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Twentieth Century's Fox: Darryl F. Zanuck And The Culture Of Hollywood
Spanning four decades and more than a thousand films, the creative output of Darryl D. Zanuck was astonishing and unparalleled. With The Jazz Singer he supervised the innovation of film sound. With The Public Enemy and Little Caesar he reinvented the gangster film. With 42nd Street he reinvigorated the musical. He set the standard for film biography with pictures such as Young Mr. Lincoln and The Story of Alexander Graham Bell . He innovated CinemaScope. And he molded the star images of James Cagney, Shirley Temple, Tyrone Power, Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, and Rin Tin Tin.In this major new biography, George F. Custen illuminates Zanuck's evolution into one of the most influential producers in American film. He explains what set him apart from rivals Irving Thalberg and David O. Selznick, how he developed the gritty realism that came to redefine motion pictures, and how he brilliantly predicted and capitalized on changing public tastes.Zanuck was a man of enormous energy and eccentricity, commanding his studio with a sawed-off polo mallet. Dozens of his memorable films—including I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang , The Grapes of Wrath, Gentleman's Agreement, All About Eve, The Day the Earth Stood Still , and The Robe —have come to represent the era in which they were made. Hard-boiled or nostalgic, historical or pure Hollywood, Zanuck's films and Zanuck himself have become legends of the cinema. But what exactly was this producer's contribution to the films he made? How did he rise from being a writer of silent serials to become head of production at Warner Brothers by his mid-twenties, and then to form his own studio, Twentieth Century-Fox at age thirty-three?Twentieth Century's Fox tells the whole story—from Zanuck's boyhood to his tumultuous years with the feuding Warners, his battles with the censors and with his own actors, and the legendary acting-out of scenes during story conferences in his famous green office. Along the way, Custen treats us to inside stories about actors such as Edward G. Robinson, Gregory Peck, and Marilyn Monroe. In never-before-published story conference notes, telegrams, and surprisingly candid anecdotes, he reveals how—more than any producer before or since—this diminutive, enigmatic fellow from Wahoo, Nebraska, changed the way we look at film.Custen highlights the studio as the context of production. Zanuck's ability to shape the producer's role and the organizational style during the golden years of the studio system—with its own peculiar methods, clearly delineated rules, and pecking order—was the crucible out of which he forged a unique vision of American film and American culture.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published November 28, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 22, 2021
For me this, personally, is a 5-star book. I too was brought up in the film business on the Fox lot and now nearly 3 decades later as a PGA Producer, I admire people like Darryl F. Zanuck and his son, Richard, for their contributions to our industry.
But in my opinion anyone with a slant towards history, the culture of Hollywood and celebrity, or the definition of popular culture since The Great Depression will enjoy this book.
It follows Zanuck’s beginnings as a young lad from Wahoo, Nebraska to becoming a script doctor for Warner Brothers. It then tracks how his gut instincts led to innovations that ushered films from the Silent Era to talkies, then newsreels, shorts, musicals, blockbusters and finally prestige pieces. The book illustrates his practical founding of Twentieth Century Fox, his foray into WWII propaganda films and his bids for Oscars, the highest achievement within our industry. It also shows his knack for making stars starting with Rin Tin Tin, but including the likes of Shirley Temple, James Cagney and Marilyn Monroe.
It tells of his influence in & mutual respect for greats like Gregory Peck, John Ford and Irving Berlin, among scores or others.
In short the book tells the story of one of the worlds greatest storytellers and most prolific Producers. His hunches, gut instincts and impeccable insight as to what the audience wanted gave him The Midas Touch, even when his opinion was the least popular one in the room. He even tackled taboo subjects, for their time, like anti-semitism, race riots, freedom of speech against the HUAC committees, and religion. Over 1000 pictures were brought to life under his tutelage, over a career that spanned over 5 decades and not once did he ever compromise the greater good. He believed the Holy Trinity of film is “Story, Story and Story” and all these years later he’s still right.
Like all of us, he’s not a man without flaws, but nonetheless is an admirable one, especially for those of us trying to leave a mark in the historic and hallowed halls of Tinsel Town. 🎥🎬🏆
But in my opinion anyone with a slant towards history, the culture of Hollywood and celebrity, or the definition of popular culture since The Great Depression will enjoy this book.
It follows Zanuck’s beginnings as a young lad from Wahoo, Nebraska to becoming a script doctor for Warner Brothers. It then tracks how his gut instincts led to innovations that ushered films from the Silent Era to talkies, then newsreels, shorts, musicals, blockbusters and finally prestige pieces. The book illustrates his practical founding of Twentieth Century Fox, his foray into WWII propaganda films and his bids for Oscars, the highest achievement within our industry. It also shows his knack for making stars starting with Rin Tin Tin, but including the likes of Shirley Temple, James Cagney and Marilyn Monroe.
It tells of his influence in & mutual respect for greats like Gregory Peck, John Ford and Irving Berlin, among scores or others.
In short the book tells the story of one of the worlds greatest storytellers and most prolific Producers. His hunches, gut instincts and impeccable insight as to what the audience wanted gave him The Midas Touch, even when his opinion was the least popular one in the room. He even tackled taboo subjects, for their time, like anti-semitism, race riots, freedom of speech against the HUAC committees, and religion. Over 1000 pictures were brought to life under his tutelage, over a career that spanned over 5 decades and not once did he ever compromise the greater good. He believed the Holy Trinity of film is “Story, Story and Story” and all these years later he’s still right.
Like all of us, he’s not a man without flaws, but nonetheless is an admirable one, especially for those of us trying to leave a mark in the historic and hallowed halls of Tinsel Town. 🎥🎬🏆
November 1, 2017
I don’t know if I would put this on my biography shelf - it’s more a criticism of Darryl Zanuck’s film making with some personal details thrown in for context. I don’t buy what George Custer is selling, that Zanuck is the greatest producer/studio head of all time. But after reading and considering this volume, I think he was the best until Spielberg came along. Note - the most entertaining segment of this book is the one about Shirley Temple. Also - this book is pretty funny, with none of the anecdotes pat ones.
February 9, 2023
Somewhat messy in construction, since it deals with Zanuck's career largely chronologically until the foundation of 20th Century Fox, before breaking into thematic chapters more concerned with socio-political meaning. For studio-era nerds, it's also based on rather over-familiar sources (Zanuck's authorised biography, Philip Dunne's memoir, memos that are largely – though not exclusively – taken from the Rudy Behlmer book). But Custen is a clear-eyed and fair-minded (Marxist) chronicler, whose astute analysis of where Zanuck dared to be different, and also where he didn't, feels close to definitive. If his argument that DFZ was the true author of John Ford films like The Grapes of Wrath and How Green Was My Valley feels like a stretch, the case that he makes for Zanuck being the most creative and influential of the studio-era moguls is certainly a compelling one. (Though it helps that I already thought that going in.)
December 16, 2023
Interesting and well-written stirs of a man, a studio and Americana.
March 21, 2017
Makes the case for Zanuck as the most creative studio head/producer during Hollywood's golden era. I think he over states the case but the book is interesting and well written.
September 20, 2013
A very good history of Hollywwod's golden age
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews