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Starstruck: My Unlikely Road to Hollywood Hardcover – October 12, 2021

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 90 ratings

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Hollywood historian and film reviewer Leonard Maltin invites readers to pull up a chair and listen as he tells stories, many of them hilarious, of 50+ years interacting with legendary movie stars, writers, directors, producers, and cartoonists. Maltin grew up in the first decade of television, immersing himself in TV programs and accessing 1930s and ‘40s movies hitting the small screen. His fan letters to admired performers led to unexpected correspondences, then to interviews and publication of his own fan magazine. Maltin’s career as a free-lance writer and New York Times-bestselling author as well as his 30-year run on Entertainment Tonight, gave him access to Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Sean Connery, Shirley Temple, and Jimmy Stewart among hundreds of other Golden Age stars, his interviews cutting through the Hollywood veneer and revealing the human behind each legend. Starstruck also offers a fascinating glimpse inside the Disney empire, and Maltin’s tenure teaching USC’s popular film course reveals insights into moviemaking along with access to past, current, and future stars of film, such as George Lucas, Kevin Feige, Quentin Tarantino, and Guillermo del Toro.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“The latest from film critic and historian Maltin (Leonard Maltin’s 151 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen) is an often delightful if uneven collection of work from the past five decades. The bulk of the text consists of interviews with Hollywood performers and filmmakers conducted between 1967 and 2010. The subjects range from celebrated star Joan Blondell to the obscure but prolific Leslie H. Martinson, a film script supervisor turned film and TV director who worked on 'every Warner Bros. show imaginable.' The author is a generous, well-informed interviewer, whose introductory text helps the reader understand why lesser-known figures like Martinson merit attention. In the earliest selections, the still teenaged Maltin takes some time to find his footing as an interviewer, but any initial amateurism on his part is offset by his contagious enthusiasm. The book also includes several essays, most memorably about the use of popular songs in Casablanca, the late-career return of silent stars like Buster Keaton and Lillian Gish in television roles, and early Hollywood remakes. Other essays, though, will be too granular for any but the Maltin completist. Nonetheless, this enjoyable anthology will be a welcome addition to the bookshelves of classic film fans.” —Publishers Weekly

 

"I have read it, as in every word, as in reading nothing else till it was finished, as in being sorry when it was finished, because I could as much have enjoyed 400 more pages of Hooked On Hollywood's delve into sagas of past film all new to me, indeed unknown to anyone before Maltin dug his customary deep to find lost lore regarding movies we all love." —John McElwee, Greenbriar Picture Shows

 

“The go-to choice for both film geeks and casual couch potatoes.” —
The New York Times Book Review

 

​“Distinctive, authoritative and personal. Its prose is so spare, rarely betraying biases or eccentricities, but the book lives so long precisely because ever page has Maltin’s unmistakable presence.” —NPR

"Film critic and historian Maltin offers a warmhearted, rambling memoir of his long romance with movies, which began when he was a child. Replete with anecdotes, the good-natured, rarely critical narrative features appreciative recollections of James Stewart, Buster Keaton, Robert Mitchum, Elizabeth Taylor, Jerry Lewis, Roy Rogers, Jackie Cooper, and Shirley Temple, among many more. A genial, entertaining memoir." —
Kirkus Reviews

"His memoir is a delightful collection of relatively short and breezy chapters indulging some of his favorite stars (Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Jerry Lewis, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gloria Stuart, Harlan Ellison) and subjects (such as jazz). This is strictly G-rated and great fun."  —
Library Journal

"Leonard Maltin has earned his stellar reputation as a film historian, movie critic, author, and yes, even celebrity. His memoir invites all movie lovers to reminisce right along with him." —David Ferguson,
Red Carpet Crash

"I’ve read a lot of books during the pandemic but Leonard Maltin’s memoir was one of my most anticipated books of 2021. ...But anyway, the book certainly lived up to my expectations–so much that I finished the ARC in less than a day. That speaks to how quick of a pace that this book has. Honestly, Maltin shares so many stories that a simple review cannot even do this book justice." —Danielle Solzman,
Solzy at the Movies

"Maltin is a great storyteller. For that reason the chapters he writes in praise of his less famous friends are just as fascinating as his memories of meeting stars like Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, and Olivia de Havilland. His enthusiasm for interesting characters and people in general is contagious. It’s pleasant reading, light and easy, but full of interesting details of a busy life." —
Watching Classic Movies

"There are some lovely parts dedicated to his friendships with people such as Harlan Ellison (who he met at a showing of
The Terminator, which had plagiarised some of the writer’s work) and Freda Sandrich, widow of Mark Sandrich who had directed several Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers pictures. It’s an interesting book with some fun anecdotes." —Charlie Brigden, Set the Tape

