2024 the best of times film review

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(as of Nov 19, 2024 04:07:14 UTC - Details)

In this one-of-a-kind Hollywood history, the creator of Instagram's celebrated @ThisWasHollywood reveals the forgotten past of the film world in a dazzling visual package modeled on the classic fan magazines of yesteryear.

From former screen legends who have faded into obscurity to new revelations about the biggest movie stars, Valderrama unearths the most fascinating little-known tales from the birth of Hollywood through its Golden Age.

The shocking fate of the world's first movie star. Clark Gable's secret love child. The film that nearly ended Paul Newman's career. A former child star who, at ninety-three, reveals her #metoo story for the first time. Valderrama unfolds these stories, and many more, in a volume that is by turns riveting, maddening, hilarious, and shocking.

Drawing on new interviews, archival research, and an exhaustive library of photographs, This Was Hollywood is a compelling and visually stunning catalogue of the lost history of the movies.

From the Publisher

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Running Press Adult (November 17, 2020)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0762495863
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0762495863
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.74 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.45 x 0.9 x 9.3 inches
Reviewer: Jesse D. Hartline Jr.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: If they gave Oscars for books, this would win one!
Review: I have been a fan of film for fifty years and read countless books on Hollywood and it's Stars. So it is remarkable that any new book could come along that could take my breath away in its quality. If they gave Oscars for book writing Carla Valderrama would win won for this outstanding achievement.There is a wonderland of stories presented in her book. While it covers the history and growth of film into the art form it becomes, she did not resort to a chronology or a historical treatise on the subject. Instead she chose a set of stories of events and of stars, many forgotten, to take you back in time and use those to tell the history. The stories are chosen to literally help you feel what Hollywood was like in those glorious golden years of development. Many of these stories have been told before but usually as sound bites. Carla has taken them and expertly pieced together a more comprehensive storyline that provides for a much more complete picture. She seems to know the exact length to make a story so that it keeps your interest and you are left still wanting a little bit more because it was so good. She draws you in with great suspense at stories that are simply remarkable.There are stars and events that should have been given much more due than they were. There are reasons why they weren’t and so it is with the deepest gratitude that I appreciate Carla for finally letting these be known. A woman director that was every bit as great as D.W. Griffith or Cecil B. DeMille but couldn’t fit the “Old Boys Club” or the child star that may have exceeded all of the others in career had it not been for walking away from “the casting couch”. And her treatment of John Garfield during the time of the Hollywood Blacklist was a masterpiece.What is equally extraordinary is the format of this book - it is simply gorgeous. It reminds me of the movie magazines of old and includes a cornucopia of beautiful photos and layouts. Everything so meticulously researched from newspapers, original fan magazines, to actual interviews with those still alive to tell the story. It is true archive level research.This book is a masterpiece. My one hope is that I can one day meet this author who clearly shares a love of Hollywood as I have for most of my life. And if I had one question to ask her it would be why she thinks these golden age films touch us old souls in such a way that new films simply can’t despite their increased level of sophistication and technology. I have never been able to adequately express why and after reading her work I have faith that she might actually be able to put this into words.If you are a fan of Hollywood, do yourself a favor and buy this book.

Reviewer: Fred Shoppin
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: One of the best Hollywood books
Review: I have read many books about Hollywood, including a score of biographies. This is a great book with stories and viewpoints I've never run across anywhere. Some of the best entries are about now forgotten people. It also reveals the nastiness of the powerful execs there who demands sexual favors from would be starlets. However, the book focuses on accomplishments, making the book enjoyable.

Reviewer: Jean
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great book
Review: It was a gift. My mom likes old time movie actors and love turner classic movies. She loved the book.

Reviewer: Brien Master
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: I had such a wonderful time with This Was Hollywood.
Review: Valderrama is able to succinctly lay out stories of Old Hollywood that are heartwarming, funny, tragic, frustrating, and always interesting. She deftly boils down each story into easy to digest segments, getting to the core of each tale without becoming overly political or incendiary in the telling. The text respects the subjects and the sometimes sensitive nature of the stories - this does not read like some tabloid or scandal rag. There is no ax to grind.Also worthy of mention is the layout of the book. Thick, glossy pages help all of the photographs and colorful accents pop around the text in fun and creative ways. The photos are always relevant to the subject and have exceptional clarity.I could barely put this one down, and Carla's reverent and hopeful coda choked me up, which I was not expecting. I hope she has the opportunity to make this a series going forward. Regardless, I wait in eager anticipation of her future endeavors.

Reviewer: Robert C.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: I loved the book ❤️
Review: Well written & documented with research to back up the author’s facts. I loved the flow of the book. I loved the stories. I bought the digital book first and quickly read it over two days. I enjoyed the book so much I purchased the hardback version of the book as a gift. The hardback book arrived the next day (Thank you Amazon). I was disappointed to see the hardback book’s font was super tiny. Larger font would have been perfect. I will still give the hardback book as a gift but I’m afraid the tiny font will be a problem. Otherwise I truly loved the book and was entertained by each story.

Reviewer: DUNCAN L NANNEY
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: In a class by itself!
Review: The final three sentences of THIS WAS HOLLYWOOD read : "Hollywood, the world of the movies, has always been more than just an industry. It is a state of mind, offering escapes to endless worlds of wonder through the power of the moving image. And that will never die." Or as another author, George Pendle , has said of Los Angeles: "It is a crucible out of which the world's trends erupt." My response to this book is the same as other reviewers: Carla Valderrama has put something together which is truly exceptional! From the impeccable and classy layout to the limitless information here, this book is a reminder that to those of us who think we know just about everything about the always colorful history of Hollywood, there is so much more to learn and be revealed. I knew SOMETHING about Paul Newman, Gracie Allen, and the Nicholas Brothers. But so much here was news to me! The real stunner was all of the characters here I never heard of. The most notable was the director Lois Weber. How has this talented woman slipped through so many cracks through the years? Pozzums the Cat, Robert Goldstein, Florence Lawrence, Cora Sue Collins, Susan Peters, Marni Nixon. Finally these talented sprits get long overdue recognition and validation. Now I wonder what else I have been missing. After consuming this page turner in one sitting, I have to hope Carla is already planning a Volume Two for those of us who can hardly wait for more people we either never heard of or thought we knew! Highly recommended! By the way, Carla saves the best for last! The final chapter is on THE SILVER CHALICE, a hilarious description of the film Paul Newman made in 1954 where he describes the outfit he wore through most of the movie as his "cocktail dress"!

Reviewer: Colleen Tight
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I bought it for my husband and he had to read to me almost everything.

Reviewer: Milton Faro
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Adorei e estou adorando saber dos bastidores.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Très beau cadeau de Noël

Reviewer: Mimsie
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: There were a lot of missed things in the history of Hollywood that could have been quite interesting for readers, but we are waiting for a second book, right! However, the book is extremely interesting and wonderful illustrations can be found inside.I highly recommend it to the vintage and movie lovers!

Reviewer: SQ
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Es un libro estupendo, con fotos y anécdotas inéditas de los actores del Hollywood clásico. Ojo, el texto es todo en inglés. Pero yo sé lo he regalado a mis hermanas y han quedado encantadas porque, además, es un libro estéticamente precioso. Un 10 para mí.