{"product_id":"9781429995931","title":"Halfway to Hollywood: Diaries 1980-1988","description":"\u003cp\u003eA \u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e Best Nonfiction of 2011 title \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe second volume of Michael Palin's diaries covers the bulk of the 1980s, a decade in which the ties binding the Pythons loosened—they made their last film \u003ci\u003eMonty Pyton's Meaning of Life\u003c\/i\u003e in 1983. For Michael, writing and acting took over much of his life, culminating in his appearances in \u003ci\u003eA Fish Called Wanda\u003c\/i\u003e, in which he played the hapless, stuttering Ken, and won a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor. \u003ci\u003eHalfway to Hollywood\u003c\/i\u003e follows Palin's torturous trail through seven movies and ends with his final preparations for the documentary that was to change his life—\u003ci\u003eAround the World in 80 Days\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003eDuring these years he co-wrote and acted in Terry Gilliam's \u003ci\u003eTime Bandits\u003c\/i\u003e as well as spearing in Gilliam's follow-up success \u003ci\u003eBrazil\u003c\/i\u003e. Palin co-produced, wrote and played the lead in \u003ci\u003eThe Missionary\u003c\/i\u003e opposite Maggie Smith, who also appeared with him in \u003ci\u003eA Private Function\u003c\/i\u003e, written by Alan Bennett. In television the decade was memorable \u003ci\u003efor East of Ipswich\u003c\/i\u003e, inspired his links with Suffolk. Such was his fame in the US, he was enticed into once again hosting the enormously popular show \u003ci\u003eSaturday Night Live\u003c\/i\u003e. He filmed one of the BBC's \u003ci\u003eGreat Railway Journeys\u003c\/i\u003e as well as becoming chairman of the pressure group Transport 2000. His life with Helen and the family remains a constant, as the children enter their teens.\u003cbr\u003ePalin's joy of writing is evident once more in \u003ci\u003eHalfway to Hollywood\u003c\/i\u003e as he demonstrates his continuing sense of wonder at the world in which he finds himself. A world of screens large and small.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"St. Martin's Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47153914937584,"sku":"9781429995931","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781429995931_p0.jpg?v=1763750023","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781429995931","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}