There's been alot of buzz about The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. I listened to this interview and was fascinated to hear what some of the influences were in the writing and conception of the book: French films: silent and new wave, Remy Charlip, Maurice Sendak, and yes! a 70's era toy Hugo the Man of a Thousand Faces--a kind of Lon Chaney doll with multiple disguises. Martin Scorsese is very interested in optioning this book--wonder if he'll actually incorporate this toy somehow. Hugo is a tribute to the history of filmmaking and in particular French filmmaking. Citing the earliest known science fiction films as the jumping off point, Selznick charts his cinematic voyage through the turning of these pages. Brian is related to David O. Selznick, but as he explains, there were the California Selznicks and the Jersey Selznicks and ne'er the twain did meet. It almost makes me proud to be an almost Jersey girl.