Steven Jay Schneider: '501 Movie Stars & Directors'

There are more and more of these kinds of books these days – 2037 Arbitrary Things to Do Before You Have Breakfast et al – but they are always fun to dip into. Actors are the selling machines of films, always being wheeled out for interviews, so we already know too much about the recent examples listed here.

It’s more interesting to read about those adulated in the 20s and 30s, no doubt scrutinised for their every relationship and diet fad, now just part of their films and no longer adored for the their personalities. The directors, although staying more in the background throughout their professional lives, seem to fare better over time. An example is Oscar Micheaux, one of the first African-American directors and the son of former slaves, now receiving more academic recognition.

Unexpected facts aside, half the fun of these books is disagreeing with the editor’s decisions and omissions (two pages of text for plastic Scientology loon Tom Cruise as opposed to one for intelligent down-to-earth Michael Caine?). In both books, the subjects are ordered by birthday, not name, so a quick flick through gives an idea of changing filmic styles. Essential on-the-loo reading.

Published on 15th January 2008 by Cassell Illustrated.

Written by Lucy Nordberg.