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Hollywood Rajah: The Life and Times of Louis B. Mayer
This is the extravagant life story of Louis B. Mayer, head of the largest motion picture studio in the world, and the most controversial subject in Hollywood’s notorious history - a man who went everywhere, did everything, and knew everyone worth knowing. A man whose tapeworm ego had to be fed by driving activity, ruthless use if power and adventures with beautiful women.
Louis B. Mayer was a power to be feared, a man who deliberately surrounded and protected himself with myths and legends. Now his true story can be told.
Louis B. Mayer was a power to be feared, a man who deliberately surrounded and protected himself with myths and legends. Now his true story can be told.
- GenresBiographyNonfictionFilm
382 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 26, 1960
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 19, 2020
After hearing so much about the dictatorial Louis B Mayer, I became very engrossed in this biography by Bosley Crowther, famed film critic of The New York Times. Mayer, from St. John New Brunswick, made his way down to Haverhill and Boston, MA which led him to slowly begin building his eventual dominance at MGM in Hollywood.
A determined and driven individual, he derided any whiff of "intellectualism" and was an ardent supporter of Joseph McCarthy -- even after McCarthy was roundly discredited. Retribution was the result if you didn't back his presidential candidates. Reading this biography, made wonder why we hear so much about "liberal Hollywood." It was and is anything but that. Just look at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences which he began to fend off any labor union disputes. Essentially his intent was, "Here's a little pat on your head (an award) for all that work you did on films. Now shut up about any labor issues on set or in contracts." The similarities between Mayer's style of "rule" and what is going on today are striking. However, it does explain quite a bit of how we got here.
Mayer, vindictive and petty, elaborately orchestrated the end of many of his supposed enemies' careers -- or attempted to, at any rate. If you crossed him, your career could very well be kaput for any slight, real or imagined. He was a nasty, nasty man with no creative vision other than the almighty dollar at which he excelled. Supposedly he literally danced with glee when Irving Thalberg died in 1936. Leaving his wife on the eve of their 40th wedding anniversary, he then with his usual zeal pursued young actresses relentlessly for sexual favors. Again, watch out if you rebuffed him. His exploits were legendary.
There is a bright spot not covered in the biography which was written in 196o. The Louis B Mayer Foundation which was established upon his death, bequeathed $5 million to the now named Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 1986. Mayer, when he was terminally ill with leukemia, became friends with founder Dr. Sidney Farber. For that I am grateful.
A determined and driven individual, he derided any whiff of "intellectualism" and was an ardent supporter of Joseph McCarthy -- even after McCarthy was roundly discredited. Retribution was the result if you didn't back his presidential candidates. Reading this biography, made wonder why we hear so much about "liberal Hollywood." It was and is anything but that. Just look at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences which he began to fend off any labor union disputes. Essentially his intent was, "Here's a little pat on your head (an award) for all that work you did on films. Now shut up about any labor issues on set or in contracts." The similarities between Mayer's style of "rule" and what is going on today are striking. However, it does explain quite a bit of how we got here.
Mayer, vindictive and petty, elaborately orchestrated the end of many of his supposed enemies' careers -- or attempted to, at any rate. If you crossed him, your career could very well be kaput for any slight, real or imagined. He was a nasty, nasty man with no creative vision other than the almighty dollar at which he excelled. Supposedly he literally danced with glee when Irving Thalberg died in 1936. Leaving his wife on the eve of their 40th wedding anniversary, he then with his usual zeal pursued young actresses relentlessly for sexual favors. Again, watch out if you rebuffed him. His exploits were legendary.
There is a bright spot not covered in the biography which was written in 196o. The Louis B Mayer Foundation which was established upon his death, bequeathed $5 million to the now named Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 1986. Mayer, when he was terminally ill with leukemia, became friends with founder Dr. Sidney Farber. For that I am grateful.
September 18, 2016
read some time in summer 1974
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews