Moving Pictures: Memoirs of a Hollywood Prince

Rating:
Summary: "Hollywood" by Budd Schulberg
Review: In addition to being an accomplished novelist (What Makes Sammy Run), Schulberg is the son of the Late B.P. Schulberg who was head of production of Paramount Pictures in its early days. This book is his reminiscence about the silent and early sound days of Hollywood, by someone who was there, hobnobbing with people at the top. It's a fascinating insider account, made all the better by the excellence of Schulberg's writing. If you like books about the early days of Hollywood, don't miss this one.

Rating:
Summary: A 'must' for any film buff
Review: The author was raised in the 1920s as the privileged son of a pioneer studio mogul in Hollywood but earned fame in his own right as a distinguished novelist and playwright. His autobiography is not only about his life and achievements: it traces changes he's observed in the Hollywood industry over the decades, comments on characters and ironies beyond the Hollywood stage, and includes plenty of rare photos to top off his presentation. A 'must' for any film buff.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Stop Now!
Review: To gain a true feeling of what it was like to be in on the ground floor of the motion picture industry, you must read this book. Mr. Schulberg, a gifted writer, is the son of B.P., who was with such notables as Adolph Zukor and L.B. Mayer as they created the dream factories. As the reader, you are given access to the back lots and inner sanctums of Paramount and MGM as Budd and his friend Maurice Rapf (Harry's son) play on the sets on the backlot, and you are also priviliged to join Budd's family at the dinner table for a more personal view. This book is excellent reading for the serious film student/buff as well as an entertaining read for anyone, since Mr. Schulberg uses a light narrative style and has a well developed sense of humor. The only complaint I can offer is that the book ends when Mr. Schulberg is around 20, and his own best work is yet to come! The reader is so involved that it is jolting to come back to this time. A 'must have'.