Below you'll find our selection of books about the people, films and genres related to the German-Hollywood Connection. You can learn more about each title and purchase these books from our Amazon.com bookstore. Also see our Video Shop and Movie Poster Shop.
Austrian Cinema: A History
by Robert von Dassanowsky. McFarland, 2005. Hardcover, black-and-white photos, 322 pages. The first book in English to offer a comprehensive overview of Austrian film history, Austrian Cinema reveals the amazingly large role that tiny Austria has played in international cinema.
NEW! Movie Location Guides: Where Was That Scene Shot?
Three books for people who watch the credits just to see where a movie was actually shot!
Former FILM BOOKS of the MONTH
The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations
by Tony Reeves. Paperback. Chicago Review Press, 2001. ISBN: 1-55652-432-3. Have you ever wondered about the location of the tunnel in Blade Runner? Did you know that Predator was filmed near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? This book covers both Hollywood and foreign films (but no Run Lola Run!). From Amazon.com: “For all those fans who wonder where their favorite movies were filmed or what it would be like to visit the sites, this book is the ultimate resource. It features information on blockbuster, cult, and art house favorites... The entries for individual films include brief descriptions of key scenes shot at the location, travel details, photographs, film stills, behind-the-scenes information, and insights as to what these places are really like.”
Shot on This Site: A Traveler's Guide to the Places and Locations Used to Film Famous Movies and TV Shows
by William A. Gordon. Paperback. Citadel, 1995. ISBN: 0-80651-647-X. From Amazon.com (Library Journal): “The brief but numerous entries in this work cover nearly 900 film or television show locations in 48 states (North Dakota and Idaho are left out). In the book's preface, the author says he has concentrated his efforts on 'box-office favorites released over the past fifteen years and on the few pre-1980 classics that were not filmed on soundstages in Los Angeles.' This statement is misleading on two counts. First, the book includes information on many unpopular films and short-lived television...”
The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book (3rd edition)
by William A. Gordon. Paperback. North Ridge Books, 2002. ISBN: 0-93781-307-9. This book is the “joyously affirmative answer to the question 'Is there an alternative to the prepackaged bus tour of Tinseltown?' William Gordon's guide delivers all the juicy scandal you've come for, but at your pace, at your discretion, and without crackly speakers blasting in your ear. You want to see former homes of Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, or Elvis Presley...? Gordon helps you conduct your own exploration, and supplies invaluable tidbits of information...”
Österreicher in Hollywood (Austrians in Hollywood)
REVISED and EXPANDED SECOND EDITION (in German)
Österreicher in Hollywood
by Rudolf Ulrich. Verlag Filmarchiv Austria, 2004. Hardcover, 623 pages. ISBN: 3-901932-29-1. Aus dem Vorwort: “Nach über zwölfjährigen Recherchen können nun die Ergebnisse in Form einer revidierten, wesentlich erweiterten Buchausgabe von Österreicher in Hollywood vorgelegt werden. Diese Hommage ist…”
MORE: Learn more about this book with the history of Austrians in Hollywood (over 400!)—today and yesterday! If you thought Arnold Schwarzenegger was the only Austrian in Hollywood, you're in for a big surprise!
The Making of CASABLANCA
This classic 1942 film has many Germanic connections!
A former FILM BOOK of the MONTH
"This book is terrific. It should be required reading for anyone who is in movies or loves movies." - Billy Wilder
"You really must buy this book! Chapter 12—'The Refugee Trail: The Europeans in Hollywood'—is worth the price of admission alone. Harmetz has written a splendid work. I love this book!" - H. Flippo
Round Up the Usual Suspects: The Making of Casablanca:
Bogart, Bergman, and World War II
by Aljean Harmetz. Paperback. Hyperion Press, 1993. ISBN: 1-5628-2761-8. Amazon.com synopsis: "Illustrated with rare candid photos and actual memos from the Warner Bros. archives, this brilliantly researched book is filled with revealing, behind-the-scenes stories about the cast, filmmakers, rumors, context of WWII, and more. A vivid drama of the details that shaped Casablanca. 97 photos." - More about this book from Amazon.com.
