1939: The Making of Six Great Films from Hollywood's Greatest Year

by Charles F. Adams

A celebration of cinema from the year 1939—a year film critics and historians are virtually unanimous in considering the greatest in the history of motion pictures—this work is the perfect combination of film history, artistic appreciation, historical insight, and gossip. Profiling of six of the greatest films of the year—Gone with the Wind, Stagecoach, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Wizard of Oz—the book shows, in detail, how these stories came into being and how long they waited to find fame. It also describes the behind-the-scenes story of each film: how the stories were adapted to a film script; the writers, producers, directors, actors, and technicians who made the film; how the film was received by critics and the public; and the later careers of the people who made the film, with commentary on such legendary stars as Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, and Judy Garland. A must-have book that no movie fan should miss, this work captures 1930s Hollywood—an era which, in spite of being crass, commercial, restrictive, and frequently dysfunctional, produced immensely enjoyable films that are still watched with pleasure today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film, Media Tie In, History

260 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2013

About the author

Charles F. Adams is a resident of San Francisco, is a chairman of the Wajim Corporation and president of Adams Enterprises. He formerly was president and chief operating officer of D'Arcy, MacManus & Masius, Inc., a worldwide advertising agency. He also is a former owner and general partner of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins. His books include Common Sense in Advertising, Heroes of the Golden Gate, and California in the Year 2000.

Reviews

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 4 out of 5]

1939 : the making of six great films from Hollywood's greatest year. This book has more than behind-the-scenes photographs and information. It also contains the process that take place before production starts. Fascinating! It's hard for me to pick a favorite part. I had no idea that Margaret Mitchell was a pen name. I was highly amused to see Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara (Clark Gable & Vivien Leigh) in full costume playing Chinese Checkers in between takes.

[Chuck Neumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "1939, the making of six great films from Hollywood's greatest year" was an interesting read and one in which I enjoyed. The six films picked were not necessarily the six greatest from that year but ones the author enjoyed the most. While some of his facts were off (Jane Powell not June Allyson replaced Garland in "Royal Wedding", for example) and some odd omissions were found (a short list of John Wayne films had "The Greatest Story ever Told" - just a short cameo by Wayne - while leaving off "The Searchers" and "The Shootist" -two of John Wayne's greatest performances) (He fails to mention the reason M-G-M loaned Clark Gable to Columbia for "It happened one night" was that studio boss Mayer was punishing him) but overall those were not a big problem. I learned a great deal of information from the book, especially when he covered how the stories were first written. In fact, I found those stories the most interesting in the book. The behind the scenes information given on the making of the films was also interesting. The author gives a detailed outline of the film script on each film, in case the reader was not too familiar with the films, I guess. I think anyone interested in films, or novels for that matter, would enjoy this book.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, but not exactly what I expected.

The book is a collection of short descriptions and trivia of 6 major films which were released in 1939 (Gone With the Wind, Wizard of OZ, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Stagecoach and Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles).

I had thought it would discuss why so many important movies came out at this time but it is really just a description and facts about each movie.

The book was worth reading if for no other reason than to learn that Margaret Mitchell, the author of Gone With the Wind, apparently really wanted Rhett Butler to be played by--wait for it--GROUCHO MARX!

Personally, I pray that somewhere in the bowels of a Hollywood studio vault is Gone with the Wind starring the Marx Brothers!!

Other ideas:
Twelve Angry Men --starring the 3 stooges!
Angles With Dirty Faces--with Laurel & Hardy (Another fine mess you've gotten us into...as they are being led to the electric chair)
or Double Indemnity starring Shirley Temple!

[Madelyn Flammia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for any classic movie fan. I thought I already knew a lot about some of these films, but I learned much more from this book. I especially enjoyed the emphasis on the literary works on which these films were based.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for old movie buffs. I had no idea Mr SMITH Goes to Washington was based on a book.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of read-out-loud stuff to share with anyone who happens to walk through the room. Right from the "Author's Note" at the book's beginning I was hooked. "When I was twelve years old, going to the movies was a Saturday afternoon ritual that my friends and I observed with an almost religious fervor."

He not only tells about the making of the films but the making of the books as well. Wow -- special features in a book! I learned about the authors, the book's (or story's) journey to publication, the directors, the studios, the stars, the casting, the shooting, the editing, the premiers, and even "the rest of the story" about the stars and so forth. Yep, it's a trivia smorgasbord. Lots of b&w photos, too.

Did you know that GWTW (Gone With the Wind) cost nearly $4million -- the most expensive film made up to that date -- but it brought in nearly 3x's that amount in its 3-year-long first run and over $40,000,000 to date?

The writing style is chatty and very engaging. So glad it came across my radar. At just 250 pages it's easy to read in a few sittings.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

2014 marked the 75th anniversary of 6 of the best movies produced in Hollywood: Gone with the Wind, Stagecoach, Mr Smith Goes to Washington, Hound of the Baskervilles, Huck Finn and The Wizard of Oz. This gives a brief biography of each film, from the writing of the original stories and novels that inspired each to the making of the film and what the stars went on to do after. One actor was in three of those! Not all the information was new, and I'm only really familiar with half of them, but it was interesting - and absolutely an incredible year.

Fun facts: Everyone who read GWTW could only see Clark Gable in the role, many going so far as to call him Rhett even in the years between it coming out and casting. And he hated the book and had to be bribed into taking the role.

Edgar Allen Poe created the word detective and was a major inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

John Wayne was fucking gorgeous in his 20s.

[Dr Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introduction is weak. The back stories of the great films does deliver. It moves fast. Typefont makes one feel like they are reading a newspaper and hence lack the credibility feel of a serious book about this most amazing year in Hollywood cinema history.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

very cool, I had no idea about some of the history of these movies and some are my all-time faves!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would love to read another book just like this - either about other films out this year (this only features 4 of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture) or about films for any other year.

[Shirley Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun look at behind the scenes making of 6 great films. 1939 was an exceptional year for films. If anything, the author could have featured more films from that year.