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Reviews
Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting by William Goldman
blevins's review against another edition
4.0
I've wanted to read William Goldman's account of what it has been like as a screenwriter [Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men, Marathan Man] for Goldman and it didn't disappoint. In fact, what makes this such a delight is the fact that Goldman is surprisingly blunt with his opinions regarding individuals he's worked with on these films. How refreshing! The book isn't gossippy, it's just matter of fact as Goldman talks about his opinions on what it was like to work on the films. Lots of insider information and stories of the films that really made me see some great movies in a new light. Recommended for film fans!
misterfix's review against another edition
4.0
This book holds up remarkably well considering when it was written and how much has changed in the industry. Sure there are times it feels a bit too chummy and old-boy network in it's appraisal of the mechanics and process of film making but, well that's how things were and unfortunately largely still are. If you are seeking a book that has a lively narrative flow, provides a broad overview of filmmaking with case studies, a focus on screenwriting but, not a book that is too technical and overly focused on the "correct" way to write a screenplay then this book will be right up your alley. Additionally there are a few snippets of gossip and box office/academy award trivia thrown in to liven things up and contextualize some of his anecdotes.
There were no great revelations for me but I have read a fair number of filmmaking books and made a bunch of features, rather there were a fair number of worthy reminders like "Screenplays are structure" and the idea of a 'spine' and theme statements'. Simple truths like "As a writer I believe that all the basic human truths are known. And what we try to do as best we can is come at those truths from our own unique angle, to reilluminate those truths in a hopefully different way."
I would put this book a bit below Lumet's Making Movies and more in the category of Badham's narrative based filmmaking book "I'll Be In My Trailer".
There were no great revelations for me but I have read a fair number of filmmaking books and made a bunch of features, rather there were a fair number of worthy reminders like "Screenplays are structure" and the idea of a 'spine' and theme statements'. Simple truths like "As a writer I believe that all the basic human truths are known. And what we try to do as best we can is come at those truths from our own unique angle, to reilluminate those truths in a hopefully different way."
I would put this book a bit below Lumet's Making Movies and more in the category of Badham's narrative based filmmaking book "I'll Be In My Trailer".
doruga's review against another edition
4.5
Brilliant. Just Brilliant. I didn't really need the last part, but then again, I'm not trying to be a screenwriter, so who am I to complain?
daydreamangel18's review against another edition
4.0
Love the behind the scene of some iconic films and also great insight into the moviemaking business.
cltnbutcher's review against another edition
4.0
A legendary book by a legendary writer. Written in anecdotal bites, it's a breezy read and filled with interesting insights to old school Hollywood.
andrewgraphics's review against another edition
4.0
Fun book, conversationally written, early enough in Goldman's career that he could admit he didn't have all of the answers; short sketches of what it was like working on each of his major films, with a dissection of turning a short story into a film, and interviews with other filmmakers who would be involved and how they would work out the challenges his script presents.
Great overall, but from what I had heard from friends was expecting him going a little more in-depth into the process: why this kind of scene here, and what it sets up later on.
Would love to read his version of this now.
Great overall, but from what I had heard from friends was expecting him going a little more in-depth into the process: why this kind of scene here, and what it sets up later on.
Would love to read his version of this now.
pumpernikel's review against another edition
5.0
I found this book fascinating, mostly because I enjoy William Goldman's writing, but also learning more about movie production than I knew previously.
ktothelau's review against another edition
5.0
Will read again at another time, hopefully more consistently. However, I feel this is a must-read for those interested in entering the film scene, writer or no. It's not a how-to book on screenwriting, but rather an experiential account of the film industry from a screenwriter's perspective.
Also, it's William Goldman. C'mon, the dude's a brilliant writer.
Also, it's William Goldman. C'mon, the dude's a brilliant writer.
corrompido's review against another edition
2.0
I did not finish this book. It was interesting but I was too removed from the movies and stars that he was talking about as I rarely watch movies from before the 1980s.