The Studio (book)

Last updated
The Studio
TheStudio.jpg
First edition
Author John Gregory Dunne
LanguageEnglish
Subject 20th Century Fox
Genre Investigative journalism
Publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date
1969
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback)
Pages255
ISBN 0374271127

The Studio is a 1969 nonfiction book by John Gregory Dunne about the workings at 20th Century Fox from May 1967 to May 1968. He was allowed significant access to the studio over that period of time. [1] [2]

According to Dunne's obituary in the Los Angeles Times , the resulting book "is regarded as one of the most detailed and accurate reports on the workings of a major film studio ever written." [3]

It covers such aspects as:

People who appear in the book include Richard Zanuck, Darryl F. Zanuck, Gene Kelly, Paul Monash, Joe Pasternak, Pandro Berman.

Joyce Haber of the Los Angeles Times said "Dunne's observations are right on the button, his descriptions are spare but evocative, his observations combine substance with humor." [4] In 1969, Charles Champlin called it "the hottest book in movie circles these days". [5] The New York Times said the book was full "of the most awful scenes." [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darryl F. Zanuck</span> American film producer (1902–1979)

Darryl Francis Zanuck was an American film producer and studio executive; he earlier contributed stories for films starting in the silent era. Best known as a co-founder of 20th Century Fox, he played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of its longest survivors. He produced three films that won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

John Gregory Dunne was an American writer. He began his career as a journalist for Time magazine before expanding into writing criticism, essays, novels, and screenplays. He often collaborated with his wife, Joan Didion.

<i>The Games</i> (film) 1970 British sports drama film

The Games is a 1970 British sports drama film directed by Michael Winner. It is based on the 1968 Hugh Atkinson novel and adapted to the screen by Erich Segal. The plot concerned four marathon competitors at a fictitious Olympic Games in Rome, played by Michael Crawford, Ryan O'Neal, Charles Aznavour and Athol Compton. Elton John recorded one song for the soundtrack.

<i>Beyond the Valley of the Dolls</i> 1970 film

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is a 1970 American satirical musical melodrama film starring Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, Phyllis Davis, John LaZar, Michael Blodgett, Erica Gavin, and David Gurian. The film was directed by Russ Meyer and written by Roger Ebert from a story by Ebert and Meyer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard D. Zanuck</span> American film producer (1934–2012)

Richard Darryl Zanuck was an American film producer. His 1989 film Driving Miss Daisy won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He was also instrumental in launching the career of director Steven Spielberg, who described Zanuck as a "director's producer" and "one of the most honorable and loyal men of our profession."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Dunne (writer)</span> American screenwriter, film producer & director (1908–1992)

Philip Ives Dunne was an American screenwriter, film director and producer, who worked prolifically from 1932 until 1965. He spent the majority of his career at 20th Century Fox. He crafted well regarded romantic and historical dramas, usually adapted from another medium. Dunne was a leading Screen Writers Guild organizer and was politically active during the "Hollywood Blacklist" episode of the 1940s–1950s. He is best known for the films How Green Was My Valley (1941), The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), The Robe (1953) and The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965).

<i>Pretty Poison</i> (film) 1968 film by Noel Black

Pretty Poison is a 1968 American black comedy film directed by Noel Black, starring Anthony Perkins and Tuesday Weld, about an ex-convict and a high school cheerleader who commit a series of crimes. The film was based on the novel She Let Him Continue by Stephen Geller. It has become a cult film.

<i>The Egyptian</i> (film) 1954 film by Michael Curtiz

The Egyptian is a 1954 American epic historical drama film made by 20th Century-Fox. Filmed in CinemaScope with color by DeLuxe, it was directed by Michael Curtiz and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. It is based on Mika Waltari's 1945 novel of the same name and the screenplay was adapted by Philip Dunne and Casey Robinson. Leading roles were played by Edmund Purdom, Bella Darvi, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Gene Tierney, Peter Ustinov, and Michael Wilding. Cinematographer Leon Shamroy was nominated for an Oscar in 1955.

<i>Little Murders</i> 1971 film by Alan Arkin

Little Murders is a 1971 American black comedy film directed by Alan Arkin, in his feature film directorial debut, and starring Elliott Gould and Marcia Rodd. Based on the stage play of the same name by Jules Feiffer, it is the story of a woman, Patsy (Rodd), who brings home her boyfriend, Alfred (Gould), to meet her severely dysfunctional family amidst a series of random shootings, garbage strikes and electrical outages ravaging their New York City neighborhood.

