The Success Design welcomes John DiLeo who is a nationally recognized film expert and author of six books about classic movies.  During this interview, we discussed the upcoming Academy Awards and the different films, actors, actresses, and directors who may win the coveted statue.  We also took a step back into history and explored some lesser known movies by some very famous actors and actresses.

John DiLeo

John DiLeo Book Signing

Here’s a synopsis of our interview:

Our conversation about the Academy Awards centered around three movies:  Gravity, American Hustle, and 12 Years a Slave.  John believes that the Best Picture Category will come down to these three films.  He doesn’t believe that anyone was directly snubbed this year even though Tom Hanks and Robert Redford were not nominated for Best Actor because both have already received Oscars so their work has already been recognized.  He mentioned Cate Blanchett and Matthew McConaughey as contenders for the Best Actress and Best Actor awards respectively.

We also discussed movies of yesteryear.  When suggesting movies for me to watched based on my own preferences, I mentioned To Kill a Mockingbird and Gone With the Wind.  John’s suggested movies for me were Stars in My Crown and Rambin’ Rose.  Both of these movies of little known gems that may be lost forever one day if it weren’t for film expert likes John.

Biography:

John DiLeo is a nationally recognized film expert and author.  Born in Brooklyn in 1961 and raised on Long Island, John graduated from Ithaca College in 1982 with a B.F.A.  John has been a contributing book reviewer for the Washington Post’s Book World and currently writes DVD and film-book reviews in three monthly columns, appearing in Milford Magazine (PA), Allegany Magazine (MD), and Central Voice (Harrisburg, PA). He frequently hosts classic-film series, appears on radio programs, conducts film-history seminars

 John’s book’s include the following:  And You Thought You Knew Classic Movies, 100 Great Film Performances You Should Remember but Probably Don’t, Screen Savers: 40 Remarkable Movies Awaiting Rediscovery, Tennessee Williams and Company: His Essential Screen Actors, Screen Savers II: My Grab Bag of Classic Movies, and a slightly revised version of And You Thought You Knew Classic Movies.

Websites:
Click here to listen to our radio show interview
John DiLeo’s Websites: www.JohnDiLeo.com and www.ScreenSaversMovies.com