Customer Reviews

Zanuck: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Last Tycoon

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I was enjoying this book until until one false statement or fact became too glaring to gloss over. Here's one example. Moseley states that after the big success of "42nd Street" in early 1933, the studios starting making musicals, all except Warner Bros. The truth is Warner Bros. became famous for their musicals starting with an immediate follow-up, "Golddiggers of 1933," released May 27,1933. Then "Footlight Parade" on October 21, 1933 followed by "Fashions of 1934," "Wonder Bar," 20 Million Sweethearts," "Dames," "Flirtation Walk" and "Sweet Adeline" all in 1934. In 1935 Warner Bros. released six musicals and in 1936 another five. This is only the tip of the iceberg of false statements. So it makes me wonder how much of the very interesting story being told about Zannuck, you can believe. Having lived through this era and being a film buff and theatre owner, I seldom find a book about the movie business that does not have errors. However if you can accept this book as a mixture of both fact and fiction, it is a fascinating read.

This is a must read for understanding Hollywood culture and the development of the film industry. Zanuck was there for most of it, and this book lays out the role of major studios and producers.

Even if you read this as a business story and pass on the historic aspects on the film studios, it is well worth your time.