Product Description
No male American film star of the post-Brando era has demonstrated the talent, charisma, the larger-than-life audacity, and the string of screen triumphs of Jack Nicholson. Now one of America's finest film historians has produced the definitive biography of this most private and public of stars. Photos. Second serial to Cosmopolitan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

jacks life
Ordered the book on July 23 not received it yet do not know how to respond still waiting

Jack Nicholson Bio
The shopping experience was pleasant and painless (as always) and the itemwas purchased as a Christmas gift. The recipient was very pleased.
Keep up the good work!
Joe

AND, THERE'S A GREAT DEAL MORE TO COME.....

While many of us think Jack Nicholson burst into cinematic celebrity with his role in "Easy Rider," the truth is he had already put in ten long years of trying to make it in Hollywood, In fact, 1969 found Nicholson throwing himself into writing and producing until Rip Torn, who was slated for the role in "Easy Rider," left after a contractual dispute and Nicholson stepped in.

We could say the rest is history, but it is not for despite the countless interviews Nicholson has given there is still much to be learned about this baffling and brilliant actor.The author of biographies of George Cukor, James Cagney and Robert Altman, Patrick McGilligan knows how to document a life.

Renowned for playing estranged loners ("Five Easy Pieces," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Nicholson was born in 1937 and raised to believe that his mother was his sister.He was never certain who his father was.Despite the question of his parents, he seems to have had a rather conventional upbringing in New Jersey.

Much found in Nicholson's past can be sighted in his present: He was succored by the women who raised him as he has been by his many romantic relationships; he followed professional sports as a youth and attended games with a cadre of his buddies; he was careful with money - today he is one of Hollywood's richest actors.

Nicholson and his close friends declined conversation with the author.Thus, McGilligan has relied on already published material, albeit written with a fresh slant."Jack's Life" is entertaining, yet the career of one of our most gifted actors is still ongoing.I'm waiting - after all, everyone who saw "Batman" knows that the Joker will return.

- Gail Cooke

The Standard-Setting Biography Of Jack Nicholson
This book covers Jack's life from birth to age 57. Jack Nicholson has such a gift for acting that it is, for me, almost unbelievable. This book will let you in on his life so that you, the reader, can understand how this amazing talent came about. Thank you, Jack, for all of your great work.

Good insight into early career, butfades badly.
Patrick McGilligan does a good job of examining Nicholson's early career, his work from the late fifties to the early 70's is discussed with insight and detail. The early chapters show a young man searching for his role in an industry he desperately wanted to be part of; and McGilligan focusses on Nicholson's attempt to create a role for himself in Hollywood. You definitely get the feeling that McGilligan had much more access to the people in Jack's life from this time period.
But as Nicholson becomes more famous, McGilligan's work seems to lose focus,and as Nicholson became more circumspect when dealing with the media, McGilligan's sources of info seem to dry up. Writing a biography of a living person without access to them in some way will always cause a bio to have a distance that only the best writers can overcome. McGilligan is not able to overcome this deficit and the book becomes tedious as it progresses to repeated mentions of Nicholson's less than ordinary formative years as the child of a woman he grew up believing to be his sister and their presumed affect on his work and relationships. This is a focus for McGilligan as he tries in some way to gain some kind of psychoanalytic understanding of Nicholson and the book bogs down under the weight of these constant asides. By the time the book reaches its end in 1992, I was thoroughly bored with McGilligan's take on what really should have proven to be an interesting life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A slim, fun and wonderful anthology by Hunter Thompson
The pieces in this book are stunning and Classic Hunter Thompson. All are excerpts from 'Kingdom of Fear'. They range from a doomed and hilarious trip to Jack Nicholson's cabin to the masterful musings by Thompson on the 9/11 attacks. The tone and brilliance of Hunter Thompson shine through in every selection. ... Read more

