David Shipman

David Herbert Shipman (4 November 1932 – 22 April 1996) was an English film critic and writer best known for his book trilogy The Great Movie Stars and his book duology The Story of Cinema. He was described in an obituary as "the most influential writer on film in the world". He worked as a publishing sales representative from 1955 to 1965, mostly in Europe, then returned to work for the UK publisher Thames & Hudson.

In 1968, Shipman began work on a first book, The Great Movie Stars: The Golden Years, which was published two years later and sold well. He also worked as a lecturer, journalist and film consultant, and from 1986 until his death wrote obituaries for The Independent newspaper. He was survived by his partner since 1964, the art director Felix Brenner. The Good Film and Video Guide (1984 1st ed) Caught in the Act: Sex and Eroticism in the Movies (1985) Movie Talk: Who Said What About Whom in the Movies (1989) The Great Movie Stars: The Independent Years (1991 1st ed) Cinema: The First Hundred Years (1993) Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend (1993)