William Goldman: Five Screenplays with Essays (Applause Books) Paperback – February 1, 2000

Just go ahead and try to write a screenplay like William Goldman and you'll get slammed!Yet despite the "flowery phrasing" the author of some of cinema's greatest screenplays is a master at getting you to play the movie in your head! It's the great ones that get to break the rules.Every script is an enjoyable read, instantly and visually compelling, and a real lesson for writers on how to use language to give Actors, Directors, Cinematographers, and Script supervisors what they need to know as poetically and economically as possible.I particularly enjoyed reading about the decisions that went into the making of The Great Waldo Pepper. As a kid, this movie really turned me around. It was a life affirming tragedy and it painted an emotional picture of a man's life using every color on this writer's pallette. Worth the price for this one alone!All the essays prefacing the screenplays are a fascinating read, and a window into a facet of film history.

Love these and Goldman's commentary, but wish the scripts were in more of an industry-standard script format.

Perfect !

The king!

Thanks!

All I wanted to read was President's Men, and it was great.

Contained camera instructions that Goldman did not write. Only had brief comments by Goldman. Almost no explanation of why the reader or audience would care about the main characters.

If your not into screenwriting or the films in question you wont like it. But then if I wasn't a fan of Liverpool I wouldn't have a Liverpool mug either.>>> Goldman is a master of the craft of screenwriting and those of us who have attempted the art salute him. Her are five of his best screen credits.Most films nowadays cost you at least £5 a go to buy. Here you get 5! With essays all crammed full of interesting insights.Great stuff also recommended very highly http://www.amazon.co.uk/Which-Lie-Did-Tell-Adventures/dp/074754977X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1329700810&sr=8-3