John Huston, maker of magic

Heyne Filmbibliothek

by Stuart M. Kaminsky

A marvelously enjoyable book, filled with fascinating revelations about a fascinating man and his work. The author's keen perception illuminates both.

Genres: Film, Biography, Nonfiction

237 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Stuart M. Kaminsky wrote 50 published novels, 5 biographies, 4 textbooks and 35 short stories. He also has screenwriting credits on four produced films including ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA, ENEMY TERRITORY, A WOMAN IN THE WIND and HIDDEN FEARS. He was a past president of the Mystery Writers of America and was nominated for six prestigious Edgar Allen Poe Awards including one for his short story “Snow” in 1999. He won an Edgar for his novel A COLD RED SUNRISE, which was also awarded the Prix De Roman D’Aventure of France. He was nominated for both a Shamus Award and a McCavity Readers Choice Award.

Kaminsky wrote several popular series including those featuring Lew Fonesca, Abraham Lieberman, Inspector Porfiry Petrovich Rostnikov, and Toby Peters. He also wrote two original "Rockford Files " novels. He was the 50th annual recipient of the Grandmaster 2006 for Lifetime Achievement from the Mystery Writers of America.

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievement award) in 2007.

His nonfiction books including BASIC FILMMAKING, WRITING FOR TELEVISION, AMERICAN FILM GENRES, and biographies of GARY COOPER, CLINT EASTWOOD, JOHN HUSTON and DON SIEGEL. BEHIND THE MYSTERY was published by Hot House Press in 2005 and nominated by Mystery Writers of America for Best Critical/Biographical book in 2006.

Kaminsky held a B.S. in Journalism and an M.A. in English from The University of Illinois and a Ph.D. in Speech from Northwestern University where he taught for 16 years before becoming a Professor at Florida State. where he headed the Graduate Conservatory in Film and Television Production. He left Florida State in 1994 to pursue full-time writing.

Kaminsky and his wife, Enid Perll, moved to St. Louis, Missouri in March 2009 to await a liver transplant to treat the hepatitis he contracted as an army medic in the late 1950s in France. He suffered a stroke two days after their arrival in St. Louis, which made him ineligible for a transplant. He died on October 9, 2009.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a biography of John Huston do yourself a favor and look elsewhere. This book is top flight criticism that goes throughout the life of the writer, director, producer and actor and ties it to his body of work. Stuart Kamisky seamlessly finds the thread that runs through Houston’s work while giving insight to his methods. This book is well researched and informative, and I’m extremely glad I read it.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hack work, read his autobiography instead.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars from younger film nerd me

[Bill Laughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an ok read. I think I will read John Huston's own book "An Open Book"