A Private View

by Irene Mayer Selznick

The daughter of Louis B. Mayer and wife of David O. Selznick recounts her untypical Hollywood childhood, her marriage to Selznick, and her own career as a Broadway producer, profiling--along the way--her famous friends and colleagues

Genres: Nonfiction, Film, Biography, Autobiography, Memoir, History, Media Tie In

384 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 1983

Reviews

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engrossing autobiography of the woman who was David O. Selznick's wife and Louis Mayer's daughter before escaping from them and becoming a theatre producer. Despite her affectionate tone, it's clear that Selznick was a freaking lunatic. Perhaps she could stand it for so long because her father was a freaking lunatic, so maybe she thought that was normal behavior. Anyway, it seems to have given her a talent for dealing with difficult people, which stood her in good stead in her later career dealing with such jerks as Elia Kazan and Marlon Brando for whom, surprisingly, she also professes fondness.

[Richard Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and committed to the truth as Irene herself sees it; that is to say, I can’t confirm the accuracy of her stories, but she doesn’t spare herself from scrutiny. Like a lot of these memoirs, the early part is more interesting; once she gets famous, it’s easy to fall back on “and then I met this famous person and that famous person,” etc. but Irene Mayer Selznick led an interesting life, and this is an interesting book, written in a compelling voice. And her stories about breaking into houses with Katharine Hepburn are adorable.

[Mary Narkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent autobiography. I loved her clear steady voice. And her book completely changed my view of Louis B. Mayer (her father).. I had read so many horror stories about him over the years told by this and that movie star.. but she humanized him for me completely.. I actually grew to like him.. He and Mrs. Meyer sure raised a good daughter! All the little tidbits about Hollywood stars were illuminating..
loved the story of meeting the very young Greta Garbo in an elevator in Germany.. before she came to America. Irene was right there at the start of so much..
Hollywood history told by someone who was there.

[Sandy Buckley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave up on this book about 2/3 of the way through as it was due at the library and really not worth renewing. Poorly written and edited. Seemed to go all over the place. Although Irene was raised very strictly, which lasted until her marriage to David Selznick, she was given all the advantages of the very wealthy, especially when her family moved to Hollywood. I could not relate to the poor little rich girl. That, and the excesses of Hollywood in the up and coming movie industry -- and this at a time when most of the country was suffering in the Depression -- was sickening, really. The picture plates were cool, tho.

[Kasia Sz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking forward to Irene’s insights on Selznick and the making of GWTW, but the most interesting parts turned out to be those about her relationship with her father, L.B. Mayer. A lot has been written about him, and she certainly paints him in a more favorable light. She managed to step out of the huge shadows of her father and her husband and became a successful Broadway producer. I enjoyed her stories about ‘the usual suspects’, she really knew everyone. Her journey, from very conservative upbringing to “Streetcar…” on Broadway, while not exactly relatable, is nonetheless, pretty inspiring.

[Sally Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An utterly charming and interesting memoir. A must read for those interested in 20th Century Hollywood.

[Mick Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok book dealing with the marriage of Irene and david selznick.never really caught my attention but the ratings prove different,horses for courses I suppose.

[Kinga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's written with grace and gives a good and faithful inside to the golden era of Hollywood. Mrs. Selznick or Ms. Mayer guides us through her life with honesty and humor. We learn how Louis B was as a father, a tycoon and a husband. Her main reason to write this book, I think, was to clear her father's name of those accusations her sister had spread about him. Also, we can get an insight to her life with DOS, her struggle of providing him a cozy and quiet backround, of handling his gambling problems and of standing by him even in the toughtest times. I like her being very honest about her life and about ppl whom she interacted: nobody is a saint, nobody is evil.
However, there are subjects she treats with delicacy and points out that she does it for not to violate the person in question.
This is a highly entertaining book I recommend to everyone who is interested in old Hollywood. It was so comforting reading her speaking of Ingrid Bergman, my hero.
Finally, i have to say that as a non-English speaker sometimes i had problems with certain expressions to understand but i've learned some funny and useful ones as well while reading the book.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The 1983 biography of a woman best known for being daughter and wife to two of classic Hollywood’s most powerful moguls. Both Louis B. Mayer and David O. Selznick come across as sympathetic and stubbornly human men who influenced Irene’s life in countless ways. Irene is an excellent writer with a gift for observation and a pragmatic viewpoint, traits that especially shine in the earlier chapters of her book. Unlike many other bios where childhood memories make up the dullest parts, Irene shows herself to have been a remarkably poised and precocious little girl almost from birth. She’s a stark contrast to her vain and impetuous older sister, Edith (who is by far the least likable person in the book). After Irene divorced Selznick in the ’40s, she went on to forge a thriving career in the New York theatre scene as producer of A Streetcar Named Desire and several other plays. It’s a fitting coda to an uplifting book." - Scrubbles.net review, August 3, 2008.

[HalKid2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of old Hollywood, I was looking forward to some good behind the scenes gossip about Louis B. Mayer, his daughter Irene, and Irene's husband, David O. Selznick -- the man behind Gone With The Wind. And yes, there was SOME of that. Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Jennifer Jones (Selznick's second wife), Cary Grant, Howard Hughes and others do show up -- but honestly, what you learn about them is not that interesting. So much so, that I skimmed sections.

Irene really doesn't address her husband's philandering - only his drinking and gambling. What does come through is her transition from Louis's dutiful daughter, to David's trophy wife, and finally to successful Broadway producer. If you can think of this more as a story of emerging feminism, ahead of it's time, rather than a Hollywood, tell off -- you'll likely enjoy it more.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great read! Irene tells her life story with openness and humor. Yes, her father cared for his family, but he ruled his family, much in the way he ruled MGM, in his own vision. As an example, his daughters stayed home instead of going to college because he decided it would suit them and the family better. Irene keeps her emotions and desires under wraps and it isn't until she meets David O. Selznick, who talks and talks and wants to hear her talk, too.

The book is filled with insights and gossip about early Hollywood and Broadway of the 1960's. Did you know that when Ingrid Bergman first got to Hollywood, she stayed with the Selznicks? Or that Irene was best friends with Kate Hepburn?

Really, this is worth the read!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I picked it up on a whim at a used bookstore, giving into my curiosity (a Mayer and a Selznick!)and was surprised at how moving the book was. Initially I was interested in the transition from early early Hollywood to the star system 30s, but I became fascinated with Irene Mayer (daughter of MGM mogul L.B. Mayer) and David Selznick's marriage. Irene Selznick is never less than gracious but her sharp perceptions of her family and associates reveal much.

[Jill Singer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting insights on Ms. M-S's own life, but also intriguing views on her father (Louis B. Mayer) and husband (David O. Selznick) and the movies and theater events and people of the 40s and 50s. Fascinating.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enigmatic personality living in fantastic surroundings. IMS was accomplished in her own right, but I found her a little bit of a void in the center of the story. She does a much better job of delineating the men around her than letting us in to her own psyche.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb autobiography from a woman who was the daughter of legendary LB Mayer and the wife of legendary David O. Selznick.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't want this book to end.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoir of Louis B. Mayer's daughter and David O. Selznick's ex-wife.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Classic Hollywood and American Theater, A PRIVATE VIEW is for you. Irene Mayer Selznick was an amazing woman with a fabulous life story.