Men Who Made Hollywood: The Lives of the Great Movie Moguls

by Michael Freedland

First or second generation Jewish immigrants who had often worked their way up from poor backgrounds, the Hollywood Moguls were remarkable entrepreneurs, the likes of whom will probably never be seen again. Sam Goldwyn, Jack and Harry Warner, Louis B. Mayer, Harry Cohn, and Zukor and Lasky ruled the movie empires in the golden age of Hollywood. These Tinseltown gods liked to be seen at race meetings as proof of their social standing, were loyal to their wives but made good use of the casting couch, were Jewish but more American than apple pie, and the stories of their rise to the top are as fascinating as they are entertaining. When Harry Cohn, iron dictator of Columbia Pictures, died, a rabbi was asked if there was anything good that could be said of him "Sure," he replied, "he’s dead." Louis B. Mayer, of MGM fame, regarded himself as head of a big family?if one of his "children" was out of line, his solution was to punch them in the jaw. Jack Warner had a determination that the studio bearing his name should product quality products. Brother Harry looked upon things "I don’t want it good," he once said, "I want it Tuesday." This is a fascinating look at the men who really did make Hollywood and, in doing so, created the first and arguably most important art form of the 20th century. Based on interviews with family members, actors, producers, and directors this is a frank and detailed portrayal of the extraordinary lives of these powerbrokers, from their backgrounds and motivations to their love lives and quarrels.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2009

Reviews

[Mick Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good book but nothing new to learn here.only the odd anecdote I hadn't heard before.it is told with tongue slightly in cheap with a couple of witty asides.a book to whet your appetite for further reading in more depth about the studios.