Items related to Fritz Lang: The Nature of the Beast
Fritz Lang, director of films such as "Metropolis", "M" and "The Big Heat", established his reputation in Germany during the silent era. When Hitler rose to power, Lang emigrated to the USA, where he injected his fatalistic Expressionism into the domestic world of Hollywood cinema. This biography presents him as a flawed human being, and includes suggestions that he murdered his first wife and engaged in sado-masochistic practices both on and off the set. Patrick McGilligan has also written biographies of George Cukor, Robert Altman, Jack Nicholson and James Cagney.
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Review:
Before the auteur theory was popularized by the French cinema journal Cahiers du Cinéma, Fritz Lang--creator of such noir classics as M, Metropolis, and the later Hollywood productions of Rancho Notorious and The Big Heat--was writing and directing his own films in the 1920s. This biography of the great Viennese director is at once reverent and thorough, although it fails to resolve the larger questions surrounding Fritz Lang's life: Did he shoot his first wife in 1920? Did Lang, who was half Jewish, flee Nazi Germany before pondering an offer from Goebbels to run the German movie industry? We may never know.
Review:
"As definitive a Lang as we are likely to get: entertaining, appalling, persuasive." —Steven Bach, L.A. Weekly Literary Supplement
"A beast Lang certainly was. . . . McGilligan, with ferocious research and a touch of wonder—throughout, he seems to be shaking his head in fascination—spreads [his] elements before us: the quasi-diabolist artist, the sadistic perfectionist with his actors, the fervent devotee of truth, the twister of facts, the elegant immoralist, the indefatigable amorist, the disturbing seer into the giant maladies of his epoch. McGilligan’s passion and thoroughness make his Lang biography a permanent resource." —Stanley Kauffmann, New York Times Book Review
"A beast Lang certainly was. . . . McGilligan, with ferocious research and a touch of wonder—throughout, he seems to be shaking his head in fascination—spreads [his] elements before us: the quasi-diabolist artist, the sadistic perfectionist with his actors, the fervent devotee of truth, the twister of facts, the elegant immoralist, the indefatigable amorist, the disturbing seer into the giant maladies of his epoch. McGilligan’s passion and thoroughness make his Lang biography a permanent resource." —Stanley Kauffmann, New York Times Book Review
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- PublisherFaber and Faber
- Publication date1997
- ISBN 10 0571191754
- ISBN 13 9780571191758
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages560
- Rating
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Fritz Lang: The Nature of the Beast
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Book Description Hardback. Condition: Fair. A readable copy of the book which may include some defects such as highlighting and notes. Cover and pages may be creased and show discolouration. Seller Inventory # GOR003900241
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Fritz Lang: The Nature of the Beast
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Book Description Condition: Good. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. Clean from markings. In good all round condition. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,1050grams, ISBN:0571191754. Seller Inventory # 9815949
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Fritz Lang: The Nature of the Beast
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Book Description Condition: Good. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. Dust jacket in good condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,1050grams, ISBN:9780571191758. Seller Inventory # 8679531
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Fritz Lang: The Nature of the Beast
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Fritz Lang. The Nature of the beast. Von Patrick McGilligan.
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Book Description Condition: Gut. 548 S.; Illustrationen; 24 cm. Gutes Ex.; Seiten minimal gebräunt. - Englisch. // Fritz Lang is the visionary director of Metropolis, M, Fury, The Big Heat and over thirty other memorable films. But what lurks behind his legendary genius? Did Fritz Lang murder his first wife, who died mysteriously after discovering him in the arms of his scriptwriter (who then became his second wife and a leading figure in Nazi cinema)? Did Lang really refuse an offer from Hitler to become the Third Reich's 'Fuhrer of Film' before he fled to the United States? Was he a sensitive artist or a sado-masochis't whose cruel on-set behaviour was mirrored in a sordid love life crowded with prostitutes and mistresses? During his life Lang was a master storyteller who embroidered the details of his life with great invention. He encouraged publicity, but discouraged the truth. Patrick McGilligan has spent four years interviewing Lang's few remaining contemporaries, researching government and cinema archives and investigating the myths created by Lang. In this definitive biography, McGilligan reconstructs the fascinating, flawed human being behind the monster with the monocle. (Verlagstext) // INHALT : PROLOGUE - 1976 - VIENNA - Chapter 1: 1890-1911 Chapter 2: 1911-1918 - BERLIN - Chapter 3: 1918-1921 Chapter 4: 1921-1922 Chapter 5: 1923-1924 Chapter 6: 1925-1927 Chapter 7: 1928-1929 Chapter 8: 1930-1931 Chapter 9: 1932-1933 - PARIS - Chapter 10: 1933-1934 - HOLLYWOOD - Chapter 11: 1934-1936 Chapter 12: 1936-1938 Chapter 13: 1939-1941 Chapter 14: 1941-1945 Chapter 15: 1945-1946 Chapter 16: 1946-1947 Chapter 17: 1948-1952 Chapter 18: 1952-1953 Chapter 19: 1953-1956 Chapter 20: 1957-1964 Chapter 21: 1965-1976 - FILMOGRAPHY - NOTES AND SOURCES INDEX. ISBN 0571191754 Sprache: Deutsch Gewicht in Gramm: 1000 Originalhardcover mit Schutzumschlag. Seller Inventory # 1070713
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Fritz Lang: The Nature of the Beast
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(1997)
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Text paper browned. Slight shelfwear to dustwrapper, Seller Inventory # c095121
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Fritz Lang - The Nature of the Beast
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Book Description Hard Cover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Fair. First British Edition. Grey/red cloth hardback - minimally bumped - in chipped/edge-creased/very slightly edge-torn DJ. 548pp. with additional b/w illustrations. Pages browning. Blemished fep. Generally a Good copy. The price includes an allowance for any extra UK P&P - the item weighs around 950g. Overseas buyers should contact the seller direct to negotiate appropriate P&P fees. Seller Inventory # 9715
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Fritz Lang Nature of the Beast
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(1997)
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. DJ in archival cover with a full number line starting with 1. Seller Inventory # 008562
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