GBU book project -updated website-

[drinkanddestroy]

Amazon IN GENERAL ships like they get paid for destroying products. Has Nothing to do with Amazon Germany .
I order 3x a year from Amazon US, about 10-20% of the books are (sometimes badly) damaged, even DVD boxes broken! They don't care, they replace without making much trouble. Strange company. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BOOKDEALER, the only reason I did order the GBU book through Amazon was because I had some other products already in my basket...

I have never had this problem before - though truth is, I rarely order books from Amazon. But I order dvd's often and did not have this problem.

On closer inspection, that damaged corner has a water stain - it looks like water seeped in through a hole in the box and stained the corner.

I have never returned something for being damaged, but thanks for letting me know. I will try to have it exchanged  

[drinkanddestroy]

ok I went onto Amazon, informed them of the return and printed return shipping label. will send it back and then they'll refund my credit card. They won't do an exchange; i have to send this back for a refund, and also order the book again. So, that's what I did - I even saved a few cents: since the price is in euros and i am paying in dollars, and the dollar has risen vs. the euro over the past few days, my new order total cost me $89.05, a few cents less than the previous order 

[alano]

My copy came today from Germany Amazon. The box was very damaged. It looked like someone opened it and clear taped it back together. Fortunately, Mr. Hanley took great care in wrapping in paper and shrink wrapping the book itself. Its the only thing that saved it. Terrible delivery. My copy is fine but the box. Savages working for whoever was responsible.

[drinkanddestroy]

My copy came today from Germany Amazon. The box was very damaged. It looked like someone opened it and clear taped it back together. Fortunately, Mr. Hanley took great care in wrapping in paper and shrink wrapping the book itself. Its the only thing that saved it. Terrible delivery. My copy is fine but the box. Savages working for whoever was responsible.

is it possible that a customs official opened it?

[drinkanddestroy]

spent a little time this evening looking through the book.

First thing I can say is, Mr. Hanley (or is it Dr. Hanley?) is incredibly thorough. First few pages discuss the historical facts about the Civil War events referenced in the movie. I am sure that CJ, author of the "timeline" thread here, will enjoy that.

After reading a few pages of that, I started skimming through some of the interviews and pics in the book. Have to go to sleep now. It'll take me forever to get through the whole thing, and I am just fine with that  

So from the little I saw: Peter is very very very thorough. Like, obsessively thorough. There are a number of pics that are closeup screenshots of an image on the BRD to catch something like a bit of text on a map. Sometimes on a pic of a cannon, Peter will mention that a closeup reveals the serial number (!) on the gun. Some of the pics have very long captions, stating the name of many of the people in the pic, or of as many people as Peter could find out names of, even if it's just an extra.

There are tons of interviews, not just with major players, but with people who did brief bits. Camera assistants, extras, whoever Peter could get his hands on. For example, he interviews the whore who went to bed with Blondie in the Soccoro sequence - she worked for two days, her part never even made it into the movie; Peter asks her question after question; she often says she can't recall this or that detail Peter is seeking, but he tries to find out every bit he could. Peter's goal seems to be to document every tiny bit of information there is on GBU from anyone and everyone who can possibly share anything at all. Bravo  

Also, Peter shares lots of pics that seem to have been taken one after the other; some pics are very similar to the pic on the preceding page. Peter doesn't just "choose the best one" and that's all; he shows both. Not the sort of thing anyone but a crazy fan would do  


So, this book was made by an insanely serious fan who wants to document and share every bit of knowledge he has on this great film. Clearly a labor of love.


 

[drinkanddestroy]

Peter,

Now that the GBU book is all done, I hope you'll immediately move onto the FAFDM book you promised us
http://www.fistful-of-leone.com/forums/index.php?topic=12092.0

 

[cigar joe]

spent a little time this evening looking through the book.

First thing I can say is, Mr. Hanley (or is it Dr. Hanley?) is incredibly thorough. First few pages discuss the historical facts about the Civil War events referenced in the movie. I am sure that CJ, author of the "timeline" thread here, will enjoy that.

