Sydney Pollack

Jeremiah Johnson, The Way We Were, Absence of Malice, Out of Africa, Tootsie, The Firm, Searching for Bobby Fischer--Sydney Pollack has produced, directed or appeared in some of the biggest and most influential films of the last quarter century. His emergence in Hollywood coincided with those of such other innovative directors as John Frankenheimer, George Roy Hill and Sidney Lumet, and with them he helped develop a contemplative style of filmmaking that was almost European in its approach but retained its commercial viability. Film-by-film, this work examines the directorial career of Sydney Pollack. One finds that his style is marked by deliberate pacing, ambiguous endings and metaphorical love stories. Topically, Pollack's films reflect social, culture and political dilemmas that hold some fascination for him, with multidimensional characters in place that generally break the stereotypical molds of the situations. Pollack's directing efforts on television are also detailed, as are his production and acting credits.

Interviews with prominent filmmakers, actors, and others on the art, craft, and business of moviemaking.

Sanford Meisner was one of the best known and beloved teachers of acting in the country. This book follows one of his acting classes for fifteen months, beginning with the most rudimentary exercises and ending with affecting and polished scenes from contemporary American plays. Written in collaboration with Dennis Longwell, it is essential reading for beginning and professional actors alike. Throughout these pages Meisner is a delight—always empathizing with his students and urging them onward, provoking emotion, laughter, and growing technical mastery from his charges. With an introduction by Sydney Pollack, director of Out of Africa and Tootsie, who worked with Meisner for five years. "This book should be read by anyone who wants to act or even appreciate what acting involves. Like Meisner's way of teaching, it is the straight goods."—Arthur Miller "If there is a key to good acting, this one is it, above all others. Actors, young and not so young, will find inspiration and excitement in this book."—Gregory Peck

The Way We Were: a nostalgia drenched, bittersweet romance starring superstars Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford at the peaks of their careers, and a story for everyone who was ever loved with passion, if not wisely. A smash hit around the world whose power echoes to this day—yet a film whose success was so far from assured that one studio executive was heard to exclaim: “Barbra Streisand doesn’t sing and she plays a communist—are you trying to kill me?!” But succeed the film did, propelled by a smash-hit title song and career defining performances from Streisand and Redford. Now, just in time for the 50th anniversary of the film's release, this behind-the-scenes account from best-selling author Tom Santopietro features new insights from Barbra Streisand, James Woods, Lois Chiles, and Alan Bergman, providing the definitive inside story behind the challenges, disputes, and creative passions of those who fought to make this landmark film." Charting the path from screenwriter Arthur Laurents’s initial inspiration to the fervent talk of a possible sequel, Santopietro mingles reverence and wry humor to decode the mysterious chemistry between Streisand and Redford that created a romance for the ages. Filled with humorous location anecdotes and fascinating first-hand accounts by actors, film historians, and members of the creative team, The Way We Were: The Making of a Romantic Classic is a witty, thoughtful, and loving book for everyone who cherishes this American classic.

Rare correspondence from Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, Jane Fonda, and other Hollywood luminaries from the silent film era to the 1970s. Letters from Hollywood reproduces in full color scores of entertaining and insightful pieces of correspondence from some of the most notable and talented film industry names of all time—from the silent era to the golden age, and up through the pre-email days of the 1970s. Culled from libraries, archives, and personal collections, the 135 letters, memos, and telegrams are organized chronologically and are annotated by the authors to provide backstories and further context. While each piece reveals a specific moment in time, taken together, the letters convey a bigger picture of Hollywood history. Contributors include celebrities like Greta Garbo, Alfred Hitchcock, Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando, Elia Kazan, Cary Grant, Francis Ford Coppola, Tom Hanks, and Jane Fonda. This is the gift book of the season for fans of classic Hollywood. With a foreword by Peter Bogdanovitch. “This is, quite simply, one of the finest books I’ve ever read about Hollywood.” —Leonard Maltin