Memoirs of a Geisha: A Portrait of the Film

This is an excellent companion to the film featuring stunning photography and stills. There is a nice introduction by Rob Marshall the director of Memoirs and Arthur Golden, the author of the original book. This also has a brief history of the Geisha with woodblock prints and archival images of Geisha circa 1910. There is a section at the end of the book that features the making of the movie with some behind the scenes photos, cast photos, production design, choreography, make-up, hair, and wardrobe, as well as a brief section on sumo. This book is a delicious piece of visual candy, just like the film.

This book is a beautiful keepsake of the film. It features still photos taken from the film itself with a few off camera photos included. It would have been nice to have a fuller written text with more in-depth comments from cast and crew, so it is not as imfomative as I would have liked. However if you loved the movie, as I did, you will want to have this book.

Director Bob Marshall brought Arthur Golden's literary classic to the screen; now Peggy Mulloy's text and David James' gorgeous accompanying color photos bring MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA: A PORTRAIT OF THE FILM to the wide audience of book readers and film fans, probing behind the scenes to uncover how the filmmaker and his team re-created the geisha of Japan of the 1930s and 40s. Insights into geisha culture and screening of the movie accompany a 84-page presentation of visuals from the film in an outstanding keepsake memoir of Japanese history and culture.

There are times when still photographs from a feature film appear as self-serving PR or media hype for promoting a movie. There are other times, such as with the book based on 'Born Into Brothels' and this lovely 'Memoirs of a Geisha', when the end justifies the means. Standing alone, this is a lovely evocation of Japonoise with liquid, flowing images of geishas in costume, swirls of airborne petals, moody lighting, darkened streets - everything one imagined while reading Arthur Golden's fine novel. Of interest are the attached comments from the crew surrounding the film, sketches and extended drawings of costumes and scenery, portraits of the cast members at rest. The result is a reverie of Japan of a bygone time admixed with a recreation of a period for a film. The contrast is dramatic: the book is lovely. And I have yet to see the movie! Grady Harp, December 05

Arthur Golden's best-selling novel Memoirs Of A Geisha has been made into a movie and premieres nation-wide December 9th. This New Market Pictorial Movie Book is a vivid, colorful coffee-table book with photo stills from the movie, behind-the-scenes info and ancient "Floating World" illustrations of the world of the Geisha. In addition to lovely photography and artwork, we are treated to informative, brief essays about the history of the Geisha and how author Arthur Golden came to write the novel. The film looks promising. Certainly, it will be a visual feast for the eyes. The authentic locale of Japan in the 30's is gloriously rendered and the world of the Geisha, with beauty and intrigue, malice and virtue, will evidently be a thrilling cinematic experience. If you enjoyed the book, this is a terrific buy. Plus, it's jus a stunningly beautiful coffee-table book.