<i>Myra Breckinridge</i> (film) 1970 film by Mike Sarne

Myra Breckinridge is a 1970 American comedy film based on Gore Vidal's 1968 novel of the same name. The film was directed by Michael Sarne, and featured Raquel Welch in the title role. It also starred John Huston as Buck Loner, Mae West as Leticia Van Allen, Farrah Fawcett, Rex Reed, Roger Herren, and Roger C. Carmel. Tom Selleck made his film debut in a small role as one of Leticia's "studs." Theadora Van Runkle was costume designer for the film, though Edith Head designed West's costumes.

<i>Prince of Players</i> 1955 film by Philip Dunne

Prince of Players is a 1955 20th Century Fox biographical film about the 19th century American actor Edwin Booth. The film was directed and produced by Philip Dunne from a screenplay by Moss Hart, based on the book by Eleanor Ruggles. The music score was by Bernard Herrmann and the cinematography by Charles G. Clarke. The film was made in CinemaScope and in DeLuxe Color.

<i>Huckleberry Finn</i> (1974 film) 1974 film by J. Lee Thompson

Huckleberry Finn is a 1974 musical film version of Mark Twain's 1884 novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

<i>The Seven Minutes</i> (film) 1971 film by Russ Meyer

The Seven Minutes is a 1971 American drama movie directed and produced by Russ Meyer. The movie was based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Irving Wallace.

<i>The Sun Also Rises</i> (1957 film) 1957 film by Henry King

The Sun Also Rises is a 1957 American drama film adaptation of the 1926 Ernest Hemingway novel of the same name directed by Henry King. The screenplay was written by Peter Viertel and it starred Tyrone Power, Ava Gardner, Mel Ferrer, and Errol Flynn. Much of it was filmed on location in France and Spain as well as Mexico in Cinemascope and color by Deluxe. A highlight of the film is the famous "running of the bulls" in Pamplona, Spain and two bullfights.

<i>Forever Amber</i> (film) 1947 film

Forever Amber is a 1947 American romantic historical drama film starring Linda Darnell and Cornel Wilde. It was based on the book of the same title by Kathleen Winsor. It also starred Richard Greene, George Sanders, Glenn Langan, Richard Haydn, and Jessica Tandy.

<i>Move</i> (1970 film) 1970 comedy film directed by Stuart Rosenberg

Move is a 1970 American comedy film starring Elliott Gould, Paula Prentiss and Geneviève Waïte, and directed by Stuart Rosenberg. The screenplay was written by Joel Lieber and Stanley Hart, adapted from a novel by Lieber.

<i>Way of a Gaucho</i> 1952 film by Jacques Tourneur

Way of a Gaucho is a 1952 American Western drama film directed by Jacques Tourneur and starring Gene Tierney and Rory Calhoun. It was written by Philip Dunne and based on a novel by Herbert Childs.

<i>Lydia Bailey</i> 1952 American film directed by Jean Negulesco

Lydia Bailey is a 1952 American historical adventure film directed by Jean Negulesco and starring Dale Robertson, Anne Francis and Charles Korvin. It was made by 20th Century Fox and based on the 1947 novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts.

<i>The View from Pompeys Head</i> (film) 1955 American drama film written and directed by Philip Dunne

The View from Pompey's Head is a 1955 American drama film, written and directed by Philip Dunne and based on the 1954 novel The View from Pompey's Head by Hamilton Basso. The film stars Richard Egan, Dana Wynter, Cameron Mitchell, Sidney Blackmer, Marjorie Rambeau and Dorothy Patrick. The film was released on November 4, 1955, by 20th Century Fox.

<i>The Impossible Years</i> (film) 1968 American film

The Impossible Years is a 1968 American comedy film directed by Michael Gordon, and starring David Niven. The film also features Lola Albright, Chad Everett, Ozzie Nelson in his final film appearance, and Cristina Ferrare, who was 17 years old at the time the film was shot. It is based upon the 1965 play of the same name by Bob Fisher and Arthur Marx, the son of Groucho Marx, and was adapted for the screen by George Wells.

References

  1. BOOKS HAPPENING: Ira Levin Novel in Works Shalit, Gene. Los Angeles Times 2 Feb 1969: r31.
  2. The Studio (Book Review) Millar, Gavin. Sight and Sound; London Vol. 39, Iss. 3, (Summer 1970): 165.
  3. "'The Studio' Author John Gregory Dunne Dies". Los Angeles Times. December 31, 2003.
  4. John Dunne Looks at 'The Studio' Haber, Joyce. Los Angeles Times 20 Mar 1969: i19.
  5. Unretouched Vignettes of a Movie Studio Champlin, Charles. Los Angeles Times 13 May 1969: c1.
  6. Books of The Times: We Can Work Out the Disease Later By CHRISTOPHER LEHMANN-HAUPT. New York Times 7 May 1969: 45.