Famous Hollywood Locations: Descriptions and Photographs of 382 Sites Involving 289 Films and 105 Television Series

Rating:
Summary: Emphasis is on obscure 1920s and 1930s movies
Review: If you're looking for famous movie locations in the Los Angeles area that have been used in popular films of the last forty years or so, this is NOT the book to get. The book does have lots of good photographs, but there is a strong emphasis on fairly obscure old films--Keystone Cops, Laurel and Hardy--and very old TV shows. There are certainly some more contemporary films listed (e.g., the Bradford building interior used in Blade Runner; some Griffith Park locations used in many films, etc.), but I found it to be quite a disappointment, especially considering the high price for such a small book (no doubt because of the large number of photographs). I found Tony Reeves' Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations and William A. Gordon's Shot on This Site to be more like what I was looking for, and at a better price.

Rating:
Summary: Emphasis is on obscure 1920s and 1930s movies
Review: If you're looking for famous movie locations in the Los Angeles area that have been used in popular films of the last forty years or so, this is NOT the book to get. The book does have lots of good photographs, but there is a strong emphasis on fairly obscure old films--Keystone Cops, Laurel and Hardy--and very old TV shows. There are certainly some more contemporary films listed (e.g., the Bradford building interior used in Blade Runner; some Griffith Park locations used in many films, etc.), but I found it to be quite a disappointment, especially considering the high price for such a small book (no doubt because of the large number of photographs). I found Tony Reeves' Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations and William A. Gordon's Shot on This Site to be more like what I was looking for, and at a better price.

Rating:
Summary: 382 location sites involved with 289 films and 105 TV series
Review: In Famous Hollywood Locations, Leon Smith offers a thoroughly user friendly compendium of photographs and descriptions of 382 location sites involved with 289 films and 105 television series in and around Hollywood, California. The sites are grouped geographically, with each entry including an exact address and photo of what the location looks like today. A brief plot background in which the site was involved is additionally provided. Famous Hollywood Locations is a unique and much appreciated addition to any film buff's reference library and just a lot of fun to browse through. Also highly recommended is Leon Smith's Movie And Television Locations: 113 Famous Filming Sites In Los Angeles And San Diego (0786406054, $...).