Product Description
Jack Nicholson has been part of the Hollywood movie scene for more than 40 years. Since his role in "Easy Rider" in 1969, he has lived in the limelight. This book explores the truth about the secret life of the actor who calls himself Dr Devil. Writer and investigative journalist, Peter Thompson catches Nicholson unguarded in off-screen moments to examine the contradictions of his personality. Nicholson reveals the truth behind his feud with Susan Anspach, the mother of his 26-year-old son Caleb, the truth about his other children, how Marlon Brando comforted him after the murder of his half-sister, Pamela, and why he continues to pursue a vendetta against her grieving husband. He also discloses the intimate secrets of his stormy relationships with Anjelica Houston and Rebecca Broussard. The book exposes him as a spoiled playboy trying to escape reality with sex and drug binges. Thompson paints a picture of a tormented man who inflicts pain on his loved ones and ultimately on himself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Art and Eyebrows
Like many artists, Jack Nicholson has done some hideous things.Like some, he has insisted that they be kept quiet.

After reading this book it will be hard to enjoy him as an actor, but not impossible.One thing which does come through is his absolute devotion to his craft.

And then there's his eyebrows.

He has a natural demonic appearach because he has arched eyebrows.They make him look Satanic and maybe worse...

Enjoy the book!

Jack is a shining star in a world full of mediority
Not much more to be said. Very intelligent, charismatic, immaculate performer. Thanks Jack. Thanks for your inspiration.

Didn't read it, but made it pretty
I designed the interior of this book, and did the 16 page inserts. I think Jack is great, and felt honored working on this project. I haven't read the book, though. I have too much respect for him as an actor and don't want toknow what he's like offscreen.

Didn't read it, but made it pretty
I designed the interior of this book, and did the 16 page inserts. I think Jack is great, and felt honored working on this project. I haven't read the book, though. I have too much respect for him as an actor and don't want toknow what he's like offscreen.

Too many mistakes and incorrect info in this book
In this book the author states that he interviewed me, included quotes as well.I never met nor talked with Mr. Thompson, even though he writes that he interviewed me in my "Palm Beach home". I've never lived inPalm Beach.He claims to have talked with my father.That meeting nevertook place.Alas, if this part of the book was fiction, where's thecredibility to prove that the rest is true?Too many "confidentialsources".Using that as a crutch you can say anything about anyone. I know the many truths in Jack Nicholsons real story and from what I cantell, Peter Thompson has fallen short on uncovering and perhaps evenknowing what the truth is.By the way, biologically speaking, I am Mr.Nicholson's half sister. ... Read more

Product Description
Praise for Five Easy Decades: How Jack Nicholson Became the Biggest Movie Star in Modern Times

"Dennis McDougal is a rare Hollywood reporter: honest, fearless, nobody's fool. This is unvarnished Jack for Jack-lovers and Jack-skeptics but, also, for anyone interested in the state of American culture and celebrity. I always read Mr. McDougal for pointers but worry that he will end up in a tin drum off the coast of New Jersey."
-- Patrick McGilligan, author of Jack's Life and Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light

Praise for Privileged Son: Otis Chandler and the Rise and Fall of the L.A. Times Dynasty

"A great freeway pileup--part biography, part dysfunctional family chronicle, and part institutional and urban history, with generous dollops of scandal and gossip."
-- Hendrick Hertzberg, The New Yorker

"McDougal has managed to scale the high walls that have long protected the Chandler clan and returned with wicked tales told by angry ex-wives and jealous siblings."
--The Washington Post

Praise for The Last Mogul: Lew Wasserman, MCA and the Hidden History of Hollywood

"Real glamour needs a dark side. That is part of the fascination of Dennis McDougal's wonderful book."
--The Economist

"Thoroughly reported and engrossing . . . the most noteworthy trait of MCA was how it hid its power."
--The New York Times Book Review

"Over the years, I've read hundreds of books on Hollywood and the movie business, and this one is right at the top."
-- Michael Blowen, The Boston Globe ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

ONE OF THE LAST GREAT ACTORS
IF YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF JACK NICHOLSON"S WORK THIS WILL MAKE A GREAT ADDITION

TO HIS WORKS. THANKS AMAZON, & MERCHANT WHO SENT THE BOOK IN A TIMELY MANNER, REGARDS, S

Jack Nicholson: Up-Close-and (Way Too) Personal!
Having dutifully slogged through Dennis McDougal's warts-and-all biography of "the biggest movie star of all time," I couldn't help thinking: Great actor, Sometimes! Great Human Being, Nope! McDougal's 484-page dissection of Nicholson left me with a sense of "too much info" on a person I liked less and less as the chapters rolled on.After FIVE EASY DECADES, I really don't want or need any more info on JN, thank you very much!

