Back to the Future Revised and Expanded Edition: The Ultimate Visual History

by Michael Klastorin, Randal Atamaniuk

Foreword by Michael J. Fox
Preface by Christopher Lloyd
Great Scott! Go Back to the Future with Doc Brown and Marty McFly and celebrate the film’s 35th anniversary with this visually stunning look at the creation of one of the most beloved movie trilogies of all time.

Few films have made an impact on popular culture like the Back to the Future trilogy. This revised and expanded edition with officially licensed content goes behind the scenes to tell the complete story of the making of these hugely popular movies and how the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown became an international phenomenon.

Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History Revised and Expanded Edition is a stunning journey into the creation of this beloved time-traveling saga and features hundreds of never-before-seen images from all three movies, along with rare concept art, storyboards, and other visual treasures.

The revised and expanded 35th anniversary edition includes incredible new features such as:


16 additional pages of new behind-the-scenes content

USA Today front page insert from the original movie
The book also features exclusive interviews with key cast and crew members—including Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, and more—and tells the complete story of the production of the movies, from the initial concept to the staging of iconic scenes such as the “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance and the hoverboard sequence. The Ultimate Visual History tells the complete story behind the movies, Back to the Future: The Ride, the animated series, and more, This revised and updated edition features additional Back to the Future content, including a deep dive into Telltale Games' video game and IDW's series of comics, as well as a look at the most memorable Back to the Future merchandise, such as Funko's line of collectibles. You'll also find an exclusive look at Back to the Future: The Musical, with commentary from writer and producer Bob Gale.

Written by Michael Klastorin—the production publicist on the second and third movies—with Back to the Future expert Randal Atamaniuk, this book delivers a range of surprises from the Universal Pictures archives and also includes a wealth of special removable items.

Comprehensive, compelling, and definitive, Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History Revised and Expanded Edition is the book that die-hard fans have been waiting for.

Removable items include:


Hill Valley High School Tardy Slip
Back to the Future The Ride security pass
Save the Clocktower leaflet
Sepia photograph of Marty and Doc from Part III
Marty’s note to Doc from the first film with the envelope
George McFly’s book

Jaws 19 movie poster
George and Lorraine’s prom photo
Doc’s flux capacitor sketch from the first film
Doc’s note to Marty from 1885
Biff one dollar bill from Part II
Blast from the Past receipt from Part II
Lenticular version of the iconic McFly family photo from the first film
© 2020 Universal City Studios LLC and Amblin Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film, Media Tie In, Time Travel, History, Art, Pop Culture

240 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2015

Reviews

[maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the coolest books I have ever purchased. It's no secret that I'm a huge Back To The Future fan. It's my favourite film of all time and I wouldn't have it any other way. As most of you probably know, Back To The Future Day, a.k.a. the day Marty McFly travels in to the future in the second film (October 21st 2015) has just recently passed and it was one huge celebration for all those that are fans of the franchise. This book contains amazing behind the scenes stories and photographs that teach you everything you need to know about the trilogy. That isn't even the best part! Within the book, there are little treasures like the Save The Clock Tower flyer, Doc's drawing of the Flux Capacitor, and the letter Marty writes to Doc warning him about his future.

Honestly, this was the best $35 I have ever spent. I highly reccommend this to anyone who is a fan of the Back To The Future trilogy!

[Jevron McCrory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was AMAZING!!!! Simply AMAZING!!!!

From the beautiful glossy feel of the hardback covers to the HIGH QUALITY pages within, literally bursting with colour and vivid design, from the meticulous research and abundance of detail to the numerous cast and crew anecdotes and insights, from the jaw dropping concept art to the ridiculously COOL removable memorabilia/film prop reproductions, this book is an ESSENTIAL companion to the perfect trilogy!

I devoured this book but took my time with it. I didn't want to rush, that's how enjoyable it was a read. Some may find the almost obsessive level of detail provided over the top but I reveled in it! (Yes, I WAS curious about the exact day-to-day shooting schedules!)

I cannot overstate how incredible the removable replica props are! To actually own Marty's 'disappearing family' photo (lenticular - so people ACTUALLY DISAPPEAR!), his black and white photo of him and Doc in 1885 and his warning letter to Doc, written in 1955, is too cool for words! They are getting framed!

Have I been too subtle? GET THIS BOOK!!!!!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all the other visual history books in the series, the book is a wild mix of history, trivia and mementos (which in several cases are stuck all over the pages).

Now I am not sure where in the series this book was printed (and yes I know there is not really a series but a number of these books have been printed with the latest being Labyrinth and Dark Crystal) as it feels that the quality and the execution of the idea has been improved. For example the props stuck to the pages here peel away far too easily were as the later version they are practically bonded to the page.

