Patrick McGilligan Knihy

A deeply textured and compelling biography of comedy giant Mel Brooks, covering his rags-to-riches life and triumphant career in television, films, and theater ... Beyond boyhood, after transforming himself into Mel Brooks, the laughs that came easily inside the Kaminsky family proved more elusive. His lifelong crusade to transform himself into a brand name of popular humor is at the center of master biographer Patrick McGilligan's Funny Man. In this exhaustively researched and wonderfully novelistic look at Brooks' personal and professional life, McGilligan lays bare the strengths and drawbacks that shaped Brooks' psychology, his willpower, his persona, and his comedy

Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light is the definitive biography of the Master of Suspense and the most widely recognized film director of all time. In a career that spanned six decades and produced more than 60 films – including The 39 Steps, Vertigo, Psycho, and The Birds – Alfred Hitchcock set new standards for cinematic invention and storytelling. Acclaimed biographer Patrick McGilligan re-examines his life and extraordinary work, challenging perceptions of Hitchcock as the “macabre Englishman” and sexual obsessive, and reveals instead the ingenious craftsman, trickster, provocateur, and romantic. With insights into his relationships with Hollywood legends – such as Cary Grant, James Stewart, Ingrid Bergman, and Grace Kelly – as well as his 54-year marriage to Alma Reville and his inspirations in the thriller genre, the book is full of the same dark humor, cliffhanger suspense, and revelations that are synonymous with one of the most famous and misunderstood figures in cinema.

Focusing on Woody Allen's complex legacy, this biography by Patrick McGilligan offers a balanced exploration of his life, from his Brooklyn upbringing and early career in comedy to his rise as a renowned filmmaker. It highlights his artistic achievements, including the iconic "Annie Hall," while also confronting the controversies surrounding his personal life, including tumultuous relationships and allegations of abuse. Through meticulous research, McGilligan connects Allen's creative output to his unique personality, asserting his significant cultural impact despite recent controversies.

TEGO CZŁOWIEKA ROZPOZNAJE SIĘ PO JEDNEJ SYLABIE – BO JEST TYLKO JEDEN CLINT, PRAWDZIWY AMERYKAŃSKI SAMOTNY WILK. Eastwood to jeden z największych sukcesów Hollywood. Pierwotnie znany z grania w westernach – od tego czasu pokazał jednak szeroki repertuar aktorski i udowodnił, że jest nie tylko utalentowanym odtwórcą ról, ale również wybitnym reżyserem. Poza pracą Clint słynie z silnej osobowości, nigdy nie kryje się ze swoimi poglądami. Kiedy ukazała się ta biografia, krytycy chwalili ją za rzetelność zebranych materiałów, a jej bohater wpadł we wściekłość do tego stopnia, że pozwał autora o 10 milionów dolarów; skutkiem pozwu był zakaz rozpowszechniania książki w Stanach Zjednoczonych. Ostatecznie sprawa zakończyła się bez kary. Zaktualizowana książka Clint. Życie i legenda powstała na podstawie wyczerpujących rozmów z osobami bliskimi Eastwoodowi, dokumentów i materiałów o produkcji zarówno jego najsłynniejszych filmów, jak i mniej znanych dzieł. To pozycja obowiązkowa dla szerokiego grona jego wielbicieli oraz dla wszystkich interesujących się historią Hollywood.