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Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide
From Leonard Maltin, author of the bestselling annual Movie Guide, comes this guide to classic movies. Leonard Maltin’s Classic Movie Guide includes more than 7,000 capsule reviews of classic movies, including: The Birth of a Nation (1915), Gone With the Wind (1939), The Philadelphia Story (1940), High Noon (1952), and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967).
In addition, this unique volume also offers a star and director index, a full listing of classic movies on DVD, and Leonard Maltin’s unique Top Ten lists. The result is an authoritative, dynamic guide to the classics no film aficionado should be without.
704 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2005
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About the author
Leonard Maltin
183 books73 followersLeonard Maltin, is an American film and animated-film critic and historian.
Maltin began his writing career at age fifteen, writing for Classic Images and editing and publishing his own fanzine, Film Fan Monthly, dedicated to films from the golden age of Hollywood. After receiving a journalism degree at New York University, Maltin went on to publish articles in a variety of film journals, national news-papers, and magazines, including Variety and TV Guide.
Maltin in 1990
As an author, Maltin is best known for Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide, (some editions titled as his ...Movie and Video Guide), a compendium of synopses and reviews that first appeared in September 1969 and has been annually updated since October 1987. (It was published under the title TV Movies until the 1990s, and in 2005 spawned a spin-off, Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide, limited to films released in 1960 and earlier to allow the regular book to cover a larger number of more recent titles.) He has also written several other works, including Behind the Camera, a study of the art of cinematography, The Whole Film Sourcebook, Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia, Our Gang: The Life and Times of the Little Rascals, and Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons.
Since May 29, 1982, Maltin has been the movie reviewer on the syndicated television series Entertainment Tonight. He also appears on the Starz cable network, and hosted his own syndicated radio program, Leonard Maltin on Video, as well as the syndicated TV show Hot Ticket with Boston film critic Joyce Kulhawik (originally E! personality and game show host Todd Newton). He currently hosts a television show entitled Secret's Out on ReelzChannel movie network. He also spearheaded the creation of the Walt Disney Treasures collectible DVD line in 2001,[4] and continues to provide creative input and host the various sets.
He appeared on Pyramid twice as a celebrity player, in 1987 on the CBS $25,000 version and in 1991 on the John Davidson version. He appeared on Super Password as a celebrity guest in 1988.
In the mid-1990s, he became the president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and is on the Advisory Board of the Hollywood Entertainment Museum. For nearly a decade, Maltin was also on the faculty of the New School for Social Research in New York City. He currently teaches in the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California.
In 1998, Maltin settled a libel suit brought by former child star Billy Gray, of Father Knows Best fame, whom Maltin identified as a drug addict and dealer in his review of the film Dusty and Sweets McGee for the movie guide book. The statement appeared in print for nearly twenty-five years before Maltin publicly apologized for the error.[5]
He currently hosts "The Maltin Minute" for DirecTV customers. Maltin also teaches at the University of Southern California.
Maltin began his writing career at age fifteen, writing for Classic Images and editing and publishing his own fanzine, Film Fan Monthly, dedicated to films from the golden age of Hollywood. After receiving a journalism degree at New York University, Maltin went on to publish articles in a variety of film journals, national news-papers, and magazines, including Variety and TV Guide.
Maltin in 1990
As an author, Maltin is best known for Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide, (some editions titled as his ...Movie and Video Guide), a compendium of synopses and reviews that first appeared in September 1969 and has been annually updated since October 1987. (It was published under the title TV Movies until the 1990s, and in 2005 spawned a spin-off, Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide, limited to films released in 1960 and earlier to allow the regular book to cover a larger number of more recent titles.) He has also written several other works, including Behind the Camera, a study of the art of cinematography, The Whole Film Sourcebook, Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia, Our Gang: The Life and Times of the Little Rascals, and Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons.
Since May 29, 1982, Maltin has been the movie reviewer on the syndicated television series Entertainment Tonight. He also appears on the Starz cable network, and hosted his own syndicated radio program, Leonard Maltin on Video, as well as the syndicated TV show Hot Ticket with Boston film critic Joyce Kulhawik (originally E! personality and game show host Todd Newton). He currently hosts a television show entitled Secret's Out on ReelzChannel movie network. He also spearheaded the creation of the Walt Disney Treasures collectible DVD line in 2001,[4] and continues to provide creative input and host the various sets.
He appeared on Pyramid twice as a celebrity player, in 1987 on the CBS $25,000 version and in 1991 on the John Davidson version. He appeared on Super Password as a celebrity guest in 1988.
