Showcasing 52 Essential films from the silent era through the 1980s,
Turner Classic Movies invites you into a world filled with stirring
performances, dazzling musical numbers, and bold directorial visions
that mark the greatest moments in film history.
Since its inception on Turner Classic Movies in 2001, The Essentials
has become the ultimate series for movie lovers to expand their
knowledge of must-see cinema and discover or revisit landmark films that
have had a lasting impact on audiences everywhere.
Based on the TCM series, The Essentials book showcases fifty-two
must-see movies from the silent era through the early 1980s. Readers can
enjoy one film per week, for a year of stellar viewing, or indulge in
their own classic movie festival. Some long-championed classics appear
within these pages; other selections may surprise you. Each film is
profiled with insightful notes on why it's an Essential, a guide to
must-see moments, and running commentary from TCM's Robert Osborne and
Essentials guest hosts past and present, including Sally Field, Drew
Barrymore, Alec Baldwin, Rose McGowan, Carrie Fisher, Molly Haskell,
Peter Bogdanovich, Sydney Pollack, and Rob Reiner.
Featuring full-color and black-and-white photography of the greatest
stars in movie history, The Essentials is your curated guide to
fifty-two films that define the meaning of the word "classic."
