Sam Wasson Libri

Sullo sfondo di un’America intrappolata nel perbenismo degli anni ’50 e tesa verso lo spirito ribelle di Woodstock, l'autore racconta la storia di un film, di una donna e di un’epoca. La narrazione inizia alle 5 del mattino del 2 ottobre 1960, quando Holly Golightly cammina per la Quinta Strada in una New York deserta, indossando occhiali da sole e un abito di Givenchy destinato a diventare leggendario. Viene svelata la nascita, la realizzazione e le conseguenze di un film unico, evidenziando le avventure rocambolesche di sceneggiatori, registi, attori e produttori che affrontano imprevisti e sfide con la censura. Audrey Hepburn emerge come un’icona di stile, conquistando un pubblico eterogeneo e proponendo un cinema e una moda nuovi, liberi da moralismi. L'autore esplora anche retroscena significativi, come Marilyn Monroe che balla con Truman Capote, Billy Wilder che si nasconde in un armadio, e Givenchy che confonde la Hepburn. La storia culmina con Moon River, che rischia di essere esclusa, ma alla fine illumina la notte degli Oscar, rendendo il film un classico intramontabile.

A visionary who was ahead of his time, the book presents Francis Ford Coppola's great adventure in film-making.

From the New York Times bestselling author comes a revelatory account of the making of a modern American masterpiece. Chinatown is hailed as the Holy Grail of 1970s cinema, known for its notorious twist ending and haunting closing line. This narrative unveils the incredible true story behind its creation, spotlighting the colorful characters of a vibrant Hollywood era. Jack Nicholson shines at the peak of his fame, entangled in a passionate yet doomed romance with Anjelica Huston. Director Roman Polanski, both predator and prey, grapples with the haunting memory of his wife’s brutal murder as he returns to Los Angeles, where his own self-destruction begins to unfold. The narrative also captures the fevered deal-making of Robert Evans, a quintessential producer, and Robert Towne's legendary script, often regarded as the greatest original screenplay ever written. Wasson strips away layers of myth to reveal the true account of this classic film's creation. The story is set against the backdrop of the decline of '70s filmmaker-friendly studios, marking the transition to corporate Hollywood. This exploration will join the ranks of classics like Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, and The Devil's Candy as one of the great movie-world books. Praise for Wasson highlights his talent for chronicling old Hollywood and his flair for style.

"Hollywood: The Oral History covers the history of Hollywood from the Silent era up to the 21st century. What makes this book unique from any other survey of Hollywood's history is that it is the history of an art form through the words of those people who created it - from Harold Lloyd to Katharine Hepburn to Warren Beatty to Jane Fonda and beyond, including directors, writers, producers, editors, designers of sets and costumes. As such, the authenticity of the text is irrefutable. The material in the book - gathered over the decades by the American Film Institute - has never been published before, has never been heard before"--Publisher's description

Here is director Roman Polanski, both predator and prey, haunted by the savage murder of his wife, returning to Los Angeles, where the seeds of his own self- destruction are quickly planted. Here too is Robert Towne's fabled script, widely considered the greatest original screenplay ever written.