George Cukor, Master of Elegance: Hollywood's Legendary Director and His Stars (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

One of Hollywood's most accomplished and prolific directors, Cukor (1899-1983) made movies that were at once artistic and commercial: Little Women , The Philadelphia Story , A Star Is Born , My Fair Lady . And although he was noted for his ability to draw fine individual performances from his casts, he was burdened with a reputation as a "woman's director." The author demonstrates that Cukor could as readily be called a "man's director" based on his work with John Barrymore, Laurence Olivier, Anthony Quinn and other male stars. For his comprehensive biography, Levy had access to his subject's correspondence and interviewed some 100 Hollywood figures. He covers Cukor's family background, education, theatrical influences, early stage career in New York and his move to the West Coast in 1929. Levy also explores Cukor's homosexuality, his ambivalence toward money and his volcanic temper. His analysis of Cukor's 50 films is informed. Levy, a professor of film and sociology at Arizona State University, is the author of And the Winner Is: The History and Politics of the Oscar Awards. Photos.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

There appears to be a minirevival of interest in Cukor, who died in 1983. In addition to this worthwhile work, Patrick McGilligan's A Double Life (St. Martin's, 1991) is also available. These days, Cukor is probably best remembered for being fired during the production of Gone with the Wind (1939) and his unshakable reputation as a women's director. Levy makes a good case for placing him in the top echelon of studio directors; Cukor shone in several genres. Among his classic films were Dinner at Eight (1933), Camille (1936), The Philadelphia Story (1940), and the 1954 version of A Star Is Born. Levy has constructed a well-rounded biography that smoothly melds Cukor's long career with his discreet private life. This is a good addition to such other Cukoriana as Gene Phillips's George Cukor (Twayne, 1982. o.p.).
- Roy Liebman, California State Univ. Lib., Los Angeles
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1st edition (April 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688112463
• ISBN-13: 978-0688112462
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,857,861 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)