I’ve been reading Richard Schickel’s movie reviews for decades. Schickel is the movie reviewer at TIME magazine. I’ve always found Schickel’s reviews to be even-handed and perceptive. in Keepers, Schickel reminisces about his long career watching movies and picks films that he thinks are the greatest. As you would expect, Schickel’s choices are quirky. He considers Disney’s Pinocchio to be a masterpiece. Schickel loves King Kong. He thinks Henry Fonda is the best actor of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Schickel’s favorite movie is Fargo. His favorite movie star is Errol Flynn. There are plenty of insights gained over a long career of sitting in the dark and watching movies. You’ll want to go back and watch many of the films Schickel writes about in Keepers. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Notes Toward the Definition of an Obsession
Speaking of Silence
Exceptions
Ironies
The System
Men with Movie Cameras
A Studio’s Way
“The Son of a Gun Is Nothing but a Tailor”
A Touch of Lubitsch
Two Cheers for Mr. Muckle
Shrieks, Freaks, Geeks
What’s Funny About That?
Greatness
Ornaments of the Age
“Up This Hero Goes”
Getting Serious
Masterpieces
Don’t You Know There’s a War On?
Children of Paradise
Crime Waves
Why We Fight
Muse of Fire
Here’s Looking at You, Kid
The Best Years
Fasten Your Seat Belts
Don’t Unfasten Those Seat Belts Yet
Mixed Baggage
To Live
Bergman
At Last
The Criminal Life
Clint
Belle de Jour
The Apu Trilogy
Fellini
Strange Loves
Getting Started, or, I Thought You’d Never Ask
The Wrath of God
Or Is It His Silence?
Marty
Earning It, or, Spielberg’s Way
Clint Again
Tarnished Gold
Kubrick Again
The Force Is with Us
Losing It
“No Animals Were Harmed…”
We’ve Got to End Somewhere
That Wonderful Year
1987
Acknowledgments
Index.
Quirky to say the least. Henry Fonda is especially curious. He is so one-note for me. And KING KONG is unwatchable for me.
Patti, Schickel has some strange tastes. But, his essays on movies are always enlightening.
I was reading Shickel’s reviews in TIME at least 40 years ago, and maybe more. I’ve read a book or two by him, as well. This one sounds great.
Bill, KEEPERS is a browser’s delight. You can just dip into Schickel’s essays anywhere and find some fascinating writing.
I do like KING KONG. Also FARGO. But neither is my favorite. I thought Fonda got more interesting when he started playing villains in westerns.
I really liked Schickel’s CONVERSATIONS WITH SCORSESE, another book I believe George recommended. He did a nice job with that.
Jeff, you’re right about Schickel’s CONVERSATIONS WITH SCORSESE. Terrific! I like FARGO, but that wouldn’t be my choice for Best Movie Ever.
I don’t agree with FARGO, but when people talk “favorites” who agrees matters not. This book sounds interesting, but I wouldn’t want to try and read it through, and it’s a library books, not something I’d purchase, so who knows if I’d ever get to it. Did he have a favorite Eastwood movie? I’ve always had a leaning to PLAY MISTY FOR ME, as much for the setting as the plot.
My own favorite movie? I’m not sure. The one I’ve watched the most times is STAR WARS but I really do love CASABLANCA.
Rick, I’m a huge fan of THE GOOD, THE BAD, & THE UGLY. STAR WARS and CASABLANCA would make my Short List of favorite movies.