{"product_id":"principal-characters","title":"Principal Characters","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs the grandson of actress Ivy Close and son of director Ronald Neame (\u003ci\u003eStraight from the Horse's Mouth\u003c\/i\u003e; Scarecrow, 2003), Christopher Neame's roots in the film business were already firmly established by the time he joined the family profession. In his first memoir, \u003ci\u003eRungs on a Ladder\u003c\/i\u003e, Neame gave readers an insider's look into a number of productions of the 1960s and 70s produced by Hammer Studios. Christopher followed this with \u003ci\u003eA Take on British TV Drama\u003c\/i\u003e, in which he recounted the challenges and rewards of working on some of the most distinguished works of British television, including \u003ci\u003eThe Flame Trees of Thika\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMonsignor Quixote\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eDanger: U.X.B.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003ePrincipal Characters\u003c\/i\u003e, Neame fills in the gaps of his illustrious career by providing brief intimate portraits of the many important film figures he has worked with. In this charming collection of anecdotes, he asks and answers questions about the stars, who reveal both their carefree and vulnerable moments alike:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Was Richard Harris really such a hell-raiser as a young man?\u003cbr\u003e What was Peter Sellers like to work with?\u003cbr\u003e How did Robert Mitchum find himself in trouble?\u003cbr\u003e How many faces did Alec Guinness have?\u003cbr\u003e What was behind Peter O'Toole and a bomb threat in Paris?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLooking behind the camera lens, Neame captures director Karel Reisz (\u003ci\u003eThis Sporting Life\u003c\/i\u003e) wearing a producer's hat, marvels at cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth 'painting' \u003ci\u003eCabaret\u003c\/i\u003e with light, discloses Kenneth Tynan's unusual predilection, and weighs in on the culinary skills of Ismail Merchant (\u003ci\u003eA Room with a View\u003c\/i\u003e). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThroughout these accounts, Christopher looks both acutely and often amusingly at many who are household names, and when he feels it is appropriate to do so, he doesn't pull punches. This work is a fitting conclusion to an autobiographical \"trilogy,\" and will be of interest to all those curious about the film industry and especially the stars and directors Christopher Neame has worked with over the years.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Scarecrow Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54239568560472,"sku":"9780810856837","price":72.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9780810856837_7f265291-1d67-4cbc-82d3-85b29b0e5740.jpg?v=1769719545","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/principal-characters","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}