About the Author

Leonard Maltin is one of the most recognized and respected film critics of our time. He spent 30 years on the hit television show Entertainment Tonight and appears regularly on Turner Classic Movies. An established author, he is best known for his annual paperback reference, Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide. In 2005, he introduced a companion volume, Leonard Maltin’s Classic Movie Guide (now in its third edition), which focuses on movies made before 1965, going back to the silent era. Leonard’s other books include Hooked on Hollywood, The Best 151 Movies You’ve Never Seen, The Disney Films, Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons, The Great American Broadcast: A Celebration of Radio’s Golden Age, The Great Movie Comedians, Movie Comedy Teams, The Art of the Cinematographer, Selected Short Subjects and (as co-author) The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang. Leonard has been teaching at the USC School of Cinematic Arts for the last 23 years. His popular class screens new films prior to their release, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. This direct access to top talent has proven to be invaluable in his students’ own filmmaking endeavors. As an expert and host, he is frequently seen on news programs and documentaries. Leonard is also a prolific freelance writer whose articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The London Times, Smithsonian, TV Guide, Esquire, The Village Voice and American Film. He was the film critic for Playboy magazine for six years. Additionally, Leonard frequently lectures on film and was a member of the faculty of New York City’s New School for Social Research for nine years. He served as Guest Curator at the Museum of Modern Art film department in New York on two separate occasions. Leonard created, hosted and co-produced the popular Walt Disney Treasures DVD series and appeared on Warner Home Video’s Night at the Movies features. He has written a number of television specials, including Fantasia: The Creation of a Disney Classic and has hosted, produced and written such video documentaries and compilations as The Making of The Quiet Man, The Making of High Noon, Cartoons for Big Kids, The Lost Stooges, Young Duke: The Making of a Movie Star, Cliffhangers: Adventures from the Thrill Factory and Cartoon Madness: The Fantastic Max Fleischer Cartoons. In 2006 he was named by the Librarian of Congress to join the Board of Directors of the National Film Preservation Foundation. He also has received awards and citations from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, American Society of Cinematographers, Anthology Film Archives, The Society of Cinephiles, San Diego Comic-Con International, and the Telluride Film Festival. In 1997 he was made a voting member of the National Film Registry, which selects 25 landmark American films every year. Perhaps the greatest indication of his fame was his appearance in a now-classic episode of the animated series South Park. He holds court at leonardmaltin.com. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook; you can also listen to him on his weekly podcast Maltin on Movies, which he hosts with his daughter, Jessie.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ GoodKnight Books (October 12, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1735273813
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1735273815
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.2 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 90 ratings

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Leonard Maltin
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Leonard Maltin is a respected film critic and historian, perhaps best known for his annual paperback reference Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide, which was first published in 1969. He lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles and teaches at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2022
    Leonard Maltin is one of my favorite people, although I have never met him. Through his writings, however, I have been friends with him for quite a long while, at least since he began producing his Movie Guide. I have depended on his reviews and his ratings to help me appreciate the films I watch. I get a kick out of trying to guess what his rating for a given film will be before I look it up in his Guide. I am often surprised, since my ratings tend to be higher than his, but then his review explains his position very well in just a few lines. I was unhappy when, with the 2015 edition, he gave up producing the printed Guide, so I now am left with that one on my shelf. Fortunately, before that last Guide appeared, he had decided to create a companion guide by pulling out all the films from the “classic” years. That guide has now been turned into a second edition.

    Leonard Maltin’s interests and mine intersect most closely on the subject of Walt Disney. As a boy, I was a full-fledged Disney fanatic, so much so that my father was jealous of the affection I showed Mr. Disney during those early years. So, I was immensely pleased when Mr. Maltin published his wonderful book The Disney Films in 1973, which is now in its fourth edition. I also relished ownership of his monumental Movie Encyclopedia, which I consulted often to gain his take on a particular film star.

    So, now I have the fantastic retrospective of Leonard Maltin’s life and times in the immensely charming, even addictive Starstruck. This wonderful book comprises largely a series of vignettes about Mr. Maltin’s remarkable life as a cinephile, among his other interests. Since I have come to know him largely through his writings, I was introduced in Starstruck to other sides of his multi-faceted life. After all, he spent 30 years working on Entertainment Tonight, which I have largely bypassed. I have had the chance, however, to see him every once in a while on Turner Classic Movies (TCM), especially when he has been called on to contribute to introductions to various presentations of Disney films. His “gigs” on Entertainment Tonight, as he likes to call them, which lasted for 30 years, however, have provided many wonderful stories of his interactions with people in the entertainment industry, if you will, the “stars” to which the title of his book refer.

