Son of the 100 Best Movies You've Never Seen (coming in September 2008 from ECW Press)

Fans of offbeat cinema, discriminating renters and collectors, and movie buffs will drool over this check list of the best overlooked and underappreciated films of the last 100 years. In Son of the 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen Richard Crouse, Canada AM film critic and host of television’s award-winning Reel to Real, presents a follow-up his 2003 book with another 100 of his favorite films. Titles range from the obscure, like 1912’s The Cameraman’s Revenge, to El Topo’s unusual existential remake of the classic western and little-seen classics like The Killing. Each essay features a detailed description of plot, notable trivia tidbits, critical reviews, and interviews with actors and filmmakers. Featured interviews include Billy Bob Thornton on an inspirational movie about a man with his head in the clouds, Francis Ford Coppola on One from the Heart and Mario Van Peebles on playing his own father in Badasssss! Sidebars feature quirky details, including legal disclaimers and memorable quotes, along with movie picks from a-list actors and directors.

Reel Winners

Do you know which televised awards show gives a prize for “Favorite Smile”? Or maybe which Oscar host announced that he was going to raffle off a car during the ceremony? Do you know who won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress of the 20th Century? In Reel Winners Reel to Real movie critic, and CBC Radio’s “titan of trivia” Richard Crouse gives you the low-down on movie awards from eight decades of Hollywood self-congratulation to international awards and the toasts from the fringe like The Skinnies which celebrates actors and their skin conditions. Reel Winners is the definitive guide to the inside scoop on movie awards.

ANSWERS:

The People’s Choice Awards – David Letterman -- Madonna

Released by Dundurn Press: November 2005

The 100 Best Movies You've Never Seen
 
Richard Crouse, film critic and host of television’s award-winning Reel to Real takes you on a journey through 70 years of cinema history, choosing his favorite overlooked films. From the sublime — Monsoon Wedding — to the ridiculous — Eegah! The Name Written in Blood — The 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen covers a wide spectrum of films from the 1930s through to present day.

Complementing the reviews are detailed descriptions of the movie’s plots, trivia, and interviews with the actors and filmmakers. Featured interviews include Bill Wyman discussing a little known Rolling Stones documentary, schlockmeister Lloyd Kaufman detailing the history of his most famous character, The Toxic Avenger, reclusive writer/director Hampton Fancher on his film The Minus Man and B-movie hero Bruce Campbell on playing Elvis Presley in Bubba Ho-Tep. Crouse also includes sidebars of top 10 lists, including favorite legal disclaimers ("All characters portrayed in this film are entirely fictitious and bare resemblance to anyone living or dead, except for one") and favorite quotes ("I once thought I had mono for an entire year. Turns out I was just really bored.")

If you’re a fan of off-beat cinema, or just looking for something different to rent the next time you go to the video store, The 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen is the perfect book for you.

Big Bang Baby

"Rock and roll exploded into popular culture in the 1950s, and since that time has provided the soundtrack for the lives of each new generation. As rock has grown and expanded, so have the number of artists, events, and stories that it has spawned. Big Bang, Baby is an enthralling collection of rock trivia that spans the history of the music that has been so much a part of our society over the past fifty years. As he guides us through each decade, Crouse brings to light facts and oddities that will enlighten the most knowledgeable of music experts. The scope of this book is large: it focuses not just on the huge hit makers, but also on the one-hit wonders, and even some of the more obscure bands. U2, of course, is in here, but so are Dexy's Midnight Runners, who were launched into stardom by Come On Eileen before vanishing into pop history. Even The Hindu Love Gods make it into Big Bang, Baby. (Trust me, Billboard's never even heard of this band.)."

Celine Dion: A Voice and a Dream

Hailed as a "global diva" by Time magazine, French-Canadian pop star Celine Dion has broken into the singing stratosphere, joining the pantheon of such legends as Barbra Streisand and Whitney Houston. Possessing an unforgettable voice that effortlessly soars across five octaves, Dion dazzled Europe with her winning mix of dance music and lush ballads before taking the ultimate leap into stardom on the world's toughest stage—the United States.

