Hollywood on the Riviera: The Inside Story of the Cannes Film Festival [Hardcover]

Cari Beauchamp (Author), Henri Behar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1992

The Cannes Film Festival has become the annual crossroads for the worldwide film industry. For those who create the movies, the competition provides drama and glamour equal to that of the Academy Awards, all set against the incredible beauty of the Mediterranean. Now comes the first-ever comprehensive look at the festival which takes place over two weeks every May. 16 pages of photographs.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Beauchamp, a reporter for National Public radio, offers this revealing and exciting romp through the world's most important film festival: Cannes. His first chapter revels in gossip and name dropping, which effectively sets the scene for his treatment of the machinations of the international film marketplace. Importantly, Beauchamp goes into detail about the festival's history, its many roles in shaping worldwide media, and the complexities of the interactions of critics, stars, the jury, agents, producers, distributors, and directors. He copiously details the text with anecdotes and immerses the reader in the crazed flow of festival life. This is sure to be of interest to movie enthusiasts and anyone with a stake in film production or exhibition. It is an important addition to any collection addressing media's place in our society.
- Robert Rayher, Sch. of the Art Inst. of Chicago
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

A must-buy book for first-timers bound for the male-dominated Cannes Film Festival, by two old-timers who began as observers 15 years ago and now have decided to combine their notes and tapes. The 45-year-old festival was put on the map in 1954 when French actress Simone Sylva ``threw off her bikini top and replaced it with Robert Mitchum's hands,'' a photo of which doings went around the world and defined Cannes forever as sex and cinema. Today, AIDS has reduced the extracurricular activities so much that Cannes has become a working festival. With about 1500 films to sort out at the two-week festival each May, the attenders, explain Beauchamp (a former NPR reporter) and Behar (a Le Monde reporter), fall into two groups: the ``moles,'' who try to see everything and discover an unannounced masterpiece--they start daily at 8:00 a.m. and stop at midnight; and the ``moths,'' who party, make deals, and see only a few films. The authors tell the smart way to get passes and hotel rooms and to cut costs. In 1979, Francis Coppola, at Cannes with Apocalypse Now, simply rented a yacht in the bay for the entire festival and cooked a lot. Sample of Cannes dialogue: ``Did you hear the hostages were released?'' ``Released? I didn't know they were in postproduction.'' Beauchamp and Behar discuss the competing films, the marketplace, the partying, the stars, the studios, and America's presence in Cannes (as you enter the city, a sign declares: ``WELCOME TO CANNES, SISTER CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS, USA''); the critics, the agents, the flacks, the jury's selection process, and closing night. Special Jury Prize for Sheer Amusement. (Sixteen pages of b&w photos--not seen.) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1st edition (May 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068811007X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688110079
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,520,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cari Beauchamp is a fourth generation Californian who brings her love of history and dedication to women's rights to her writing about film. Her award winning books have been named to many "best of" lists and she is an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Film Scholar. She lives in Los Angeles and her website address is caribeauchamp.com