BOOK REVIEW: MOVIE CRAZY by Leonard Maltin

Before there were film bloggers, there were fanzines. These self produced newsletters often linked up film fans anxious for film news unavailable elsewhere.

Since he was 13, Leonard Maltin wrote for these fanzines. He contributed to FILM FAN MONTHLY. While he was still in his teens, he took over publication of it. He continued this until the mid 70’s when he ceased publication.

Matlin went on to become one of the most well known film historians of the day, with his indispensable yearly movie guide.

In 2002, he came upon a story he had never heard before. He read of how Orson Welles, after finishing, but before the release of CITIZEN KANE, met with Warner Brothers about starring and directing a film of theirs, THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER. They were close to a deal when RKO, who had Welles under contract, wouldn’t allow it.

Maltin was fascinated by the story, since he had never heard it before. None of the Welles bios mentioned it. So, after he couldn’t find a suitable place to publish the story, he decided to start up his MOVIE CRAZY newsletter. Published quarterly, this fanzine took him back to where he began. It is still published and can be ordered through his website.

I see the ads for MOVIE CRAZY in the back of his guide every year, but have yet to buy an issue. So, I am quite happy to see MOVIE CRAZY by Leonard Maltin published by M Press.

The book is made up of his favorite stories from the past few years. The focus is mainly on films of the 30’s and 40’s. As much of a fan I am of the time period, there are profiles in this of stars that I honestly wasn’t that familiar with.

There are some wonderful interviews with Norman Taurog, Blake Edwards, Robert Young, and others. Each of these focuses on their career and features fascinating stories, especially Taurog (interviewed in 1975) who went from the silents to working with Martin and Lewis.

The highlight of the book, at least for me, was the final section. In it, he writes about films “Lost in Movie Limbo”. He talks about how over the years, some films have disappeared from view and the reasons why. From Otto Preminger’s PORGY AND BESS, because of music rights, to other films that get remade and the studio that buys the remake rights literally takes all the copies of the film and sometimes destroys them. Fascinating section that I wish was even longer, or a book on its own.

For a book that is only $15, this is beautifully designed. Each page is filled with rare stills and lobby cards. Many of which he states have never been seen before.

If you are a fan of Maltin, and especially films of that era, this book is truly a must buy.