After reading a few pages of that, I started skimming through some of the interviews and pics in the book. Have to go to sleep now. It'll take me forever to get through the whole thing, and I am just fine with that  

So from the little I saw: Peter is very very very thorough. Like, obsessively thorough. There are a number of pics that are closeup screenshots of an image on the BRD to catch something like a bit of text on a map. Sometimes on a pic of a cannon, Peter will mention that a closeup reveals the serial number (!) on the gun. Some of the pics have very long captions, stating the name of many of the people in the pic, or of as many people as Peter could find out names of, even if it's just an extra.

There are tons of interviews, not just with major players, but with people who did brief bits. Camera assistants, extras, whoever Peter could get his hands on. For example, he interviews the whore who went to bed with Blondie in the Soccoro sequence - she worked for two days, her part never even made it into the movie; Peter asks her question after question; she often says she can't recall this or that detail Peter is seeking, but he tries to find out every bit he could. Peter's goal seems to be to document every tiny bit of information there is on GBU from anyone and everyone who can possibly share anything at all. Bravo  

Also, Peter shares lots of pics that seem to have been taken one after that other; some pics are very similar to the pic on the preceding page. Peter doesn't just "choose the best one" and that's all; he shows both. Not the sort of thing anyone but a crazy fan would do  


So, this book was made by an insanely serious fan who wants to document and share every bit of knowledge he has on this great film. Clearly a labor of love.


 

Sounds great.

[dave jenkins]

So, this book was made by an insanely serious fan who wants to document and share every bit of knowledge he has on this great film. Clearly a labor of love.

I never doubted it. God bless Peter J. Hanley.

[Shadow]

Hi all, I just received the book here in The Netherlands and it was well packaged in a sturdy box. So it arrived in mint condition.
So far I have only been able to glance through it and it is absolutely stunning! So many pictures and stills I had never seen before and so much information to digest. This marvelous is sure to bring every GBU fan many hours of reading joy!
Thanks Peter for this gem!

[drinkanddestroy]

Has a strong smell, doesn't it?

[Cusser]

Firstly, the Amazon Deutschen warehouse needs to learn a thing or two about proper shipping of expensive books.

Amazon shipped it via DHL. The book was packaged in a flimsy box, no bubble wrap, just a little cardboard around it inside. No bubble wrap. Box was pretty smashed up, and the book itself has a little damage mark in back corner.

Complain about the damage, take a photo if needed.  Likely Amazon will just ship a new book, and not even ask for the original to be returned.  Then you could sell the damaged book to me !!!

Years ago I ordered a 27 x 41 reprint one-sheet poster from Once Upon a Time in the West for about $25, and the tube was dented when it arrived, and the poster was slightly torn because of that.  I was simply sent a brand new replacement, not worth the time to them to process returns on small stuff.

[drinkanddestroy]

Amazon.de says once they receive my return package they will refund up to 8.6 euros in shipping costs. But shipping a book this heavy from USA would cost me like fifty dollars! I contacted Amazon, will see what happens.

In the meantime, I ordered another one, which is on the way 

[drinkanddestroy]

The book has lotsa pics of Eastwood hitting golf balls on the set of GBU 

[Le Bon]

I got mine on Monday and can only reiterate what others have said. It is a fantastic book. Lots of rare stills, detailed information and good quality printing.
The packaging could have been better. It was shrink wrapped but it was loose in the card packaging so could have done with some paper or card to stop any movement.

[Leonardo]

I got mine today after a three days delay on the expected delivery date (for reasons unknown to me, from Germany it was first sent to Belgium and then to Italy), but otherwise no problem with the package and the book arrived in excellent condition. The courier for Italy was SDA.
As for the book, simply worth every Euro!! D&D rightly says that it is a labor of love. A lot of photos I've never seen before, each person on the photo clearly identified, lots of details. Just as an example, there is a photo of Sergio on the GBU set holding a book in his left hand. I don't know how Peter managed, but he not only identified the book, he also printed a photo of the cover of the book! (turned out to be "Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the Civil War"). There is even a copy of the contract signed by Silvana Bacci (the lady in the lost Socorro scene)!! Absolutely amazing.
For those of you who have not order it yet: go for it! You won't regret it. If you don't have the money at the moment, steal it, borrow it, sell your mother in law....but buy it!!!
Thanks Peter: superb job!