He offers no bibliography of sources, however, despite the fact that most of his information comes second hand and not from his own viewing experience. I have the April 1979 article at hand - in an issue that featured a number of other excellent pieces (ah the grand old days of Chess Life!), including one by Mike Valvo and Ken Thompson on Belle's success at the 1978 Computer Championship.īasalla has read the Brady articles and cites them often, along with a number of other references.
#THE IDEAS BEHIND MODERN CHESS OPENINGS PGN SERIES#
And there was a much cited series by Frank Brady titled "Chess in the Cinema" that appeared in Chess Life & Review from 1978-1979. There are at least two excellent listings of chess in film available online, including one by Bill Wall and another titled Chess in the Cinema / Schach in Kino maintained by the Schachklub Giessen (which features a number of photos). Until now, though, there have been no books. There have been websites and articles and various other references. If you are interested in chess and cinema then you must have it since (as far as I know) it is the only book of its kind. But ultimately this is a very enjoyable read and an excellent book to request (or purchase for yourself!) as a holiday gift. The reviews are right: there are some errors and the author admits he has not seen most of the films he documents. I tried to organize a " Summer Chess Film Festival" at the Kenilworth Chess Club with some success, resulting at least in very enjoyable showings of " Chess Fever" and " Game Over - Kasparov and the Machine." So it should come as no surprise to you that I had to have Bob Basalla's Chess in the Movies, despite some mixed reviews I had seen by Edward Winter, Jeremy Silman, and British Chess Magazine. Readers of this blog know that I have an interest in chess in the movies.