With the release of her soul-searing single The Power of Love, Celine-fever quickly gripped North America. Her next album, Falling into You, won Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Pop Album. Now, at the pinnacle of her career, which path will Dion take next? A VOICE AND A DREAM looks to her bright future as it plumbs her engaging past. Get the scoop on her fairy-tale marriage to manager Rene Angelil, the health struggles she suffered under a grueling workload, and her colorful experiences growing up in a large, musical family. A behind-the-scenes look at the world's hottest diva, A VOICE AND A DREAM is an exclusive glimpse at a real-life Cinderella.

From the Publisher

Celine Dion, as everyone knows, is an international star. But first and foremost, she is a Canadian national treasure. And how appropriate it was that our Canadian sales director introduced us to the idea that Celine is a superstar, a celebrity whose story would appeal to fans on both sides of the border—and around the world.

Next, we found the perfect writer for this biography: Richard Crouse, a young Canadian journalist who has covered the music scene during his entire career.

The result is a beautiful book about Celine's uniquely inspirational story. A VOICE AND A DREAM is also filled with stunning photos of this talented diva, from her early years to today.

Who Wrote the Book of Love

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION: Who Wrote the Book of Love? is an eye-opening collection that reveals the--often bizarre--behind-the-scenes tales of some of the biggest pop hits of all time. For example:

The words to Little Richard's Tutti Frutti were initially so risqué they had to be completely rewritten--in the hallway of the studio, as time was running out--before the song could be recorded. (He wrote the original version while working as a dishwasher in a bus station in Georgia.)

Paul Simon's 1972 hit Mother and Child Reunion takes its name from an elaborate chicken and egg dish served at Say Eng Look Restaurant in New York City.

Nirvana's huge hit Smells Like Teen Spirit, interpreted by music critics and fans alike as an angst-ridden cry of teen rebellion, actually sprang from a bit of graffiti accusing Kurt Cobain of smelling like an antiperspirant for young women.

The fascinating trivia behind the greatest hits of our time is unearthed in this funny and intriguing browser's delight, perfect for music lovers of all ages.

Rock and Roll Toronto

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION: From Alanis Morisette to Led Zeppelin, from the Crew Cuts to Barenaked Ladies—rock and roll history has been made in houses, apartments, hotels, clubs, public buildings, laundromats, and recording studios throughout the city of Toronto. Part guide-book, part music story collection, Rock and Roll Toronto (co-authored with John Goddard) is a compilation of 40 fresh, revealing tales of Toronto landmarks, intimately detailing the seminal rock and roll events that took place at each one. It reveals where Bob Dylan met the Band, where Margaret Trudeau entertained the Rolling Stones, and where Joni Mitchell struggled in poverty while pregnant with a daughter she later gave up for adoption. Also featured are more than 50 photographs chronicling the Toronto appearances of such legends as the Beatles, Nirvana, Madonna, Neil Young and Teenage Head.

Memories and Dreams 1931-1999

Richard wrote the chapter on the history of music at Maple Leaf Gardens for Memories and Dreams 1931-1999, a deluxe book of Toronto sports and entertainment history published to mark the departure of the Toronto Maple Leafs from the oldest arena in the National Hockey League.

PRAISE FOR THE 100 BEST MOVIES YOU’VE NEVER SEEN

“The 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen is the perfect gift or stocking stuffer for the film lover on your list… The 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen is chock-full of information, all of it delivered in Crouse’s breezy style. Even in a movie-lover’s city like Toronto, where we are lucky enough to get all manner of film releases, this is a terrific book to own. And if you know someone who lives in “fly-over” territory, doomed by geography to see only big Hollywood films, The 100 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen is a must-have item.”

- Liz Braun, The Toronto Sun, December 2003

****

"Crouse's new book is extremely entertaining, informative and has introduced me to wonderful art I have never seen before. Except for the section concerning that Troma movie, Crouse's book is brilliant."

- Lloyd Kaufman, President of Troma Entertainment, Inc. and creator of the Toxic Avenger

****

"It's a Carnival of Lost Videos... reading The 100 Best Movies You've Never Seen is like eating popcorn, once you start, you just can't stop..."

- Everything Entertainment, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A.

