1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year examines what many film historians consider the peak year of Hollywood's Golden Age. The book chronicles the major studio releases, industry dynamics, and cultural context that made 1939 a landmark period in American cinema. The narrative follows both the successful and lesser-known films produced during this pivotal year, with insights into the studio system, censorship rules, and filmmaking practices of the era. Thomas S. Hischak provides production details and behind-the-scenes accounts of iconic movies while analyzing the social and economic factors that shaped Hollywood output. Through focused research and industry perspective, this book makes a case for 1939's singular importance in film history. The examination of this transformative year reveals broader patterns about American entertainment, cultural values, and the evolution of moviemaking as both art and commerce.

Readers found this book functions more as a reference guide than a narrative history, providing month-by-month coverage of 1939's film releases. What readers liked: - Comprehensive cataloging of every major film released that year - Details about lesser-known films beyond the famous classics - Specific box office figures and production costs - Clear writing style and organization What readers disliked: - Lack of cultural context and analysis - Too much plot summary and not enough behind-the-scenes information - Surface-level coverage of major films - Limited discussion of studios' business operations One reader noted: "More like an encyclopedia than a deep dive into Hollywood's golden year." Another mentioned: "Great for looking up individual films but doesn't tell the larger story." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (28 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (16 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (4 ratings)

Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood by Mark Harris A detailed examination of the five Best Picture nominees from 1967 reveals the transformation of Hollywood during a pivotal year in cinema history.

Five Came Back: A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War by Mark Harris The wartime experiences of five Hollywood directors - John Ford, George Stevens, John Huston, William Wyler, and Frank Capra - demonstrate the intersection of cinema and World War II.

Hollywood in the Year of the Strike by Drew Casper The 1947 Hollywood strikes, blacklist beginnings, and studio system changes paint a portrait of another transformative year in American film history.

We'll Always Have Casablanca: The Life, Legend, and Afterlife of Hollywood's Most Beloved Movie by Noah Isenberg The creation, release, and enduring impact of the 1942 film illuminates the wartime Hollywood studio system at its peak.

The Star Machine by Jeanine Basinger The inner workings of Hollywood's golden age studio system shows how stars were created, managed, and marketed from the 1930s through the 1950s.

🌟 1939's Best Picture nominees included an unprecedented number of now-classic films: Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Stagecoach, and Of Mice and Men all competed that year. 🎬 David O. Selznick insisted on filming the burning of Atlanta scene in Gone with the Wind before casting Scarlett O'Hara, using the old sets from King Kong to create the blazing cityscape. 🎭 Thomas S. Hischak has authored over 25 books about theatre, film, and popular music, and teaches theatre at the State University of New York at Cortland. 📽️ Despite the Great Depression, movie attendance in 1939 averaged 80 million viewers per week - nearly 65% of America's population at the time. 🎪 The Wizard of Oz initially lost money at the box office, despite its lavish $2.7 million budget (equivalent to about $50 million today), and only became profitable years later through TV broadcasts and re-releases.