The Studio (book)
The Studio is a 1969 non-fiction book by John Gregory Dunne about the workings at 20th Century Fox from May 1967 to May 1968. He was allowed significant access to the studio over several months.[1][2]
According to Dunne's obituary, the resulting book "is regarded as one of the most detailed and accurate reports on the workings of a major film studio ever written."[3]
It covers such aspects as:
- the test screening and marketing of Doctor Doolittle
- the making of Star!, The Planet of the Apes, The Sweet Ride
- the scripting of The Boston Strangler
People who appear in the book include Richard Zanuck, Darryl F. Zanuck, Gene Kelly, Paul Monash, Joe Pasternak, Pandro Berman.
Joyce Harber said "Dunne's observations are right on the button, his descriptions are spare but evocative, his observations combine substance with humor."[4] In 1969 Charles Champlin called it "the hottest book in movie circles these days".[5] The New York Times said the book was full "of the most awful scenes".[6]
References
- BOOKS HAPPENING: Ira Levin Novel in Works Shalit, Gene. Los Angeles Times 2 Feb 1969: r31.
- The Studio (Book Review) Millar, Gavin. Sight and Sound; London Vol. 39, Iss. 3, (Summer 1970): 165.
- "'The Studio' Author John Gregory Dunne Dies". Los Angeles Times. December 31, 2003.
- John Dunne Looks at 'The Studio' Haber, Joyce. Los Angeles Times 20 Mar 1969: i19.
- Unretouched Vignettes of a Movie Studio Champlin, Charles. Los Angeles Times 13 May 1969: c1.
- Books of The Times: We Can Work Out the Disease Later By CHRISTOPHER LEHMANN-HAUPT. New York Times 7 May 1969: 45.