Cinema success takes two forms--movies that are popular with the ticket-buying public and return huge dividends to the film studios; and movies hailed by the critics as masterpieces of motion picture art. Sometimes the two coincide.

Ross Adams, the Chief Editor of "Dress Circle" magazine, has reviewed this book in the Winter issue of his periodical and I'm more than happy to agree with everything he has to say.

I don't wish to be offensive when I regard John Howard Reid as a bottomless pit. It is meant in a most complimentary way. The array of books he has already produced is amazing. And now under the new U.S. publisher he is still producing books that do not duplicate those already in circulation.

"Success in the Cinema" is sub-titled "Money-Making Movies and Critics' Choices." The opening section lists the top-box-office movies in America from 1921 through 1970. The body of the book reviews 113 such movies with extensive cast, behind-the-camera and release credits plus other essential background information. Many of these movies are well-known. Others are not so familiar.

There's the 1930 "Billy the Kid" and 1964's "Becket". Other titles include "Call Northside 777", "The Covered Wagon", "It Grows on Trees", "Jane Eye", "The Jolson Story", both the 1937 and 1950 versions of "King Solomon's Mines", "Ma and Pa Kettle", "A Place in the Sun", "Sunset Boulevard" and "Whistle Down the Wind."

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Created Nov 16, 2008 at 4:11am • Submit your own review...