BOOKS
Life – Hollywood

the golden age of Hollywood

The two volumes of “Life – Hollywood” offer a comprehensive overview of the film industry from 1936 to 1972. Edited by Reuel Golden and supplemented by essays and captions by Lucy Sante, they shed light on the golden era of Hollywood as well as New Hollywood. The introduction by Benedikt Taschen and the visual design by photographers such as J.R. Eyerman and Gjon Mili make the book a worthwhile collector’s item. Particularly memorable is the quote, “The ruling class is the peerage of the box office, shifting with the winds of public favor,” which aptly describes the fleeting nature of fame.

Behind the scenes at the studios

A large part of the first volume is dedicated to the major studios such as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros. and their famous stars. The film producer Louis B. Mayer, who was the highest paid man in America in the 1940s, is portrayed in detail. The reader learns that Mayer was a master of manipulation and skillfully used his emotions to get his way. Mayer shaped MGM with his policy of glamorous, family-friendly films. This also included the long-running Andy Hardy series with Mickey Rooney. Essays and photographs provide insights into the technical and creative processes behind the scenes, such as the elaborate backdrop paintings and special effects used in the studios.

Nightlife and glamorous parties

The second volume is dedicated to New Hollywood from the 1950s to 1972, when the major studios lost their supremacy and more independent films were produced. An essay describes Sam Spiegel’s famous parties, where the film industry elite met and important deals were made. Photographs by Peter Stackpole show intimate moments of the stars away from the film set, such as Bette Davis and William Grant Sherry boating. Volume 2 also describes the coverage of locations such as “The Godfather” and “The Ten Commandments” and features exclusive editorial material documenting the planning and making of the films. The role of the up-and-coming directors and actors who shaped this era is also highlighted.

A look back at a golden era

The two volumes take a reflective look at the golden era of Hollywood and show the constant changes in the film industry. Los Angeles at night is described as a “glittering carpet of lights”. Hollywood as a “segregated area” that lacks all the elements of a stable community. An apt quote from the book reads: “Hollywood is the only place where you meet the same people over and over again on your way to the top.” This sums up the fleeting nature of fame in Hollywood. “Life-Hollywood” is a nostalgic journey into the past and a critical examination of this era, making the book a treasure trove for anyone interested in the history of film.

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Further information

Further information on the book “Life – Hollywood” (Advertising) can be found on the Taschen Verlag website.

Compliance

The book was kindly made available to us by the publisher. The presentation and rating of HYPERMADE remains independent of this and is based solely on the content of the book.