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Majestic Hollywood: The Greatest Films of 1939 Paperback – Illustrated, December 10, 2013

by Mark A. Vieira (Author)

4.4 46 ratings

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1939 was a watershed year. The Great Depression was barely over; economics, politics, and culture braced for war. There was a lull before the storm and Hollywood, as if expecting to be judged by posterity, produced a portfolio of masterpieces. No year before or since has yielded so many beloved works of cinematic art: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Gunga Din, Only Angels Have Wings, Destry Rides Again, Beau Geste, Wuthering Heights, The Wizard of Oz, Stagecoach, Ninotchka, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Dark Victory, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Women, and of course, Gone With the Wind.

Majestic Hollywood showcases fifty films from this landmark year, with insightful text on the cultural significance of each movie and entertaining plot descriptions. Also included are stories from the legendary artists who made the films: directors William Wellman and John Ford; cinematographers Arthur Miller and Lee Garmes; actors Judy Garland, Rosalind Russell, Ray Milland, Sir Laurence Olivier, and Olivia de Havilland.

This world of entertainment is illustrated by rarely seen images. Made during the most glamorous era in movie history, whether scene stills, behind-the-scenes candids, portraits, or poster art, the photos are as distinctive, evocative, and powerful as the films they were meant to publicize. Presenting the best of these images and the stories behind them, this book is a cavalcade of unforgettable films from 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year.

Print length

224 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Running Press Adult
Publication date

December 10, 2013
Dimensions

9.13 x 0.75 x 11 inches
ISBN-10

0762451564
ISBN-13

978-0762451562
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From Booklist

As shown by these 50 films, 1939 was a landmark year in movie making. Arranged chronologically by release date, titles range from the well known (including The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind) to the lesser known but still powerful (e.g., Love Affair.)Each listing offers release dates, a brief story, production highlights, and concise critical reaction, along with wonderful black-and-white photo stills. The introduction offers reasons why these films succeeded and reminds readers that film preservation makes them available. An index interfiles names and titles. This coffee-table book is recommended for most public libraries and academic libraries supporting film studies. --Patricia Hogan

Review

This popular history, complete with rare film stills, is recommended for vintage film fans.”
-Library Journal

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Running Press Adult; Illustrated edition (December 10, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0762451564
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0762451562
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.15 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.13 x 0.75 x 11 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,777,648 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,930 in Art of Film & Video
- #3,825 in Movie History & Criticism
- #48,193 in World History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 46 ratings

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Mark A. Vieira

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Mark A. Vieira was born in Oakland, California on October 28, 1950. He is a filmmaker, photographer, and writer specializing in Hollywood history. He makes glamour portraits with George Hurrell's camera in the historic Granada Buildings, where Hurrell had his original studio.

In October 2009 Mark celebrated his fortieth anniversary as a professional photographer. In October 2010 the University of Southern California’s ONE Archives Gallery and Museum presented a retrospective of his work entitled “The Glamorous Gaze.”

Mark has lectured at USC, UCLA, at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Universal Studios, the Hollywood Heritage Museum, the Palm Springs Film Festival, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

He has appeared on camera in Photoplay Productions’ "Garbo," in Turner Classic Movies’ "Moguls and Movie Stars," Playboy’s "Sex at 24 Frames per Second," in Universal’s "Forbidden Film," and on "CBS Sunday Morning." In the 2011 BBC documentary "Shooting the Stars," he photographed Leslie Mann and interviewed Jane Russell.

In 2009 Mark guest-curated the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences exhibition: “Irving Thalberg: Creating the Hollywood Studio System, 1920-1936.” In 2011 he co-curated “Harlow at 100” for the Hollywood Museum in the Historic Max Factor Building.

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james l carroll

So many great films in one year

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2023

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Great films, lush photography, a golden year for Hollywood.

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E. Hunter Hale

IMAGES TO MATCH THE GREAT FILMS OF 1939

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2015

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Indeed there was no other year quite like 1939 for the number of classic motion pictures to come out of the Hollywood studios. This book selects fifty of them and presents them in the order that they were released from January to December. Mark A. Vieira doesn't fill his space by listing the credits of the cast and makers but rather shares interesting things about the films and gives a sense of how the critics in California and New York responded to them. The text is interesting and well worth reading but it is his collection of images from these films that really stand out. The printing of the photographs are quite stunning. Boiled down its a spectacular collection of images from classic films beautifully printed with interesting text to go along with them. Very pleased with this book.

