Backstory 1: Interviews with Screenwriters of Hollywood's Golden Age

Backstory #1

by Patrick McGilligan

The illustrious line-up in this volume includes Hitchcock collaborator Charles Bennett, the sophisticated husband-and-wife team of Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, the Astaire-Rogers writer Allan Scott, and many more.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Media Tie In, History

382 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Patrick McGilligan is the author of Clint one of America’s pre-eminent film biographers. He has written the life stories of directors George Cukor and Fritz Lang — both New York Times “Notable Books” — and the Edgar-nominated Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light. His books have been translated into ten languages. He lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprised to learn that guys like Ben Hecht, James M. Cain, and W.R. Burnett didn't write their scripts while sitting around a coffee shop all day playing games and talking on the phone.

[Rick Burin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories from the frontline: interviews with 14 of the studio-era's best screenwriters, encompassing celebrated wits both urban (Julius Epstein) and refined (Donald Ogden Stewart), the greatest husband-and-wife team in pictures (Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett) and a 'constructionist' (Richard Bennett), whose job was to map out the story, not prettify the language. There's a little vintage gossip, along some unwitting insights, from John Lee Mahin's lack of remorse about the communist witchhunt to Richard Maibaum's self-serving curation of his chapter, though its greatest value is its simplest one, as a portrait of an underexamined class still variously proud of its achievements, chasing generation-old credits or smarting about the movie that might have been.

[Creolecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through indepth interviews, Pat McGilligan gives us a roster of screenwriters telling their side of the story both on and off the set. Highlights include Alfred Hitchcock’s co-writer Charles Bennett “respectfully” dissing Alma Reville (Hitch’s wife). She received a lot of credit on films, but according to Bennett, “she never did a damn thing.” His interview is my favorite (and not just because he dishes the dirt). Others of note include Cecil B. DeMille’s confidante, Lenore Coffee who I was especially interested in her because she was part of a handful of respected female writers at the time. While her interview was forthcoming, it was a bit disjointed; “Script Doctor” John Lee Mahin, who I had never heard of, but I’ve seen many of the films he contributed to like Red Dust, China Seas, and Boom Town. He also worked on Bombshell with Harlow, and I discovered that film is based on the life of Clara Bow; the writing team of Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett (The Thin Man, “trimming” Watch on the Rhine, It’s a Wonderful Life, Father of the Bride, etc.). Every interview is rich with information and Mr. McGilligan has done his research, bringing his own contributions to the conversational tone of this immensely absorbing book.

[Suzanne Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book surprisingly interesting. It's a series of interviews of well-known Hollywood screenwriters from the 30's into the 50's. Good stories and information on how Hollywood worked back in the day.

[Peter Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well-assembled, edited, and written book, with a judicious selection of interviews with highly intelligent, witty, and (often) wise storytellers.

[Patrick Charsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about the Golden Age of Hollywood with a particular focus on Screenwriters.

[John McNulty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. Great questions and a vital piece of Hollywood history.

[Luke Devenish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn bloody excellent. A treasure trove of Old Hollywood anecdotes from those who really know how to stick the knife in: the writers. And not a single stabbing undeserved. Grand entertainment. Loved this.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful look at Classic Hollywood from the screenwriter's point of view.

[Robert James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent set of interviews!