Hollywood: The Oral History

By: Jeanine Basinger, Sam Wasson

Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon, Marni Penning

Length: 28 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

The real story of Hollywood as told by such luminaries as Steven Spielberg, Frank Capra, Katharine Hepburn, Meryl Streep, Harold Lloyd, and nearly four hundred others, assembled from the American Film Institute’s treasure trove of interviews, reveals a fresh history of the American movie industry from its beginnings to today.

From the archives of the American Film Institute comes a unique picture of what it was like to work in Hollywood from its beginnings to its present day. Gleaned from nearly three thousand interviews, involving four hundred voices from the industry, Hollywood: The Oral History, lets a listener “listen in” on candid remarks from the biggest names in front of the camera—Bette Davis, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Harold Lloyd—to the biggest behind it—Frank Capra, Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, Jordan Peele, as well as the lesser known individuals that shaped what was heard and seen on screen: musicians, costumers, art directors, cinematographers, writers, sound men, editors, make-up artists, and even script timers, messengers, and publicists. The result is like a conversation among the gods and goddesses of film: lively, funny, insightful, historically accurate and, for the first time, authentically honest in its portrait of Hollywood. It’s the insider’s story.

Legendary film scholar Jeanine Basinger and New York Times bestselling author Sam Wasson, both acclaimed storytellers in their own right, have undertaken the monumental task of digesting these tens of thousands of hours of talk and weaving it into a definitive portrait of workaday Hollywood.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Jeanine Basinger and Sam Wasson (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Wow!

I’ve read a ton of books about the movies. But I learned more about filmmaking and its history from this book than any other.

Was hoping for more history…

This is a great collection of anecdotal testimony from a collection of Hollywood luminaries though I was truly hoping for more of a historical perspective from this. It’s a little short on information about the creation of Hollywood as a whole which is a story that is like to be told since I can’t find a really thorough narrative from a book on here. The narration by the male and female roles are pretty darn good though sometimes they pick their spots to try and match up their impersonations. Definitely recommend for any classic movie enthusiast.

Interesting but limited

Everyone's right-the male narrator must have been raised on some distant Island not to know who David Niven is. And there's much that was not mentioned so that a more complete picture of the folks could be painted. BUT how much longer could this book get? I think it's great.

Oral history of Hollywood

Excellent set of edited transcripts of interviews with people who worked in Hollywood. Audio book version is high quality but with some mispronunciations.

10 times more than I expected or hoped for

this really is American history. this book reflects who we are as a people what our history has been for the last 100 years. it speaks to our soul. it's an examination of the good the bad the ugly. and it's funny

Hollywood Insider

Opinions about all aspects of Hollywood movies from those within. Loaded with facts and stories. Not a narrative history. It’s all there from the first silents to today based on personal interviews. A unique book.

Complete Hollywood Conversation

Excellent interview of AFI stars from the silent era through Michael Ovitz. It is a once in a lifetime experience. If you’re a real fan then Tia is the one book for you.

Hooray for Hollywood!

This was an excellent discourse on a tremendously big and broad subject using the words of the masters involved with the subject of film. Really interesting and enjoyable.

Best book on Hollywood that I’ve ever read

Well, my title says it all. I have read quite a few books about Hollywood. Most of them are the scandal sheet kind and tabloid. This is a very serious and very informative history.

I love the style of the rating also with mainly quotes from people in the business .

fantastic

Better than I could have expected. the amount of interviews or quotes from famous people in the industry made every minute of this book a must listen.