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Between Flops: A Biography of Preston Sturges
Writer-director Preston Sturges set a new standard for creativity in Hollywood. Three volumes of his screenplays have been published, and he is acknowledged as one of the grand masters of screen comedy. Between Flops was the first full-length biography of this great American humorist. "One of the most entertaining and engrossing film biographies I've encountered, doing justice not only to that truly eccentric genius at the core, but also to his time and place in both Hollywood and our culture." —Judith Crist "A sobering picture of the sweat and disappointment that lie beneath the Hollywood hoopla." — Newsweek
396 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 17, 2016
Between Flops is both well-written and contains a subject worth reading about. I came into the book having seen all of his important directing efforts without knowing much about his earlier screenplays and nothing about his theatre work. Curtis gives you a great background that makes his film career seem an inevitable peak to his earlier efforts.
I had always heard that Sturges invented the flashback for instance, but for some reason I thought it was in the Great McGinty, although Curtis informs me that it was in his screenplay for The Power and the Glory, an early 30s movie that starred Spencer Tracy. A number of his 1930s screenplays sound interesting. I only remember having seen Easy Living, a clever movie that Sturges thought was ruined by the mediocre director Mitchell Leisen. He frankly hated what all directors did to his work and thus strove to direct his own writing, which was pretty rare in those days. The self-financed Charlie Chaplin could do it, but the studios didn't want every writer trying to jump into directing. It was disruptive to their factory like process. Curtis does a good job of explaining the frustration of Sturges, but also his strategy for getting the opportunity he craved.
When the chance finally did arrive Sturges would not slow down. He directed 8 movies in 4 years, 7 of which are considered brilliant. By Sturges's own thoughts the 8th would have been brilliant too if the studio hadn't hacked it to death. Sturges would live 15 more years and make a few more films but he mostly tried to hold his life together to reach the top once more. He never made it. Sturges is too obscure, I suppose, to be the subject of a film about his life, and much of it might seem like fiction to an audience, but man did he live an interesting life. Sturges is as interesting and idiosyncratic as his work on the screen. Read this book if you enjoy his work or want to understand screenwriting in the early talkie period.
I had always heard that Sturges invented the flashback for instance, but for some reason I thought it was in the Great McGinty, although Curtis informs me that it was in his screenplay for The Power and the Glory, an early 30s movie that starred Spencer Tracy. A number of his 1930s screenplays sound interesting. I only remember having seen Easy Living, a clever movie that Sturges thought was ruined by the mediocre director Mitchell Leisen. He frankly hated what all directors did to his work and thus strove to direct his own writing, which was pretty rare in those days. The self-financed Charlie Chaplin could do it, but the studios didn't want every writer trying to jump into directing. It was disruptive to their factory like process. Curtis does a good job of explaining the frustration of Sturges, but also his strategy for getting the opportunity he craved.
When the chance finally did arrive Sturges would not slow down. He directed 8 movies in 4 years, 7 of which are considered brilliant. By Sturges's own thoughts the 8th would have been brilliant too if the studio hadn't hacked it to death. Sturges would live 15 more years and make a few more films but he mostly tried to hold his life together to reach the top once more. He never made it. Sturges is too obscure, I suppose, to be the subject of a film about his life, and much of it might seem like fiction to an audience, but man did he live an interesting life. Sturges is as interesting and idiosyncratic as his work on the screen. Read this book if you enjoy his work or want to understand screenwriting in the early talkie period.
January 26, 2022
Well, gosh, that destroyed a lot of my illusions about Sturges whom I adore. His attitude to women, his manipulation, his vindictiveness, and good lord the recklessness. Though really that last trait is pretty evident in his films. What saddens me the most is the destruction of his relationship with William Demarest who is easily my fave Sturges player.
Ah well, people are flawed, even your writing heroes.
The structure of this was really interesting. Beginning at the end and then going through it all, and ending with a regretful abruptness.
Awful lot of typos, the kind that make me wonder if this ebook was imperfectly scanned and not edited.
Still I’m glad to have read it and I still love him, though a little more clear-eyed now.
Ah well, people are flawed, even your writing heroes.
The structure of this was really interesting. Beginning at the end and then going through it all, and ending with a regretful abruptness.
Awful lot of typos, the kind that make me wonder if this ebook was imperfectly scanned and not edited.
Still I’m glad to have read it and I still love him, though a little more clear-eyed now.
August 9, 2022
A fine, fast-paced biography of the singular Hollywood humourist (and director, restaurateur, engineer, inventor, perfume wholesaler), which gets to the bottom of how it went so right – and then so wrong. It rarely hits as hard emotionally as it might – only when Sturges breaks with regular cast member Bill Demarest, or goes into a decline-fuelled trance-like mope-state on his boat – but its mixture of script analysis, oral interviews and breezy detail is both easy-to-take and of lasting value.
May 31, 2013
The best concise biography of legendary screenwriter-director Preston Sturges. Curtis tells you all the important facts and brings Sturges vividly to life as an artist and a person.
February 20, 2022
A well written book of Preston Sturges and his life and films. The balance is not only good, but excellent in view of recent efforts that I try to dip into and find politics and a sick spotlight on sexual whatever. This is realistic and keeps the home life mostly home and unravels the mess Sturges stirred while stumbling into the film world.
Truly is remarkable Sturges got anything done known today due to Sturges inability of self control. That is well documented here to the point that, as Sturges comes up with another project, I cringed to learn what was to come next. In a sense, the book is a nail biter.
I really like the layout of the book. Gold stars for noting dates throughout, something 99% of recent books can't get right.
I would've liked to read more of the aftermath of Sturges after his death.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.
Truly is remarkable Sturges got anything done known today due to Sturges inability of self control. That is well documented here to the point that, as Sturges comes up with another project, I cringed to learn what was to come next. In a sense, the book is a nail biter.
I really like the layout of the book. Gold stars for noting dates throughout, something 99% of recent books can't get right.
I would've liked to read more of the aftermath of Sturges after his death.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.
February 23, 2015
Better than average film biography, although it would be hard to go wrong when your material is the life and films of Preston Sturges. The author goes into amazing detail on the making of all of Sturges's films--very interesting for those we know; less so for those now rarely screened. But beyond the films, Sturges had a very interesting life, from childhood to the rather sad end (when no one wanted to buy his scripts or hire him to direct). Maybe just a touch self-destructive, as is made most evident by his persistent commitment to the Hollywood restaurant which ultimately bankrupted him.
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October 8, 2009Suffers from the problem with biographies of articulate people, being that the narrator sounds like an idiot next to the sharp quotes and what's that word...erudite subject. But Preston Sturges makes fantastic movies and throws fantastic fits like the fantastic filmmaker who eithers fully hits or fully misses the mark.
July 3, 2013
An insightful bio of the impetuous genius, showing all his inventiveness and all his insecurities. He failed at everything until age 30, and only took on writing screenplays in desperation. No one had a better period of creativity than Sturges did between 1939-43. The index provides a thorough rundown of all of his movies. Photos in this book imprint version are of poor quality.
August 12, 2007
Sturges is a Hollywood phenom - he had a run of hits in the 1940s that hasn't been equaled and then flamed out. This bio is a good introduction if you're unfamiliar with sublime comedies like The Palm Beach Story or The Lady Eve.
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September 29, 2017Writer-director Preston Sturges set a new standard for creativity in Hollywood. Three volumes of his screenplays have been published, and he is acknowledged as one of the grand masters of screen comedy. Between Flops was the first full-length biography of this great American humorist. #biography
August 12, 2013
Definitely not an academic biography (which is definitely not a slight.)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews