Whatever Happened to Hollywood?

Screenwriter Jesse L. Lasky, Jr. tells his Hollywood tales as an insider, with stories and insights sparkling with poetry, humor and the heat of first-hand observation. The son of the man who produced Hollywood’s first feature film, Jesse’s book is the history of the film industry, the birth of an art form and a compelling personal memoir. There are revealing portraits of Lasky, Sr. and his partners Samuel Goldwyn and Cecil B. De Mille (for whom Jesse wrote 8 films, including The Ten Commandments)—and friends and colleagues such as Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Alfred Hitchcock, Harry Cohn, Darryl Zanuck, Nick Ray and Sam Fuller. From dating Jean Harlow to writing for Gary Cooper, Edward G. Robinson and Yul Brynner, here are the artists and the conmen, the breathtaking creativity and the destructive treachery, described by a man who knew everyone and saw everything.

New edition, music by narrator Richard Niles (richardniles.com) ©2021 Niles Smiles Music (BMI)

“Jesse Lasky, the son of one of filmland’s great founders, has written a bitter-sweet memoir of his life as a Hollywood screenwriter. It evaporates the mist of fantasy surrounding the Hollywood dream factory to reveal the realities that built the fairy-tale image.”—Joan Crawford

“It is certainly many notches above most of the other books on ‘Hollywood’.”—Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

“… a nostalgic, romantic and frequently hilarious account… impressive!”—Variety

“… a good, honest, readable, funny book. I loved it!” —Larry Adler, New Society

“…one of the best books about the growth and decline of Hollywood… written with insight, wit and an unusual lack of vanity.”—Films In Review

“Hollywood at its best—and worst… something special, an insider’s view, robustly witty, enlightening and full of charm, The next best thing to having been there!” —Cosmopolitan

“Lasky’s portraits of the greats with whom he has worked are razor sharp… his style is captivating.” —Films Illustrated