Re-reading this observational classic which holds up very well. I read a whiny snobby New York Times review which found the whole thing shocking and alarming but having worked in the industry it seems to be just a bunch of smart people trying to do their job well.
Arthur Jacobs has had a nightmare making Dr Doolittle and is desperately trying to hype the film into being a success by any means necessary - and he's also trying to make Planet of the Apes which was a risk, non-sexy proposition. Richard Zanuck is trying to come up with successful films - he turns down Joe Pasternak's pitch of a film with Bob Buckner which doesn't sound that great. Some execs talk tough with the agent of Wayne Maunder, star of Custer. Darryl Zanuck points out his son was given the job in part to stop him being knifed in the back. Ed Anhalt talks budgeted with Richard Fleischer for The Boston Strangler. Pasternak is impatient with the not very good director of The Sweet Ride. Actors are annoying (Heston is keen on Apes because he wants to say something meaningful, Bob Denver pitches music for Sweet Ride). Irwin Allen tries to make shows on budget.
Sure sometimes people come across as dicks - Darryl Zanuck goes out drinking with his son and their girlfriends and reminisces about the old days including Dick Zanuck's football career; Paul Monash talks about helping black people at Watts and all his therapy. But they're not evil, just human beings.
It's a great book.
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