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Popular Culture March 2020 |
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| Dangerous Melodies: Classical Music in America from the Great War Through the Cold... by Jonathan RosenbergWhat it's about: the surprising ways in which America's classical music scene was shaped by 20th-century global politics, from the ban on German operas during World War I to the Cold War-era boasting of American achievement at the International Tchaikovsky Competition.
Is it for you? Classical music fans and readers who enjoy political histories will best appreciate this richly detailed work from history professor and Juilliard-trained musician Jonathan Rosenberg. |
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| Sidney Lumet: A Life by Maura SpiegelStarring: five-time Academy Award-nominated director Sidney Lumet (1924-2011), best known for helming the 1970s classics Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, and Network.
What sets it apart: Supplemented with materials from an unfinished memoir and interviews with Lumet's loved ones and collaborators, this first-ever biography of the quintessential "actor's director" offers rare insights into his creative process and relationships.
Reviewers say: "Essential reading for movie fans" (Booklist). |
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| Hollywood Black: The Stars, the Films, the Filmmakers by Donald BogleWhat it is: an engaging and beautifully illustrated decade-by-decade chronicle of black representation in Hollywood, beginning with the silent era and ending with the release of 2018's Black Panther.
Why you might like it: This brisk and accessible primer gives equal coverage to the films of Hollywood's classical era, richly contextualizing the ways in which 1950s breakouts like Ruby Dee and Sidney Poitier helped pave the way for future generations. |
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| We'll Always Have Casablanca: The Life, Legend, and Afterlife of Hollywood's Most... by Noah IsenbergWhat it is: a page-turning chronicle of the production of 1942 classic Casablanca, chock-full of fascinating behind-the-scenes tidbits; a nostalgic celebration of the film's enduring legacy.
Did you know? Dooley Wilson, the actor who portrayed pianist Sam, didn't know how to play the piano; many of the film's supporting cast were real-life European refugees who can be seen during the emotional "La Marseillaise" scene. |
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| Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood by Karina LongworthWhat it's about: how eccentric businessman and aviator Howard Hughes became a successful film producer, often at the expense of the actresses he sought to employ -- and control.
Why you should read it: Rife with sobering parallels to the #MeToo movement, Seduction illuminates the long and troubling history of Hollywood power players' exploitation of women.
Author alert: Film historian Karina Longworth is the creator and host of the popular classic Hollywood podcast You Must Remember This. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Rochester Hills Public Library
500 Olde Towne Rd
Rochester, Michigan 48307
(248) 656-2900www.rhpl.org/ |
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