Adventures in The Screen Trade by William Goldman

 Adventures in The Screen Trade by William Goldman


Another version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:

-              https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E   and   http://realini.blogspot.ro/


Fabulous read!
This is a real treat for anyone interested in The Screen Trade.

The author has been celebrated as one of the best screenwriters in the world.
In the first place I wrote Hollywood and then I remembered that he lives in New York.

Indeed, William Goldman has a detached, modest and accurate view of the industry.
Even if he finished the book in 1982, long before Avatar, Harry Potter  and other major blockbusters.

In those years, the film industry was in turmoil.
With irony, the author mentions the multiple sequels produced for so many titles, from Rocky to Holloween.

And it is happening all over again, with prequels and spin offs that alas make so much money.
Which means they will keep coming, no matter the quality.

There is so much to read about the profile of many stars, directors and producers.

Orson Wells is said to arrive on the set, look at the director and the camera and ask:

Is that where you are going to place the camera?

William Goldman adds that he probably did that with a raised eyebrow.
After all, he had behind him Citizen Kane.

In a scene from Marathon Man, we learn about Dustin Hoffman and his idiosyncrasies.

He kept his partner actor waiting while he debated for a long time about a flashlight.
He was woken up at night and in the script he was supposed to grab a flashlight.

He would not do that and argue.
We are told that it is probably because he did not want to affect a macho image in the eyes of his fans.

Ridiculous.
But something similar happened later with none other than Robert Redford.
True, he was not yet the director and Academy Awards winner for Ordinary People.

Redford had worked with Goldman for Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid.
And he liked a book by the screenwriter.

It was his initiative, Goldman agreed to go on and write "pro bono" so to say.
They needed and got a director, script and female star.

Robert Redford would have the lead male part.
Except, after so much work and effort, he calls from somewhere to say that he abandons the project!

Because Butch Cassidy had just become a success and he did not want to appear weak in the next role...

Really? This is what I was thinking.

And it is not over.
Later on, the same Redford is producing All The President's Men and works with William Goldman again.

Until he has another idea.
The reader finds about projects being "go", but many more being abandoned.

Directors, screenwriters are changed all the time.
In fact, writers are not, or were not really respected, but actually looked down upon.

For this film about The Watergate scandal, William Goldman documents, writes and travels for research.
His material has the precious "go" signal from the studio.

But again, the unforeseen happens again.
And the author says that it was the worst moment of his career.

Redford calls to invite him at his New York apartment.
By the way, when Goldman worked near the actor's property in Utah, he did not have Redford's number and had to call the secretary, who will call the golden boy who would then call the writer.

I thought that was mean and rude and bad.
In the New York meeting, Woodward and Bernstein are present.

Redford tells Goldman that Bernstein has written his version of the script and he thinks it is worth a look.

And Goldman thinks:

How is this possible?!
Why didn't you tell him to fuck off...

Not in these words.

A star is made when another refuses the part.
We have similarities with the Academy Award Nominee Casey Affleck.

The part was intended for Matt Damon, but his replacement has already won a Golden Globe and may strike gold at the Oscars.

Montgomery Clift has turned down three major roles that would give the chance for

Paul Newman in Somebody Up There Loves Me
Marlon Brando in On The Waterfront

Hence stars are born.

Albert Finney would not act in Lawrence of Arabia and Peter O'Toole became a celebrity.



This book is brilliant, fascinating and a marvelous entertainment.

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