There were few true giants in 20th century theatre, but Noel Coward was indisputably one of them. Playwright, director, actor, he defined all those roles. But the stage could never contain his many talents, or indeed, his plays. Many of the earlier ones were adapted for the screen, including Easy Virtue, The Vortex, Private Lives, Design for Living, and Cavalcade. In the forties he took more direct control of his films by acting as writer, producer, director - and sometimes all three. His historical collaboration with David Lean, Ronald Neame and Anthony Havelock-Allan resulted in the classic quartet of In Which We Serve, Blithe Spirit, This Happy Breed, and Brief Encounter. As a film actor, his career spanned 50 years, from an uncredited walk-on in D.W. Griffith's Hearts of the World (1917) to his final role in the 1968 Michael Caine thriller,The Italian Job. In between he proceeded to steal-with what he called "petty larceny"-such films as The Scoundrel, Around the World in Eighty Days, and Our Man In Havana. Significant as his film successes were, they have somehow been obscured by his many other achievements. In Coward on Film: The Cinema of Noel Coward, author Barry Day restores the balance by documenting every film based on Coward's work and/or in which he appeared. The result is an astounding list of film credits, including-on occasion-that of composer. Judged on his contribution to cinema alone, Coward would have left a legacy matched by very few. With this detailed chronicle-which includes quotes from Coward himself and a complete filmography-Coward on Film stands as a fitting tribute to that legacy. This lavishly illustrated book is a key work of reference for both Coward fans and film enthusiasts, and will be a necessary addition to any library.

About the Author
Barry Day is the author or editor of numerous books and plays with an emphasis on theatre-particularly musical theatre. In his twenty-plus years working with the Noel Coward estate, he has produced Noel Coward: The Complete Lyrics, Noel Coward: A Life in Quotes, and The Unknown Noel: New Writing from the Coward Archive, as well as concert versions of the Coward musicals After the Ball and Pacific 1860. Day is also the editor of The Complete Lyrics of P.G Wodehouse, published in 2004 by Scarecrow Press. In June 2004 he was awarded the O.B.E. in the Queen's birthday Honours List.

Reviews
The first section of this reference documents every film based on Noel Coward's work. Each entry features a play synopsis and a discussion of its film adaptation along with basic credits. The second section is devoted to films produced by Coward, while the third covers his lengthy career as an actor. The text is accompanied throughout by b&w movie stills and promotional photos.... * Reference and Research Book News *
Four Stars! * Sunday Express, (Uk) *
The first section of this reference documents every film based on Noel Coward's work. Each entry features a play synopsis and a discussion of its film adaptation along with basic credits. The second section is devoted to films produced by Coward, while the third covers his lengthy career as an actor. The text is accompanied throughout by b&w movie stills and promotional photos. * Reference and Research Book News *



Book Information
ISBN 9780810853584
Author Barry Day
Format Hardback
Page Count 208
Imprint Scarecrow Press
Publisher Scarecrow Press
Weight(grams) 916g
Dimensions(mm) 284mm * 223mm * 22mm