However the book is a wealth of information and as expected a mine of trivia for the fan. Now I am not superfan but I love to films but even I was caught out with some of the information here (no I will not spoil it).

Plus there is the side information for example the creation of the interactive ride (something along with the Indiana Jones ride something I would have loved to have tried out) which really was great since I had heard of it but never seen it.

However I was a little surprised but the omissions too - for example the comics and computer game both of which are said to be continuations of the storyline - if you like the next instalment. Both were omitted but these media have been discussed in there books.

It maybe that I have an edition of the book before these were ready to be incorporated but I think not. which is strange - maybe a copyright issue or licensing but still strange,

however do not think this is a flawed book - far from it in fact I hope we get to see more of the Ultimate history make over i think it will be something amazing.

[~Tina~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this was a blast from the past...or should I say future!
Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History, is a must have for any Back to the Future fan. These movies were just as much a part of my childhood as Star Wars and Saturday morning cartoons. I loved learning about how this movie was made, look at all the pictures and artwork and was even surprised to learn a few things I didn't know. I also absolutely loved the little tokens this books gives us; a picture of Marty and his fading sister and brother, a flyer of the Save The Clock Tower and even a picture of Doc and Marty in the old west and so much more. These are the added treasures that made this collection even more worth it. The Back to the Future trilogy was probably what started my love for sci-fi and time travel to begin with and it brought endless entertainment throughout these many years for me and my family. This was great piece of history to a much beloved time.

[Jonathan Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was 14 years old when I went to see back to the Future back in early 1986. I was getting into my movies then - there were plenty of fun, action-packed movies to see and travelling to the cinema on my own or with friends was becoming a regular thing. I saw a lot of movies but there were few that stuck with me beyond the 1980s, and one of these films was Back to the Future.

All three films are fun, entertaining and thrilling, the first film especially, and I made sure they were part of my movie collection from very early on. They've not lost any of their sparkle or magic and even though their predictions of the future weren't exactly spot on - it's their arrival date on the 21st October 2015 and sadly we still don't have flying cars, hoverboards or huge holographic sharks - it's an amazing look at the ages as seen through the lens of the 1980s.

And this is what the visual history gives us - a look back at the attitudes and techniques of the people who bought us these wonderful films. From the original, and very different, drafts of the project, through the original shoot with Eric Stoltz to Michael J Fox's inclusion and beyond. It covers the films and even the non-movie projects such as Back to the Future: The Ride and the animated series. Peppered with interviews and comments from the stars and crew, as well as stories about the sometimes troubled production there's an absolute treasure trove of information in here.

I'm a fan of the movies but I've never been a collector, so I can't tell you what in here that die-hard fans of the franchise might find new and enlightening, but personally I found a lot of the content to be full of facts and figures I wasn't aware of. The Eric Stoltz stories especially piqued my interest as I'd heard that there had been issues with his involvement but didn't fully realise the extent of it. This book fills in those blanks, and even though it doesn't appear to be anyone's fault there's a sense of relief when Michael J Fox is bought in.

Beyond this fascinating look at the early production the book then talks you through the rest of the primary film, and then the next two films. We get first drafts of scripts and ideas, early designs, storyboards and even internal memos and casting calls; it really is fascinating, A lot of the attention to detail is on the first film, and with good reason, but the next two films are discussed at length and there's a lot to learn. It's a great read.

But just reading the book isn't the only thing it's good for - it's interactive as well. Inside the book there are plenty of little treats that you can remove and have as keepsakes, reproduced mementoes of the movies. It starts with the photo of Marty and his brother and sister that you see in the movie - and when you tilt it the brother and sister vanish. Then there's a 'Save the Clock Tower' flyer, then a Hill Valley High School Tardy Slip... there's so much in here that you can take out, handle, read and simply geek out over it's wonderful. I didn't think it could get any better until I got to the back of the book and found a poster of Jaws 19 in the inside back cover. Now I can't decide whether it stays in the book or goes on my wall. Each item is
held in with simple glue that means you can tale it out to have a look and then pop it straight back in again.

Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History is a wonderful book and a great read. It fills you in with the details, the designs and the drama behind the making of the films and I had a lot of fun reading it. This book is what I hoped for in a 'Making Of' book. It was my density.

Highly recommended.

[Matt Fiedler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a HUGE BTTF fan, it is by far my favorite movie of all time, and I learned so much more than I thought I ever knew by reading this book. Between casting choices and production issues, you get a deep look at the making of one of the greatest trilogies of all time.

