Book Reviewed: Cinematic Places by Sarah Baxter

Illustrations of the places that inspired Hollywood films This book is inspired by twenty-five Hollywood films that explore some of the cinema's alluring locations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The book provides illustrations that do not appeal much to the readers. In fact, it did not help me recall these locations, many of which I have seen many times. I would have liked to see the still prints from the movie and compare with current pictures of these locations. That would have helped connect with the stories of these films. The book includes Spike Lee's Brooklyn-set “Do the Right Thing,” the cultural backdrop of 1980s New York, which is as important as the movie's authentic neighborhood and brownstone stoops; “Rocky,” starring Sylvester Stallone, much of the filming was done on a limited budget in Philadelphia. especially in the Kensington neighborhood; and “Vertigo,” starring Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novack in the iconic San Francsico area. The illustrations are clearly a bust to inspire readers to connect with these historic locations.