If you’re going crazy trying to find something to gift someone who seemingly has everything we’ve got some new books you should take a look at. These are books for people who LOVE Movies and television. For many TV not only raised us but shaped the way we saw the world. Now we can dive even deeper into these worlds with the help of some carefully crafted books.
These books are great for gifts and personal wish lists. And wonderful for those who like to collect facts about things they love.
1) “Best Wishes, Warmest Regards” – The Story of “Schitt’s Creek“
By Daniel Levy & Eugene Levy
This beautifully produced, keepsake coffee-table book is the ultimate celebration of the series, the town, the characters, and the state of mind that is “Schitt’s Creek.” Capturing the essence and alchemy of all six seasons of what is now considered to be one of the most groundbreaking comedy television series of the last decade, “Best Wishes, Warmest Regards” is a gift to fans everywhere who have made the show their own.
2) “20th Century-Fox: Darryl F. Zanuck and the Creation of the Modern Film Studio (Turner Classic Movies)“
March 20th, 2019 marked the end of an era — Disney took ownership of the movie empire that was Fox. For almost a century before that historic date, Twentieth Century-Fox was one of the preeminent producers of films, stars, and filmmakers. Its unique identity in the industry and place in movie history is unparalleled — and one of the greatest stories to come out of Hollywood. One man, a legendary producer named Darryl F. Zanuck, is the heart of the story. This narrative tells the complete tale of Zanuck and the films, stars, intrigue, and innovations of the iconic studio that was.
3. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas Movies: The Deck the Hallmark Podcast’s Guide to Your Holiday TV Obsession“
Hosts and best friends Brandon Gray, Daniel “Panda” Pandolph, and Dan Thompson share reviews that make you feel like you’re watching these holiday favorites with your best buds, discussing warm Christmas feelings and absolutely bonkers plot twists with equal enthusiasm. And thanks to original interviews with the movies’ stars and creators, fans will find out insider information on the making of the movies and learn answers to pressing questions: Why do the lead characters keep coming down with amnesia? Why do so many female stock brokers and lawyers find themselves forced to plan parties? And do all of the stories take place within something called the “Kennyverse”?
4) “How To Be Golden – Lessons We Can Learn From Betty White“
An unparalleled American icon, Betty White started show business in 1939 in radio and was a pioneer in the early days of TV. Over eight decades, she’s appeared on countless sitcoms, game shows, and talk shows, including the iconic comedy hits “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Golden Girls.” Her accolades over the years include two Emmy nominations, a Grammy, and induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, while she had her best decade yet as a nonagenarian: becoming the oldest person to host SNL, starring in a Super Bowl ad, and winning praise with her popular supporting role in “Hot in Cleveland.” Through it all, her don’t take yourself too seriously attitude appeals to legions of fans, spanning all generations.
5) “The Annotated Godfather: The Complete Screenplay, Commentary on Every Scene, Interviews, and Little-Known Facts“
From its ingenious cinematic innovations and memorable, oft-quoted script to its iconic cast, including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, “The Godfather” is considered by many to be the greatest movie ever made. And yet, the history of its making is so colorful, so chaotic, that one cannot help but marvel at the seemingly insurmountable odds it overcame to become a true cinematic masterpiece, and a film that continues to captivate its audience decades after its release.
6) “Rotten Tomatoes: The Ultimate Binge Guide“
For the completist, “The Ultimate Binge Guide” is a challenge: a bingeable bucket list of all the shows you need to see before you die (or just to be super-informed at your next dinner party). For all readers, it’s a fascinating look at the evolution of TV.
7) “The Essential Directors: The Art and Impact of Cinema’s Most Influential Filmmakers (Turner Classic Movies)“
For well over a century, those who create motion pictures have touched our hearts and souls; they have transported and transformed our minds, intoxicated and entranced our senses. One artist’s vision is the single most prominent force behind the scenes: the director. “The Essential Directors” illuminates the unseen forces behind some of the most notable screen triumphs from the aesthetic peak of silent cinema through the New Hollywood of the 1970s.
Considering each artist’s influence on the medium, cultural impact, and degree of achievement, Turner Classic Movies presents a compendium of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers, with profiles offering history and insight on the filmmaker’s narrative style, unique touches, contributions to the medium, key films, and distinctive movie moments to watch for. The work of these game-changing artists is illustrated throughout by more than 200 full-color and black-and-white photographs.
8) “Hollywood Victory: The Movies, Stars, and Stories of World War II“
This is the riveting tale of how the film industry enlisted in the Allied effort during the second World War—a story that started with staunch isolationism as studios sought to maintain the European market and eventually erupted into impassioned support in countless ways. Industry output included war films depicting battles and reminding moviegoers what they were fighting for, home-front stories designed to boost the morale of troops overseas, and even musicals and comedies that did their bit by promoting the Good Neighbor Policy with American allies to the south.
Stars like Carole Lombard—who lost her life returning from a war bond-selling tour—Bob Hope, and Marlene Dietrich enthusiastically joined USO performances and risked their own health and safety by entertaining troops near battlefronts; others like James Stewart and Clark Gable joined the fight themselves in uniform; Bette Davis and John Garfield created a starry haven for soldiers in their founding of the Hollywood Canteen. Filmmakers Orson Welles, Walt Disney, Alfred Hitchcock, and others took breaks from thriving careers to make films aiming to shore up alliances, boost recruitment, and let the folks back home know what beloved family members were facing overseas. Through it all, a story of once-in-a-century unity—of a collective need to stand up for humanity, even if it means risking everything—comes to life in this engrossing, photo-filled tale of “Hollywood Victory.”
9) “Why We Love The Matrix“
Whether you saw the movie in theaters in 1999 or watched it for the first time at home, there is no denying that “The Matrix” has had an immense impact on pop culture. A must-see of the science fiction genre and “Why We Love The Matrix” is the first and only guide that combines entertaining information about the history and making of the film with a celebratory look at all the different aspects that have helped solidify this as a beloved favorite of sci-fi fans.
Offering entertaining essays about the key features that have helped the film become the classic it is today—like the origins of the plot and characters, film techniques, and the philosophy behind the story—plus quotes, sidebars, and eye-catching two-color illustrations throughout, “Why We Love The Matrix” is a great gift for both casual and more serious fans of the movie and, let’s face it, Keanu Reeves.
10) “Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir (Revised and Expanded Edition) (Turner Classic Movies)“
“Dark City” expands with new chapters and a fresh collection of restored photos that illustrate the mythic landscape of the imagination. It’s a place where the men and women who created film noir often find themselves dangling from the same sinister heights as the silver-screen avatars to whom they gave life. Eddie Muller, host of Turner Classic Movies’ Noir Alley, takes readers on a spellbinding trip through treacherous terrain: Hollywood in the post-World War II years, where art, politics, scandal, style — and brilliant craftsmanship — produced a new approach to moviemaking, and a new type of cultural mythology.
So, there you have it. A list of 10 ideas for the film buff who likes to read.
