An account of Hollywood's relationship with psychotherapy features shocking revelations about encounters between star psychiatrists and their clientele, including Marilyn Monroe, Vivien Leigh, Woody Allen, and others. 35,000 first printing.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
L.A.-based writers Farber and Green ( Outrageous Conduct ) have been reporting on the film colony since the 1970s. After briefly establishing the symbiosis of psychoanalysis and fame, they chronicle the influx of psychotherapists to the West Coast where they won the hearts and minds first of writers and later of other members of the film industry during the '30s and '40s. Although they behaved more like an invading army than healers, the analysts were soon revered as "experts," inspiring screen dramas such as Spellbound . The deliciously gossipy story related here goes from bad to worse: unscrupulous shrinks enjoy sex with glamorous stars, friendships with renowned directors and producers; others make big money from adoring patients whose names they drop for extra ego satisfactions. The authors cite cases such as sadly dependent Marilyn Monroe and Vivien Leigh. Though Farber and Green note that most of Hollywood has moved on "to trendier modes of psychic rejuvenation," this tribe of gurus still receives stalwart support--financial and moral--from true believers.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Great item, great service! Thanks for a great item and the speedy turnaround. Really appreciate the great item and service!
February 28, 2013
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Great item, great service! Thanks for a great item and the speedy turnaround. Really appreciate the great item and service!
Format:Hardcover
I picked up this book thinking it was a study of the role of mental health providers in hollywood films. Instead it is an account of the treatment of hollywood personalities by mental health professionals (mostly psychoanalysts), and only secondarily does it show how the treatment received by these individuals found its way into the scripts and performances.
You won't believe the number of people who were in treatment and how long the treatment lasted. What's even more fascinating is that Farber and Green gives us profiles of the therapists themselves.
The book is well written and it is a quick read. You may get a slightly guilty feeling reading all this personal stuff about all these people, but if you like gossip colums you will definitely find a lot of meat.
I think the book has real value for students training to be mental health professionals, as case studies of what not to do. It's also of interest to film students to see how the making of a movie has so many influences that do not appear by reading the script.
Some of the hollywood personalities that get a good deal of space include Woody Allen (of course!), Janice Rule, David Selznick, Anthony Perkins, Marilyn Monroe, Lee Strassberg, Joseph Mankiewicz, Sally Kellerman, Paula Prentiss, Paul Mazursky, Gregory Peck, Arthur Penn, Elia Kazan, Jennifer Jones, Warren Beatty, Montgomery Clift, Blake Edwards, Peter Falk, Judy Garland, Mike Nichols, Elaine May, and Celeste Holm.
Some of the films covered include "The Wiz", "Annie Hall", "Captain Newman, MD", "Kramer vs. Kramer", "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", "Bonnie and Clyde", "Long Days Journey Into Night", "Victor/Victoria", and "Dressed to Kill."
In addition to covering the topic of mental health, other topics discussed in the book include homosexuality, woman's lib, and the HUAC activities of the 50s. It's particularly interesting to see how these topics are dealt with within the context of the book's main thesis.
You won't believe the number of people who were in treatment and how long the treatment lasted. What's even more fascinating is that Farber and Green gives us profiles of the therapists themselves.
The book is well written and it is a quick read. You may get a slightly guilty feeling reading all this personal stuff about all these people, but if you like gossip colums you will definitely find a lot of meat.
I think the book has real value for students training to be mental health professionals, as case studies of what not to do. It's also of interest to film students to see how the making of a movie has so many influences that do not appear by reading the script.
Some of the hollywood personalities that get a good deal of space include Woody Allen (of course!), Janice Rule, David Selznick, Anthony Perkins, Marilyn Monroe, Lee Strassberg, Joseph Mankiewicz, Sally Kellerman, Paula Prentiss, Paul Mazursky, Gregory Peck, Arthur Penn, Elia Kazan, Jennifer Jones, Warren Beatty, Montgomery Clift, Blake Edwards, Peter Falk, Judy Garland, Mike Nichols, Elaine May, and Celeste Holm.
Some of the films covered include "The Wiz", "Annie Hall", "Captain Newman, MD", "Kramer vs. Kramer", "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", "Bonnie and Clyde", "Long Days Journey Into Night", "Victor/Victoria", and "Dressed to Kill."
In addition to covering the topic of mental health, other topics discussed in the book include homosexuality, woman's lib, and the HUAC activities of the 50s. It's particularly interesting to see how these topics are dealt with within the context of the book's main thesis.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By H. Bachrach
Format:Hardcover
A broad sweep of the pitfalls that can be, and were encountered by psychiatrists, psychologists and psychoanalysts treating celebreties, and the boundary violations that can emerge. Highly informative and should be read by all those treating patients by psychological methods.
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