A Life in Movies

Very good.

This is a joint review of British writer/producer/director Michael Powell’s 1,240 page, two volume autobiography: “A Life in Movies” and “Million Dollar Movie.” Powell was most successful in the late 1930s, during WWII, and between 1945-50, but his career then went downhill, at first gently and slowly, and then ground to an almost complete stop after his (at the time, but not more recently) widely panned “Peeping Tom” in 1960. He is most famous, of course, for “Red Shoes.” Why did I engage in this gargantuan, time-consuming effort? Having read a dozen of the best books about Hollywood in the classical era (1940s-1950s), I was curious about business and creative interplay (and competition) between Hollywood and the British film industry in that era. There was enough meat in Powell’s telling to justify my effort. However, there are some big problems with his account, namely (1) while reading well, Powell’s telling would have benefited from massive pruning; I just didn’t need to read 25 pages about films that were never made, and long accounts of his family life and multiple loves; and (2) written when Powell was in his 80s, it just strains the imagination that he had almost total recall of every event and conversation in his life. I would recommend that intrepid readers go first to the most likely interesting and relevant portions (there are no chapters, just incredibly run-on sections), starting about half-way through the first part and going as far as page 361 in the second part, where even Powell contemplated stopping. Since it’s hard to know exactly where mid-way in part one it’s best to start, I recommend skimming a bit, reading Powell’s occasional italicized self-reflections, and then, after looking at the filmography at the end of both volumes, choosing movies that are of highest interest, and, with the help of the indices in both books, start at hopefully interesting junctures in Powell’s telling. In terms of dishing, Powell is at his best reflecting on those he viewed as monsters (Sam Goldwyn and David O. Selznick) and thieves (i.e., his love-distrust relationship with Alex Korda), and reporting close-up on the toxic Selznick-Jennifer Jones relationship. There’s a lot of heart in this extended autobiography, including (unfortunately for most Americans) tedious material detailing his genuine affection for the technicians behind the scenes who make filming possible, and long descriptions of British and French geography. I really wanted to give this book 4 stars, but, in view of its major flaws (unsustainable length and unsupportable detail), I cannot.

Five stars for the book's content. This is a must for all fans of The Archers, along with Emeric Pressburger's biography.However, if you buy this new, it is a print on demand copy. My copy was not very well put together. Pages in the front of the book started to come loose. The book is large and heavy and the amount of glue used for binding is insufficient.

I rarely read bio's, this one is a gem. What a life, filled with surprising experiences and insight to living life to the fullest.

Good book, good subject, fairly well written in chatty style. Film is one of my interests and this man was at the forefront of the early UK and USA film direction with some great films.

the voice of experience and the mind of a master... a great example of The Greatest Generation.

He tells a fairly good story but it could have been told more succinctly and with a little more humility.

SIMPLY GRANDWIth an enthusiasm never stifled, Michael Powell lives his life in life and his life in film out front for us right here. He's a human who found his calling and unabashedly went for it, even under duress. This is the first volume, a volume one never wants to end, but there is a second volume, Million Dollar Movie, equally dynamic. Powell was rash, gifted, improvident, and crazy for film. He was also generous in his affiliations and sturdy in his work habits. Such life! Such vitality! Such fun! He alone and with his partner Emeric Pressburger made some wonderful pictures, the most well known of which, The Red Shoes, remains the best of all pictures about a ballet dancer. Powell supplies his background on English farms, so important to understand the quality of his life and the values inherent in his films. The book takes you from the Silent Films with Rex Ingram right up to his present-day mentoring of Martin Scorses This book should never go out of print. It is a must for all students of film and lovers of film.

Whether you are interested in The Archers or not, this is a book I would recommend to anyone. A fascinating insight into one man's determination to be a film maker. Determination is the thing that stands out most, for me. Other's might call it ruthlessness. You don't have to look very deep to see that Powell spare's nothing and no-one. Not even himself.A very well written book. Easy and enjoyable to read.

very good

Americans are so grateful to MArtin Scorsese for bringing this genius to our attention and helping restore and preserve his films

This was a gift, but I know is being greatly enjoyed by the recipient - unputdownable! She laughs out loud when reading it.

Item is incredible !