See all books authored by otto friedrich, including city of nets. All the stars are here and more, but it is the authors perspective that makes this so interesting and captivating. Close to being the last word of the golden age of the flicks. Dga quarterly magazine winter 2011 books city of nets. Though city of nets is dated in some ways referring to women not as individuals but by their marital status, the faint distaste for fussyi. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading city of nets. Friedrichs intelligent prose makes for fascinating reading. In this masterful work of cultural history, the legendary otto friedrich tells the story of hollywoods heyday and decline in a vivid narrative featuring an allstar cast of the actors, writers, musicians, composers, producers, directors, racketeers, labor leaders, journalists, and politicians who played major parts in the movie capital during. A portrait of hollywood in the 1940s friedrich, otto on.
In the foreword to his social history friedrich freely. Robert montgomery joined the navy and ultimately commanded a destroyer at the invasion of. Tight, clean and unmarked a haunting, comprehensive portrait of the turbulent political, social, and cultural life of berlin in the 1920s. Otto friedrich books list of books by author otto friedrich. History, industries, movingpicture industry, social life and customs. Otto friedrichs city of nets a portrait of hollywood in the 1940s is as evocative a portrait of a time and place as one could hope for. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
A portrait of hollywood in the 1940spaperback 1998 edition otto friedrich on. Friedrich calls hollywood in the title of his new social history, borrowing from bertolt brechts rise and fall of the city of mahagonny a city of liberation and license stretched like a net to snare whatever passesmr. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. A portrait of hollywood in the 1940s by otto friedrich.
He was a contributing editor at the saturday evening post and time magazine and he was the author of fourteen books, including before the deluge. A portrait of hollywood in the 1920s in 1939, when 50 million americans went to the movies every week, louis b. City of nets otto friedrich paperback harpercollins publishers. But often the creators were unaware of how well they succeeded. Feb 27, 2014 otto friedrich s city of nets is for historians and movie buffs alike and a must read. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. A portrait of hollywood in the 1940s by otto friedrich when the siren is asked to name a favorite movie book, this is the one she always picks. A portrait of hollywood in the 1940s ebook written by otto friedrich. The 1940s was a crucial time in hollywood and in washington d. City of nets by otto friedrich, 9780062326041, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
They reigned in collusion with gangsters, journalists, and other unsavory types. A portrait of hollywood in the 1940s kindle edition by friedrich, otto. This dazzling story of hollywood during the decade of its greatest suc. Friedrichs seamless weaving of both stories, anecdotal and historical plays like a biblical epic. His career took him from the copy desk at stars and stripes to a top writing job at time, with stops in between with the united press in london and paris and with the daily news and newsweek in new york. A dazzling social and cultural history of hollywoods golden age in the decade from world war ii to the korean war.
City of nets by otto friedrich, october 1987, harpercollins edition, paperback in english. The book travels through more than film history much, much more as the reader explores, dragged by the wonderful writing of the author, crime, unions, politics, communism, war, racisim and a host of other isms. The title comes from bertolt brechts libretto for the rise and fall of the city of mahagonny, about a town of gin and. Otto friedrich was born in boston and graduated from harvard, where his father was a political science professor. The city of nets, as brecht called berlin, before the deluge, and people who created and those who destroyed it. The late otto friedrich was a journalist and historian with a marvelous prose style, and city of nets is made unique by his perspective, wit and discerning eye for an anecdote. Mayer and cohn brothers ruled like kings over actors, writers, and union members. One decade and five thousand movies later, the studios were faltering. Hollywoods power lay in its ability to create potent images that defined a nations awareness of itself. Portraits closely resemble their subject, but can shapeshift into fantasy with a touch here, an enhancement there, or through simple omission. These sour notes aside, friedrich provides a nearexhaustive look at the underlying ethics and morality, both personal and professional.
In 1939, fifty million americans went to the movies every week, louis b. In city of nets, he covers the last decade in which movie moguls like louis b. Friedrich 19291995 was a journalist and cultural historian. Otto friedrich, 19291995, american, journalist, writer. A classic portrait of a special place in a special time, city of nets gives us a singular behindthescenes. Friedrich calls hollywood in the title of his new social history. A portrait of hollywood in the 1940 s otto friedrich. City of nets paperback a portrait of hollywood in the 1940s. A dazzling social and cultural history of hollywoods golden age in the decade from world war ii to the korean war in 19. University of california press, 9780520209497, 495pp. A portrait of hollywood in the 1940s, and before the deluge.
For some, as for otto friedrich a skillful journalist and popular. Otto friedrich, a prolific magazine writer and author who turned out sprightly journalism for time magazine by day and a succession of elegant histories, biographies and other works of nonfiction. A portrait of hollywood in the 1940s opens with the movie industry at the pinnacle of its success, the banner year of 1939, which gave us gone with the wind, the wizard of oz, and ninotchka, and ends 10 years later with the chaos of the huac hearings, the rise of television, and the supreme courts antitrust. Friedrich calls it in the title of his new social history. A portrait of hollywood in the 1940s by otto friedrich city of nets begins with sid grauman, ends with ronald reagan, and in between, drops in on nearly every historical personality, event, and movement that figured into the tumultuous and transformative decade. City of nets ebook by otto friedrich 9780062333803. City of nets by otto friedrich paperback university of. Mayer was the highestpaid man in the country, and hollywood produced 530 feature films a year. The son of the political theorist, and harvard professor carl joachim friedrich, otto friedrich graduated from harvard university in 1948 with a degree in history. More books by otto friedrich quotes by otto friedrich grauman died of heart failure in the spring of 1950, died a bachelor, aged seventyone, and the only people at his deathbed were his doctor, his secretary for the past twentyone years, and the publicity chief of 20th centuryfox. Otto friedrichs city of nets is for historians and movie buffs alike and a must read. City of nets by otto friedrich paperback university of california.
This is probably a crazy choice, but im going to pick one of the longer books ive also reread the most. City of nets by otto friedrich and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Otto friedrich s city of nets is for historians and movie buffs alike and a must read. Friedrich s seamless weaving of both stories, anecdotal and historical plays like a biblical epic. City of nets, by otto friedrich, is a terrific account of hollywood in the 40s, when things start to go south for the studios. Read city of nets a portrait of hollywood in the 1940s by otto friedrich available from rakuten kobo. City of nets by otto friedrich overdrive rakuten overdrive. A dazzling social and cultural history of hollywoods golden age in the decade from world war ii to the korean warin 1939, fifty million americans went t. Friedrich s city of nets is subtitled a portrait, which is perfectly accurate. Otto friedrich this site commemorates the life and work of.
Jimmy stewart quietly began putting on weight so that he could meet the armys physical requirements, and then he enlisted as a private he soon became a bomber pilot and eventually a lieutenant colonel. Buy city of nets by otto friedrich from waterstones today. At one time editor of the new york daily news and an essayist for time magazine, he was the author of nine books, including before the deluge. A portrait of hollywood in the 1940s has 1 available editions. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read city of nets. Otto friedrich 19291995 was a journalist and cultural historian. A portrait of berlin in the 1920s, and city of nets. Otto friedrich this site commemorates the life and work. The town everybody loves to hate the new york times. Mayer was the highest paid man in the country and hollywood produced 530 feature films, among them gone with the wind, ninotchka, wuthering heights and the wizard of oz.
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