Film music books
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Thanks for the offer, Mark, but no worries. I can wait.
I just realized I have too few composer biographies (plenty for filmmakers, though).
Woo-hoo, the Williams book has arrived! Can’t wait to delve in!
And how is it so far?
Seems Stephen C. Smith who previously wrote biographies of Herrmann and Steiner has a new book coming:
“Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores That Changed Cinema”The Williams book is pretty good so far. I’m at about page 100, I only read in bed, before I go to sleep, and I usually can’t read more than 10 pages a night. The severe tinnitus also affects my reading concentration, it’s not only music and films that suffer.
But anyway, I would personally have written and structured it somewhat differently here and there, but I can understand why Tim did it the way he did in some situations. I’ll try to write a more detailed post when I’ve finished, and there will probably be a review on the main site (not written by me!) soon.
As for Smith, I’m aware of his earlier books (I don’t own them), but I wasn’t aware he was still active as a writer.
Ah, that damm tinnitus…
I’ll try to write a more detailed post when I’ve finished, and there will probably be a review on the main site (not written by me!) soon.
A double review could also be interesting.
As for Smith, I’m aware of his earlier books (I don’t own them), but I wasn’t aware he was still active as a writer.
I haven’t read any of his. It’s on one of these todo lists “sometime”…
I would personally have written and structured it somewhat differently here and there
Yeah, that sounds like Thor 😅
I ordered my copy of the Tim Greiving book on John Williams yesterday – should arrive on or before next Friday.
I’m selective when it comes to biographies, especially of film-related people. From what I have, too many seem to be written by “fanboys” (thanks to Ford Thaxton, I am now considered such), with very little critical filter, and the others seem largely copied and pasted from Wikipedia.
But I have high hopes for the Greiving book.
By the way Thor, I “know” (infer) that the Greiving bio flummoxed your own plans to eventually write the “definitive” JW biography. Is there anything that you had previously researched (for example, Williams’ ancestry) which is not covered in the new book?
By the way Thor, I “know” (infer) that the Greiving bio flummoxed your own plans to eventually write the “definitive” JW biography. Is there anything that you had previously researched (for example, Williams’ ancestry) which is not covered in the new book?
Yes, some bits and pieces, and especially everything that has to do with his TV work, which he covers somewhat superficially in the book. But I gave over a lot of my research material to him once I decided to support the project and not wallow in my own envy.
I’d love to hear your thoughts once you’ve read it!
I’m not even half-way through the Tim Greiving book, but I’m enjoying its thoroughness. Every paragraph has me scuttling to the copious notes at the end to find the sources of the info.
Having said that – and I know you (Thor) has mentioned this… It’s noticeable how he races through all Williams’ early TV work. Even the Irwin Allen shows get barely a mention (apart from some nice words about LOST IN SPACE’s “My Friend, Mr Nobody”. The author also calls the Irwin Allen themes “songs”. Is that accepted nowadays?
Rather perplexed at his total dissing of DADDY’S GONE A-HUNTING, which I thought was a great score. Other cases are multiple.
It seems that for Greiving, the composer only really flourished after HEIDI, THE REIVERS etc… which might be the case, but it’s a conservative view. Now I’m ploughing through page after page of how great STAR WARS is.
I’m not passing any final judgment until I finish the book, but at the moment I’m seeing that it’s a little lop-sided.
I’d love to get Caldera boss Stephan Eicke’s new book on the Angelo Badalamenti/David Lynch collaboration. But money is tight and all that. Anyone else got it, or plan to?
The author also calls the Irwin Allen themes “songs”. Is that accepted nowadays?
Outside our circle maybe…
Yes, I just looked up this “Evan M. Callister”, and there are several other presumably A.I.-generated books by him/it about various politicians, doctors etc. There is no other information about this author online that I could find. So very fair to assume that this is some A.I. book that has amassed its content by scouring online sources. It’s no doubt littered with errors. But I’m sure Jon finds out in due time, and reports back. You live and learn.
Ouch, looks like a misfire then. The picture doesn’t even look like Zimmer, when I think of it.
But it cost less than 300 NOK, so I won’t bother with rejecting the order.
Well, I’m very curious to hear how these A.I. books actually are, so hope you report back once you get it.
I got the book today. 214 pages, 12 chapters. No pictures. Large font. Printed in Las Vegas 15 December 2025, the day I ordered it, so clearly printed on-demand.
I got the book today. 214 pages, 12 chapters. No pictures. Large font. Printed in Las Vegas 15 December 2025, the day I ordered it, so clearly printed on-demand.
It’s all very fishy. Let us know what the contents are like when you get to it. If nothing else, you’ll have a curiousity in your collection — a book written and produced by a robot!
I have read 66 pages. Very elegantly and well written, almost poetic. Some conversations from Zimmer’s childhood which must be pure fiction, like taken from a movie script about Zimmer’s life or something. Also some mistakes, like stating that Stanley Myers was hired to score Rain Man, and that Zimmer worked with many other musicians on that score.
Hmmm….is it real? The cover, at least, looks very A.I.
I can’t see the cover. Are there now A.I. written “biographies” of film composers?
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