Irving Thalberg : boy wonder to producer prince / Mark A. Vieira.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Vieira, Mark A., 1950-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Thalberg, Irving G., 1899-1936.

Thalberg, Irving G.

Motion picture producers and directors--United States--Biography.

Motion picture producers and directors.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (526 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, 2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Hollywood in the 1920's sparkled with talent, confidence, and opportunity. Enter Irving Thalberg of Brooklyn, who survived childhood illness to run Universal Pictures at twenty; co-found Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at twenty-four; and make stars of Lon Chaney, Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Jean Harlow. Known as Hollywood's "Boy Wonder," Thalberg created classics such as Ben-Hur, Tarzan the Ape Man, Grand Hotel, Freaks, Mutiny on the Bounty, and The Good Earth, but died tragically at thirty-seven. His place in the pantheon should have been assured, yet his films were not reissued for thirty years, spurring critics to question his legend and diminish his achievements. In this definitive biography, illustrated with rare photographs, Mark A. Vieira sets the record straight, using unpublished production files, financial records, and correspondence to confirm the genius of Thalberg's methods. In addition, this is the first Thalberg biography to utilize both his recorded conversations and the unpublished memoirs of his wife, Norma Shearer. Irving Thalberg is a compelling narrative of power and idealism, revealing for the first time the human being behind the legend.

Contents:

Front matter

CONTENTS

PREFACE

PART ONE. THE MERGER

PART TWO. THE PERFECTION OF SILENCE

PART THREE. THE TALKIES

PART FOUR. "HIS BRAIN IS THE CAMERA"

PART FIVE. THE THALBERG UNIT

PART SIX. THE CROWN PRINCE OF HOLLYWOOD

PART SEVEN. THE LEGACY

EPILOGUE

APPENDIX: THE M-G-M FILMS OF IRVING THALBERG

NOTES

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INDEX

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN:

9786612360046

9780520945111

0520945115

9781282360044

1282360043

OCLC:

646846846