Customer Reviews

The Last Mogul: Lew Wasserman, MCA, and the Hidden History of Hollywood

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

My library is filled with books about the inner workings of the entertainment industry, but none of them have even hinted at the massive power and influence of MCA, Dr. Jules Stein and Lew Wasserman. For over thirty years they controlled what Americans were entertained by. As agents, they handled the vast majority of important actors, musician, singers and writers. And you couldn't hire an MCA talent without agreeing to hire others. In addition, they had insider deals with the unions that no other talent agency or television production company enjoyed. In addition, MCA invented the dubious practice of setting up production companies for entertainers so that they could avoid paying taxes. Of course later, when the star's career started to fade, that same production company became an ever-hungry money pit. I don't think it is possible to truly understand why entertainment is what it is in the twentieth century without reading this book. Despite being published by a major house and receiving rave reviews, you are unlikely to see this author on your local talk shows or to find his book in any of the major chain stores, because so many still fear the subject of this book. Do yourself a favor and order the book from Amazon. It is a must-read for any fan of entertainment books.

To many of us outside of Hollywood, Juluis Stein and Lew Wasserman resemble the sharp shrewd amoral quickbuck artists typically cast in movies and TV as " Hollywood Movie Agents." That they are extremely zealous and very bright is clear from this excellent biography. That they are not above any sort of misrepresentation or other form of deceptive yet quasi-legal business practice is also apparent. These are men who are vain, superficial and abundently successful. They are miles ahead of both their competition and studio heads. Are they decent men? Well if you consider that they spent their professional careers deceiving one another, misrepresenting or withholding facts from their peers and clients and sharply navigating thru numerous shady and questionable practices and relatioinships you have your answer. Top it off with avoidance(legal if you will) of taxes and wartime service to their nation and you have a couple of well dressed thinly venired operators who always seem to get the best of their competitors. The author here does and excellent job, without suggesting any personal bias, of layering one either shady or morally questionable practice over another. I conculded that this is simply how one gets business done in Hollywood and that furthermore it hasn't gotten any worse in recent years since it always a nasty and unforgiving eniormnment to make a buck. There are many minor factual errors in the book but they are more then overcome by the writers assertion of details that are without doubt accurate and important in describing the business and moral, or lack thereof, climate inherit in the movie trade.

If you enjoy reading about the history of Hollywood, this is the book for you. But be forewarned, it reads like a history book and takes a real time commitment to finish. The author goes back to the beginning career of Jules Stein and booking of bands through the sale of Universal to the Bronfman's. Clearly the focus of the book is Lew Wasserman who led MCA from agency to studio with significant influences in politics.

Probably the most entertaining part of the book is the unique stories of the stars of the 40s and 50s since Wasserman was at his peak making careers. Stories are presented about Tony Curtis, Jimmy Stewart and Marilyn Monroe to name a few and are quite entertaining as well as showing Wasserman's power to destroy or make a career.

This book tries to intertwine politics, entertainment and the mafia, and while there may be a connection, sometimes he seems to reach too far and lose focus on the principals who grew MCA into the behemoth that it was. I recommend this book to anyone with an in-depth interest in Hollywood history and what it was like from mid-century.

McDougal has written a monumental book. Exisquitely details and finely told, the story of Lew Wasserman is one for the ages. The history of hollywood is terrific. Some have called this an unfair bashing of a legend--I say it is a fairly balanced portrait of a complex and cold man. Lew is admirable in his own way. My only real issue with the book is the connections that McDougal draws between MCA and the Mob. Clearly, they did do some work together, but the endless sections about the later years (rudnick's work, etc)--get to be confusing (so many names and no glossary) and ulimately without revelation. Lots of accusations. Some of it is interesting (the Sidney Korshak stuff) and some dull. The book is best when focused on Lew and those around him (non-mafia types). A terrific read for the patient and fan of Hollywood behind the scenes books.

Capturing the essence of Old Hollywood,the author tries to posthnously piece together the stories of "The Godfather." Not merely tossing up gossip, the analysis of various situations and its underlying consequences on the hOllywood community should be well noted. i would recommend this book to Reading Rainbow readers.

Good book, very funny and detailed. Read it
after listening to the interview on First Voice.
The interview is online at
http://www.7to7.net/mcd.html

There's a transcript for those using dial up.

--J. R.

This is a great book for anyone who loves Hollywood and the history of Hollywood. It is a great read, filled with details of past deals, and well defined characters. From the early days with Jules Stein, up until the sale of the company, this is a history book which is valuable for anyone who wants to know why certain movies were made, why hollywood functions as it does, and who the true power brokers were over the past 40+ years. The only thing better than reading about Lew Wasserman would be to meet the man, and listen to his stories, including Hollywood, MCA, Universal, Jules Stein, and all of the stars who worked for him.

An incredibly detailed and fascinating look into the world of perhaps hollywood's greatest businessman ever. I wish there was more information about the great company mca and mr. wasserman, especially something sanctioned by him. there are libraries of info inside that man that we need to know!

so far, we have added a tunafish lunch to our routine, a la lew. but we need more info, more books to balance this story. seems to me that bernard dick's "city of light" about universal pictures, "stiffed" and "hit men" about the music business and others offer snapshots from the whole film of the last mogul, but i would love to know more.

respect to lew wasserman and dennis mcdougal.

This is a great book for anyone who loves Hollywood and the history of Hollywood. It is a great read, filled with details of past deals, and well defined characters. From the early days with Jules Stein, up until the sale of the company, this is a history book which is valuable for anyone who wants to know why certain movies were made, why hollywood functions as it does, and who the true power brokers were over the past 40+ years. The only thing better than reading about Lew Wasserman would be to meet the man, and listen to his stories, including Hollywood, MCA, Universal, Jules Stein, and all of the stars who worked for him.

McDougal is a polished, and accomplished researcher and writer. The book is a tour de force of the entertainment industry, describing the shifting sands of power and control by those who run it. There wasn't a page that I didn't find illuminating and entertaining...one of those rare books that I din't want to see end. For anyone interested in a career in show business, or for that matter anyone that is an intelligent observer, this should be on their list of must reads!