Hirschhorn, Clive (Bacall, Lauren; Bogart, Humphrey; Brando, Marlon; Crawford, Joan; Dean, James et al.)

The Warner Bros. Story: The Complete History of the Great Hollywood Studio

ISBN: 0517538342
New York, NY: Crown Publishers Inc., 1979. First Edition. Hardcover. “Warner Bros. has been one of the foremost Hollywood studios for most of the movie industry's history- the company's first feature film was released in the pioneer days of 1918. This fascinating book charts the story in incredible detail, from the tentative beginnings to the present. It is the definitive record - every feature film that the studio made or distributed in the US is described and illustrated. There are over 1800 photographs in this superb collection, many of them published here for the first time” (from front flap). Offered here is a large, generously-illustrated volume that gathers a predominance of films issued by Warner Brothers throughout the decade & comments, pictorially & textually, on their essence & origins, illustrating their relation to the development of the film-&-media giant, as it does so. Predictably, then, actors-&-actresses of wide renown — those familiar to both general audiences & film buffs alike — such as Lauren Bacall (1924-2014); Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957); Marlon Brando (1924-2004); Joan Crawford (1906?-1977); James Dean (1931-1955), & too many others to name, here make their expected appearances. The result is a valued, catalogic appraisal of one of the greatest media companies of all time. Edited & with commentary by Clive Hirschhorn (b. 1940), the noted South African film critic. From the collection of Laurence Goldstein (1943-2023), a renowned American author, poet, film critic, editor & academician here at the University of Michigan. Large-format hardcover: First Edition, though not explicated as such on copyright page. Book in Very Good condition with only moderate shelf-wear, some light rubbing; synonymous light bumping & related bump-creasing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; otherwise generally clean. Dust jacket is in Fair-Good condition with moderate-to-enunciated shelf-wear, chipping, light-to-moderate vertical, as well as horizontal creasing in isolated, short, since-flattened bursts at varying locales, throughout; some age-toning, sunning, and related wear also present variously, throughout; otherwise, clean with interior bright & unmarked. While not a perfect copy, its commendable provenance — coming from the library of a great American scholar on Film and American Culture — makes this listing a special treat for both general interest readers & established scholars, alike. An extra handling fee of $5.00 will be added for shipping due to the size and weight of this item. Very Good / Fair-Good. [Item #8056]

Price: $45.00