****

"A very cleverly written text... a great read and interestingly done..."

- WSMB, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.

****

“With its wide range, the book has something for everybody. As such, it’s the perfect guidebook – a nice way to revisit old favourites but also an introduction to little known gems worth seeking out. Full of trivia and interviews, it’s also a good book for people who like to read about movies more than going to see them. In many cases Crouse’s take on a movie is more entertaining than watching the actual movie… On that basis alone, rated out of five stars – even though it doesn’t have any Don Knotts movies – I give it two thumbs up.”

- Robert Pegg, Pegg’s World, Scene Magazine, November 2003

****

“It's easy to poke fun at the performances in Santa Claus Conquers the Martians," writes Richard Crouse, host of IFC's Reel to Real, "so let's get on with it." This is a critic after my own heart. While I don't agree with all his choices of overlooked films (Happy, Texas? Pitch Black?), I gotta love a guy who includes MST3K-worthy entries simply because they "dare to be bad." Very up-to-date -- Bubba Ho-Tep is already here – Crouse's mix includes recent films that got little play (The Straight Story, Ginger Snaps, Tadpole, Frailty), old geek favorites (Buckaroo Banzai, The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T., The Toxic Avenger), oddities (the all-midget The Terror of Tiny Town), and a single overlap with Ebert's greats (M). And his lists are hilarious: "Richard's Favorite Lines from '80s Teen Comedies," "Richard's Favorite Titles with Ten Words or More," which includes Ben Affleck's directorial debut, a 1993 short whose title I won't reveal here. Of Brotherhood of the Wolf, Crouse writes: "Imagine if John Woo had directed Dangerous Liaisons." Damn, I should have written this book.”

- The Flick Filosopher, Mary Anne Johansen

****

 “Recommended…”

- Martin Levin, The Globe and Mail, October 2003

****

“A great reference for fans of off-beat films or those looking for something different the next time they are searching the stacks of their local video store…”

-The A-List, Read It!, Tribute Magazine, October, 2003

****

 “Recommended…”

- Jen Vuckovic, Rue Morgue Magazine, November, 2003

****

“I love Reel to Real. My dad got Richard’s book for Christmas. It’s great!”

- Sarah Lawless, Reel to Real viewer, January 2004

****

“Richard Crouse deploys his vast knowledge of movies the way Keith Moon uses his kick-drum. He's off beat, hard-hitting, unexpectedly funny and you can't stop listening to him.  This is a critic you can trust, even if his hair says otherwise.”

- Brent Banbury, CBC Radio, Go

****

Included in Ontario Media Development Corporation’s pamphlet Warm Up with Winter Reading: ‘Tis the Season to Discover Great Canadian Books

****

“Offbeat film buffs, discerning video renters and critical viewers will benefit from this roll call of the best overlooked films of the last 70 years.”

- Powells.com

****

“I am just a happy admirer of you and your show. I never miss it. I bought your book and am thoroughly enjoying it. You really know your stuff. Wishing you all the best.”

- Heather Fortune, Reel to Real viewer, January 2004

****

“…great source for cult and unusual films…”

- Kathie Courtney, Louisville, Kentucky Public Library

Selected Reviews For

Who Wrote the Book of Love?

(Who Wrote the Book of Love? is an eye-opening collection that reveals the--often bizarre--behind-the-scenes tales of some of the biggest pop hits of all time.)

“Who wrote the book of love? My question is, ‘Who Wrote the Book of Love book?’ Richard Crouse, of course. It is a must read for anybody who is into music from any generation and a must have for any disc jockey’s library.”

Tom Rivers, Talk 640 AM, Toronto

“Pick of the Week.”

MacLean’s, Canada’s Weekly Newsmagazine

“Who Wrote the Book of Love? is so much more than a book on old trivia and current songs. In some cases this book confirms rumors that we all heard about songs and artists. In other cases you’ll finally get the REAL STORY. Who Wrote the Book of Love? is well researched and fun.”

Al Gravelle, CJAD Radio, Montreal

“It’s a fascinating read…”

Jerry Belika, CHED Radio, Alberta’s Information Superstation

Included in Eye Magazine’s Fall Book Guide’s Library of Fun.

