Vanity Fairs Tales of Hollywood

Vanity Fairs Tales of Hollywood

These lively essays from Vanity Fair reveal the stories behind 13 iconic films. The attitude taken toward several of these baker’s-dozen movies is, however, more ironic than reverent. But the circumstances surrounding the making of such ringers as Myra Breckinridge, Tommy, and Cleopatra make for reading that’s not only shamefully fascinating in a car-wreck sort of way but illuminating of the maddening methods of Hollywood. Not surprisingly, though, it’s the genuine classics—among them, Rebel without a Cause, All about Eve, The Magnificent Ambersons, and Midnight Cowboy—that concern the most substantive and rewarding entries. The contributors, who include such notable entertainment writers as James Wolcott and Peter Biskind, dish up enough gossip to satisfy the casual moviegoer (e.g., Mike Nichols originally envisioned Robert Redford and Ava Gardner for The Graduate) but pair it with enough substance to satisfy hard-core film buffs. This slender volume manages to cover a surprising amount of territory. –Gordon Flagg

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars On Masterpieces and Disasterpieces
This is a perfect book to read if you love movies, and it’s too cold out to go to one! Culled from Vanity Fair’s vast output of movie exposes, this compilation, from different staff writers, focuses on 13 titles. Classics like Rebel Without a Cause, All About Eve, Reds, and Midnight Cowboy are included, along with such legendary disasters like Cleopatra and Myra Breckenridge. The behind-the-scenes trivia is fun and the stories are generally well written with amusing observations from the (surviving) cast and crew of each film. Among those things I learned: Burt Lancaster was hardly a Prince among men, and Debbie Reynolds was among those considered for the heroine in “Rebel.” The chapter on “Eve” subsequently became an entire book from that writer. Includes a foreword from present-day editor Graydon Carter.

5 Stars A great tale of movie backgrounds
This is a riveting and absorbing look at the backstory of and circumstances surrounding a wide array of films, from marred classics such as “Magnificent Ambersons” to legendary flops like “Cleopatra” to triumphs like “The Graduate.”

This book is recommended for movie buffs.

3 Stars Vanity Fair’s Tales of Hollywood:Rebels, Reds, and Graduates and the Wold Stories Behind the Making of 13 IconicFilms
This book is a look at the making of some very famous movies of the 50′s/60′s/70′s and 80′s.

The stories are reprints from the original stories that were in Vanity Fair years ago with some minor updates.

Always written well and very informative.

4 Stars Movie lover’s dream!
This is a perfect book for movie lovers of all ages and preferences. The articles are very entertaining and can be read in one sitting or over a period of weeks without needing to keep up with a time line. I would eagerly purchase a second edition of this book with further movie-related articles.

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