Sergio Leone by Himself - by Christopher Frayling (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Compiled writings and interviews from the director who pioneered the "spaghetti Western" film genre

Between the worldwide box-office success of his Dollars trilogy and his untimely death in April 1989 at the age of 60, Sergio Leone gave several interviews to selected film journalists. He also wrote a series of thoughtful essays about his cinematic influences such as Charlie Chaplin, Federico Fellini, Henry Fonda, Robert Aldrich and John Ford. To accompany his final film, Once Upon a Time in America (1984), he published several articles about his obsessive quest to make the film and how it eventually happened. Most of these writings have never before appeared in English; as a collection they have never before appeared anywhere. Sergio Leone by Himself, compiled by Leone's acclaimed biographer Christopher Frayling, gathers all his significant interviews, essays and articles to create a director's-eye view of a body of work that over the past half century has had a decisive influence on world cinema. The book is illustrated with previously unseen photographs, posters and related ephemera from the Leone family collection and the Angelo Novi archive, both now housed in the Cineteca in Bologna.
The architect of cinema's American West, Sergio Leone (1929-89) did not speak English. His "spaghetti Westerns" were filmed in Italy and Spain and received both critique and acclaim for their violence, grittiness and camera work. Leone is best remembered for his two "trilogies'' of films: the Dollars trilogy starring Clint Eastwood and his Once Upon a Time films.
Christopher Frayling is the leading scholar on the life and legacy of Sergio Leone and is the author of his bestselling biography, Something to Do with Death. He served as rector of the Royal College of Art from 1996 to 2009 and as chairman of Arts Council England from 2005 to 2009. As Sergio Leone once said to him, "it took an Englishman to take my films seriously."

Review Quotes

[An] influence on Tarantino, Scorsese and Spielberg - [Sergio Leone's] talent defined the modern Hollywood hero.-- "The Telegraph"

[A] comprehensive selection of Leone's writing and interviews [...] combined with previously unseen images, movie posters and sketches--Christopher Ward "Loupe magazine"

[A] mammoth collection of Leone's best interviews, articles and essays and compiled them all in this wonderful compendium pouring with artwork, posters and behind the scenes photos from all of his famous works.--John Larkin "Films in Review"

[Sergio Leone's] work is some of the most influential in cinema history, he was one of *the* pioneers of the spaghetti Western genre - and he was extremely selective in whom he gave interviews to. In this new book, Christopher Frayling gathers those interviews, alongside essays and articles written by Leone, to create a comprehensive dissection of the Italian director's iconic filmography from the mind of the man himself.-- "Empire Holiday Gift Guide"

Most of these interviews/writings have never appeared in the English language, and as a collection they have never before appeared anywhere. 'Sergio Leone by Himself', compiled by Leone's acclaimed biographer Christopher Frayling, gathers together all his significant interviews, essays and articles, to create a director's eye view of a body of work which over the past half century has had a decisive influence on world cinema, especially action cinema [...] This is a brilliant book, and one I recommend that you add to your collection--Jon Man "Movie Music International"

Riveting reflections on film director Sergio Leone who defined the Spaghetti Western.--NJ McGarrigle "Irish Independent"

What a book! Now, if you're somewhat of a Leone expert yourself, if you've read all the books, seen all the interviews, the pictures etc, you may see this as old wine in new bottles, but it really is so much more. It has the benefit of a more personal touch, absent the existence of an autobiography or memoirs. It's a fantastic product, with great pictures and layout, a high quality publication for any cineast and a must have for admirers of Sergio Leone. Bravo.--Sebastian Haselbeck "The Spaghetti Western Database"

'Sergio Leone by Himself' brings together interviews that Leone gave to selected film journalists over the years before his death in 1989 at the age of just 60, as well as essays that he had written on his cinematic influences, from Charlie Chaplin to John Ford. Most have never before appeared in English.--Dalya Alberge "The Guardian"

[Sergio Leone's] brutal Westerns revived the genre, made a movie star of Clint Eastwood and created a visual style that influenced many film directors around the world.-- "NPR"