Eye Magazine, November 5, 1998

“This is a fun one…”

CKOV Radio, Kelowna, British Columbia

“…fascinating reading… Ultimately the book is engaging, full of tidbits ripe for insertion in party conversation, and doesn’t pretend to be anything but what it is: a gathering of glimpses and hidden connections—snapshots of what happened to make hits. Like an all-hits weekend, you might find yourself caught up in the book without noticing the time going by.”

Tom Synders, Quill and Quire Magazine

“Richard Crouse knows more about rock and roll than anyone I know. He’s been my source for years. Whenever I have a question about pop music, Richard is the guy I phone.”

Stuart McLean, host of CBC Radio’s Vinyl Café

“Richard Crouse—Toronto’s musical know-it-all… Crouse’s work will be judged a favorite on cottage porches where Music Challenge is played, since it specializes in the arcane knowledge men trade whenever their Beer gene kicks in. Being able to produce Actual Facts in Print about They’re Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haa or Na Na Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye is almost the definition of a guy’s true Gotcha Moment.”

Gary Dunford, Page Six, The Toronto Star

“Who Wrote the Book of Love? is an unlimited supply of information concerning popular music from the 1950s to the present time… an inexhaustible resource. Richard Crouse is a musicologist without parallel.”

John Oakley, CFRB Radio, Toronto

“Toronto author and music buff Richard Crouse, who as a 12-year-old kid spent all his school supplies money on music books, has pulled the book together and makes it work.”

Ken McGoogan, The Calgary Herald

“Who Wrote the Book of Love?: interesting stories behind the origins of various songs, including the obscene origin of Tutti-Frutti and much more…”

www.triviahalloffame

Selected Reviews For

Big Bang, Baby

(Big Bang, Baby is a collection of rock trivia that spans the history of the music that has been so much a part of our society over the past fifty years.)

Big Bang, Baby chosen as one of The Globe & Mail’s picks for Summer Reading, Non-Fiction, June 2000.

“Crouse, a Canadian who writes largely about popular music, takes us decade by decade, ephemera by ephemera, through half a century of rock ‘n’ roll factoids. Want to know Elvis’ first single? The origin of the Totenham sound? The names of ABBA’s members? Where the Mekons got their name? It’s all here: prefect summer road-trip fodder.”

H.J. Kirchoff and Martin Levin, The Globe & Mail, Saturday, June 24, 2000

“You have to love a book that includes everything from ABBA to Rob Zombie. Big Bang, Baby has something for every music fan. Lots of great stuff to stump the best rock music trivia buff.”

Fast Eddie Matthews, CJCS Radio, Stratford, Ontario

“…a treasure trove of five decades of rock and roll… you don’t just get the straight answers in the book, you get the stories behind the answers too, which makes the book very interesting to read. It is a well researched, thorough book that will be sure to please fans who like their rock and roll music with a trivial twist…”

Stuart Nulman, host of Book banter, CJAD Radio, Montreal

“An absolutely fabulous effort. Very entertaining. I thought Richard did a tremendous job of pulling it all together… his efforts are much appreciated by music enthusiasts all over Canada. I can’t wait for Richard’s next work.”

Dan Carter, host CHEX-TV’s First Edition

“No doubt you’ll enjoy the question/answer format of Richard Crouse’s 318 page Big Bang, Baby: Rock Trivia (Dundurn) since memory lane is now paved with rocks…”

ArtsBeat Magazine
Read it! (Tribute Magazine)

The 100 Best Movies You've Never Seen
Richard Crouse
ECW Press, $19.95
Film critic Richard Crouse looks back through 70 years of cinema history to choose his favorite overlooked films. Standouts on the list include Happy, Texas, The Straight Story, Trees Lounge and waydowntown. A great reference for fans of off-beat films or those looking for something different the next time they are searching the stacks of their local video store.'

Book offers plenty of trivia tidbits
By: FP Bookman
Brandon Sun, October 2005
Reel Winners: Movie Award Trivia
Richard Crouse
Dundurn
Softcover, 277 pages

Richard Crouse, co-host of Reel to Real, Canada’s longest-running television show about movies has published a number of books on pop culture. As a regular film critic for Canada AM and CBC Radio One’s Go!, Crouse had sufficient interest and the expertise to compile enough trivia for his latest book — Reel Winners, a book of movie award trivia.

