Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Weinstein Books (2011), Edition: First Edition, 274 pages
Description
The author recalls his tenure at Paramount Pictures during a tumultuous time when the studio produced such films as "The Godfather," "Chinatown," and "True Grit" but was also plagued by drugs, the mafia, and runaway budgets.
Media reviews
Hollywood books about the ’70s (most notably Peter Biskind’s) are full of such lore. They’re also full of anecdotes about the same films that Mr. Bart remembers best. So his book can be redundant — but it’s a fast, funny, no-nonsense and graphic account of Paramount’s most dizzyingly
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high times. He may have been a studio executive, but he started out reporting. He’s a sharp-eyed reporter still. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member AlexEpstein
Peter Bart was famously hired as a powerful studio exec at Paramount in the late '60's, solely on the basis of being a smart New York Times reporter, at a time when all the old rules were being thrown out and no one seemed to know what audience wanted.
Bart, who later headed up Variety, is willing
It's a book of war stories. I don't know that anyone actually needs to know what Hollywood was like in the 1970's. But if you're in the biz, you're expected to be able to talk about the old days, even if you weren't there for them. It shows respect to the culture of the industry. It also reminds you that every movie legend has his share of flops and bad calls. And everyone in showbiz experiences ridiculous amounts of frustration over their career.
Bart, who later headed up Variety, is willing
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to own up to his mistakes -- fiascos he saw coming and didn't stop, or didn't see coming. He also takes some credit for some major good calls, like pushing LOVE STORY when no one wanted it. It's a book of war stories. I don't know that anyone actually needs to know what Hollywood was like in the 1970's. But if you're in the biz, you're expected to be able to talk about the old days, even if you weren't there for them. It shows respect to the culture of the industry. It also reminds you that every movie legend has his share of flops and bad calls. And everyone in showbiz experiences ridiculous amounts of frustration over their career.
Show Less
LibraryThing member AlexEpstein
Peter Bart was famously hired as a studio exec at Paramount in the late '60's, solely on the basis of being a smart New York Times reporter, at a time when all the old rules were being thrown out and no one seemed to know what audience wanted.
Bart, who later headed up Variety, is willing to own up
It's a book of war stories. I don't know that anyone actually needs to know what Hollywood was like in the 1970's. But if you're in the biz, you're expected to be able to talk about the old days, even if you weren't there for them. It shows respect to the culture of the industry. It also reminds you that every movie legend has his share of flops and bad calls. And everyone in showbiz experiences ridiculous amounts of frustration over their career.
Bart, who later headed up Variety, is willing to own up
Show More
to his mistakes -- fiascos he saw coming and didn't stop, or didn't see coming. He also takes some credit for some major good calls, like pushing LOVE STORY when no one wanted it. It's a book of war stories. I don't know that anyone actually needs to know what Hollywood was like in the 1970's. But if you're in the biz, you're expected to be able to talk about the old days, even if you weren't there for them. It shows respect to the culture of the industry. It also reminds you that every movie legend has his share of flops and bad calls. And everyone in showbiz experiences ridiculous amounts of frustration over their career.
Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
274 p.; 9.27 inches
ISBN
1602861390 / 9781602861398
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