The 100 Best Films to Rent You've Never Heard Of: Hidden Treasures, Neglected Classics, and Hits From By-Gone Eras

by David N. Meyer

A Guide for the Video-confused
Can't decide what film to rend?
Tired of wandering the aisles of your video store?
Sick of searching for that one movie that perfeclty matches your mood?
Then The 100 Best Films to Rent You've Never Heard Of is for you.

Westerns, Comedies, Romance, Sci-Fi, Drama, B&W Classics, Films Noir, Documentaries, and much more...

Featuring the one and only mood guide

Every film review is preceeded by a Mood Guide, which lets you know at a glance whether a film is right for you. Are you in the mood for a Relentless Screwball Comedy? A Smart Love Story? How about a No-Nonsense, Manly Thriller?

In addition to expert and entertaining film reviews, the book also
Additional rental selections listed by director
Toll-free 800 numbers for renting and purchasing hard-to-find movies by mail
Thorough indexing for a quick find of any film by director, actor, or rental category.

The one must-have film guide for the true movie lover!

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Reference, Media Tie In

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1996

About the author

Author of TWENTY THOUSAND ROADS: THE BALLAD OF GRAM PARSONS AND HIS COSMIC AMERICAN MUSIC
(Random House)

THE BEEGEES THE BIOGRAPHY
(Da Capo Press)

A GIRL AND A GUN: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO FILM NOIR
(Avon Books)

THE 100 BEST FILMS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF
(St. Martin's Press)

co-author of THE BOOK OF THE SUBGENIUS

under the pen name Lloyd St. Alcorn

HALBERD, DREAM WARRIOR

ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

THE SERPENT MOUND

Reviews

[Julio The Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, David, we cinephiles have heard of most of the movies you've listed, from VANISHING POINT to TWO-LANE BLACKTOP, RUDE BOY and ROCKERS, but I thank you anyway for turning me on to THE KILLERS and HARD-BOILED, both by John Woo, kung fu movies with bullets in place of kicks; DEEP COVER, a detective story with a racial twist, to THE WILD ANGELS, where Peter Fonda (pre-EASY RIDER), Bruce Dern (bless him) Dianne Ladd and Nancy Sinatra (!) extract the last breath out of the biker picture. St. David is right on the money when he writes, "If I had to recommend just one film on this list it would be BLACK NARCISSUS", a meditation on spirit, sex, East versus West, and women in the modern world all set in a convent high above the Himalayas. Love him or hate him, David Meyer loves cinema and always provokes.

[Aki Umemoto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, I have seen over 75% of the film mentioned here, but there were several movies that are well known and shouldn't be here: "Adventures of Robin Hood" an Errol Flynn Classic, "My Darling Clementine" a John Ford gem, the Academy Award Winning "Thief of Bagdad" and many others. But there are many neglected classics here, some of my favorites: "The American Friend", "Sweet Smell of Success", "The Duellists", "Cutter's Way", "Peeping Tom", and "Sorcerer/Wages of Fear". There are also films that I haven't heard of and now want to see: "Poto & Cabengo", "Deep Cover", and "Suture". Most of the comments are interesting and informative but sometimes becomes a little pompous at times. Still an interesting perspective on some little-known films.

[Dawn Livingston · Rating 1 out of 5]

None of the movies seemed worth watching to be honest. The descriptions really didn't make me want to see them. A few on the list I've seen and were worth watching (Withnail and I, Kind Hearts and Coronets). After reading through the book, I felt like I wasted my time.

[Joyce]

Hero-worships Michael Powell, but the author actually makes you want to watch a bunch of slow-paced old flicks. Bases a lot of his judgments on filmic stuff like editing, lighting, and sound.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best film review book I have ever come across. Looking forward to an updated version.