ALSO RECOMMENDED: Celluloid Soldiers: Warner Bros.'s Campaign Against Nazism
by Michael Birdwell. Paperback. NY Univ. Press, 2001. Amazon.com synopsis: "This is a study of the efforts of the Warner Bros film studio to promote anti-Nazi activity before the outbreak of World War II. During the 1930s many Americans believed the possibility of war erupting in Europe to be of little significance to their interests, but Warner Bros embarked on what was virtually a crusade to alert the nation to the growing menace of Nazism." Also in a hardcover edition
Learn more about the real-life von Trapps in The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta von Trapp. More about this Book More SOM Books
MICHAEL CURTIZ
The Casablanca Man: The Cinema of Michael Curtiz
by James C. Robertson. Routledge, 1993. Hardcover, 202 pages. ISBN: 0-4150-6804-5. Curtiz began his long film career in Hungary and Austria. He was already 37 years old and had over 60 films behind him when he arrived in Hollywood in 1926 to work for Warner Bros. Before that he had made his first feature film in Austria in 1912. It was in Norway, where he spent six months at Nordisk, where Mihaly Kertész became Michael Courtice (later Curtiz). The author rightfully claims that it is important to look at Curtiz's European career in order to accurately assess his work. This book traces Curtiz's life and career, both in Europe and in Hollywood.
See our Leonardo DiCaprio page (Ja, he's part German!) for books about the star of The Beach, Titanic and Catch Me If You Can.
DIETRICH on DVD
MARLENE DIETRICH
Marlene Dietrich
by Maria Riva, Knopf, 1993 - ISBN 00345386450
This is a fascinating and detailed biography written by Marlene's daughter. Although not written entirely along bitter "Mommy Dearest" lines, Riva's bio makes it clear that she feels the talented star could have been a better person -- and a better mother. - More information about this title from Amazon.com.
Marlene Dietrich: Photographs and Memories
by Jean-Jacques Naud (Ed.). Hardcover, 288 pages. ISBN 0375405348. Dietrich fans, sit up and take notice. This volume, compiled by Jean-Jacques Naud and captioned by Maria Riva, offers hundreds of photographs of the pack rat's possessions, and, of course, snapshots and publicity stills of the incomparable Dietrich herself. Touching reminiscences from Josef von Sternberg and Jean Cocteau, among others, round out this valuable addition to the wealth of books dedicated to the German actress. - More information about this title from Amazon.com.
Marlene Dietrich: Life and Legend
by Steven Bach. Paperback. Da Capo, 2000. ISBN 0306809346. Bach's biography is quite different from Riva's but no less interesting. In fact, comparing the two gives the reader a much better overall view of Dietrich the star and Dietrich the person. - Amazon.com Synopsis: "Based on six years of research and writing, and 200 interviews conducted in three languages in a dozen countries, Bach's definitive biography focuses on Dietrich as both woman and myth. Contains over 100 photos, including family photos never before published, a complete bibliography and complete and correct theatre history, filmography, and discography."
Blue Angel: The Life of Marlene Dietrich
by Donald Spoto, Doubleday, 1992. Another good biography of Dietrich - shorter but more intimate and perhaps more psychologically insightful than Bach's (above).
Books by and about this Swiss fantasy/sci-fi artist
H. R. Giger's Film Design
by H.R. Giger. Hardcover. Morpheus International, 1996. ISBN: 1-8833-9806-1. Synopsis from Amazon.com: "...Giger takes readers on a tour of his fantastic designs...for such films as Alien, Alien 3, and Species. 200 photos & illustrations." - More about this title.
Giger's Alien
by H.R. Giger. Paperback (also available as hardbound). Morpheus International, 1994. ISBN: 1-8833-9808-8.
H.R. Giger's Necronomicon II
by H. R. Giger. Hardcover. Morpheus Intl, 1992. Dimensions (inches): 16.84 x 12.14 x .59. ISBN: 0-9623-4476-1. Amazon.com commentary: "Dark, erotic and disturbing, Giger's work is among the most brilliant fantasy art of the century. This oversized and stunning collection contains 200 photographs, paintings, and sculptures, as well as interviews, essays, and autobiographical text. Foil-stamped dust jacket." (See the Necronomicon II cover art on our H.R. Giger page!) - Also see: Necronomicon I!
Species Design
by H.R. Giger. Hardbound. Morpheus International, 1996. ISBN: 1-8833-9812-6. Amazon.com Synopsis: "Fantasy artist H.R. Giger has turned his creativity to a new movie, Species. The book documents the conception, development and final terrorizing 3D realization of Giger's macabre, otherworldly designs. Included are Giger's original sketches, photos of the film's animatronic puppets and sets, and action stills. 110 photos, 100 in color. 50 line drawings."
Kinski Uncut
by Klaus Kinski. Viking Press, 1996. ISBN: 0-6708-6744-6. This adults-only autobiography was first published in 1988 but withdrawn because of its libelous and pornographic content, which is as bizarre as the German film star himself. This revised and updated version was re-issued in 1996. In his characteristically blunt way, the late Kinski does a vitriolic exposé of the film industry. Kinski's daughter is the beautiful Nastassja Kinski (Cat People, Tess).
