Irving Thalberg: Boy Wonder to Producer Prince

by Mark A. Vieira

Hollywood in the 1920s sparkled with talent, confidence, and opportunity. Enter Irving Thalberg of Brooklyn, who survived childhood illness to run Universal Pictures at twenty; co-found Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at twenty-four; and make stars of Lon Chaney, Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Jean Harlow. Known as Hollywood's “Boy Wonder,” Thalberg created classics such as Ben-Hur, Tarzan the Ape Man, Grand Hotel, Freaks, Mutiny on the Bounty, and The Good Earth, but died tragically at thirty-seven. His place in the pantheon should have been assured, yet his films were not reissued for thirty years, spurring critics to question his legend and diminish his achievements. In this definitive biography, illustrated with rare photographs, Mark A. Vieira sets the record straight, using unpublished production files, financial records, and correspondence to confirm the genius of Thalberg's methods. In addition, this is the first Thalberg biography to utilize both his recorded conversations and the unpublished memoirs of his wife, Norma Shearer. Irving Thalberg is a compelling narrative of power and idealism, revealing for the first time the human being behind the legend.

Genres: Biography, Film, Nonfiction, Media Tie In, History, Biography Memoir, Business

504 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2009

About the author

Mark A. Vieira is a photographer and writer. He makes glamour portraits in the classic Hollywood mode, working in the historic Granada Buildings, where George Hurrell had his first Los Angeles studio. He writes books about the artists, genres, and photographic technique of Hollywood’s Golden Era.

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazingly written and researched book. Anyone interested in Thalberg specifically, or the era generally, will enjoy Vieira's accomplishment. It's the only book that I've read about the era, and I've read many, that captures the daring, excitement, and conflict of the emerging Hollywood studio system. Vieira has pulled information from many sources, including Norma Shearer's unpublished autobiography, that have not been available to other biographers in the past. Additionally he had access to the scores of interviews that Bob Thomas conducted in the 1960s for his own Thalberg biography with some of the many participants in the story that have since passed away. This makes a great companion piece to Vieira's previously published photographic study Hollywood Dreams Made Real: Irving Thalbery and the Rise of M.G.M..

[Matthew Bieniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating look at one of the important players in the early days of Hollywood and a glimpse into the way movies were made at one of the major studios. I've read countless books and articles which mention the "studio system" in passing, but this book really shows the influence that the producers had in the crafting of films, and in the shaping of the careers of many of the well-known stars of the day. It also shows the petty politics that were in play at the time, which I'm sure continues to this day, especially considering the enormous amounts of money involved.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!! Because of Mark’s writing style, I absolutely fell
in love with Irving and Norma. Wish the book could have gone on for ages!

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a masterpiece, the result of 18 years of scholarship, undoubtedly the definitive work about Irving Thalberg. His only fault was conservatism that threatened M-G-M's existence if writers joined the east coat guild. One of his favorite writers and personal friends avoided him when his politics turned. The book avoids demonizing Louis Mayer. Thalberg remains America's most legendary filmmaker. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read. I treasure this book.

[Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

there have been few books out on irving thalberg. one in particular was gossipy, and lightweight. thalberg changed the face of film, and deserves this detailed account of his life, and his times. a long read, with source material unseen until to-day. but, it's a satisfying tome, one you read with a notepad beside, so you can jot down film titles you will want to seek out.

[Michael Kocher · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Hollywood biographies I have ever read. Vieira expertly juggles the aspects the reader wants to know about. We get to intimately know Thalberg as a man and as an artist. Intense detail is paid to all the films Thalberg had a hand in so it is a must for a film fan trying to create a list of classics to see. I highly recommend it.

[Donald Kirch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy was WAY ahead of his time, and helped to create the mold that Lucas, Spielberg, and "The Next Best Thing" was poured from. A great read!!

[Hailey H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read! Very well researched with lots of great stories throughout. Definitely a must for people interested in Old Hollywood.

[Rick Burin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointing biography of MGM’s Boy Wonder, the complex, ruthless and incredibly influential producer Irving Thalberg, who never put his name on a picture but produced perhaps the three greatest silent dramas (The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg, The Wind and The Crowd) and as many of the most high-profile films of the ‘30s.

Vieira’s book is a melange of dry commercial data, lively behind-the-scenes snippets about the production of various movies, and excerpts from the unpublished autobiography of Thalberg’s wife, star Norma Shearer, which are invariably nebulous, vacuous and hagiographical.