I had several problems with McDougal's book. Like most movie viewers, I had a vague interest in Nicholson. With his cobra smile and arching eyebrows, he seemed a cool dude. Yet, as revealed in McDougal's book, for all Nicholson's acting ability, the man isn't a role model for anything but self-absorption and hedonism. Nicholson has had it all - women, money, privilege, drugs, etc. but how he handled much of that was often appalling which McDougal records in endless detail. While you have to give McDougal credit for all his research, he could have been more selective in his use of material. As is, the book too often sinks to trash tabloid level.

McDougal's writing style grated on my nerves. In the Acknowledgements, he thanks his wife for helping eliminate "the more dreadful examples of my alliterative pompous purple prose" from the book. Sorry to say, she should have pushed for even more cuts of the pseudo-hip/chic, juvenile "purple prose" McDougal seems to love.

In short, Nicholson certainly deserves a comprehensive, insightful biography but I don't think FIVE EASY DECADES is that book. Methinks an optional purchase.

Another Stab at...
If you have read previous Nicholson biographies I would recommend you do not spend your money on this one. What's new?: Jack's injuries/illness and movies that go up to The Bucket List. If you haven't read any biographies on Jack, this is not a bad read. The book's major themes are Jack's screen and personal personas (as they can be divined), his involvement with money- particularly how much he gets paid a movie, his off screen relationships and the issue of his paternity. As with most of Nicholson's biographys this is not authorized and thus relies on press and ex- associates/"friends" accounts of who Nicholson is..The author does attempt to present a balanced picture and has noted Nicholson's generosity as well as his "mean spirited" dealings with money. This reads on the side of a "pop" biography as opposed to a serious biography. I suppose we are not going to get a decent biography until Jack agrees to authorize one. The language in this book is at times crass: "codfish Jack", Warhol is a "pop art twit", Jack's collection of record albums makes him a "pop music nerd", "born a bastard", "horn dog hedonist", "obeying his gonads" etc. The themes that get overstated are Jack's paternity and his demands for getting paid for his movies....There are minor inaccuracies which makes you wonder about perhaps other substantive ones?..: Bob Dylan was not on the Easy Rider soundtrack (two of his songs were-but not him); Hunter S. Thompson did not kill himself with a shotgun, it was a hand gun; Allen Ginsberg does not spell his name ALAN; Jack could not have danced cheek to cheek to "Blue Velvet" in 1954, it wasn't a teen hit until the early sixties; The Two Jakes did not "predict" the growth of LA suburbs, because the script was written after the growth of suburbs; Jack is referred to as being both 5'10" and 5'9", because at one point he decided to cease his public display or discussion of drugs but kept on doing them, did not make him a "hypocrite"...There are some relatively minor editorial problems but its not worth going into...Maybe some day we will get a serious study of Jack's movie making,his artistry and his history...I would like to see a book that judges Nicholson on his art as an actor and the quality/impact of his movies...and not so focused on him as a person in and above the Hollywood psychodrama...

