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The stories behind the stories of some of Hollywood''s most iconic movies

The magazine world ''s monthly arbiter of culture, personality, and world affairs, Vanity Fair has always offered the definitive insider''s look at Hollywood power and glamour since its relaunch twenty-five years ago. Now, for the first time ever, Vanity Fair presents a one-of-a-kind collection featuring thirteen behind-the- scenes stories on some of cinema''s most iconic films-including pictures as varied as All About Eve, Cleopatra, Sweet Smell of Success, Rebel Without a Cause, and Saturday Night Fever. For pop-culture fanatics and movie buffs alike, Vanity Fair''s Tales of Hollywood is an irresistible glimpse at how classic films-and box office bombs-are made.

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These lively essays from Vanity Fair reveal the stories behind 13 iconic films. The attitude taken toward several of these baker’s-dozen movies is, however, more ironic than reverent. But the circumstances surrounding the making of such ringers as Myra Breckinridge, Tommy, and Cleopatra make for reading that’s not only shamefully fascinating in a car-wreck sort of way but illuminating of the maddening methods of Hollywood. Not surprisingly, though, it’s the genuine classics—among them, Rebel without a Cause, All about Eve, The Magnificent Ambersons, and Midnight Cowboy—that concern the most substantive and rewarding entries. The contributors, who include such notable entertainment writers as James Wolcott and Peter Biskind, dish up enough gossip to satisfy the casual moviegoer (e.g., Mike Nichols originally envisioned Robert Redford and Ava Gardner for The Graduate) but pair it with enough substance to satisfy hard-core film buffs. This slender volume manages to cover a surprising amount of territory. --Gordon Flagg

About the Author

Graydon Carter is the editor of Vanity Fair, author of What We’ve Lost, and producer of the film The Kid Stays in the Picture. Carter is from Trenton, Ontario and attended the University of Ottawa and Carleton university.

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Mike Dirksen5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase I had no idea how much went into the making of thses epic films ! Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2013 This is definitely the most informative book I have ever read on the the challenges involved in bringing an epic production to the big screen. Orson Welles had to leave the set of The Magnificent Ambersons early to make a pro US propaganda film in South America, and the... See more This is definitely the most informative book I have ever read on the the challenges involved in bringing an epic production to the big screen. Orson Welles had to leave the set of The Magnificent Ambersons early to make a pro US propaganda film in South America, and the version of this film that finally did make it to the theatre (which he DID NOT get to edit !! ), did not in the least resemble the filmed statement he had set out to make. Some witnesses later recalled he was very upset on the only ocassion, any one ever remembers seeing him watch of this film, and only watched it briefly before leaving in disgust. The same thing happened the only time anyone ever remembers seeing Elizabeth Taylor watch a showing of Cleopatra, and she had to go to the bathroom to vomit, prior to leaving the theatre.
Some little tidbits of information that I found to be the most interesting, ( and this volume is chock full of very compelling anecdotes) were that there was only an 8 year difference in Dustin Hoffmans real age, and the real age of the actress playing Mrs. Robinson, in The Graduate, though he is marrying her daughter in the film version. After he finished making this film, he was the highest paid actor on the set of Midnight Cowboy ( paid more than Jon Voight, the direcor, and producer combined ), and one person who wanted to play the Midnight Cowboy part was none other than Elvis Presley, himself! Though that is my favorite film, the director of the film did not really think that much of it, and was suprised when it was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, and AMAZED when it won ! One person found this helpful Helpful Report Michael A. Willhoite5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Pure champagne! Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2017 I’m only halfway through the Kindle version of this book, and I’m torn: do I gobble it all down like a box of Godiva chocolates, or do I slow down so it takes longer? I already knew some of the lore contained herein, but as a fanatical movie lover I can never get too much... See more I’m only halfway through the Kindle version of this book, and I’m torn: do I gobble it all down like a box of Godiva chocolates, or do I slow down so it takes longer? I already knew some of the lore contained herein, but as a fanatical movie lover I can never get too much information. It’s December, so I can definitely say it’s the most entertaining book I’ve read all year. Anyone who loves movies will find this book pure champagne. I should also mention Vanity Fair’s book Writers on Writers. I am astonished by the high quality of writing in both books. This was the reason I’ve now subscribed to the magazine. 2 people found this helpful Helpful Report Ed Uyeshima4.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Hollywood Lore Exposed in Thirteen Intriguing Behind-the-Scenes Accounts Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2009 Those who are enamored with Hollywood mythmaking are served well by Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter''s collection of behind-the-scenes accounts of thirteen renowned films - many true classics, others simply notorious - even if some of these stories have... See more Those who are enamored with Hollywood mythmaking are served well by Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter''s collection of behind-the-scenes accounts of thirteen renowned films - many true classics, others simply notorious - even if some of these stories have already made it to print before. However, the quality of the film has less bearing on these accounts than the storytelling skill displayed by the likes of James Wolcott, Peter Biskind, and Vanity Fair contributing editor Sam Kashner, who contributes five pieces. Spanning Orson Welles'' bastardized 1942 follow-up to Citizen Kane , The Magnificent Ambersons , to Warren Beatty''s 1981 epic about John Reed, Reds , just about every account proves how an idiosyncratic blend of fragile egos, runaway budgets and studio politics still cannot avert the role of fate in making these movies memorable.