Some interesting German-Hollywood film books are out of print and difficult to find. But often you can find them through Alibris.com. Just click on the Alibris.com banner below!
FRITZ LANG
The Austrian director of Metropolis, M, and other films
A FORMER FILM BOOK of the MONTH
Fritz Lang: The Nature of the Beast
by Patrick McGilligan. Hardcover. St. Martin's Press, 1997. ISBN: 0-3121-3247-6. "A fascinating look at a fascinating figure in the history of cinema. McGilligan tries to separate Fritz fact from Lang legend. Fritz Lang, a dark master of film who created such classics as 'Metropolis,' 'M' and 'The Big Heat,' was a complex character whose life was perhaps as mysterious as his films. In this copious biography veteran film biographer Patrick McGilligan (author of books on Robert Altman, James Cagney, and Jack Nicholson) delves deeply into the story of the [Austrian] artist who began his career in Germany before fleeing (in mysterious circumstances) in the 1930s, becoming an American citizen, and pursuing a successful career making Hollywood film noir classics." - More about this book from Amazon.com.
LENI RIEFENSTAHL
A Memoir
by Leni Riefenstahl. Picador, 1995. Paper, 669 pages. ISBN: 0-3121-1926-7. A fascinating look into the life and mind of the Hitler confidant and renowned film director. One of the few females to gain prominence during the Nazi regime, Riefenstahl is still active as a still photographer. She writes about her career and defends her infamous propaganda efforts for the Third Reich. Amazon.com Synopsis: Leni Riefenstahl is best known as director of Triumph of the Will, a film of a Nazi Party Rally, and Olympia, the classic film record of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. In this memoir, Riefenstahl finally discusses her motivations, her history, her important friendships, and, most of all, her art. 40 pages of black-and-white photos. - More about this title from Amazon.com!
Leni Riefenstahl - Five Lives
Angelika Taschen (Ed.). Taschen, 2000. Hardcover, 336 pages. A new look at the life (lives) and work of the famous director and photographer. A classic from Taschen - with many photographs.
Leni Riefenstahl: The Seduction of Genius
by Rainer Rother. Continuum, 2002. Hardcover, 262 pages. A new (somewhat negative) look at Riefenstahl, translated from the German.
The Films of Leni Riefenstahl
By David B. Hinton. 3rd edition, paper, 2000. A controversial reappraisal of the Nazi filmmaker, based on her personal archives and film collection, and Hinton's interviews with Albert Speer.
The Last of the Nuba
by Leni Riefenstahl. St. Martins Press, 1995. Hardcover. ISBN: 0-3121-3642-0. Amazon.com synopsis: "First published in 1973 and long since out of print, a classic photo essay about life among Africa's Nuba tribe, by one of the century's foremost film directors, is presented in an impressive full-color gift edition." (Also see Riefenstahl's The People of Kau below.) > Find This Book at Alibris.com
Olympia
by Leni Riefenstahl. St. Martins Press, 1994. Hardcover, 287 pages. ISBN: 0-3121-1371-4. Amazon.com: "Fortunately, politics didn't obscure the perfection of the film 'Olympia,' made at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, from which these stark, beautiful black-and-white photographs were made." - More about this title from Amazon.com.
The People of Kau
by Leni Riefenstahl. St. Martins Press, 1997. Hardcover, 224 pages. ISBN: 0-3121-6963-9. The second volume of Riefenstahl's photo essay on the Nuba tribe in Africa that shows some of Riefenstahl's best still-photo work.
Robert Siodmak: A Biography, with Critical Analyses of His Films Noirs and a Filmography
by Deborah Lazaroff Alpi. McFarland & Co., 1998. Hardcover. ISBN: 0-7864-0489-2. Siodmak died in 2001. Author comment: "The first English biography of the Film Noir Master! Like his fellow expatriates Fritz Lang, Otto Preminger, and Billy Wilder, Robert Siodmak put his German Expressionist training to good use in Hollywood. But Siodmak made more films noirs than any of his fellows, and the 10 he directed...are regarded by many film scholars as the quintessence of the genre." - More about this title from Amazon.com.
True Myths: The Life and Times of Arnold Schwarzenegger
by Nigel Andrews. Hardcover. Birch Lane Press, 1996. ISBN: 1-5597-2364-5. Amazon.com Synopsis: "Explores the life of a champion [Austrian] bodybuilder who, despite such handicaps as his name, heavy accent, and limited acting ability, became one of the highest-paid stars in Hollywood, in an extensively researched and witty biography of Arnold Schwarzenegger."
