Hollywood
The Oral History
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- £9.99
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- £9.99
Publisher Description
Hollywood: The Oral History covers the history of Hollywood from the Silent era up to the 21st century.
What makes this book unique from any other survey of Hollywood's history is that it is the history of an art form through the words of those people who created it - from Harold Lloyd to Katharine Hepburn to Warren Beatty to Jane Fonda and beyond, including directors, writers, producers, editors, designers of sets and costumes.
As such, the authenticity of the text is irrefutable.
The material in the book - gathered over the decades by the American Film Institute - has never been published before, has never been heard before.
It is comprehensive - a monument that will never age nor be surpassed.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The secrets of Tinseltown burn bright in this collection of interviews culled from the American Film Institute's archives and assembled by film scholar Basinger (The Movie Musical!) and author Wasson (Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.). The technical process of filmmaking is expertly explored, and discussions about publicity highlight the work style of individual directors (John Ford "gave in to nobody," says cinematographer Ray Rennahan) and the charisma of legendary stars such as Marlon Brando. A narrative arc emerges from the hubbub, tracing the freshness of the silent era to the grandeur of the golden age studio system—the "beautiful machinery" of MGM is hymned for its excellent production values and nurturing of new talent—to the modern era of independent producers, high-earning leading actors, and summer blockbusters. The commentary crackles with humorous anecdotes and acerbic insights on topics such as screenplays ("There mustn't be too much description, because get bored when they read words," says director and writer Abraham Polonsky) and stunt work ("I used to get $25 every time I jumped a horse off a cliff," says 1920s actor Hoot Gibson). The result is a fascinating conversation about Hollywood's magical blending of art and commerce.