There is plenty of good gossip in the book, much of it already turned into established Hollywood lore, and the pieces may just alter your perspective on these films once you see them again. A good example is David Kamp''s account of the ludicrously elongated filming of Cleopatra , which starred the multi-married Elizabeth Taylor in her own high voltage melodrama replete with adultery, absurdly large pieces of jewelry, and sympathy-inducing medical emergencies. Kamp also covers the sad story behind "The Magnificent Ambersons", a period piece which was edited without Welles'' knowledge. His editor, Robert Wise (later a distinguished filmmaker in his own right), remembered sending the director''s cut to Welles in Brazil and did not remember getting it back. Always perceived to be a lost masterpiece, the film may just be a case of a disappointment which the director distanced himself from by taking a government gig to make a failed South American documentary.

Studio ignorance plays a big role in several of these movies. There were high expectations for Gore Vidal''s Myra Breckinridge , the novel of which summoned a price tag of $900,000 for the film rights in 1970. Yet, a neophyte writer-director named Michael Sarne was given the task of commandeering the big-budget production (featuring Farrah Fawcett in her big-screen debut) based on one modest film. However, the same gamble was placed on Mike Nichols directing The Graduate and Mel Brooks stumbling through The Producers , even though Brooks had no idea where to place the camera amid escalating tensions with star Zero Mostel. On "The Graduate", casting decisions proved crucial when one considers the fact that Doris Day and Robert Redford were the first choices to play Mrs. Robinson and Benjamin Braddock. There are equally memorable stories about classics as diverse as All About Eve , Rebel Without a Cause , Sweet Smell of Success, and Saturday Night Fever. This is a must-read for cineastes. All others have been forewarned. 5 people found this helpful Helpful Report ilprofessore5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Glorious gossip! Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2012 Gossip, gossip, glorious gossip. Vanity Fair has always been like The National Enquirer, but with class. Some of the world''s best journalists dish out the dirt. Not the usual mud and stones--but caviar on golden plates. Those who enjoy an inside look on the madness of movie... See more Gossip, gossip, glorious gossip. Vanity Fair has always been like The National Enquirer, but with class. Some of the world''s best journalists dish out the dirt. Not the usual mud and stones--but caviar on golden plates. Those who enjoy an inside look on the madness of movie making will delight in these articles. As always VP''s articles are wonderfully written and briskly edited, psychologically revealing and worth repeating. True or not they make wonderful dinner table anecdotes, 3 people found this helpful Helpful Report Inda A. Solomon4.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase A barrel of fun and inside facts that most people don''t know Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2009 This is a great book for movie buffs! I espcially enjoyed the chapter about "All About Eve", one of my alltime favorites. Imagine, they thought Marilyn Monroe wasn''t photogenic enough! What a riot and a very interesting insider story. This book is a really fun read and you... See more This is a great book for movie buffs! I espcially enjoyed the chapter about "All About Eve", one of my alltime favorites. Imagine, they thought Marilyn Monroe wasn''t photogenic enough! What a riot and a very interesting insider story. This book is a really fun read and you can just read 1 chapter at a time.
Dustin Hoffman did''nt want to try out for "The Grauate". He thought he was too jewish, until Mike Nichols told him "Maybe the character is jewish inside?"
There are so many facts about how some of our most iconic movies were made and cast.