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE BEST Back to the Future book I have ever read! On that list, I'm including the movie-adaptation books, the unauthorized/authorized biographies, all of them!!! THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!

"Modern day kid finds a time machine, goes back and meets his parents." -pg 16

Upon first flip of the pages, you catch all the full color images and drawings, inserts like notes and tickets...it sort of feels intimidating and yet it captures your eye.

The first thing you read is a letter (they're calling it a Foreward) by Michael J Fox...Marty McFly himself. It's heartfelt and genuine. And paired with a picture that graced the wall of my room at one point in my time. Then you move on to Christopher Lloyd's letter paired with an image of Doc Brown in his crazy shirt. Then Bob Gale finishes out the preface and sends you on your way to journey through the past and the future of the Back to the Future world.

The story behind the movie is something amazing. Some of it I've heard of before. Most I hadn't. There's in-depth information...about casting--which, by the way, seeing Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly...NO!--about how the DeLorean became the car of choice for a time machine. Location information, shoot information...just the little things you never think about made important because it really was.

Throughout the story of this film series, there are images (a lot I haven't seen before and some I've owned) of the original Marty(NO! again), drawings of time machine possibilities, blueprints of Hill Valley Square, images from the movies, costume ideas for everything from the 1885 trip all the way to the Oct 21, 2015 future. (Which is now sadly in our past. *heavy sigh*)

I spent less time reading and more time studying those images/pics. Just purely mesmerized by it all.

The inserts are some of the coolest things about this book:

1. Doc Brown's flux Capacitor drawing -- as seen in BTTF (pg 18)

2. The picture of Marty, Dave, & Linda -- lenticular so Dave and Linda disappear, leaving Marty by the well... just like the movie image. (pg 22)

3. Save the Clocktower Flyer -- has Jennifer's message to Marty and her phone number on the back. (pg 36)

4. Marty McFly's tardy pass -- given to him by Principal Strickland in 1985 (pg 42)

5. Marty's letter to Doc Brown -- A warning about getting shot in 1985. On Lou's Cafe stationary from 1955. (pg 56)

6. Book Cover: A Match Made in Space -- the book written by George McFly in the new 1985. (pg 82)

7. Enchantment Under the Sea picture - George McFly and Lorraine Baines. (pg 84)

8. Biff Tannen Dollar -- from the alternate horror 1985. (pg 130)

9. Receipt from Blast from the Past -- Grey's Sports Almanac $29.00 (pretty much on point with today's book prices) (pg 146)

10. Pic of Marty and Doc -- from 1885 with the clock face before it was built into the clocktower. (pg 176)

11. Letter from Doc to Marty -- delivered by Western Union moments after Marty witnessed the DeLorean being struck by lightning in 1955 (pg 195)

12. BTTF: The Ride -- production staff pass (pg 213)

13. Jaws 19 -- movie poster for the Max Spielberg directed film in 2015 (inside back cover)


So, this book is a win. It's definitely geared for someone who is a die hard fan as well as someone who just likes the movie. I LOVED IT!!!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

*A NON-FICTION NOVEMBER READ* This month's theme...of course, for me, most of my non-fictions are about movies. Might have to change that at some point. until then, I'm movie-reading away!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely informative deep dive into the entire series, even getting into the ride and animated series. I learned a ton of neat little tidbits. As a bonus it also comes with cool prop replicas, including one of the best lenticular pieces I've seen.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great history to a great film series! A must for any fans of any of the Back to the Future films.

[Rafal Jasinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Za długie do czytania?... Krótko: publikacja fenomenalna! Treść i forma wydania? A) Masa informacji niedostępnych z innych źródeł B) Cudowne ukoronowanie i ozdoba Waszych biblioteczek...

Michael Klastorin był rzecznikiem prasowym w trakcie powstawania drugiej i trzeciej części "Powrotu do przyszłości", dzięki czemu uzyskał dostęp do twórców i materiałów w skali, w jakiej dotąd nie udało się to i śniło komukolwiek, jeśli chodzi o najlepszą trylogię wszech czasów.

Będąc w wielu aspektach uświadomionym fanem serii Zemeckisa i Gale'a, w starciu z lekturą tej książki stwierdziłem, że "wiem, że nic nie wiem"... To po prostu biblia fanów tej serii, a jej lektura to jest jak sięgnięcie do źródeł kultu, religii i mitu!

A poza tym, moi drodzy, nigdy dotąd nie spotkałem się z publikacją, która w swej formie zawierała by tyle memorabiliów, reprodukcji i unikatowych zdjęć i wszelkich cudów, jakich dotąd nie dostarczyła mi żadna kolekcjonerska wersja książki, gry czy filmu. Otwierając tę książkę poczujecie się, jak dzieci odpakowujący prezent choinkowy, z tej konkretnej Gwiazdki, jaką najcieplej wspominacie!