Only now and then does Thalberg truly come into focus, and though he defined himself by his work, too often it feels like his world is being sketched in because the author can’t get a handle on the man. The writing is flat and unfocused – its direction dictated by the piecemeal sources, rather than vice versa – and even uses one quote from producer David Lewis twice.

For real devotees of the era, there is some interesting detail on the development of some important movies, but the man behind them remains largely elusive.

Despite Vieira’s book being in scrupulously good taste, the picture section includes a gratuitous snap of one of Jean Harlow’s tits, and a photo of producer Paul Bern’s dead body!?

[Christine Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent biography of early Hollywood's most successful producer. Thalberg's genius was matching the right star with the right story, and doing retakes on a film after previews to make each one the best it could be. He truly lived for his work. The book also gives us countless behind the scenes anecdotes about M-G-M, its stars and Louis B. Mayer too. It's a must-read for any movie fan(atic), like me.

[Leila Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! I do wish Irving Thalberg had lived longer. What more could he have accomplished in such a cutthroat business? We will never know. But what a powerhouse while he lived. Work was his everything. What an amazing man! The world lost something with his death!

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The thoughtful, innovative cinema of Irving Thalberg died with him."

Výborná biografia producenta Irvinga Thalberga, zaujímavá a veľmi čítavá. 400-stranová kniha mi ubehla ako nič, až mi bolo ľúto, že skončila.

[Krista Lawler · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best by one of the better film historian authors out there....

[Gary Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Luis Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography is marvellous, exquisitely documented and reads like a novel.

[KariG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elokuvahistorian menestyneimpiin tuottajiin lukeutuneen, ihmepojaksin uransa alkuvaiheissa nimitetyn Thalbergin elämä päättyi ainoastaan 37-vuotiaana, mutta sinä aikana hän ehti saavuttaa kaiken mitä elokuvamaailmassa ylipäätään pystyy. Lukuisia hittejä seurasi myös kalliita huteja, joista hyvää tulosta tehnyt M-G-M silti aina selvisi, eikä Thalberginkaan sädekehä niistä liiemmin haalistunut. Jälkipolvet muistanevat hänet parhaiten yhteenotoistaan Erich von Stroheimin kanssa ja etenkin Järjettömien naisten (1922) ja Ahneuden (1924) kokemat silpomiset ovat osa elokuvahistorian surullisempaa puolta. Vaikka miesten välit olivat paikoin hyvinkin kireät, von Stroheim osallistui silti Thalbergin hautajaisiin.

Hyvin kirjoitettu teos valottaa mielestäni paljon enemmän Hollywoodin ja etenkin M-G-M:n kulissien takaista valtapeliä kuin Louis B. Mayerin elämäkerta. Samalla se tuo hyvin esiin Thalbergin taidon tehdä hyvästä elokuvasta vielä vähän parempi sekä luotsata tiiminsä voittoon pahoistakin paikoista. Toisinaan hän tosin sortui liialliseen jääräpäisyyteen ja aiheutti näyttelijöiden keskuudessa eripuraa suosimalla joissain näyttelijävalinnoissa vaimoaan Norma Sheareria.
Äänielokuvakautta käydään hieman mykkäelokuvia kattavammin, mutta ehkä siitä on ollut paremmin materiaalia saatavilla? Hyvä teos siitäkin huolimatta.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Late in 2009 a biography appeared, "Irving Thalberg: Boy Wonder to Producer Prince" that does an excellent job of putting Thalberg's career and influence into the context of his life and times. This book benefits by the observations of Norma Shearer, his widdow, taken from her unpublished autobiography.

Thalberg's influence in developing the business & artistic
structure of the modern studios and MGM. Mark Vieira's book has enough detail in it to provide a documentary outline on its own. Augmented by news clips and film of the time, the Thalberg story of judgments, mis-judgments and conflicts with Louis B. Mayer has the potential for a powerful documentary in the hands of a good editor.

Some might regard it to be a sad story, with Thalberg dieing at age 36, but the devotion of his wife, Norma Shearer to him and his memory, resulted in the Oscars' Thalberg Memorial Award for talented producers.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

After this book by Mark Vieira there will be no need for another Thalberg biography.

Thalberg was a genius, but a sui generis one and the attempt to duplicate his methods by a lot of lesser minds over the years has resulted in ever more diminishing returns.

[Nancy Loe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stellar. Well researched and written.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting history of films

This was an enjoyable read mainly because there is so much information about how films were planned and made. Nostalgia.

[John Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sterling scholarship made the producer come to life.