SPIELBERG: THE FIRST TEN YEARS

★★★★★ LAURENT BOUZEREAU TITAN

Charting the first decade (or so) of one man’s movie career may seem like a strange choice. But then how else do you approach a body of work that, as composer John Williams notes in the foreword, ‘may never be surpassed’? Running from Duel (1971) to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), this officially sanctioned cinematic scrapbook features a packed chapter on each of Steven Spielberg’s first seven films, plus interviews with the man himself and an introduction by his friend and collaborator George Lucas.

It’s the work of French documentarian Bouzereau, who has directed ‘Making Of’ videos for the Indiana Jones movies, among others. Perhaps because he’s writing about his boss, there’s a slightly gee-whizz quality to the text – apparently Spielberg giving notes on set is ‘amazing to witness’ – but his main strength is in amassing rather than analysing content.

The result overflows with goodies: from behindthe-scenes pictures of the baby-faced director in action, to storyboards, haphazardly pasted-in script additions, studio memos, and notes from contributors.

Spielberg’s interviews are also surprisingly revealing. ‘I’ve got to tell you, I really didn’t know what I was doing on this movie,’ he says of 1941, his sole misfire of the period, which he maintains co-writer Robert Zemeckis should have directed.

In lieu of an autobiography – for which, at 76, the master is still far too busy – this will more than suffice. Roll on the next 10.

EROTIC VAGRANCY: EVERYTHING ABOUT RICHARD BURTON AND ELIZABETH TAYLOR

★★★★★

ROGER LEWIS RIVERRUN

Thirteen years in the writing, Lewis’ double biog is as gargantuan as his subjects’ reported lust for sex, booze and jewellery. An epic chronicle of their fiery union and the films that financed their lifestyle, its title derives from a Vatican rebuke they received during Cleopatra, a shoot dissected in a jaw-dropping, day-by-day diary. Shame the rest of the book is less focused and more prone to meandering digression.

BFI FILM CLASSICS: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

★★★★★

MICHAEL NEWTON BFI

Frank Capra’s yuletide hymn doesn’t need defending because of how dark it ‘really’ is. Though this ‘poetic fable’ ripples with complexities, argues Newton, it also sees value in joy and sentimentality. Digging into the film’s roots and post-war background, Newton is rigorous on its politics, populism and fraught production history, and generous with the minutiae of on-set accidents and more. But what emerges clearest is Capra’s abiding faith in feeling and beauty.

THE BOOK OF QUINT

★★★★★

RYAN DACKO AMBERLEY

As we sail towards the 50th anniversary of Jaws – both the book (1974) and the blockbuster (1975) – here’s a timely prequel novel focused on shark hunter Quint (as played by Robert Shaw on screen) as he fights for survival in the wake of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis at the end of World War Two. Offering a meticulous understanding of the character (author Dacko is host of The Jaws Obsession podcast), this (back)story is awash with gripping trauma and tension. It also enriches the original(s) via some valuable, respectful context.