ALL THAT RESEARCH GONE TO WASTE
The author of this bio meticulously researched his subject (notes and bibliographies attest to this) but you'd never know it by reading the text. There are a lot of mistakes in this overly written book i.e. KEITH Carradine not DAVID Carradine starred in Pretty Baby, Al Jolson made the line "you ain't seen nothin' yet" famous NOT Jackie Gleason . . there are a lot more examples but that's not the real problem with the book. For an author who's jacket blurb claims he is such an experienced investigative journalist he wastes an awful lot of time detailing Jack Nicholson's sex life (Does anybody really need to know the shape of Nicholson's penis???) and how much money he has (Exacting figures on how much he was paid for EVERY film). This makes much of the book read like a tawdry tabloid and less like an insightful life story.
It starts great and is quite incisive in some parts but the title is misleading: The author never explains or says how Nicholson became the biggest movie star in modern times. The audiences' ability to live vicariously through Nicholson's on and off screen escapades is the key to the man's appeal and yet it's never explored or even stated! Go figure.
The book does have my favorite typo I've seen in some time (There are many, leading the reader to wonder if anybody proofed the manuscript). On page 251 the author recounts and anecdote from screenwriter Ned Wynn concerning the way Nicholson used to ski without turning: "Jack remembered slipping over the edge and zipping straight down Aspen Mountain right beside Jack, who tucked and picked up speed." I guess being beside himself is Nicholson's favorite position.

That's Jack!
This is a Christmas gift for a friend. She loved it and is going to pass on to her friends to read it. ... Read more

Product Description
In his follow-up to the acclaimed Hellraisers, Sellers traces the intertwining lives and careers of four outrageous Hollywood movie mavericks.“I don’t know what people expect when they meet me. They seem to be afraid that I’m going to piss in the potted palm and slap them on the ass.”—Marlon Brando
“I should have been dead ten times over. I believe in miracles. It’s an absolute miracle that I’m still around.”—Dennis Hopper
“You only lie to two people in your life: your girlfriend and the police.”—Jack Nicholson
“The best time to get married is noon. That way, if things don’t work out, you haven’t blown the whole day.”—Warren Beatty

They’re the baddest bad-asses Hollywood as ever seen: Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper, Warren Beatty, and Jack Nicholson. They are men to whom rules did not apply; normal standards of behavior were simply too wearisome to worry about. These are men who brawled, boozed, snorted, and screwed their way into legendhood—but along the way they changed acting and the way movies were made forever. Hollywood Hellraisers is a whistle-stop tour of jaw-dropping sexual activity, misbehavior of an Olympic standard, all-out excess, and genuine madness. It’s a wonder Hollywood survived. 24 black-and-white photographs ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

doubtful accuracy
This looked like a fun read and I enjoyed it for a while. However, the author includes many stories which are apocryphal at best and quite often out and out fiction, such as his claim that Hedy Lamarr had liaisons with Hitler and Mussolini. Can't recommend a nonfiction book which veers so far towards fiction

Any library strong in Hollywood personalities will find this inviting
HOLLYWOOD HELLRAISERS: THE WILD LIVES AND FAST TIMES OF MARLON BRANDO, DENNIS HOPPER, WARREN BEATTY, AND JACK NICHOLSON provides a fine biographical coverage of four of Hollywood's baddest boys, describing the lively adventures of Hollywood celebrities whose misdeeds were legendary. Their personal lives were ribald and dangerous - but in their professional worlds they succeeded in changing acting and how movies were made. Any library strong in Hollywood personalities will find this inviting.

Another Look At Bad Boys Hollywood Style
First off, this book and its predecessor were rec'd via a friend who I swap books with. I don't think I would have purchased either. Like HELLRAISERS, this book supposedly takes on legendary Hollywood bad boys known as much for their lifestyles as their movie work. Part of the premise is that these fellas are notorious rascals who wallow in general bad living. No doubt about it, none of them are/were angels. However, I'm not sure they are worthy of a book that is dedicated largely to their slimey behavior. Like the first book, there is biographical information coupled with anecdotes supporting the book's basic premise. While interesting, the sameness of the stories actually got boring after a while. Objectively, I probably should not have read both books in rapid succession becausde my general enthusiasm was waning after the first book. Taking this into account, this is an interesting book and worth a look if you like these fly-on-the-wall escapades. However, if you are interested in Jack Nicholson, Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper, or Warren Beatty, you'd probably be better off reading individual biographies which might be more enlightening. This book o.k., but it got boring fast.