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CJS

More detail and cross referencing would have made this even better

Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2014

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1939 was the best year for movies ever - I doubt that the films from the 2014 Academy Awards will be as remembered and loved as those from 1939. This book starts in January and details all the major films released in 1939. There are numerous beautiful photographs from the films (although none in color but then just Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind were shot in color). There is a 2 page summary of some of the things that either went on behind the scenes or how casting was done or how the film did as well as one or two reviews. All of this is good. However, I would have also liked a full credit list of the cast and crew of the film. It also would have been neat to have a cross reference chart to see what person appeared or worked on the most of these beloved films of 1939. The book is a must for film buffs but could have had more detail and the cross referencing would have made it a lot of fun.

7 people found this helpful

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Martin Stumacher

Hollywood's Best Year

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2014

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You could not plick a better year for Hollywood film releases than 1939. The photographs were aabsolutely breathtaking. Mr. Viumberiera's description of each of his picks were excellent. If your a passionate film buff as I am, then you need to have this book among your film book collection. 1939 was a magic year for film lovers. Mr. Viera, why stop at just the nuTedmber you included in this book? Why not began preparing for volume 2 or 3 if necessary? Next to Ted Sennett's "Hollywood's Golden Year, 1939, this too captures the best year in Hollywood. Bravo to you!

2 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Super Resource Tool!

Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2015

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This is a great book and super resource tool. I am using it for my study of 1939 and everything that happened that year. The films of that year were remarkable - it was astounding that such great films all came out in a single year. This helps me to see the films that were made in 1939 and to know a little bit about them and the plots and the circumstances surrounding the productions. I find it very helpful!

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Charles Schlau

There was some better movies of that year that did not have a ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2014

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It should have had a glossary listing the major academy awards for 1939 and noting the winners. There was some better movies of that year that did not have a review such as Mr. Chips with Robert Donat.

Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2018

Verified Purchase

A great overview of the movies of 1939?!

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2014

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Thought there would be more stories about the making of some of these great films and Hollywoods "Golden Age". It read more like a catalog.

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Magical insights into a unique year of movies

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 30, 2021

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I'm a film fan and I really enjoyed this book. Fascinating insights and narrative into the most significant year in Hollywood's history. Well written and lots of great black & white photographs compliment the writing. If you want to know more about the movie magic of 1939 then this is the book for you.

Campaziello

Un gradevole catalogo ben illustrato

Reviewed in Italy on July 18, 2015

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Un catalogo dei film usciti in quell'anno con più fotografie che contenuti, comunque un gradevole volume illustrato che riporta qualche anedotto interessante.

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Vanessa

Certainly not what I was expecting.

Reviewed in Canada on December 17, 2013

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This is the newest title from film historian and author Mark A. Vieira. Released on December 6, 2013 this paperback book tells the story of what many consider the greatest year in motion picture history: 1939. Starting from January 1939 and moving forward from there in chronological order, Vieira profiles some of the best films that were released into cinemas that year. Some of his picks seem a bit far-fetched, but most of them are bang-on.

I hate to say it, but this book was a bit of a let-down. It did seem promising though, when news of its impending release reached me a couple months ago. Like I said in my last Book Look! review, I always look forward to Vieira's new releases because his books are usually always beautifully produced, wonderfully written and they look gorgeous sitting on your coffee table or bookshelf. The same went for this book, and I was sadly disappointed when it arrived in the post. Firstly, it's a paperback book which wouldn't be bad but this one deserved a hardback edition; simply because 1939 was a watershed year in the history of film and it deserves a proper, substantial presentation.

Okay, so fine, I didn't get my hardback but another thing that irked me about the physicality of the book itself was the metallic overlay on the front and back covers and the book's spine. It arrived damaged and scratched and every time I laid a finger on it, what looked like a greasy fingerprint emerged on the cover. For someone who takes very good care of her things, this annoyed me to no end. I felt as if I was betraying the studio gods from 1939 every time I picked it up and held it in my unworthy, sullied hands. Sheesh. That's the thing with metallic overlays though - they show a multitude of sins and don't age very well.

In terms of length, Majestic Hollywood is only 224 pages. I wasn't expecting something so short - I mean, think of how much material there is to cover considering the book's subject! If it was left up to me, I would have produced a mammoth coffee table book that carried on for 1000+ pages! WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 1939 HERE! Okay, okay ... this is me settling down now. You know what I mean though. I think it's safe to say that the majority of us would have preferred a more lengthy, in-depth coverage of our favourite year instead of a slap-dash effort to get a book out before Christmas time. And that's exactly what I think happened here. Another clue that sorta gave the game away? Some of Vieira's picks for the year's best features: They Made Me A Criminal, Dodge City, Rose Of Washington Square, Five Came Back, and The Cat and the Canary. Really Vieira? Really?! I've a feeling you were just trying to fill pages mister ...