If you love movies, you''ll LOVE this book! Have fun, one chapter at a time. 3 people found this helpful Helpful Report E. Beer5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Vanity Fair''s Tales of Hollywood Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2019 The book is an easy read, and Vanity Fair was witnessing many of these stories. Book arrived in great condition. Thank you. Helpful Report Elton W. Spaulding5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase For the kind of book it is, most enjoyable. Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2014 This is one of those fun reads full of Hollywood trivia. You can read a chapter here and there or you might just want to dig into the next chapter. Had actually seen read a couple of the books excerpts were taken from. Loaned it to a friend who had the same experience.... See more This is one of those fun reads full of Hollywood trivia. You can read a chapter here and there or you might just want to dig into the next chapter. Had actually seen read a couple of the books excerpts were taken from. Loaned it to a friend who had the same experience. Enjoyed. 2 people found this helpful Helpful Report olingerstories4.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Backstory or Gossip? Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2010 There are several keepers among the essays collected from the pages on Vanity Fair on the backstory or gossip surrounding 13 essays. The hands down best is "All About Eve." Close seconds are looks back to "The Graduate" and "The Producers." New York City receives heavy... See more There are several keepers among the essays collected from the pages on Vanity Fair on the backstory or gossip surrounding 13 essays. The hands down best is "All About Eve." Close seconds are looks back to "The Graduate" and "The Producers." New York City receives heavy play, as does Dustin Hoffman. Warren Beatty and Bette Davis compete with Hoffman for being the most self-centered, but Beatty emerges in the chapter on "Reds" as the undisputed narracisic king of Hollywood. 3 people found this helpful Helpful Report

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CS4.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Don''t you just love cinema? Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 6, 2018 Just brilliant. If you love cinema and enjoy reading about the stories behind the films, then this is for you. Feud, the TV series set behind the scenes of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane may well have taken its cue from this book, as that film is one of many featured. 13...See moreJust brilliant. If you love cinema and enjoy reading about the stories behind the films, then this is for you. Feud, the TV series set behind the scenes of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane may well have taken its cue from this book, as that film is one of many featured. 13 films are covered in all, from The Magnificent Ambersons to Reds. Originally a collection of articles published in Vanity Fair and here (re)edited by Graydon Carter. All good stories and some background information about the creators that make Mr Weinstein seem rather backward in coming forward. Second hand copies are cheap - so what''s stopping you? One person found this helpful Report Mrs Geraldine M Faulkner5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Hot movie back stories Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2021 If you want to find out the back stories behind some of Hollywood''s most famous movies and the movie stars who made them so memorable, this is a book for you. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and wished it was twice as long Report David Partridge5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Great service.. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2019 Great service..great price for v-good quality book.. Report Carocaro5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase Five Stars Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2015 Brilliant book of VF articles - a must for anyone interested in old-skool Hollywood tales Report DocZed015.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase All Film-Buffs would enjoy this Book! :-) Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2014 The price was amazing for such a Gem. But more than that, it was so easy and ''engaging'' in its writing style. I will read it again at a later date. Report

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