Growing Up in Hollywood

by Robert Parrish

Shares recollections of the author's years in Hollywood, as child extra, sound editor, award-winning film editor, and director, and of such greats as Chaplin, Walsh, and Ford

Genres: Nonfiction

229 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 1976

About the author

Robert R. Parrish was an American film director, editor, writer, and child actor. He received an Academy Award for Film Editing for his contribution to Body and Soul (1947).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_...


Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Reviews

[Justin Decloux]

One of the best books I've read about the Golden Age of Hollywood. Written by Robert Parrish, who grew up in the city, had a minor role in CITY LIGHTS, a ton of extra roles in all sorts of major productions and ended up winning an Academy Award for editing BODY AND SOUL. He keeps things swiftly moving, with each chapter delivering a different real-life story that Parrish describes in a humorously dry novelistic style that sneaks up on you. The running thread of his time spent working with John Ford, who was the best man at his wedding (which Ford demanded) packs an emotional whallop. Plus, Parrish has got good politics.

Parrish's work as a director is rarely discussed, but this makes me want to dive into it.

[Serina Jahangiri]

کتاب خوبی برای آشنایی با پشت صحنه‌ی سینمای کلاسیک است. کسانی که سینمای کلاسیک را دوست دارند خواندن این کتاب برایشان خالی از لطف نیست.

[David Fuller]

It's hard to believe the life that Robert Parrish led, a living embodiment of "the self made man." His family moved to Hollywood when he was very young and he recounts sneaking into Rudolph Valentino's funeral at the age of five, later he tailed Mae West when she was being blackmailed and got into a high speed car chase. His mother instructed him, along with his sister, to get on the list of extras for the movies and told them to say yes to anything. If they ask if you can ride a horse, say yes, because you can learn before filming starts. This led him to accept a role as a skater in Sonja Henie's first Hollywood film. He and dozens of other young Hollywood kids who had never even seen ice were hired. This is one the funniest episodes in the book. Another memorable episode involved working on the Big Trail with Raoul Walsh. The whole crew was on location in Wyoming, and he relates the story of his first kiss, an incredibly sweet and touching moment.

He was an extra in Chaplin's City Lights, in a small but pivotal role, and developed a friendship with the director that lasted throughout their lives. Chaplin overheard the young Parrish talking about directors one day and started to tease him, and thereafter, would make eye contact and wink at him throughout filming. Parrish aspired to become a director and it ultimately came about. He started as a "cutter", what we now call an editor, and learned the craft by doing. The book itself reveals his narrative talent and editing skill, it flows so well, the pacing and drama are like a well edited film.

He edited several Joh Ford films and worked with him on The Battle of Midway. He eventually won an Oscar for editing Body and Soul in 1947, a John Garfield boxing film. After this he achieved his dream of directing. He is very modest about his success saying simply that he grew up in Hollywood, a factory town that made films. If he had been raised somewhere else he would have done something different. Not only is Mr. Parrish a charming and engaging storyteller but we see in great detail what Hollywood was like in its early years.