For the first time ever, here is the ultimate biography, encompassing Noel Blanc's unpublished biography, with an introduction by Bugs Bunny. Read by the great Fred Frees, son of voice actor Paul Frees.

Raised Eyebrows is the bittersweet story of the last years in the life of Groucho Marx, told by a young Marx Brothers fan who was fortunate enough to work for Groucho as his personal secretary and archivist, right inside Marx's Beverly Hills home. In addition to getting to know his hero, the author was able to spend quality time with Zeppo, Gummo, Mae West, George Burns, Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, SJ Perelman, Steve Allen, and scores of other luminaries of stage, screen, TV, and literature.

Author Michael J. Hayde's definitive work about Superman on radio and television. Hayde is well-known for My Name's Friday: The Unauthorized but True Story of Dragnet and The Films of Jack Webb and Little Elf: A Celebration of Harry Langdon, and this new treasure trove of information on the Man of Steel covers comprehensive episode logs for the radio series and the original television series, plus the complete story lines for two unproduced television series episodes, and dozens of "deleted scenes" taken right from the scripts.

You know the films. You know the characters. You may even know the man behind the glasses. But do you really know the events and happenings that most changed Harold Lloyd? That define him? The turning points in his life and career? From birth to death, Harold Lloyd grew and evolved because of the things that were happening around him, and he was always aware of the importance of these events.

Alta California, 1820: The Pueblo de Los Angeles is under the heel of a dictatorial Alcalde, Luis Miguel Montero. No class is exempt. California's largest landowner, Don Alejandro de la Vega, has grown weary of the situation and has summoned his son Diego home to aid him in overthrowing Montero's oppressive regime. But to his surprise, when Diego arrives, he finds his son uninterested the community's problems and unwilling to take up arms. However, Diego's pretense of pacifism is just a ploy to protect his quick-tempered firebrand of a father....

Patty first gained national attention and praise playing Helen Keller in both the Broadway stage and film versions of The Miracle Worker. As identical cousins on The Patty Duke Show, her name became an American household word. Her later work in Valley of the Dolls, Me, Natalie, My Sweet Charlie, a later television remake of The Miracle Worker, and others established her as one of America’s leading actresses. Now, her indelible show-business legacy echoes enduringly with untold stories of her six-decade career.