Is this book a must-buy? Certainly not. Is it something a classic movie fan would like to have sitting on his or her shelf? Perhaps. All I'm saying is that should you choose to purchase this 'coffee table' book, you may be a little disappointed (as was I). Perhaps the best decision you could make right now would be to go to your local bookstore and browse through the pages first, before walking up to the cash counter and parting with your money. Or, better yet, visit your neighbourhood library and borrow it free of charge. That's what I wish I had done.

Isabelle Klein

Der Glanz Hollywoods eines außergewöhnlichen Jahres

Reviewed in Germany on December 14, 2013

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Pünktlich zum Fest gibt es einen weiteren filmischen Leckerbissen von Vieira, der schon mit prachtvollen Bildbänden und fachkundigen Biografien zu überzeugen vermag (u.a. Jean Harlow, Irving Thalberg, MGM & Hurrell).

Zunächst war ich nicht sonderlich angetan von diesem Buch, braucht man ein gesammeltes Verzeichnis der Filme des Jahrs 1939, das uns allen alleine schon wegen "Vom Winde verweht" und "Der Zauberer von Oz" in ständiger Erinnerung ist? Nun, nach Erhalt des Buches meinerseits ein definitives JA - dieses Buch sollte man sich als Freund des alten Hollywoods keineswegs entgehen lassen. Auf 219 Seiten bringt Vieira, chronologisch gegliedert in zwölf Monate, dem Interessierten die 50 Großproduktionen im Kontext der damaligen Zeit wieder. Dabei ist jedem der 50 Highlights eine bis zwei Doppelseiten gewidmet. Sowohl wunderbar großformatige Stills, als auch Hinter-den-Kulissen-Fotos und Porträts der Stars machen das Ganze für sich genommen schon zum Augenschmaus. Dazu erhält man zu jedem Film eine kurze Inhaltsangabe, Produktions-Highlights und die Meinung der zeitgenössischen Kritik.

Besonderes Highlight ist dabei die dreiseitige Einleitung, in der Vieira einem Zusammenhänge aufzeigt und gelungen über Bedingungen und Hintergründe aufklärt. Man erfährt beispielsweise, dass man 1989 das Filmjahr 1939 zu einem außergewöhnlichen erklärte, ohne aber aufzuzeigen WARUM dies so ist. Hier erfährt man es kurz, knapp und prägnant. Wussten Sie, dass genau geregelt war, wie lange ein Film in einem Kino gezeigt wurde, bevor er in ein anderes minderen Ranges verbannt wurde? Ich nicht und das ist alleine neben der Tatsache, dass die Kritiker damals keinen Vorabblick riskieren konnten, sondern live mit dem Publikum den Film erlebten, ungeheuer interessant. Auch der Krieg und das Wegbrechen des europäischen Marktes wird thematisiert.
Am Ende des Buches gibt es ein Stichwortverzeichnis. Für alle, die es interessiert: In der Produktbeschreibung findet man das Filmverzeichnis; zudem hab ich ein paar Fotos hochgeladen.

Selbstverständlich kam ich nicht umhin, mal durchzuzählen, was ich kenne & was ich mein Eigen nenne. Es ist mehr als erwartet. Von einigen wusste ich beispielsweise nicht, dass sie Produkte des Jahres 1939 sind.
Man kann natürlich diskutieren und nachsinnen, warum von diesen vielen schönen Filmen, von denen meine absoluten Highlights -in chronologischer Reihenfolge- MIDNIGHT, DARK VICTORY (mit einem ungewöhnlich aufreizenden Fotos und tiefen Einblicken in Bette Davis' Dekolleté), ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE, ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS, JUAREZ, THE WOMEN, THE RAINS CAME, MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, usw., so viele in Vergessenheit geraten sind und gerade die beiden o.g. herausstechen. Ich für meinen Teil freue mich über all die Filme, die das Jahr 1939 - zumindest filmisch - zu einem einzigartigen machten.
FAST hätte ich den Monat September vollständig, doch leider fehlt der erste Film des Monats ...

Insgesamt ein gelungener Rundum- und Überblick eines außergewöhnlichen Filmjahres. Und wir merken uns: Spätestens jetzt wissen wir, dass 1939 extrem viele, unbedingt zu schauende Filme beinhaltet, was meine Filmliste einmal mehr um einige DVDs anwachsen lassen wird.
I am deeply impressed, en- und delighted! Und das zu einem Preis von 15,90€!

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Gojira Fan

A great year

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2014

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Just received this wonderful book. Mr Vieira has done an incredible job of showcasing the best films of a great year '1939'. The photos are incredibly clear. For anyone who loves the golden years of Hollywood get this book. I realize what an important year '1939' was in the history of movies. But I hope Mr Vieira comes up with a series of these books.

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