Jerry Bruckheimer: When Lightning Strikes: Four Decades of Filmmaking (Disney Editions Deluxe (Film))

In terms of his impact on the motion picture and television industries from a world box office perspective its not only fair but probably undeniable to say that Jerry Bruckheimer is the most successful producer in the history of both mediums. One need merely look at Bruckheimers resume to verify this statement. His successes include Flashdance Beverly Hills Cop and Beverly Hills Cop II Top Gun Bad Boys and Bad Boys II Crimson Tide The Rock Con Air Armageddon Enemy of the State Remember the Titans Pearl Harbor Black Hawk Down the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy and the National Treasure films plus TVs three CSI programs Cold Case and The Amazing Race. His films have either made consolidated or reinvented the images of Johnny Depp Tom Cruise Nicolas Cage Richard Gere Eddie Murphy Will Smith Ben Affleck Denzel Washington Keira Knightley and Jake Gyllenhaal. Bruckheimers films and television shows have not only influenced popular culture but in some cases defined it. And although cinema is usually considered a directors mediumand Bruckheimer is well known to be completely respectful of their visions on his productionshe has an indelible creative stamp that hearkens back to the days of such strong hands-on pioneers as David O. Selznick Darryl F. Zanuck Sam Spiegel and for that matter Walt Disney. Jerry Bruckheimer - When Lightning Strikes: Four Decades of Filmmaking commemorates the uber-producers entire career thus far from his early years in advertising all the way through to his most recent blockbuster. The stories behind all of his films and television shows are revealed through informative text written by Bruckheimers VP of Publicity Michael Singer who has worked beside the producer in deserts on tropical islands and at every conceivable filming location in between. The images that accompany the text tell their own story of directors actors and writers coming together with Bruckheimer to create films characters and screenplays that have become iconic beloved and oft-quoted. It is a story that parallels the stories of many Bruckheimer films; after all he is the ultimate working-class hero who has forged his own brand in "world made of steel."