You can lose yourself browsing through David Thomson’s addictive Moments That Made the Movies.” With over 250 photos, David Thomson presents what he thinks are the most classic, most iconic scenes in film history. This is not a “best movie” book. Thomson disclaims that Moments That Made the Movies” is a book about his favorite movies. Instead, Thomson tries to capture the essence of movies in a series of still photographs, some in color but most in black & white. I also found plenty to learn by reading Thomson’s commentary. I never realized that in Taxi Driver director Martin Scorsese is the passenger in the backseat of Travis Bickle’s cab who watches his wife having an affair. There are dozens of great movie tidbits in Thomson’s mini-essays on each film. I loved everything about this book! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
One Woman Stand. Another Sitting and Crossing Legs
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Sunrise
Pandora’s Box
Morocco
M
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
Doswoth
Bringing Up Baby
Gone With the Wind
The Shop Around the Corner
The Letter
Citizen Kane
The Lady Eve
Casablanca
Laura
Meet Me in St. Louis
The Big Sleep
The Red Shoes
The Third Man
White Heat
Sunset Blvd
A Place in the Sun
Strangers on a Train
Tokyo Story
The Band Wagon
A Star is Born
Sansho the Bailiff
Lola Montes
The Night of the Hunter
The Searchers
Sweet Smell of Success
Touch of Evil
Anatomy of a Murder
North By Northwest
Hiroshima Mon Amour
Psycho
Jules and Jim
The Exterminating Angel
Vivre Sa Vie
L’Eclisse/The Eclipse
Pierrot le Fou
Mickey One
Blow-up
Point Blank
Bonnie and Clyde
The Conformist
Klute
The King of Marvin Gardens
The Godfather
Pat Garrett & Billey the Kid
Don’t Look Now
Celine and Julie Go Boating
Chinatown
The Passenger
Taxi Driver
The Shining
The Right Stuff
Blue Velvet
When Harry Met Sally…
Hoffa
One False Move
Heat
The Piano Teacher
In the Cut
Birth
A History of Violence
Zodiac
Burn After Reading
Still Photograph, Vancouver
Index
Acknowledgements
Photo Credits
Looks like something I’d like, too.
Bill, MOMENTS THAT MADE THE MOVIES is a browser’s delight! You would love this book.
It ate my comment, apparently.
What I was saying was, I agree with Bill. I’ve seen most of these and while there are a few I didn’t like (I’ve always thought BLOW-UP was really overrated – as was Antonioni in general, for that matter) it’s a pretty good list.
And yes, I knew about Marty in the taxi.
Jeff, I figured you would know about Marty in the backseat. But, I’m sure there’s plenty in MOMENTS THAT MADE THE MOVIES that you would interesting. And, I’m with you on Antonioni and BLOW-UP: very overrated!
I put it on hold for when we get back.
Jeff, you won’t be sorry. There are plenty tidbits in MOMENTS THAT MADE THE MOVIES you’ll enjoy!
If you have never read it check out a novel by Thomson called Suspects. Each short chapter is made up of characters from the movies.
Steve, I’ll check out SUSPECTS. Thanks for the heads-up!
I still haven’t gotten to his book from last year, which sits scolding me on a shelf.
Patti, I’ve enjoyed all of David Thomson’s books that I’ve read. This new one is a dandy!
Somehow, around here, browsing books always wind up on a shelf out of the way and never get looked at beyond the first skim through. Thus I tend to avoid them, though I did get that 100 novels one you reviewed last year and enjoyed it.
Coincidentally, Thomson gave a talk at the local library last week, a rather disorganized thing about the appeal of murder mysteries, Sherlock Holmes, and crime films from England; he also showed the Doghouse Reilly/Gen. Sternwood scene from The Big Sleep. I wasn’t familiar with his work, but when I looked him up on line and found that His Girl Friday was #4 on his Top 10 list, I knew his critical sense was AOK.
Sounds like a good one, and I imagine the images alone are well worth owning the book.
Richard, I always have a book to browse while I’m watching TV especially sports.
Art, I wish I could have been there to hear David Thomson’s disorganized talk. His books are more organized. You would enjoy them.
Carl, you’re right about the iconic images David Thomson provides in MOMENTS THAT MADE THE MOVIES. Plenty of eye-candy!
I knew that about Taxi Driver, too.
Bob, I’m not as strong on movie trivia as you, Jeff, and Stilwell are.