    I am especially enamored of the loving way he describes his lengthy married life with Alice and his relationship with his daughter Jessie, both of whom are his long-time collaborators and coworkers on this and that “gig.” In an industry well known for the shortness of marital relationships, especially of those who appear in front of the camera, it is heartwarming to know that Leonard and Alice have remained together for many long decades. The length of their relationship likely is at least in part due to the commonality of their interests and pursuits.

    Leonard Maltin appears as though he has met and interviewed a huge number of people over the length of his career, which, after all, extends back to the time that he was a teenager involved with producing his “fanzine.” A surprising number of these people are described as “friends” and even “good friends.” Such people include the five current hosts at TCM and the previous host, Robert Osbourne, who I wish could find a way to return from the beyond to take up hosting duties again. I fully agree with Mr. Maltin, who describes TCM as his “go-to station.” It is mine, as well. After all, what’s not to like about TCM? For movie buffs, especially those enamored of the classic age of Hollywood, It is the ultimate viewing pleasure. The films are played in their entirety, right to the last of the credits on a round-the-clock basis, with informative introduction and summaries provided by the various hosts. So much for the plug for TCM.

    This wonderful book is highly recommended for anyone who claims to be a movie buff, anyone who has one of Leonard Maltin’s other books on the shelf, anyone who is interested in how a film critic goes about his work, or just anyone who is charmed by his winning smile and pleasant voice. Upon reading this fascinating picture of his life, you, too, will become “starstruck.”
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2021
    Keeps your attention and makes you wish the book were longer. Hope there is a sequel. He seems to met most of the big stars
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2024
    What a great read! Loved all the stories would recommend this book to anyone!
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2022
    Starstruck is a book that you can read in one sitting. The book is like visiting with a friend that I have known for years. ( I subscribed to his magazine Film Fan Monthly when I was in high school.) Maltin is very knowledgeable about old movies, new movies and movie stars. This book talks about all of these topics with warmth and comfort. He seasoned his book with many personal stories about his family and his close friends. The book was so enjoyable , I did not want the book to end. Note : Just like him, TCM is my favorite TV station.
    Highly recommended.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2023
    I enjoyed this Book of reminisce from Leonard Maltin. Fun stories, backstage into and an inside look at film festivals and the business of Show. He is kind to his subjects, this isn't a dishing the dirt kind of book, which is nice. I'm sure he could have but chose not to our of respect for the movies.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2021
    Film critic Leonard Maltin's STARSTRUCK is an amiable and anecdotal combination of memoir and starry-eyed tales of celebrities, gathered from Maltin's decades of working on Entertainment Tonight and attending film-related parties, fund-raisers and premieres. Maltin has loved movies since childhood. "I remain an unabashed fan," he writes. "This seems to hold me in good stead with the people I encounter." He's as thrilled to interview cinematographers, music editors and veteran character actors as he is superstars. With the possible exceptions of Burt Reynolds and Celeste Holm, his boyish enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the film industry usually won over even the most cynical performers. Readers will be equally beguiled.

    Movie buffs who used his annually updatedLEONARD MALTIN'S MOVIE GUIDE for more than four decades may be surprised to learn Maltin was only 18 when his first edition came out in 1969. One of the most fascinating stories in STARSTRUCK is the origin tale of his film guide and the laborious task of updating it. "I'm a lucky film buff who stumbled into careers in publishing, television, and academia, all of them unplanned," he writes. But he's being modest. He was well-prepared for every opportunity that fell in his path.

    There are full chapters devoted to Katharine Hepburn, Jerry Lewis, Bette Davis, Mel Brooks, Lena Horne, Robert Mitchum, Shirley Temple and others. Another star-studded chapter chronicles how Maltin and his wife found themselves on a permanent guest list to Hugh Hefner's Playboy mansion for weekend Old Movie Nights. STARSTRUCK is a delightful and convivial pleasure cruise through Old Hollywood.

    Film buff and critic Leonard Maltin's beguiling memoir is jam-packed with starry-eyed tales of celebrity encounters, and is bound to leave readers smiling.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2021
    A fun ride through Mr. Martin's career. I especially enjoyed the stories about some of the classic stars and movers and shakers of Hollywood. I learned many new things about silent movies,and surprisingly Hugh Hefner.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2021
    Leonard Maltin’s memoir is not filled with earthshaking revelations; but it’s filled with fun anecdotes and it’s important personal history by a significant figure.
    2 people found this helpful
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