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Scoundrels & Spitballers: Writers and Hollywood in the 1930s
370 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 2, 2020
Maybe it's not fair to compare this to Garnier's excellent biography of David Goodis in "Goodis: A Life in Black and White" but, while very entertaining and well researched, it is a work geared more toward the classic movie fan than the casual reader. But if you are a classic movie fan, like me, it's a treasure trove of anecdotes about familiar figures in the film industry of the 1930s and beyond. The snappy prose makes for a fun read.
Thanks to the wonderful Eddie Muller for calling attention to this fabulous writer.
Thanks to the wonderful Eddie Muller for calling attention to this fabulous writer.
December 12, 2020
Hollywood is fascinating, because I live near there, and two, it is full of fascinating characters. What makes it great is when a foreigner writes about Hollywood as a culture in itself. Philippe Garnier is French but lived in Los Angeles for over forty years. Still, he has a foreigner's insight and attraction to a landscape such as Hollywood.
Hollywood is a physical place, but it is also a mythical location that covers Southern California. It's a state of mind and a site with a post office (zip code 90028). Hollywood's idea has always attracted me because it is built on dreams both in reality and fictional. There is an entire industry that is devoted to making dreams, which is unusual. Perhaps Las Vegas is a city that is dedicated to fantasy, but Hollywood has a soul. Sometimes an ugly or sad soul, but still, nevertheless, a soul. Garnier specializes in Hollywood history and noir novelists (such as the great David Goodis, Garnier's biography/study is a must-read). "Scoundrels & Spitballers" is about the screenwriters who ended up in Hollywood to do films. Most of them are novelists who write to make money. Therefore Hollywood comes calling, or it's a "Go West Young Man" situation. Garnier's book's general interest is the screenwriters that fell through the cracks of time and space. Here he gives proper attention to these artists/hacks in an intimate and acknowledgeable manner.
The writing is very three-dimensional. You only don't get the screenwriter's personality and traits, but also the daily work grind of working for a studio, such as Warner Brothers. Garnier interviewed a lot of the writers or, at the very least, family members and friends. It's a vivid picture of people concerned with the craft of writing and the need to produce works in a factory-like environment.
I know names such as Nathanael West, James M. Cain, A.I. Bezzerides, Horace McCoy (I knew him by his novels, but not aware he was a screenwriter as well), and W.R. Burnett. But there are many writers I never heard of, such as Sam Brown, Niven Busch, Marguerite Roberts, and others. All of them lead one to another, which makes it a fascinating history. Through Garnier's voice and eyes, one gets a mental picture of Los Angeles in the 1930s that is familiar as well as exotic. Hollywood is my type of town. Although Hollywood has changed and its film industry, there are traces of the old world through architecture that still exists as well as the films themselves. Some of the buildings may be difficult to find. Still, Garnier is an expert guide to the working class's dreamy world in its methods and procedures in a factory-like existence to produce products (art) and images.
Hollywood is a physical place, but it is also a mythical location that covers Southern California. It's a state of mind and a site with a post office (zip code 90028). Hollywood's idea has always attracted me because it is built on dreams both in reality and fictional. There is an entire industry that is devoted to making dreams, which is unusual. Perhaps Las Vegas is a city that is dedicated to fantasy, but Hollywood has a soul. Sometimes an ugly or sad soul, but still, nevertheless, a soul. Garnier specializes in Hollywood history and noir novelists (such as the great David Goodis, Garnier's biography/study is a must-read). "Scoundrels & Spitballers" is about the screenwriters who ended up in Hollywood to do films. Most of them are novelists who write to make money. Therefore Hollywood comes calling, or it's a "Go West Young Man" situation. Garnier's book's general interest is the screenwriters that fell through the cracks of time and space. Here he gives proper attention to these artists/hacks in an intimate and acknowledgeable manner.
The writing is very three-dimensional. You only don't get the screenwriter's personality and traits, but also the daily work grind of working for a studio, such as Warner Brothers. Garnier interviewed a lot of the writers or, at the very least, family members and friends. It's a vivid picture of people concerned with the craft of writing and the need to produce works in a factory-like environment.
I know names such as Nathanael West, James M. Cain, A.I. Bezzerides, Horace McCoy (I knew him by his novels, but not aware he was a screenwriter as well), and W.R. Burnett. But there are many writers I never heard of, such as Sam Brown, Niven Busch, Marguerite Roberts, and others. All of them lead one to another, which makes it a fascinating history. Through Garnier's voice and eyes, one gets a mental picture of Los Angeles in the 1930s that is familiar as well as exotic. Hollywood is my type of town. Although Hollywood has changed and its film industry, there are traces of the old world through architecture that still exists as well as the films themselves. Some of the buildings may be difficult to find. Still, Garnier is an expert guide to the working class's dreamy world in its methods and procedures in a factory-like existence to produce products (art) and images.
October 23, 2020
One of my favorite types is the entertainingly anthropological study of creative groups/societies and their place in history.
This is one of the best of those. An examination of the colorful pulp writers, journalists and press agents who came to Hollywood in the 20’s-40’s looking for their screenwriting pot of gold, the writer moves back and forth in time with his stories as if you’re with him in the back room of Musso and Frank’s hearing him regale you with tales while liberally pouring the scotch into your glass. It goes by wonderfully and painlessly.
This is one of the best of those. An examination of the colorful pulp writers, journalists and press agents who came to Hollywood in the 20’s-40’s looking for their screenwriting pot of gold, the writer moves back and forth in time with his stories as if you’re with him in the back room of Musso and Frank’s hearing him regale you with tales while liberally pouring the scotch into your glass. It goes by wonderfully and painlessly.
April 20, 2021
This book was so close to being a great read. Well-researched and written with some style, this book colorfully fills in a gap in Hollywood history: the stories of the writers who created classic movies. Better yet, Garnier provides a detailed portrait of studio-era Hollywood, which he accurately refers to as frontier America's last boom town. Any writer looking into that time and place will find this book a wonderful resource. That said, the book refuses to draw any themes from its subject, leaving the reader with a vague sense that early screenwriters drank and were bad at managing money. That's just not enough to create a satisfying read. Also, of all the indifferently edited books I've read lately this was the worst, full of ponderous stretches of text and grammatical missteps aplenty. These frustrations force me to conclude this book could have been special but missed the mark.
February 11, 2022
Has an offhand style that takes some getting used to.
For a book about writers, one would think it would take better care in terms of spelling. For example, p. 44 has "In 1934, an incident occured [sic], inoccuous [sic] in itself, but which would soon have momentous consequences for the nightlife along the boulevard ..." -- two misspellings in a row!
I think in a sense I'm not advanced enough to read this book, as it is about secondary writers of the Golden Age of Hollywood. I would prefer to exhaust learning about the important writers first, even if these are probably the more colorful characters, including as they do, prison inmates, women who slept their way into the job and even members of the Romanoff family.
Has chapters that are off-topic, that is, not about any particular writer. Here's one about a Hollywood bookstore. Another is about a short story magazine. A third about the behind the scenes of a never-made movie about Huey Long, and about I Am the Fugitive of a Chain Gang. Inspired by Moby Dick, maybe.
Wow, two great stories from Niven Busch on the same page. One that explains what the process of spitballing actually was, the other about what it was like pitching a story to the legendary Irving Thalberg. So entertaining as well as revealing of what those folks were like.
The other best chapter is the generic one toward the end on what it was to write at Warner Brothers, including a very good story by, again, Niven Busch.
The book unfortunately lacks an index.
For a book about writers, one would think it would take better care in terms of spelling. For example, p. 44 has "In 1934, an incident occured [sic], inoccuous [sic] in itself, but which would soon have momentous consequences for the nightlife along the boulevard ..." -- two misspellings in a row!
I think in a sense I'm not advanced enough to read this book, as it is about secondary writers of the Golden Age of Hollywood. I would prefer to exhaust learning about the important writers first, even if these are probably the more colorful characters, including as they do, prison inmates, women who slept their way into the job and even members of the Romanoff family.
Has chapters that are off-topic, that is, not about any particular writer. Here's one about a Hollywood bookstore. Another is about a short story magazine. A third about the behind the scenes of a never-made movie about Huey Long, and about I Am the Fugitive of a Chain Gang. Inspired by Moby Dick, maybe.
Wow, two great stories from Niven Busch on the same page. One that explains what the process of spitballing actually was, the other about what it was like pitching a story to the legendary Irving Thalberg. So entertaining as well as revealing of what those folks were like.
The other best chapter is the generic one toward the end on what it was to write at Warner Brothers, including a very good story by, again, Niven Busch.
The book unfortunately lacks an index.
May 20, 2021
It’s so frustrating to read this book, full of first hand accounts and so well-researched into the lives of these authors, because the stories are wonderful and I really enjoyed learning about all these writers. But the language used by Garnier was inappropriate (for instance, he uses the term “colored folks” throughout), and he twice by my count included direct quotations which contained hurtful slurs, neither of which were so necessary that he could not have paraphrased to avoid their inclusion. He also writes with a tone of dismissiveness of anything he seems to not think cool enough, casually mentioning things but making sure to include an insulting adjective in the aside as he breezes towards his point. I’m not sure why the author’s attitude is so ‘edgy,’ but being callous is not cool and does not endear Garnier to this reader. There’s also some shoddy copyediting; not much, but enough that I noticed, and combined with the language issues above, I think the publisher dropped the ball here.
If I could give half stars, I would knock it down to 1.5, but as a rule I only give 1 star to books I can’t actually finish, so 2 it is.
If I could give half stars, I would knock it down to 1.5, but as a rule I only give 1 star to books I can’t actually finish, so 2 it is.
May 24, 2024
Just a great book for anyone interested in learning about Hollywood in the 30s. The author focuses on a number of writers, giving their bios, listing exploits, anecdotes, interactions with studios, actors, other writers, etc.
A wealth of references for "obscure," B movies and major productions.
The author paints a wonderful picture of the chaotic, wild ride the studios were on during that formative decade.
Just read it.
A wealth of references for "obscure," B movies and major productions.
The author paints a wonderful picture of the chaotic, wild ride the studios were on during that formative decade.
Just read it.
October 25, 2022
Philippe Garnier is the most accurate Hollywood chronicler of "the days gone by." He has a fast draw, shoots from the hip, and never misses. A Bullseye Biographer! Impeccable researcher. As far as storytelling of old Hollywood, its people and places, he is nonpareil.
Steve Hodel, NYT Bestselling author, "Black Dahlia Avenger"/LAPD Homicide Det. III (ret.)
Steve Hodel, NYT Bestselling author, "Black Dahlia Avenger"/LAPD Homicide Det. III (ret.)
November 3, 2020
Mordant, revealing and totally readable. If you enjoy (mostly) true tales of early Hollywood and the colorful, often tragic scribes who fed the movie-making machinery, this one's for you. Couldn't put it down.
April 9, 2022
This is a great book if you can find it. He goes real deep in overlooked writers in an overlooked era of American film.
June 17, 2023
Possibly a niche treat, but definitely a treat.
May 26, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Well researched and full of great details about a host of writers who spent time in Hollywood, in the studios and on the fringes. A truly fun read for fans of 30s/40s Hollywood.
Want to read
December 15, 2021The book covers ground that hasn't been given much attention, but it bounces from subject to subject in a disorganized way. You have to go with the flow while reading or you'll find yourself somewhat frustrated. I enjoyed reading about Rowland Brown, a fellow Ohioan I don't have much else in common with.
I read this book with the Silver Screen Book Club.
I read this book with the Silver Screen Book Club.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews