New book on HandMade Films


Update (4/29/03) We have a copy of Robert Sellers' book, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: The Inside Story of HandMade Films." The first chapter we went to was the one on "Shanghai Surprise," and Sellers has some interesting details on how Sean Penn and Madonna, especially Penn, really made the movie a chore for everyone involved. The book, with an introduction by Python Michael Palin, celebrates one of Britain's most accomplished independent film companies. And it was all to save a guy named Brian.

Update (3/7/03) Robert Sellers' has a website for his book here.

Update (2/26/03) From Elliot J. Huntley:

Just to let you know that my own HandMade Films book ("The Movie Life of George: The Rise and Fall of HandMade Films") will also be out soon, although no release date has been set.

Elliot J Huntley
(author of "Behind That Locked Door: George Harrison After The Break Up of The Beatles").

(2/24/03) From Patti Murawski, editor of the Harrison Alliance:

A new book titled "Always Look on the Bright Side: The Story of HandMade Films" by Robert Sellers will be published in the UK on March 15 by Metro Publishing.

Author Robert Sellars chronicles the history of HandMade Films, and includes exclusive interviews with John Cleese, Sean Connery, Alan Bennett, and Richard E. Grant.

The book alleges that Denis O'Brien's management of HandMade finances effectively bankrupted George in the early 1990's. Despite warning from members of the Pythons who also were managed by O'Brien, George stayed loyal to O'Brien, until it became clear to him that his finances were in peril.

In an article published in conjunction with the book's release in the Mail on Sunday on February 16, Eric Idle said George was was upset more about the deceit than the loss of the money. Idle is quoted as saying "George never forgave Denis. He hated him with an intensity that was quite rare for George. He felt bitter, betrayed, angry and let down." Idle also says that George had written a song about Denis called "Lying O'Brien" "One of the last times I saw him [George] he said gleefully that Denis had been forced to sell his last house."

George successfully sued O'Brien in the 1990s for mismanagement, but the estate has yet to see any of the money.

The book retails for £16.99.

Patti Murawski, editor
The Harrison Alliance


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