On Cukor

by Gavin Lambert

Dust jacket design by Ben Feder. Lambert interviews Cukor.

Genres: Film, Biography, Historical

276 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Gavin Lambert was a British-born screenwriter, novelist and biographer who lived for part of his life in Hollywood. His writing was mainly fiction and nonfiction about the film industry.

Reviews

[Graceann · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1970, Gavin Lambert sat down for a series of conversations with the iconic director of The Philadelphia Story and The Women, and the result is this gloriously sumptuous volume. Lambert offers these conversations for all who were unfortunate enough to never have spoken with the man themselves. It's a very quick read, and a bit surprising in places. Some films aren't mentioned at all, and others that I hadn't heard of are discussed at length. Cukor is funny, alternately self-effacing and ego-centric, and always interesting.

Gavin Lambert is the gold standard of film writers. He knows the movies and asks astute questions, which draw Cukor out and inspire tantalizing glimpses into Hollywood history. Cukor's views on Marilyn Monroe, Cecil Beaton, David O. Selznick and many others are explored, and his work behind the scenes in various films is discussed. The book is as much about Lambert as it is about Cukor, however, and you feel as if you're eavesdropping at the most erudite salon.

[R.J. Gilmour · Rating 3 out of 5]

The coffee table type book features a series of interviews between Lambert and Cukor and while it is interesting I really wanted to know more about him. The book really looks only at his work and not his life and that's what I'm curious about.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

George Cukor had an amazing career and life. After watching "A Star Is Born", I was intrigued about the director and did some online research which lead me to this book.

It's a good biography. However, I wanted to learn more about his personal life and not nearly as much as his movies and the celebs he hung out with.

[Nancy Loe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much inside dirt, but it is an entertaining quick read. All Cukor talks about on The Women is the horrible fashion show they made him add and how ugly the clothes were.