In the mid-1990s, he became the president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and is on the Advisory Board of the Hollywood Entertainment Museum. For nearly a decade, Maltin was also on the faculty of the New School for Social Research in New York City. He currently teaches in the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California.
In 1998, Maltin settled a libel suit brought by former child star Billy Gray, of Father Knows Best fame, whom Maltin identified as a drug addict and dealer in his review of the film Dusty and Sweets McGee for the movie guide book. The statement appeared in print for nearly twenty-five years before Maltin publicly apologized for the error.[5]
He currently hosts "The Maltin Minute" for DirecTV customers. Maltin also teaches at the University of Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 7, 2021
IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN.
In the trusted Leonard Maltin tradition, this third edition of his Classic Movie Guide is a priceless film reference book. More than just capsule reviews and * to **** ratings (and an occasional BOMB) but an invaluable and essential collection of movie lore.
I've never missed any of Leonard's movie guides, ever since the first was published in the mid-sixties when such information was scant, making his books a godsend for the film buff. It has yet to be equaled for accuracy and dependability. Even today, with so much info available from various outlets, this book is vital for concise and no nonsense reviews.
Some 10,000 films are rated from the silent era through to 1965 and with so many rare and obscure films becoming more and more available to collectors, especially in the pre and early talkie era, this guide has become even more valuable and important.
I may be old fashioned but I much prefer to consult this fountain of knowledge for reliable updated and correct information than rely on the many dubious facts on other outlets. And this easy to read, sensibly designed book, one reference leads to hours and hours of further discovery. Rarely a day goes by without me delving into this book!
Thanks to Leonard and his expert team of long serving, film loving contributors.
In the trusted Leonard Maltin tradition, this third edition of his Classic Movie Guide is a priceless film reference book. More than just capsule reviews and * to **** ratings (and an occasional BOMB) but an invaluable and essential collection of movie lore.
I've never missed any of Leonard's movie guides, ever since the first was published in the mid-sixties when such information was scant, making his books a godsend for the film buff. It has yet to be equaled for accuracy and dependability. Even today, with so much info available from various outlets, this book is vital for concise and no nonsense reviews.
Some 10,000 films are rated from the silent era through to 1965 and with so many rare and obscure films becoming more and more available to collectors, especially in the pre and early talkie era, this guide has become even more valuable and important.
I may be old fashioned but I much prefer to consult this fountain of knowledge for reliable updated and correct information than rely on the many dubious facts on other outlets. And this easy to read, sensibly designed book, one reference leads to hours and hours of further discovery. Rarely a day goes by without me delving into this book!
Thanks to Leonard and his expert team of long serving, film loving contributors.
January 10, 2022
The absolute best reference book for classic films.
February 18, 2023
Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide needs to be in the house of every serious fan of older movies. IMDB is good but Maltin's book is better. Nothing beats it. I look movies up in this book all of the time. It's great.
December 31, 2017
Essential guide for Classic movie fans and watchers of TCM.
March 25, 2017
an absolutely essential book for the classic movie fan. nice short to-the-point reviews. that do just enough to pique your interest to watch the movies.
April 25, 2023
The number one reference stop for classic movies a true must for the movie lover
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2011
This is an absolute TREASURE TROVE for fans of classic movies, or should we say quality films from earlier times. Maltin's authoritative guide provides concise descriptions of over 10,000 movies from the silent era through 1965. Each blurb includes details like year, running time, director, actors, a synopsis, and a BOMB thru 4-star rating. If you enjoy great movies, you will appreciate this indispensable reference book. Love it!
January 31, 2012
As a classic movie lover (especially Film Noir and Old Westerns), I have fallen in love with this book. I keep it by my bedside and constantly refer to it to look up films that have caught my attention or a lot of times I just open the book up to a random page and discover new films I haven't heard of or old favorites I had long forgotten. I have found that it is not perfect and often times find films are missing. Still there is nothing quite like available.
January 14, 2016
I bought this at the Turner Classic Movies Film Fest back in April and got Leonard Maltin to sign it - that's how big of a classic movie geek I am. I seek out Leonard Maltin's autograph.
He is more than just a movie reviewer when it comes to classic films - he is a fan and great research goes behind it as well. This book runs the gamut from essentials everyone should see to some more obscure titles. Highly recommended!!
He is more than just a movie reviewer when it comes to classic films - he is a fan and great research goes behind it as well. This book runs the gamut from essentials everyone should see to some more obscure titles. Highly recommended!!
July 13, 2010
Even better than the original one. Updated and has movies up to 1965 instead of 1960.
November 1, 2010
brilliant
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews