Hollywood: A Third Memoir

Larry McMurtry's Hollywood: A Third Memoir chronicles his decades-long relationship with the film industry, focusing on his work as a screenwriter and his experiences with movie adaptations of his novels. The book serves as the third installment in his memoir series, following Books and Literary Life. McMurtry provides an insider's perspective on the complexities of Hollywood's creative process, from pitch meetings to production challenges. He recounts his involvement with notable films like The Last Picture Show and Terms of Endearment, offering stories about collaborations with actors, directors, and producers. The memoir moves through time in a series of interconnected vignettes and memories, painting a picture of Hollywood's evolution from the 1960s through the early 2000s. McMurtry details both his successes and setbacks in the industry, including his Academy Award win for Brokeback Mountain. At its core, this memoir explores the often challenging relationship between literature and film, examining how stories transform when moving from page to screen. The book stands as a testament to McMurtry's unique position as both an acclaimed novelist and successful screenwriter in American culture.

Readers found this memoir less engaging than McMurtry's previous works. Many noted the book feels scattered and unfocused, with brief anecdotes that don't build to larger insights about Hollywood. Readers appreciated: - Behind-the-scenes details about film adaptations like Terms of Endearment - McMurtry's honest take on the film industry - His simple, straightforward writing style Common criticisms: - Too short and superficial at 146 pages - Lacks depth in storytelling compared to his other memoirs - Jumps between topics without clear connections - Contains repetitive information from previous memoirs As one Amazon reviewer noted: "It reads like random notes rather than a coherent narrative." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (276 ratings) Amazon: 3.5/5 (39 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.3/5 (28 ratings) The memoir received lower ratings than McMurtry's other books, with reviewers frequently mentioning it feels like a minor work in his bibliography.

Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman A renowned screenwriter reveals the inner workings of Hollywood through his experiences writing classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Studio Head by Jack L. Warner Warner Bros co-founder presents a firsthand account of Hollywood's golden age from the perspective of a major studio executive.

Final Cut: Art, Money, and Ego in the Making of Heaven's Gate by Steven Bach A Universal Studios executive documents the production of Heaven's Gate and its impact on Hollywood's changing studio system.

You'll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again by Julia Phillips The first female producer to win an Academy Award details her rise and fall in Hollywood while working on films like Taxi Driver and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

The Kid Stays in the Picture by Robert Evans Paramount executive Robert Evans chronicles his journey from actor to studio head, including the making of The Godfather and Chinatown.

🎬 McMurtry won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for "Brokeback Mountain" (2005), which he co-wrote with Diana Ossana, despite having never written a Western screenplay before. 📚 Before his Hollywood career, McMurtry opened a rare bookstore called Booked Up in 1971, which grew to house over 450,000 volumes and helped transform Archer City, Texas into a destination for book collectors. 🎥 His novel "Terms of Endearment" was adapted into a film that won five Academy Awards in 1984, including Best Picture, though McMurtry wasn't involved in writing the screenplay. ✍️ Despite his success in Hollywood, McMurtry wrote all his works on a Hermes 3000 typewriter, refusing to use a computer throughout his entire career. 🌟 McMurtry's first Hollywood experience came from his novel "Horseman, Pass By," which was adapted into the Paul Newman film "Hud" (1963) - a transformation that taught him valuable lessons about the differences between literary and cinematic storytelling.