Shooting Montezuma: A Hollywood Monster Story [Paperback]

Jan Merlin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2001

In the tradition of SUNSET BOULEVARD,THE PLAYER, FEDORA, TWO WEEKS IN ANOTHER TOWN, and THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, comes another amazing insider look at the world of Hollywood.

SHOOTING MONTEZUMA: a hollywood monster story, takes fans of film-making deep into the studio bowels to learn the secrets of special effects, make-up wizardry, and the business of creating a movie. With a legendary star, a celebrated director, and a make-up artist extraordinaire, the tale unfolds; on location in Brazil, scandals,feuds, ego-trips, power plays, all surround the production of a mystery with a gimmick. For those who revel in the magic of movies, the novel will astound; for those who know the tricks of the trade, this will confrim their suspicions.

Written by Jan Merlin, film star and Emmy-winning writer, the tale exposes the reader to a perspective that only "one who was there" could provide. Literally "scripted" about a film in which the audience had to guess who was behind the masks, the book turns tables on movie history as we learn why myths are reality in the movie business.

The book is dedicated to John Huston and Bud Westmore, who participated in a vaguely similar film.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Allegedly based on a true story, this tale should be standard reading for any film class or film history course." -- Dr. William Russo, Professor, Curry College, Milton, MA in Curry College Campus News --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

The author, Jan Merlin, was born and raised in New York City. He enlisted in the United States Navy and participated in the North African Campaign and then served as a torpedoman on destroyers in the South Pacific and was part of the Occupation Forces in Japan. Upon returning to civilian life, he enrolled in the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater, and made his Broadway debut in MISTER ROBERTS. His theatrical career has included numerous plays, several hundred live and filmed television appearances, and more than thirty motion pictures. He received an Emmy in 1975, and another nomination in 1979 as a writer. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris Corp (December 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401028225
• ISBN-13: 978-1401028220
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,376,894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A super story based on some true events, February 1, 2006

By 

jack elam (Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shooting Montezuma: A Hollywood Monster Story (Hardcover)

The story was very interesting in the way it was MASKING fack from fiction. A great read,am looking forward to reading more of Jan Merlin;s books

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hollywood Unmasked!, January 31, 2006

By 

Toasterhead (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shooting Montezuma: A Hollywood Monster Story (Paperback)

It's a no-holds-barred battle of the egos in Jan Merlin's excellent book SHOOTING MONTEZUMA. Loosely based on Merlin's experience in a `vaguely similar enterprise' the book tells the tale of young actor Kurt Mitchell, who mortgages his future for the chance to work alongside a number of Hollywood legends. Too late Mitchell discovers just how painful (in more ways than one) that experience will be.

Surrounded by the celebrity elite, our hero finds solace in his surroundings (beautifully articulated by Merlin) and a handful of noble working-class chums. But like the spoiled children they are, the film's `stars' continually demand center stage and in doing show shine a spotlight on their pathetic and immoral behavior.

At times amusing, at other times disturbing, Montezuma is always interesting. Another recommended book from a novelist who remains one of fiction's best kept secrets.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Dark Side of Hollywood!, July 13, 2000

By 

Rory Coker (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shooting Montezuma: a Hollywood Monster Story (Paperback)

Veteran Hollywood character actor Jan Merlin has based this novel on one of the most remarkable experiences of his life--- his participation in a film called THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER. The novel's hero, Kurt Mitchell, undergoes a year-long makeup ordeal identical to Jan's, and like Jan is cheated of screen credit though he plays one of the film's key roles. Apart from this Jan gives a vivid picture of the Hollywood studio system in its dying days, and the horrors of location filming (Ireland for the actual film, Brazil for the imaginary film that is the basis of the novel). He has also added a subplot involving a series of child murders. The whole mix works quite well; as usual in Jan's novels the characters all come to life, whether based on real people or not, and the evocation of sights, sounds, odors and details is so vivid in each of the novel's scenes that the reader seems to be there. At about 200 pages, and with situations that keep you turning the pages, this is a particularly fine book for summer reading.