Podsumowując - dla fanów trylogii - jest to "jedna książka, by wszystkimi rządzić". Polecam mega-gorąco!

[Paxton Holley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was excellent. Akin to those JW Rinzler Star Wars making of books but on a much more condensed scale. This obviously covers the whole BTTF trilogy, but it also has small sections on Back to the Future: The Ride as well as The Animated Series.

It goes over production, scenes filmed, and has some of the most complete information on filming with Eric Stoltz and the switchover to Michael J Fox. I almost wish there was more. More on movie preproduction and how certain concepts in the movie came up. For instance, there's no real deep dive into the evolution of the time machine in the story. It discusses earlier drafts and what the time machine was there, but it didn't really give a lot on why, when they decided the time machine needed to be a car, they chose a Delorean.

But those are nitpicks. This volume is great. I loved it. I even learned a few things I didn't already know.

[SilverCenturion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Included in the book are replicas of various movie props such as the “save the clocktower” flyer, the infamous photograph of Marty and his two siblings, the letter Doc writes to Marty in 1885, and much more. All objects add to the book’s authenticity and completeness as a review of the BTTF trilogy. Behind the scenes notes, letters, pictures, and commentary are all provided here. The richness of the book cannot be overstated. Additionally, details from the directors themselves regarding Eric Stoltz’ performance as the original Marty are present, which makes for a fun read.

[Kevin Halloran · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly exceptional book that details the story of how the BTTF trilogy was made—with stunning visual detail. I had no idea the first movie had so much drama (they had their budget cut, had to change major parts of script, and originally had Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly!). I loved all of the anecdotes from shooting and will never watch the movies the same. The book comes with extras like removable photos and novelty items from the movie. If you are a big BTTF geek like me, this is a must have. It’s your density.

[Rich Marx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is a visual history, it contained extensive behind the scene tidbits about the writing, producing, and filming of the trilogy that felt like choice morsels as I read. I thought I knew a lot about the movies until I read this book. It was a feast for my 1980s self that still wants to surface often!

[tyler 196 · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite parts of this was that it leads all the way up to 2020. i had no idea that it covered the history of this franchise from 1984 to 2020. the replicas were also really cool and i loved learning all this new stuff about the movies

[Montserrat Esteban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro que me ha encantado, que desgrana todas las semanas de rodaje, además de anécdotas y puntos de vista diferentes. Además de contar con mucho material gráfico y extra que hará que tengas ganas de volver a ver la trilogía de otra manera

[angelofmine1974 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/KG9hZiw-QEk

Enjoy!

[David MP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imprescindible para todo fan de la saga

[Ivana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!

[Art of the Film · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of "Back to the Future", then you are going to love the book "Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History". It's a complete look at the making of the films and why the franchise is important within the context of both film history and the greater popular culture.

About half the book is dedicated to the original film. Every aspect of the movie is discussed - writing, casting, design, the production, and the music. The authors did a great job researching and compiling interesting information; the text is well-written and comprehensive in its detail. One very smart decision was to organize the information about the production on a week-by-week basis -- the reader gets a good sense of the filmmaking process because they understand the complete production timeline.

Of course, this book is the "visual history". So you'd be right to assume that there is a lot of fantastic imagery on display. The book contains early concept art, storyboards, costume sketches, and more. Also printed within the book are call sheets, office memos, alternate casting lists, etc. Plus there is an abundance of on-set photography, so you can see the actors at work. It's rare to get such a detailed behind-the-scenes look at a film's production.

See a photo gallery here: http://www.movieartbook.com/2015/10/back-to-future-ultimate-visual-history.html

The second half of the book goes into the movie sequels as well as other topics (such as the Universal Studios ride and the animated series). Text and images remain compelling throughout.

Some of my favorite images in the book are the one-sheet posters by Drew Struzan. If you're a fan of Back to the Future, you know exactly the posters I am talking about -- they are iconic, and Struzan's art is printed full-page in high quality.

We also get to hear from actors Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, as well as writer/producer Bob Gale and director Robert Zemeckis. Each one writes a 1-2 page piece for the book. Thirty years have passed since the release of "Back to the Future", and it's fascinating to read their thoughts on the legacy of the films.

Overall, this is one of the best movie-related books to be released this year. I am a casual fan of "Back to the Future", and the book has renewed my interest and inspired me to revisit the films.