Instead of a normal review, I offer instead a selection of some of the tidbits of movie information Crouse has included in his book:
Janet Gaynor won the first best actress Oscar for her roles in three silent films from 1927 and 1928.

When Adrien Brody won his best actor Oscar in 2003, his competition consisted of four previous Oscar winners — Nicholas Cage, Michael Caine, Daniel Day-Lewis and Jack Nicholson.

1935’s Mutiny on the Bounty is the only film in Oscar history to receive three nominations for best actor.

Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards for his roles in the original Star Wars trilogy.
Striptease, starring Demi Moore, was awarded the Golden Raspberry Award as the worst film of the decade for the 1990s.

The Silence of the Lambs was the first film to be released on video before winning a best picture Oscar.

The Golden Reel Award is presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television to the Canadian film that earns the highest domestic box-office revenue of the year. Such notable movies as Meatballs, Porky’s, Strange Brew and The Care Bears Movie can claim to have won this award.

The 31st annual Academy Awards show (1959) was the first and last time in Oscar history that the show ended early.

Taurus Awards are given to individuals in the movie stunt industry. Categories include best fight, best fire stunt, best high work and best work with a vehicle.
With 10 different chapters, Crouse covers the entire range of movie award trivia and is sure to be of interest to all movie buffs.
________________________________________
THE RISE OF THE TRIVIA PURSUER
By James Adams
Saturday, October 4th, 2003
Globe and Mail

He's not a Dapper Dan man. He's not a Fop man. No, for Richard Crouse, the preferred pomade is Dippity Doo.

Thanks to the Doo goo, Crouse's pompadour has become one of the most famous on Canadian television. It's a slicked-back, shiny, precisely cut mass of black that veers up and out in a V from near the centre-top of his forehead, then tapers to a squared-off halt just before the collar line. The man's other distinguishing feature is his dark horn-rimmed glasses , which he claims are patterned on the once-exclusive design of a Rochester, N.Y., eyewear manufacturer whose clientele included Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Malcolm X.

These visual signatures were on full display late last week at the Toronto launch of Crouse's fifth book, The 100 Best Movies You've Never Seen.
Fifty years ago, Richard Crouse wouldn't have existed -- and not just because he was born 40 years ago in a small town in Nova Scotia. Heck, even 20 years ago, Richard Crouse likely wouldn't have existed. By this I don't mean the corporeal Richard Crouse, but rather his function and semi-celebrity status in this nation once called Kanata. The rise of Crouse, by and large, parallels the rise of mass popular culture following the end of the Second World War and the birth, circa 1954, of a rock 'n' roll-oriented youth culture in particular.

Fifty years ago, you couldn't have made a living knowing the name of the director of Eegah! The Name Written in Blood. But now you can and Richard Crouse has, with books like 100 Best Movies and Big Bang, Baby and Rock and Roll Toronto: From Alanis to Zeppelin. Twenty years ago you couldn't have made a living appearing on community cable television. But now, thanks to the creation of niche marketing and specialty channels, you can -- and Richard Crouse has, as co-host of Rogers TV's Reel to Real. and as a mainstay on CBC Radio One's pop-music quiz show Groove Shinny.

"When I was a kid, I'd read books like I write now," he said enthusiastically at his book launch. "It's all I ever wanted to do. And now that it's happening, well, it doesn't get much better than this." Indeed, it doesn't: The 100 Best Movies You've Never Seen has already sold out its initial print run, prompting ECW Press to order a second printing and Crouse to start thinking about a sequel. For those looking for a cure for Alzheimer's disease, Crouse's expertise as a fount of apparently useless knowledge might seem a touch, um . . . trivial. But Crouse figures someone's gotta see Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and Killer Klowns from Outer Space and it might as well be him. "I'm more consumer advocate than film critic, actually. I mean, these days it can cost $60 to take a friend to a movie once you include the popcorn, the parking and the baby sitter."