Life, Love and Inebriation
Robert Sellers turns his examination of bad behavior from England's bad boys to Hollywood's. They are Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper, Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson. They all have lived lives of excess, in money, and women. Beatty seems to have spurned the drug and alcohol route, but the three others certainly didn't and all of those stories are told in the 7 chapters of this book. Each man is covered in recounting their early life, how they arrived in Hollywood, the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's. Brando's death is dealt with, but this book was written before Hopper's death.
Each man showed signs of bad behavior at a very young age, Brando had to be led to kindergarten on a leash so that he would not run away. Dennis snorted gasoline on his grandparent's farm before he was 10. Warren set off fire alarms and dumped neighbor's trash on their lawns. Jack misbehaved so much in school he had to stay after every day. They all escalated from those younger years.
Their `missions' in life are covered; Brando's many causes, Beatty's politics, Hopper's involvement taking pictures at Civil Rights marches, Jack and Dennis' art collections.Some of their friendships will surprise you; such as Marlon's deep abiding one with Wally Cox.

Their acting talent is undeniable, but the stories of their actions on set makes one wonder how great they were that directors and other actors would put up with their deeds. You want to laugh and enjoy this behavior, but cringe at the same time of page after page of out of control living. You'll wonder most of all how they got away with it.

There is really no depth into their personal thoughts and many of the stories have been previously published in biographies other and sources.By the end of this reading their bad behavior overwhelms any thoughts of their acting abilities. That anyone would work with them is still a marvel left unexplained, except we are told that they are magnificent actors. ... Read more

Product Description
The chef of a popular Greenwich Village restaurant and long-time friend of Jack Nicholson shares his recipes for the renowned actor's favorite low-fat and low-calorie dishes, which were a part of Nicholson's weight-loss programs. Tour. ... Read more

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Product Description
The Rabbit Ears Treasury of Animal Stories entertains and enlightens with these classic animal stories brought to life–read by your favorite stars and featuring original music by some of today’s greatest artists.

How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin & How the Camel Got His Hump
Read by Jack Nicholson • Original Music by Bobby McFerrin
These familiar favorites from Rudyard Kipling feature the tale of a Parsee man who seeks revenge on a nasty rhino followed by the story of a lazy camel who learns the hard way that pride and arrogance are never a good combination.

How the Leopard Got His Spots
Read by Danny Glover•Original Music by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Hunting on the African plain was easy for the leopard since his light coat blended with the yellow hues of the landscape. But once all the animals moved to the striped and splotchy forest, things got much harder–so for his own survival he had to acquire spots. This tale is rich with subtle humor and enchanced by the gegntle sounds of South African a cappella harmonies.

The Monkey People
Read by Raul Julia • Original Music by Lee Ritenour
Revisit this Colombian fable of a village in the Amazon jungle where the lazy inhabitants do nothing but lie in their hammocks. Then a mysterious man arrives one day and creates monkeys who do everything for the villagers. When the monkeys take on every human activity–including complaining–the humans have to deal with the serious and silly consequences of their inaction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Not My Taste
We got this for my 2 boys, ages 7 and 9. We loooove books on CD and have quite a few, as well as regularly check them out from our local library. Out of all those I've listened to, this one is probably one I care least for. I'm thinking of one of the stories in particular where the man with an native african accent repeats 'exclusively' so often, it's distracting. The accent isn't distracting, but I mentioned that because perhaps the frequency of the word has something to do with where he's from. I don't know. Anyway, the stories don't really capture our imagination. We almost never listen to this anymore.

Not really for very young children
I purchased this for my 3 year old daughter who loves stories and books, but this was a bit out of her league.The stories were good, but the verbage was way over her head, and didn't keep her interest.There is a lot of pausing for the music to be played, and she got bored very quickly.I will put it away and try again next year.

This is a family favorite!
My kids listened to the Rabbit Ears productions of the Just So stories when they were little, and now my granddaughter is doing the same.They are wonderful!Rabbit Ears Treasury of Animal Stories: How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin, How the Camel Got His Hump, How the Leopard Got His Spots, Monkey People

Fantastic for the Car
I have two sons, three and five, and this is by far the family favorite of all the Rabbit Ears CD's that we own.Nicholson is brilliant, taking his time and telling a great story.The marriage of Jack and Kipling is brilliant.Danny Glover's rendition of How the Leopard got his Spots, isn't my favorite, he has an affected "african" accent which is distracting and hard to understand, but sandwiched between the other Kipling stories and Raul Julia's reading of "The Monkey People", it can be overlooked.This is a double CD, which makes it a great gift for anyone with toddlers!I have bought it for my family and three others.

