There have been many books about Robert Altman but this one actually looks behind the analysis to provide a biography. As a result it is essential for Altman fans, and others just vaguely interested in him (like me - I've never been a big fan though I have liked his more popular films). McGilligan takes an affectionate but not uncritical look at the amazing career of this director, whom most people only know for his post-MASH work. I was aware that Altman had put in hard yards before hand but had no idea how hard.
Born in the mid-west to a prosperous family, Altman seems to have gone through his life with an odd mixture of partying and hard work. He flew bombers in the Pacific in WW2, tried to get a start in Hollywood on his return (and did succeed in selling a few stories such as Bodyguard and nabbing a few extra roles), returning to Kansas City and working hard making industrial films, then going to Hollywood in the 50s and eventually establishing himself as one of the top directors on TV.
I knew Altman was a big name but had no idea how big - he really had an impressive reputation, mostly through work on Bonanza and Combat, but I think it was also mostly due to the fact that Altman always tried to do something different, something unusual. He was never a hack, he always pushed the boundaries (he did this on his industrial films, too). Eventually he moved into features regularly, and had a massive hit with MASH - which really was a fluke, he's never matched it since (though he might have had a more commercial career - even within the confines of his vision - had he accepted the fact he couldn't really write and really needed screenwriters - this seems to have held him back, and only when he bucks the trend, eg The Player, Gosford Park, does he have a real chance).
The public has only taken to Altman films on rare occasions - his second biggest hit was Popeye, but interestingly that had a reputation for a failure and turned him persona non grata among the studios for a while. Altman has several strengths which keep him going - a work ethic (maybe because on his sets there always seems to be parties, booze and some drugs), a determination to keep going no matter what, low budgets, a great reputation among actors, sheer tenacity. The book's sub-title could be "survivor" - Altman just keeps going. McGilligan writes well and the stories fairly fly by; he takes him to look at Altman's style and working methods and relationships with other people. He doesn't get bogged down in jargon. Altman wasn't involved but it doesn't seem to matter, especially as he has been quoted so often.
The only real problem with the book is that it only goes up to 1989, by which stage Altman was coming off a couple of bombs in OC & Stiggs and Beyond Therapy but he'd rescued his reputation (again!) with work on TV, The Caine Mutiny Court Martial and Tanner. In a few years Altman was back in a big way with The Player then only a few years ago he made Gosford Park. The 90s were a kinder decade to him professionally than the 80s. But the 80s, 60s, even 50s - he just keeps on going on. Amazing. Great read.
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