Patrick Bronstein Presents

by Bruce Kimmel

Patrick Bronstein Presents. For over fifty years, Patrick Bronstein produced movies in virtually every genre and yet few remember those films. When author Paul Khanna contacts him to write a book about his life in movies, his response is, “You want to write a book about an eighty-four-year-old Jew who made pictures?” And so begins a series of informal interviews that take place over lunches in Patrick Bronstein’s favorite Los Angeles eateries.

During those interviews, Patrick Bronstein tells his story, from his beginnings as a film producer in 1954 through the wild ride that becomes his colorful career. He spares no one, least of all himself, in discussing a career laden with films that were never successful. From low-budget programmers to epic films shot in Spain to his disastrous four marriages, it’s all here, told in riotous and hilarious detail. Patrick Bronstein Presents is a trip through a Hollywood that simply can never exist again, and a look at the kind of producer we’ll never have again.

Patrick Bronstein first appeared in Bruce Kimmel’s Adriana Hofstetter mystery, Murder at the Hollywood Historical Society, and he’s appeared in each subsequent book in that series. But now it’s time for him to tell his own story, in all its outspoken, no-holds-barred glory, a story that’s sidesplittingly funny one moment and touching the next.

178 pages, Hardcover

Published February 28, 2016

About the author

Bruce Kimmel wrote, directed and starred in the cult movie hit, The First Nudie Musical (available on a Special Edition Blu-ray). He also co-created (with David Wechter) the story for the hit film, The Faculty, directed by Robert Rodriguez. As an actor, Mr. Kimmel guest-starred on most of the long-running television shows of the 1970s.

Since 1993, Mr. Kimmel has been one of the leading producers of theatre music on CD, having produced over 180 albums. He was nominated for a Grammy for producing the revival cast album of Hello, Dolly! and his album with jazz pianist Fred Hersch, I Never Told You, was also nominated for a Grammy. He has produced solo albums for Petula Clark, Helen Reddy, Jason Graae, Liz Callaway, Christiane Noll, Rebecca Luker, Brent Barrett, Sally Mayes, and many others. He has a successful record label, Kritzerland.

His musical, The Brain From Planet X (written with David Wechter) has been seen in Los Angeles, New York, the UK, Canada (in both French and English), Australia and other fun places. Most recently, he is the creator/writer/director of the new short form comedy series Sami, now showing on Amazon Prime Video and garnering rave reviews and several festival wins around the country for Best Web Series.

Mr. Kimmel is the author of twenty-seven books – his acclaimed Benjamin Kritzer trilogy (Benjamin Kritzer, Kritzerland, and Kritzer Time), the mysteries Writer’s Block and Rewind, his seven Adriana Hofstetter mysteries (Murder At Hollywood High, Murder At The Grove, Murder At The Hollywood Historical Society, and Murder At The Masquers, Murder at the School Musical, Murder at the Hollywood Division, and Murder at the Magic Castle), Patrick Bronstein Presents, Thrill Ride, his collection of short fiction, How To Write A Dirty Book and Other Stories, Red Gold, his two memoirs (There's Mel, There's Woody, and There's You - My Life In The Slow Lane and the follow up, Album Produced By... More of my Rollercoaster Life). GEE, Simply: A Lifetime of Lyrics, Some Days Are Murder, and its sequel, Tis the Season to Be Murdered, Preview Harvey, the new Benjamin Kritzer novel, Kritzer World, Directed by, Vegas Can Be Murder, and Richard and Me.

Reviews

[Rebecca Abuscato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I had tried to read a couple of Bruce Kimmel's Adriana Hofstetter mysteries and found them awful - very poorly written. But this book proves that Kimmel actually can write. I think he saw himself as Patrick Bronstein - just a little bit older!

Kimmel was actually an actor during the 70s and 80s...twenty years after the movies that Bronstein "presented" - but he's very knowledgeable about film making and those decades of films.

Bronstein is a fictional character and of course the movies he made were fictional...but you can just imagine some actual producers charting their careers in the same way.

The book is funny, full of ethnic Jewish humor...something I'm not sure today's generations "get" - I grew up with The In-laws, the original Goldbergs, etc.

If you're a fan of movie making, I think you'll enjoy it.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruce Kimmel's PATRICK BRONSTEIN PRESENTS is a informative, touching and extremely hilarious tribute to B and C movie producers who gave us the cheap, "crappy" films of yesteryear that film buffs continue to adore.

I read the book in one afternoon, and there were times when I had to put it down because I was laughing so hard.

Patrick Bronstein is a marvelous character and he should be brought to life on a movie screen.

[Jane]

My father, shocked at finding himself an old man, referred to himself as an Alter Kocker. For me, in an endearing way, this expression could fit Patrick Bronstein. If you want a trip down old L.A. restaurants and theaters, take it with this funny producer of the 50's B & C movies.