Books on Sergio Leone?

[Fafa]

Hi,

After seeing al the movies of the master Leone, I want to read something about this remarkable director.

I've done some searching and I found two books that seem interesting to me:

- Sergio Leone; Something to do with death
- Sergio Leone; Once upon a time in Italy

What is the main difference between this books? And what book can you recommend? The second book is available in two versions as seen on amazon.co.uk. Does anybody know the difference?

Thanks already!

Ciao Fabio (from the Netherlands)

[The Smoker]

Something to do with Death is Leone's life. A 500 page very cool lookin 'faber & faber' softback biography. With B/W panels near the middle.

Once Upon Time in Italy is a revison of the Something To Do With Death writings, with a major focus on the Spaghetti's. Text is broken up with color panels of posters, photos etc. Its more like a hardback 'coffee table book'. (well the one I picked up to look at in borders was.)

It depends what you after, and what you like reading. The 2nd is alot more pop arty and a quick read. And the 1st is more detailed, full of insites... a sprawling biog.

I'd go with the 1st meself. Fantastic read.
 

[Blueberry]

"Something" is a biography of Leone, his personal history -
"Once/Italy" is more of a coffee-table book with sections on the westerns solely (not OUATIA)  - and raw interviews with Leone himself, actors, screenwriters etc. AND SOME AMAZING PHOTOS, POSTERS etc - that's the best part imo, the rest we've heard before.

So, you'll want both of them.

I got a hardcover version of ONCE/ITALY - really amazing looking - try www.play.com - for free delivery.

Cheers

[Groggy]

"Once Upon A Time In Italy" isn't really a hard read, it's jammed full of pictures with brief synopsis of the various films and interviews/articles/essays/etc.  It's worth getting though, I'd say that much.  The list of OUATITW references to other films is alone worth the buy IMO, even if some of them are a bit dodgy.

For all of the (relatively minor IMO) errors therein, "Something To Do With Death" is a must-read for any and all Leone-istas.  If you haven't read it yet, you should.  My copy is pretty much dissolved though, the middle section's barely holding on (I've had it for about five years though). . . Also check out Frayling's earlier "Spaghetti Westerns", which purports to be a wider look at the genre but still focuses primarily on Leone's works.

[The Smoker]

For all of the (relatively minor IMO) errors therein, "Something To Do With Death" is a must-read for any and all Leone-istas.  If you haven't read it yet, you should.  My copy is pretty much dissolved though, the middle section's barely holding on (I've had it for about five years though). . .

Tell me about it. spines starting to wain on my copy. 

[Amaze]

has anyone read these?

Michael Carlson - Sergio Leone

John Fawell - The Art of Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West: A Critical Appreciation

Robert C. Cumbow - "Once Upon a Time": The Films of Sergio Leone

[Alan Shearer 9]

just got something to do with death last week, very good read GET IT NOW!!!

[John Baldwin]

There is Conversation with Sergio Leone too. Good book, nice work.
And one day, I'll read Something to do with death, but there is no traduction in French so... I'll read in English...

[Le Bon]

I have the Cumbow book and while it is not as good as Frayling's it is an interesting read. It has chapter titles on Icons, Images, Morricone.. as well as ones on all his films.

I haven't got the new John Fawell one yet but intend to soon.

[Jordan Krug]

That conversation book is only in french right?

There is Conversation with Sergio Leone too. Good book, nice work.
And one day, I'll read Something to do with death, but there is no traduction in French so... I'll read in English...

[The Smoker]

Outside 'Something to do with Death'



The Opera of Violence by Laurance Staig is my fav. Written in 1975 so its still in the thick of it.
Its a very interesting read. Not so much broken up into chapters on actual films, more themes & subjects used in the Genre.

Some of the Chapters

- The Ecstasy of Violence Nice introduction to what makes a italian western.

- Techniques, Motifs, and Directors

- Sergio Leone (yes rightly his own chapter)

- The Political Western

- Aftermath

- 'When the Chimes end..pick up the gun' (really good chapter on Morricone and other composers. And as the title says.. the noval use of music in the genre)

Some nice scattered B/W photos, Soundtrack LP Covers
Ends with a list of all the Spaghetti's relased in the U.K. Most of them with names i can't pin down, or just the obscure bad ones. lol

Its long out of print. You can find copies on ebay, so its sometimes pricey.

[dave jenkins]

I have the Cumbow book and while it is not as good as Frayling's it is an interesting read. It has chapter titles on Icons, Images, Morricone.. as well as ones on all his films.

I haven't got the new John Fawell one yet but intend to soon.

Cumbow's chapter on Morricone is excellent and by itself worth the price of the book. Fawell is not worth the 35 dollars it goes for new, and if you have Frayling you don't really need it anyway.