Heather’s Bookshelf: The Films of Steven Spielberg
Author: Michael Jolls
Released: 03/03/18
Genre: Nonfiction; biographical
“Nevertheless the movie theater palaces had a prestige about them, giving the cinema-going experience a regal undertone. Hence when Arnold took young Steven to see his first film, The Greatest Show on Earth (1952, Cecil B. DeMille), it’s no surprise that the experience deeply affected Steven.”
“The Films of Steven Spielberg” reviews different aspects of the filmmakers life through inspection of his films. It describes many personal anecdotes and how his love for film came to be and then flourished.
The book explores several aspects and eras of Spielberg’s life and career including his childhood, his early experience in the film industry, and how he delved into directing. It also reviews some of his films and how his experiences possibly led to some of his decisions in their development.
Some of Spielberg’s partnerships and collaborations, including the one with John Williams, are explored. The impact of music, the importance placed on it by Spielberg, and the enrichment it provides his films are all delved into. Other trends in his films including the role of fathers and World War II are also highlighted.
Overall, I enjoyed this combination of film and biography. I am a fan of many of Spielberg’s films (the original Jurassic Park remains one of my top 5 most loved movies of all time) but admittedly knew little about the director’s background or motivations. After concluding this book, I felt like I had a much better appreciation for the director. The book includes quotes and anecdotes from Spielberg and those around him. Many of the quotes are derived from other books and biographies but are nonetheless interesting and entertaining. I especially loved the stories about Spielberg’s first experience in film (involving toy trains) and how he ended up at the Universal backlots. I just wish that there had been more of those kinds of stories within the book! It is on the shorter side, written in such a way that it’s easy to read or listen to, and does not bog you down with too many specifics or technicalities. If you are looking for a clear introduction to the director with a trip down movie memory lane, then this is the book for you!
(I ended up checking out this book on mixed platforms: written and audiobook.)
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
An interesting introduction to Spielberg’s background, interests, motivations, and collaborations.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Michael Jolls
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here, on Audible, or on Kindle Unlimited
Interested in submitting your book for review? Visit my review page for guidelines and submission requirements.
