FORGOTTEN BOOKS #393: WHO THE DEVIL MADE IT? and WHO THE HELL’S IN IT? By Peter Bogdanovich

who-the-devil-made-it
who-the-hells-in-it
If you’re a fan of movies, you’ll love these two volumes of interviews Peter Bogdanovich conducted over a couple decades. I found Bogdanovich’s thoughts on Alfred Hitchcock and his movies very revealing. I was also happy to read about Don Siegel, one of my favorite directors who is extremely underrated. When Bogdanovich writes about actors, you’ll learn even more! I was delighted by the interview with Stella Adler. And, of course, Bogdanovich has some insights into the life and times of Marilyn Monroe. These wonderful books will provide you with plenty of information and hours of reading pleasure about the greatest directors and actors of the Golden Age of movies. And then, you’ll want to watch some classic movies armed with new knowledge! GRADE: A (for both)

TABLE OF CONTENTS for Who the Devil Made It:
Introduction: The Lightning Art
1. Allan Dwan
2. Raoul Walsh
3. Fritz Lang
4. Josef Von Sternberg
5. Howard Hawkes
6. Leo McCarey
7. George Cukor
8. Alfred Hitchcock
9. Edgar G. Ulmer
10. Otto Preminger
11. Joseph H. Lewis
12. Chuck Jones
13. Don Siegel
14. Frank Tashlin
15. Robert Aldrich
16. Sidney Lument
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations Used in Filmographics
Index
TABLE OF CONTENTS for Who the Hell’s In It?
Introduction: The Magical Art
1. Lillian Gish
2. Humphrey Bogart
3. Marlon Brando
4. Montgomery Clift
5. Stella Adler
6. Cary Grant
7. Jack Lemmon
8. Jerry Lewis
9. Dean Martin
10. Sal Mineo
11. James Stewart
12. John Wayne
13. Henry Fonda
14. Boris Karloff
15. John Cassavetes
16. Charlie Chaplin
17. James Cagney
18. Marlene Dietrich
19. Anthony Perkins
20. Frank Sinatra
21 Ben Gazzara
22. Audrey Hepburn
23. Sidney Poitier
24. River Phoenix
25. Marilyn Monroe
Acknowledgements
List of Illustrations
Index

21 thoughts on “FORGOTTEN BOOKS #393: WHO THE DEVIL MADE IT? and WHO THE HELL’S IN IT? By Peter Bogdanovich

  1. Wolf Böhrendt

    Just yesterday in my favourite bar in Germany we talked about those fantastic films Hitchcock made – but of course at our table everybody was over 60 years old …

    North by Northwest is my favourite!

    Reply
    1. Jeff Meyerson

      Wolf, I’m with you! NORTH BY NORTHWEST is my favorite too. That’s the one I can rewatch from any point.

      Reply
    2. Jeff Meyerson

      Now this is annoying. I wrote a long comment but there seems to be something they don’t want me to say so won’t post it. Let me try and break it into pieces and see where the trouble is.

      Also check out his DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD (1971) documentary.

      Skip AT LONG LAST LOVE, however.

      Reply
  2. Deb

    I have to respectfully disagree somewhat, Dan. Bogdanovich made some wonderful movies (THE LAST PICTURE SHOW and PAPER MOON come to mind immediately, but a more recent film, THE CAT’S MEOW, about a scandal involving Charlie Chaplin, was very underrated), but his personal life started to overshadow his professional one. Bogdanovich started to go downhill when he expected everyone to feel the same way about Cybil Shepherd as he did. Then he was in a relationship with Dorothy Stratton, who was eventually murdered by her ex; and Bogdanovich then became involved with Stratton’s sister (yeah–a bit creepy). But there’s no denying he had talent and he loved the old movies and directors. And a lot of these interviews from the 1960s and 70s introduced a new generation to those filmmakers in a pre-TCM world.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Deb, I agree with you on Bogdanovich and Cybil Shepherd. I wasn’t tuned in to the whole Dorothy Stratton and sister situation. Bogdanovich writes about actors and movies from an insider’s perspective. Fascinating stuff!

      Reply
    1. george Post author

      Walker, I agree with you that WHO THE DEVIL MADE IT? and WHO THE HELL’S IN IT? belong in every film lover’s Library. I’m surprised that so many people who love movies haven’t heard of these books.

      Reply
  3. Jeff Meyerson

    Well, that part was OK. It must have been the long one. Let’s see.

    I definitely need to read these. I first discovered Bogdanovich in 1972, when I read his excellent books with interviews and movie-by-movie reminiscences, ALLAN DWAN and JOHN FORD.

    Reply
  4. Jeff Meyerson

    Ben Gazzara, Audrey Hepburn, John Ritter, Dorothy Stratten, and the criminal underused Colleen Camp, plus New York City on film and a great score. So the plot was secondary, who cares?

    Reply
    1. maggie mason

      Jeff, they all laughed has a great cast, so I’ll put it on my netflix queue when I reactivate (if I remember) thanks

      Reply
  5. Steve Oerkfitz

    Love Last Picture Show and Paper Moon. Hated They All Laughed and At Long Last Love. The Cat’s Meow falls somewhere in the middle. I enjoyed his book on John Ford who I have always felt a bit overrated. Too much Irish corn.

    Reply

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