*Note: Thank you to Harper Design for providing me a review copy of the book.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I imagine if you put this and the Ghostbusters Visual History in front of most fans of both movies, they wouldn't detect a significant difference in the amount of new details that fans can only hear about in this book, but Klastorin's approach feels a little less sentimental, more rooted in technical details and bits that are generally passed over in the many DVD and Blu-ray documentaries that have been produced (and especially Caseen Gaines' underwhelming We Don't Need Roads) in favor of more anecdotal material. Another plus is that Zemeckis and Gale are not nearly as sentimental as somene like Dan Aykroyd, who will still tell you Ghostbusters II is a good movie, so this has plenty of Zemeckis discussing his concerns and issues during both shoots, and a great wealth of photographs from the Eric Stoltz period on Back to the Future. The volume of work Stoltz did on the first movie has been widely discussed, but Klastorin and his co-writer Randal Atamaniuk's archival material really clarifies it through photos of Stoltz in so many of the movie's scenes. It also gave me a renewed appreciation for the effort put into the Western details of Back to the Future Part III.

Although I hate to admit it, the two best sections of Gaines' book aren't covered here (Weissman's miserable experience as a Gale / Glover middleman isn't mentioned at all, and the terrifying stunt-gone-wrong involving Cheryl Wheeler-Dixon on Back to the Future II is summed up in an inch-long paragraph), so that book can't totally be thrown out of the conversation. Nonetheless, this is the clear winner of the two -- a wealth of detail, a great collection of images, and no agonizing "first person" prose.

[Nathan Dehoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among other things, this book contains a lot of prop reproductions, including the flyer about the clock tower and the newspaper discussing George's death in the timeline where Biff shot him. Unfortunately, they're not as detailed as you might have hoped, being mostly just junk language. This was long before HDTV, after all. The text and pictures give a behind-the-scenes look at the making of all three movies, including script ideas that were dropped and how some scenes were filmed. Definitely worth a look if you enjoyed the trilogy. What with all the inserts, it's also a good collector's item, although I actually checked it out from the library.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd have read this book in one sitting if it wasn't for my children wanting to be fed... you know how children can be.

As a fan of BTTF for the last 29 years, since the age of 9, this book was a must read for me (and the best Christmas present!) Poor old Robert Zemeckis went through trials and tribulations working with Eric Stoltz and Crispin Glover. But then along came Michael J Fox, like a knight in shining armour, following direction and doing his best to make everyones lives easier! This book has lots of insights and behind the scenes stories, secrets of filming, and anecdotes - not to mention lots of special features, like posters, flyers and diagrams.

[Jeff Wetherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent behind the scenes look at one of the most popular movie trilogies ever! Not only does it contain some great history of the trilogy, captured in recollections from cast and crew and photos of how certain special effects were accomplished, but it is also full of removable memorabilia and souveniers. I, of course, did not remove ANY of them, choosing to have them remain in place within the book. I like to have the collection be complete.

If you liked the Back to the Future trilogy, you'll want this book for your personal library.

[Richard Bandejas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like the book. Because it tells the story of back to the future but what happens behind the camera and the book has some items from the movie like the letter Marty gave to doc before he got shot in the future. Also there are pictures to show how they put their makeup on and how they hired the cast and their life story. Along with the ride that was in universal and talked about the idea of bob gale invented it and how they inspired people of the real hoverboard and many other things that they made in the movie.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Scott! This ranks as one of the best "making of" books I've ever read. The main focus is on the first film, but there is still a decent amount of coverage relating to the two sequels. A huge selection of rare photographs from all three Back To the Future films compliments some great behind the scenes stories. If that wasn't enough there are also removable items including a pamphlet on saving the clock tower, a Biff Tannen dollar bill, the cover of George McFly's novel & much more.

[Fancynancyuga · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you own the DVD collection of Back to the Future and you watched the bonus features with Bob and Robert then there is nothing new in this book for you. However, there are some great things for collectors of this movie and it was a fun visual of how this movie came to be. I enjoyed this as I am a huge Back to the Future fan.

[David L. Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the perfect companion to the trilogy. Lots of behind-the-scenes stories, artist drawings of the cars, clothes, etc and to top it off there are recreations of some of the paper props included (i.e. The letter Marty writes to Doc about the future). There's also big sections about the ride at Universal Studios and the animated series. Kudos to the author!

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. It is simply as the title suggests and goes very in depth with this great trilogy. It even goes through each week of production on the movies. I thought that it was pretty awesome that it had all these interesting facts about the production and I found my already-great-love of these films increased.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-have for Back to the Future fans. A wealth of information and fun pop-out items, tons of behind-the-scenes images.

Here's my full review: http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2015/10/20...