Arrows of Desire: Films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger - Hardcover

Christie, Ian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0947752137 ISBN 13: 9780947752132

Publisher: Waterstone & Co Ltd, 1985

Synopsis

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger formed one of the greatest creative partnerships in the history of British cinema - The Archers. Their films were often controversial - Churchill tried to suppress the release of "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp". Later, "The Red Shoes" and "The Tales of Hoffman" startled and enchanted cinema audiences with their use of colour, form amd music. However, in the last ten years the magic, poetry and passion of their work has been acknowledged around the world and they are firmly in the pantheon of film masters. This book is a comprehensive analysis of their films and is a useful guide to their work.

About this title

Review

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, known collectively as "The Archers," wrote, produced, and directed nearly 20 films, some of the most opulent and imaginative movies of all time. And though the makers of The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus, I Know Where I'm Going, and A Matter of Life and Death deserve to sit in the pantheon of great filmmakers, they wallow in relative obscurity. Moving effortlessly between biography and analysis, Ian Christie reveals how the Archers created their spellbinding films. After reading this book, you'll be ready to rent some of the best movies you've never heard of. The volume opens with a forward by Martin Scorsese, who describes the deep influence the Archers' movies and Powell's friendship has had over his own films.

About the Author

Ian Christie is a well-respected lecturer on film who has co-edited Scorsese on Scorsese, edited Gilliam on Gilliam and is the author of a study of the films of Powell and Pressburger, Arrows of Desire. Born in Queens, New York, in 1942, Martin Scorsese seriously contemplated the priesthood but finally embraced cinema and, following Mean Streets (1973) emerged as the pre-eminent American director of his generation. Taxi Driver won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1976; Raging Bull (1980) is considered the greatest American film of its decade. During the 90s, he made GoodFellas (1990) and Casino (1995). In the past decade he has made, Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004) and Shutter Island (2010). He received an Oscar of Best Director for The Departed in 2007.

Edition details

• Publisher: Waterstone & Co Ltd
• Publication date: 1985
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0947752137
• ISBN 13: 9780947752132
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 128