Rabbit Ears Animal Stories: The Best out of the whole series!
Rabbit Ears Animal Stories is one of the first audio CDs made from Rabbit Ears and is easily one of the best out of the whole series.This audio CD contains four stories about arrogant, rude, lazy, and determined animals.My favorite ones are: How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin, How the Camel Got His Hump and The Monkey People.

Jack Nicholson, who narrates the stories "How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin" and "How the Camel Got His Hump," has a very silky voice that soothes you to the bone as you hear him narrate these stories and Bobby McFerrin's music is enchanting to listen to as he mainly uses various sounds to make music.Danny Glover is excellent in the story "How the Leoparad Got His Spots," as he uses an African accent to narrate the story and Lady Black Mambazo's music is definitely mesmerizing as they vocally sing in African tones.Raul Julia narrates with a proper tone in "The Monkey People" indicating the arrogance of the village people in the story and Lee Ritenour's music has a Colombian style that makes it interesting to listen to.This audio CD will clearly grab anyone's attention for Rabbit Ears fans. ... Read more

Product Description
From long-ago casting decisions--Vivien Leigh over Bette Davis in Gone with the Wind--to the creation of present-day screen icons--Sharon Stone won the role in Basic Instinct after Geena Davis and Michelle Pfeiffer refused it--this fascinating narrative will surprise and delight film buffs who think they already know the history of Tinsel Town. 24 pages of photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

One of the neglected gems of movie trivia
One of my favorite games of movie trivia is trying to imagine what certain classic, beloved films would be like if they had been made with an entirely different cast.Often times, the results range between the horrifying and the ludicrous (for example, Lana Turner as Scarlett O'Hara and Jeffrey Lynn as Rhett Butler, teaming up to make Gone with the Wind the dullest Civil War epic ever) and occasionally, you're forced to admit that a film like the Fugitive probably would have pretty much been the same rather the lead was played by Harrison Ford or Alec Baldwin.And sometimes, if you're lucky, you imagine a film that may be different from the classic the world knows and loves but, at least to the mind's eye, is just as fascinating -- The Graduate starring Charles Grodin, Doris Day, Sally Field, and Ronald Reagan or Terms of Endearment featuring a comeback supporting performance from none other than Burt Reynolds.

These fun, intriguing, and often infuriating speculations are what lie at the heart of Ron Base's unjustly neglected film book, If the Other Guy Isn't Jack Nicholson, I've Got the Part.(The title is an actual quote from Reynolds who either lost or gave up roles in films ranging from Terms of Endearment to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to our Mr. Nicholson.After reading this book, one wonders what Boogie Nights might had been like if Reynolds had passed on that...)Starting from Hollywood's golden age and the days of the star systems and ending with the modern-day, often interchangeable blockbusters of today, Base writes a lively, humorous, and always fascinating account of the struggles and the intrigue that went into casting some of the best pictures to come out of Hollywood's studios.He covers the famous search to find the perfect Scarlett, the comical saga of finding the perfect actors to bring the Graduate's story to life (and yes -- Day, Field, Grodin, and even Ron Reagan were all serious possibilities at one point of time), the birth of the Corleone Family, and even explains how a little-known Sharon Stone ended up with the "honor" of exposing herself to the world in Basic Instinct.

Along the way, the book manages to provide a treasure trove of little known trivia and anecdote.As well, by showing us how the faces of Hollywood's ideal leading stars changed (basically going from suave Clark Gable to awkward Dustin Hoffman and eventually ending up with the hulking likes of Arnie and Stallone), Base provides an interesting and entertaining look at the way American society views itself has been changed and transformed over the course of the 20th century.This is a wonderful, fun book that will be enjoyed by anyone who ever watched Jack Nicholson on screen and thought to himself, "Gee, I wish they'd gotten Burt Reynolds for that role."Luckily, the book can enjoyed by the rest of us, too.

