Category Archives: Books

‘Vernon God Little’ aims low on Young Vic stage

Posted on February 12, 2011 by admin

Lily James and Joseph Drake in ‘Vernon God Little’ at the Young Vic thru March 5 By Ray Bennett LONDON – The Young Vic’s new production of Vernon God Little, based on DBC Pierre’s 2003 Booker Prize-winning novel, tries to … Continue reading →

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Magic and mischief in Ron Base’s novel, The Strange

Posted on June 18, 2009 by admin

By Ray Bennett Few writers know Hollywood better than my friend Ron Base. As a reporter, film critic, magazine writer, screenwriter and novelist, he has explored the magic of the movies in many ways. But Base knows his history too … Continue reading →

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Warrior/author McNab loves a good story, like Mamma Mia

Posted on November 3, 2008 by admin

Tour of Duty features real and recreated footage of British soldiers in combat By Ray Bennett LONDON — Things you might know about Andy McNab: He was a highly decorated SAS soldier; he wrote the bestselling “Bravo Two Zero” about … Continue reading →

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Ron Base's 'Mrs. Cheveley' offers reasons to believe

Posted on June 26, 2008 by admin

My great mate Ron Base, whose novel “Magic Man,” published by St. Martin’s Press, is a terrific read about old Hollywood, is publishing his new novel, “The Brilliant Mrs. Cheveley” online. Set in Paris, London and Vienna at the turn … Continue reading →

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Mailer's skill on display in 'The Fight'

Posted on November 10, 2007 by admin

Pugilistic American novelist Norman Mailer knew the fight game The books of Norman Mailer, who died today at 84, proved of such little interest to filmmakers that he directed adaptations of some of them himself including “Maidstone” (1970) and “Tough … Continue reading →

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On surviving icepicks in the brain: 'My Lobotomy'

Posted on September 27, 2007 by admin

Charles Fleming, journalist, novelist and best of friends, has a new book out titled “My Lobotomy” written with a man named Howard Dully who underwent the most hideous surgery you can imagine when he was 12. Fleming, a former reporter … Continue reading →

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'Amazing Grace' endures

Posted on April 8, 2007 by admin

On Easter Sunday, with Passover ongoing and Muhammad’s birthday recently celebrated, here in the mundane world of entertainment it’s worth recording the popularity of a film about people who set out to make the world a better place and succeeded. … Continue reading →

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In praise of the typewriter

Posted on April 6, 2007 by admin

When the Los Angeles Herald Examiner folded in 1989, what I wanted most of all as a souvenir of my time working there was an old Royal typewriter from the rewrite desk. It wasn’t one of the original Royal 1 … Continue reading →

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Austen's breathtaking Cobb

Posted on April 1, 2007 by admin

Rupert Penry-Jones and Joseph Mawle film ‘Persuasion’ on the Cobb The Duke of Monmouth, illegitimate son of the then recently late King Charles II, lost his head at the Tower of London 140-odd years ago after leading a rebellion against … Continue reading →

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Top o' the morning!

Posted on March 17, 2007 by admin

A fine St. Paddy’s Day to all my Irish mates including my friend and colleague Steve Brennan, international editor at The Hollywood Reporter. Steve is working on a documentary and book about the history of the Irish in Hollywood with … Continue reading →

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