Fast Fade: David Puttnam, Columbia Pictures, and the Battle for Hollywood

by Andrew Yule

A definitive insider’s account of the triumphs and tribulations of a legendary Hollywood film producer

“A great story about vision, tactics, egos, and filmmaking . . . a complicated portrait of a complicated man.”—Louise Bernikow, Cosmopolitan

“Gripping on every page and awash with toweringly overblown celluloid giants in rapturous megalomania.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“A Hollywood book that is not only well-researched and well-reasoned, but fair and entertaining in the bargain.”—Inside Books

“Joins the ranks of Final Cut and Indecent Exposure as a captivating glimpse of the Hollywood most people never see.”—Palm Beach Post
 
“A fascinating study of power in the boardrooms, bedrooms, and such watering holes as Chasen’s, Morton’s, and Trump.”—Riverside Press-Enterprise
 
“Yule pulls no punches, and neither do Puttnam’s friends, in describing the film genius’s considerable personal flaws.”—The Orlando Sentinel
 
“Fast Fade is well-written . . . well-researched . . . and will appeal to all those curious about the recent history of the film industry.”—Barron’s Weekly

Genres: Media Tie In

388 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Florence Buchholz · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an independent producer David Puttnam was a class act. He had the courage to choose subjects that seemingly would not interest a mass audience such as Cambodian genocide (The Killing Fields) and turn of the century British running competition (Chariots of Fire) and turn them into unforgettable smash hits. If only he had stuck with producing and turned down the offer to head Columbia studios. His tenure there was a disaster from day one. He insulted the old school Hollywood establishment and scorned their lightweight movies. He seemed to idealize the motives of his corporate masters at Coca Cola, forgetting that they were ulitimately concerned with running a profitable operation. It was the classic Hollywood snake pit. Puttnam barely escaped after a brief year at the helm, leaving a large part of his dignity behind. This book adequately describes the subterfuge of Hollywood. And I finally understand exactly what a producer does.

[Amy Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A GREAT book about producer David Puttnam's attempt to change Hollywood through his chairmanship of Columbia Pictures. Of course, he is defeated, but it makes a fascinating story!

[Ian Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a gift and not the kind of book I would have picked up. But, the writing is excellent and the deep dive is impressive. Yule talks to EVERYONE and somehow gets raw truth and dirt even from people who love and continue to work with Puttnam. It's far too extensive for me and there were chunks about movies I didn't know that I skipped over but I think most producers and executives would find this very interesting. Yule picks apart Puttnam's methods in great detail and is on the hunt for what works and what doesn't in the film business. I appreciated the honesty and that this wasn't a blind love-up. And I loved the chapters on movies that were big for me like The Killing Fields and Chariots of Fire.

[Malcolm Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A biography of Pittman up to his leaving Columbia Pictures.It concentrates on his tenure at Columbia.It was an unwise appointment to say the least.Every time he opened his mouth he put his foot in it.This book reflects everybody's opinion.The best,and most trenchant comments come from his one time friend Alan Parker.

[I.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fascinating look at the behind the scenes deal making in 80s corporate Hollywood with loads of early warnings as to how we got where we are now. Lots of dirty, loads of characters, and a plot right out of a movie. Well worth checking out!