Good
Interesting book. And Ron Base gets it right a lot where others don't. The unspoken truth when saying, "Burt Reynolds turned down TERMS OF ENDEARMENT" etc., is that THE MATERIAL IS THE THING. Stars are interchangeable!!!! This book gets that right. God knows how many millions studios would save on star fees if they'd get that through their heads! (Only George Lucas said paying Jim Carrey $20 million is stupidity. Carrey made $20 million for THE MAJESTIC, which was still one of the biggest flops in history.)

Fascinating!
One of the best books I've read about movies. It is well-written and fascinating. The book is broken up into chapters that deal with certain episodes, so it's easy reading. Although the material written about isn'tlife-or-death stuff, it is interesting to contemplate Travolta having hadtaken certain parts, or Stallone having taken certain parts, etc. Greatbook. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a biography of Jack Nicholson, who recently starred as the Joker in Batman. The actor, famous for his satanic grin and suggestive, laid-back drawl, claims never to have been turned down by a woman. The author, spent time in America, interviewing those close to Nicholson. Formerly a Daily Mirror journalist, John Parker became a full-time writer in 1987. His books include "King of Fools", "The Princess Royal" and "The Trial of Rock Hudson". ... Read more

Product Description
Large format softbound book. Index and filmography. Interviews by and about Hollywood star Jack Nicholson and his movies, including with Karen Black, Roger Corman, Bruce Dern, Dennis Hopper, Ann-Margaret and Robert Evans. Movies discussed are Chinatown, Hells Angels on Wheels, East Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Carnal Knowledge and others. ... Read more

Product Description
Covers all Nicholson's movies, and also includes quotesby and about Nicholson plus a complete reference guide to the star'scareer, colleagues and roles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Dispensible Guide to Jack's Films to '99
Not half as informative as it should be, this is a heavily opinionated look at Nicholson's films over the years.The early info is especially welcome-- who's seen more than a few of his works from before "Easy Rider"?The scholarship is desultory, though, and Shiach seems to think a few flip comments about a film's worth-- or lack of same-- is sufficient.Even when I agreed with some of his frequent snark, I felt it was unfair to either the filmmaker or to Jack.If approached as a highly personal look at Nicholson's films and not as a work of dispassionate scholarship, this can be amusing, if frustrating, reading. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

A must-have for Nicholson fans
Another in the wonderful series entitled Movie*Icons, that Taschen produces for the true, diehard fans of some of the world's greatest actors and actresses. Everyone who draws a breath on this Earth certainly knows that devilish grin, the cocked eyebrow, and the deep, raspy laugh that makes up the incomparable Jack Nicholson. Everyone breathing also knows that he has some "thing" that no one can quite put their finger on. This slightly paunchy man usually has women less than half his age on his arm, a glass of liquor in his hand, and a cigar dangling from his lips - yet he is one of the most revered, and most adored actors in the world.

What some may not know is that Jack didn't get his big break until he was over thirty years old; over a decade after he actually began his acting career. Easy Rider was the film that launched him into the stratosphere, and his amazing acting ability has kept him there ever since. One of his finest performances, and the first Oscar that was placed in his hand, came from One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest (literally one of the best films ever made). That performance as he goes up against Nurse Ratched will forever remain on all reviewers top ten lists of all time.

Even though Nicholson would certainly not be referred to as the classic ladies' man - like Clark Gable - that gleam in his eye (when he deems it appropriate to remove his sunglasses) can make women swoon. In The Witches of Eastwick, he proved that the power that is "Jack" could make any woman, even the likes of Cher and Michelle Pfeiffer, fall at his feet without a second thought. Even funnyman Billy Crystal remarked at the Oscars one year that Jack's sunglasses had to be worn inside the building because "the reflection of his own aura is so great."

