Memo from Darryl F. Zanuck - Hardcover

Behlmer, Rudy; Zanuck, Darryl Francis

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0802115403 ISBN 13: 9780802115409

Publisher: Grove Press, 2018

Synopsis

The author of Memo from David O. Selznick performs the same service for Zanuck, in this first-time-ever collection of his personal correspondence to the directors, writers, actors, technicians, and studio executives who contributed to this magical period at 20th Century Fox Studios. Photos.

About this title

From the Back Cover

One of Hollywood's towering figures for almost half a century, Darryl F. Zanuck presided over Twentieth Century-Fox during its most glorious era from 1935 to 1956. These were the golden days when stars like Marilyn Monroe, Henry Fonda, Betty Grable, Shirley Temple, Don Ameche, Gregory Peck, Tyrone Power, Carmen Miranda, and even Bette Davis roamed the lot; when such giants as John Ford, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Elia Kazan, Nunnally Johnson, and Otto Preminger ruled the sets; and when such blockbusters as The Grapes of Wrath, All About Eve, The King and I, Miracle on 34th Street, The Day the Earth Stood Still, How Green Was My Valley, Laura, Twelve O'Clock High, and Viva Zapata! filled the screen. Rudy Behlmer, whose now classic Memo from David O. Selznick was called "the most revealing, penetrating book on filmmaking I know" by director King Vidor, performs the same service for Zanuck in this first-time-ever collection of his personal correspondence to the directors, writers, actors, technicians, and studio executives who made the period magical. Here is a from-the-top, at-the-moment, insider's look at the myriad elements that went into the production of a feature film during the colorful days of the old studio system, from the man who pulled it all together. And, like all important histories, Memo from Darryl F. Zanuck is equally revealing about the way things work today. A treasure trove of legend and lore, insights and nostalgia, Memo from Darryl F. Zanuck is as entertaining as it is informative, and full of secrets and surprises. Illustrated with photographs as intimate and candid as the correspondence itself, it offers a chronicle of Hollywood's most glamorous age and rich testimonyto the taste, showmanship, and vision of its most resilient, efficient, and enduring producer.

Reviews

On the surface, it would seem that a sampling of memos--even those issued by a famous name--would be slow going. Not a chance, where this volume is concerned! For those with even the slightest interest in cinema history and major Hollywood players, this is a treat. Zanuck's memos not only provide zestful details on sets, stars, and technical productions but also offer an eloquent insight into the man and his methods. Behlmer's annotations are informative but not obtrusive; he lets the original material speak for itself. A few more entries in the all-too-brief chronological addendum on Zanuck's life would have enhanced the overall impact of this excellent work. This well-organized and aptly illustrated collection will appeal to circulating libraries with cinema collections.
- Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, N.J.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Grove Press
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0802115403
• ISBN 13: 9780802115409
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 276