patrickwadden's review against another edition
4.0
By all accounts, William Goldman's recount of his past is on every list constructed for people like me who want a literary insight into the inner workings of Hollywood and screenwriting as a whole, and oh boy does 'Adventures in the Screen Trade' deliver.
I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end but the standard memoir (Part 2 of 3) was probably a highlight for me, followed by part 3 and then part 1. I took various notes throughout reading and I'm really curious on how the views and circumstances Goldman had back in '83 still hold up today (also in 2000 in his follow-up).
Me enjoyeing this book was Orry Kelly's dress on Marilyn Monroe, it was always gonna be a good fit. So, I'm left wondering if I should recommend it to people who aren't as engrossed by the inner workings of Hollywood but would find it fascinating to pull back the curtain and see Oz for what he truly is. Breaking it up by part, I think for the most part (puns) yes. Unfortunately, the first two parts are quite dated so even if the contemporary layman is willing to delve into film, I highly doubt it's American film in the 80's. On the other hand, if they harbour any love for the stars of the no so longago past, they will thoroughly enjoy this book and the process of unveiling the machinations behind how their favourite films get made (and on the personal insecurity of Goldman, boy have I ever related to a writer as much before).
Good book! Fun Read!
I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end but the standard memoir (Part 2 of 3) was probably a highlight for me, followed by part 3 and then part 1. I took various notes throughout reading and I'm really curious on how the views and circumstances Goldman had back in '83 still hold up today (also in 2000 in his follow-up).
Me enjoyeing this book was Orry Kelly's dress on Marilyn Monroe, it was always gonna be a good fit. So, I'm left wondering if I should recommend it to people who aren't as engrossed by the inner workings of Hollywood but would find it fascinating to pull back the curtain and see Oz for what he truly is. Breaking it up by part, I think for the most part (puns) yes. Unfortunately, the first two parts are quite dated so even if the contemporary layman is willing to delve into film, I highly doubt it's American film in the 80's. On the other hand, if they harbour any love for the stars of the no so longago past, they will thoroughly enjoy this book and the process of unveiling the machinations behind how their favourite films get made (and on the personal insecurity of Goldman, boy have I ever related to a writer as much before).
Good book! Fun Read!
daydreamangel18's review against another edition
4.0
Love the behind the scene of some iconic films and also great insight into the moviemaking business.
cltnbutcher's review against another edition
4.0
A legendary book by a legendary writer. Written in anecdotal bites, it's a breezy read and filled with interesting insights to old school Hollywood.
andrewgraphics's review against another edition
4.0
Fun book, conversationally written, early enough in Goldman's career that he could admit he didn't have all of the answers; short sketches of what it was like working on each of his major films, with a dissection of turning a short story into a film, and interviews with other filmmakers who would be involved and how they would work out the challenges his script presents.
Great overall, but from what I had heard from friends was expecting him going a little more in-depth into the process: why this kind of scene here, and what it sets up later on.
Would love to read his version of this now.
Great overall, but from what I had heard from friends was expecting him going a little more in-depth into the process: why this kind of scene here, and what it sets up later on.
Would love to read his version of this now.
pumpernikel's review against another edition
5.0
I found this book fascinating, mostly because I enjoy William Goldman's writing, but also learning more about movie production than I knew previously.
ktothelau's review
5.0
Will read again at another time, hopefully more consistently. However, I feel this is a must-read for those interested in entering the film scene, writer or no. It's not a how-to book on screenwriting, but rather an experiential account of the film industry from a screenwriter's perspective.
Also, it's William Goldman. C'mon, the dude's a brilliant writer.
Also, it's William Goldman. C'mon, the dude's a brilliant writer.
corrompido's review against another edition
2.0
I did not finish this book. It was interesting but I was too removed from the movies and stars that he was talking about as I rarely watch movies from before the 1980s.
gregbrown's review against another edition
4.0
Charming and interesting with the requisite gossip, but man was it deflating to reach the point where he shows off full screenplays (Butch and Da Vinci) only to find them suffocating. The way Goldman writes out the shots is way too prescriptive to make for an pleasant read, and frankly tries to do something more in the domain of the director.
tcatsninfan's review against another edition
3.0
It's an interesting look at Hollywood, but it's really outdated now. Business models in Hollywood and the current list of celebrities are quite different from what's discussed in this book. Some of the information is timeless, sure, but this book isn't as interesting to me because he spends a lot of time talking about older movie stars like Humphrey Bogart and Sam Peckinpah.