The Making of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

By Tom McGregor

Book Overview

Peter Weir's astonishing film brings Patrick O'Brian's world to life, complete with its swashbuckling adventures, brilliantly drawn characterization, romance, and intrigue. It is sure to captivate stalwart enthusiasts of O'Brian's work as well as draw in new fans everywhere. With unique access to the cast and crew, Tom McGregor traces the project, from the actors' boot camp to the filming in the Galapagos Islands and on board a replica ship (in the same studio where Titanic was filmed). With exclusive photographs and interviews with key members of the cast, including Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany ( A Beautiful Mind ), and director Peter Weir ( Dead Poets' Society , Green Card , The Truman Show ), this book records the painstaking work of the crew and stars in making the film as historically accurate as possible, from replicating the uniforms of Nelson's navy to bringing the gun deck of the Surprise incredibly to life. Exclusive behind-the-scenes insight and information on the history of the project are dazzlingly showcased in this unique companion, featuring the same high production standards and imagination as the film itself.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393325539
• ISBN13: 9780393325539
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.7" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Essential companion

This is an excellent book which explains the huge amount of work that went into the making of the film Master and Commander. The sheer amount of research and attention to detail revealed by this book greatly enhances the enjoyment of the film.

Making of Master and Commander

Lots of great large pictures and plenty of information. A good book to ad to your collection of movie related books.

Can't Stop Reading It!

My dad loves Master and Commander (and so do I), so I got him this book for Christmas. He loves it and said it was his favorite present this year! He says he's also reading the books by Patrick O'Brian (the author of the books that inspired this movie) and he said he sometimes goes back to this book for reference after reading the novels. This book is divided into sections - stuff about the crew, the doctor, the captain,...

A Fan's Dream Come True!!!

If you love the O'Brian series and the movie, this book is not only full of colour photos but also contains much information about the movie and its actors. Any interested in the 19th century British Royal Navy will find it intersting, also. A great book!!!

An excellent look behind the scenes

I'm a great fan of O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin novels and of Napoleonic era naval fiction in general, and I looked forward to this film with a certain apprehension. I mean, how could they possibly do justice to O'Brian's extremely detailed world? Would they just crank out a superficial action film? I'm not sure any devotée was entirely pleased with the result, but it was, in fact, a pretty damn good movie. And all the background...