Who can forget when Jack slams that axe through the door in The Shining? The look on that face is pure evil; a man who has fallen off the edge into insanity. Not to mention when he screams, "You can't handle the truth!" in A Few Good Men, and he was given an Oscar nod for less than fifteen minutes of work. That's how unforgettable his moments are on screen. Jack could literally be on camera for five minutes and deliver a line so perfectly, that another golden statuette would have his name inscribed on it immediately.

Terms of Endearment will go down in history as one of the biggest tear-jerkers of all time; Jack's portrayal of the man who is falling in love with Shirley MacLaine is the perfect role for him. Whether it's Heartburn, with the fantastic Meryl Streep, or Something's Gotta Give, with Diane Keaton, he is the leading man with class, passion, and a gleam in his eye that shouts to the world that he will never grow up...nor do we want him to.

Quill Says: Jack Nicholson is certainly an icon of the theatrical world who will spend the next fifty years - if he's allowed - doing the one thing he loves the most...entertaining. Where Nicholson is concerned, life will never reach that point where it becomes, As Good As It Gets; he will always work harder, strive for more, and have an amazingly fun time along the way. For any true "Jack" fan, this book is a must-have. ... Read more

Product Description
He’s Hollywood’s most indestructible bad boy. He has three Oscars and more Academy Award nominations than any actor in film history. Now, John Parker takes a look at the life and art of one of the most dynamic actors of our generation.

Jack Nicholson is the most popular film actor since Marlon Brando, and as he swaggers well into his seventh decade, he shows no sign of losing any of his astonishing star power. Here, drawing on interviews with many of Nicholson’s Hollywood associates, John Parker pieces together a complex portrait of the star—his tangled and tumultuous childhood, his wives and high-profile romances, his brilliant film career, and his Oscar-winning triumphs in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Terms of Endearment, and As Good as It Gets. Find out what lies behind that famous shark’s smile—and be prepared to be surprised. Journalist John Parker’s previous books include Arise Sir Sean Connery, King of Fools, and Five for Hollywood. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

SHINING BRIGHTLY !!!
This is a very interesting look at Jack's life from childhood on - including his friendships and how these friendships affected his life.I enjoyed this thoroughly, so much, that I am reading it a second time!

Nothing New Here & Somewhat Annoying
I would recommend Patrick McGiligan's biography because it has the research and detail one would expect of a biography. This book, (I assume written by an Englishman since it was published in England and uses words like "chum",etc) is a composite of what has already been published on Jack Nicholson. Its even balanced and focuses on seminal events in Nicholoson's life and his movies..What is very annoying about this book is the excessive description of the cultural context that surrounded Jack's 60's days...Way too much setting, frankly because there is not any new content here...If you don't know much about Jack, this is not a bad introductory piece....Oh, yes the other thing about this book is way too much (previously published) information on Warren Beatty, Roman Polanski, Marlon Brando, and Robert Evans...the writer goes into great details on the problems in their lives...not central to subject of this biography...
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Product Description
Jack Nicholson - charming, charismatic and demonic. Having sustained one of the most successful careers in Hollywood, he is still receiving critical acclaim (Oscar for 'As Good As It Gets') years after his early Oscar-nomination as the drunken, liberal lawyer in Easy Rider. With a prolific filmography ranging from convict McMurphy in Milos Forman's seminal One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, to the psychotic axe-killer Jack Torrance in Kubrick's The Shining, and sleazy private eye Jake Gittes in Polanski's Chinatown, Nicholson's ability to blend box-office success with cult status is unparalleled.

Jack Nicholson: Movie Top Tens takes ten of his most engaging or offbeat films and analyses them through accessible, in-depth essays by some of the best cutting-edge film writers around. Visually charged with striking b/w shots throughout, the result is both an incisive overview of Nicholson's impressive career, and an anthology of films by some of the leading cult directors of recent years such as Stanley Kubrick, Tim Burton, Roman Polanski, Mike Nichols, Antonio Antonini, and Milos Forman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book, Great actor.
I love Jack Nicholson. I recommend this book for anybody who wants a serious study of his best acting roles. Don't buy it if you're looking for a glossy 'star' fan book, as this is a collection of essays by film critics. It makes a refreshing change to see Jack's work taken this seriously. ... Read more