A seductive mix of sudden violence and raw emotion, michael listers the big goodbye is a muchwelcome contribution to the hardboiled, p. The big goodbye author sam wasson, whose history of the 1974 film goes on sale tuesday, previously penned the biography of bob fosse that inspired the fx series fosseverdon. More than that, he understands that style matters, and. Victor gischler, author of gun monkeys and shotgun opera stylish, retro, and highly entertaining. Chinatown and the last years of hollywood, cultural historian sam wasson swims in the muddy making of the 1974 film, the messy lives of its four main players, and the murky chronicles of l. Transcending what could have been a mere trivia deepdive, sam wasson s the big goodbye. Chinatown and the last years of hollywood tells not only the story of 1974s chinatown but also a more expansive, characterdriven story of a specific time and place. The big goodbye book austin public library bibliocommons. Pdf the big goodbye by sam wasson free ebook download pdf ember queen by laura sebastian free ebook download. Throughout the book, wasson treats the film as a masterpiece, an arguable but reasonable assessment, and delineates his biographies of nicholson, evans. The big goodbye chinatown and the last years hollywood book.
The big goodbye is the first episode to significantly feature the holodeck. Chinatown and the last years of hollywood by sam wasson flatiron press having given us a great biography of bob fosse, important books about blake edwards and paul mazursky, and an engaging account of the making of breakfast at tiffany s, wasson has proven to be an insightful chronicler of 20 th century show business. The big goodbye also benefits from author wassons research and interviews, because i can tell he simply didnt just rely on imdb or wikipedia entries to flesh out this book. I loved the anecdotes and details that came from speaking firsthand with those involved in the film or in some way connected with the four men listed above. The big goodbye book by michael lister thriftbooks. Why the bleak film classic chinatown is our new reality. Enter sam wassons the big goodbye, which takes the. Victor gischler, author of gun monkeys and the shotgun opera. Wasson is a canny chronicler of old hollywood and its outsize personalities. He is also a gifted writer who takes a novelistic approach to nonfiction. If this book has a flaw, it is wassons intoxication with his subjects. Through wassons thorough research, this book clearly illuminates that concept. In the same way, the big goodbye, sam wassons deep dig into the making of the film, is a work of exquisite precision. First published in great britain in 1962 by robert hale limitedtitle page verso.
Chinatown and the last years of hollywood burbles about how. Chinatown and the last years of hollywood, the film historian fifth avenue, 5 a. How the sexdrugsandrock n roll generation saved hollywood. The big goodbye book the indianapolis public library. Biskind is the author of many books, including easy riders, raging bulls. The big goodbye is a graceful and worthwhile elegy to a time dear to those who are lucky enough to remember itit will be hard to find a better film book published this year. Audrey hepburn, breakfast at tiffanys, and the dawn of the. The big goodbye is the first in a series of books by michael lister about a private investigator based in war torn panama city fl. A biography of the making of chinatown, which scriptwriter robert towne called a state of mind. The big goodbye excels at such insider insights, gleaned from a thorough canvassing of the relevant archives and from interviews with most of the principal players. The big goodbye is a fun and insightful read about the business of hollywood and the complex, creative process. Its twist ending is the most notorious in american film and its closing line of dialogue the most haunting. The big goodbye chinatown and the last years of hollywood book.
In author sam wassons meticulous new book the big goodbye. From the new york times bestselling author of fifth avenue, five a. Sam wasson gloms onto that story and the films prestige with an almost omnipresent vitality in his book, the big goodbye. She ducks into the office of pi, jimmy soldier riley, not to hire him, but to find out if hes the one following her. Coachella valley weekly an absorbing account of the making of chinatownwasson is a stylish chronicler of hollywood politicsthe big goodbye evokes the care that went into every frame. If you love chinatown, then youll love the big goodbyeand its good reading for any american cinema buff. In telling that larger story, the big goodbye will take its place alongside classics like easy riders, raging bulls and the devils candy as one of the great movieworld books ever written. Sam wassons the big goodbye pays loving attention to a classic movie. In short, for a slice of americas movieloving public, its a story that keeps on keeping on. This book is a must read, cant put down, gotta have, page turner it mixes romance, history and intrigue like nobody but michael can. Acknowledging that its hard to say goodbye to someone, the direct. Reviews the wondrous thing about sam wassons new book is that it feels both necessary and inevitable as if chinatown couldnt or shouldnt exist.
The big goodbye is a scrupulously researched and reported book with a stellar cast of players wasson is one of the great chroniclers of hollywood lore. Pdf the big goodbye by sam wasson free ebook download. A seductive mix of sudden violence and aw emotion, michael listers the big goodbye is a muchwelcome contribution to the hardboiled, p. Buy a cheap copy of the big goodbye book by michael lister. Sam wasson is the author of many books including the bestselling fosse and fifth avenue, 5 am. The big goodbye is much, much more than the inside, untold story of that 1974 classic. Free book fist of the imperium by andy clark free download or read online. Buy the big goodbye book online at best prices in india on amazon. New book the big goodbye explores jack nicholsons hollywood heyday new book the big goodbye. Buy the big goodbye book online at low prices in india the big. Its twist ending is the most notorious in american film. The big goodbye is part of a welcome and newish publishing trend.
The big goodbye, sam wassons deep dig into the making of the film, is a work of exquisite precision. The core of the book is an engrossing history of the films development. Author sam wasson is not shy about saying that no one makes great movies today, and he lays out his case in his latest book. The story of a guy, a girl, and a gun, the big goodbye is florida noir at its finest. The big goodbye the making of chinatown gets its full due in wassons chronicle by david gaines, 12. Sam wasson takes a deep dive into making of chinatown. Author sam wasson dives into the lore behind chinatown. Chinatown, for those who know the film, is a metaphor. This book is a must read, cant put down, gotta have, page turner it mixes romance, history and.