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A Life in Movies: Stories from 50 years in Hollywood

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A Life in Movies: Stories from 50 years in Hollywood

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Overview

A rollicking autobiography from the legendary producer of Goodfellas, Rocky, and Raging Bull, and an insider’s account of making movies in Hollywood over half a century

The list of films Irwin Winkler has produced in his more-than-fifty-year career is extraordinary: Rocky, Goodfellas, Raging Bull, De-Lovely, The Right Stuff, Creed, and The Irishman. His films have been nominated for fifty-two Academy Awards, including five movies for Best Picture, and have won twelve.

In A Life in Movies, his charming and insightful memoir, Winkler tells the stories of his career through his many films as a producer and then as a writer and director, charting the changes in Hollywood over the past decades. Winkler started in the famous William Morris mailroom and made his first film—starring Elvis—in the last days of the old studio system. Beginning in the late 1960s, and then for decades to come, he produced a string of provocative and influential films, making him one of the most critically lauded, prolific, and commercially successful producers of his era.

This is an engrossing and candid book, a beguiling exploration of what it means to be a producer, including purchasing rights, developing scripts, casting actors, managing directors, editing film, and winning awards. Filled with tales of legendary and beloved films, as well as some not-so-legendary and forgotten ones, A Life in Movies takes readers behind the scenes and into the history of Hollywood.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419734526
Publisher:	Abrams Press
Publication date:	05/07/2019
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Irwin Winkler is an American film producer, writer, and director. He is the recipient of numerous American and international honors.

Part I 1

Chapter 1 From Coney Island to William Morris to Hollywood 4

Chapter 2 Actually making movies, Double Trouble, and a very tough Lee Marvin in Point Blank 14

Chapter 3 A rebuff of Shakespeare, a welcome from jack Warner, and diversity 25

Chapter 4 From the college campus uprising, to decadence in London, to a Hollywood dance marathon, to the Cannes Film Festival 30

Part II 49

Chapter 5 Starting a long friendship with the great actor Bob De Niro, the 1970s drug culture, and two different looks at the Los Angeles Police Department 51

Chapter 6 From Africa with Barbra Streisand to Charlie Bronson and a fine script that went sour 64

Chapter 7 To quote Rick in Casablanca, "This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." 76

Chapter 8 From Rocky to Oscar 87

Part III 95

Chapter 9 A very different fight film 98

Chapter 10 De Niro and Pacino have The Right Stuff 107

Part IV 129

Chapter 11 The Cold War stars in one movie, the Revolutionary War in another, and one very fine movie doesn't get made 130

Chapter 12 A trip to Paris pays off 141

Chapter 13 Two political films and a couple of Goodfellas 146

Chapter 14 A career change from producer to director, back to producer (almost) 161

Chapter 15 Working with some special ladies-Sandra Bullock and Demi Moore-and a special doctor, Oliver Sacks 189

Chapter 16 Life with Kevin Kline is De-Lovely; a director gets bullied into not making a film 204

Chapter 17 From Camp Polk, Louisiana, to the Iraq War 222

Part V 231

Chapter 18 A wild ride to Wall Street, a gamble turning over a classic to a new generation, a sad loss, and a long-delayed Silence 233

Part VI 261

Chapter 19 Old Friends 263

Epilogue 269

Acknowledgments 273

Photo Credits 286

From the B&N Reads Blog

Page 1 of

Editorial Reviews

02/25/2019
While film producer Winkler isn’t a household name, he amply proves his place in Hollywood history in this uneven but illuminating memoir. Drawing on work diaries, Winkler gives insight into the creation of Raging Bull, The Right Stuff, the Rocky series, and Martin Scorsese’s forthcoming The Irishman, among many others. He goes into more detail about some films than others, but at best gives a unique insider’s perspective on his profession. He recalls that on Rocky, he and longtime producing partner Robert Chartoff had to take responsibility for any budget overages before United Artists would allow the film’s then-unknown screenwriter, Sylvester Stallone, to star. On Guilty by Suspicion, a drama about the Hollywood blacklist that Winkler directed himself, he recounts exhaustively searching for a lead actor, before resolving not to make the film without Robert De Niro: “No one would be as perfect as Bob. That was it.” Taken separately, the book’s anecdotes can feel thin; in particular, the reader is left wanting to know more about Winkler’s relationships with recurring collaborators like Chartoff, De Niro, and Scorsese. However, taken as a whole, Winkler’s recollections add up to a lively chronicle that will entertain film buffs and enlighten film students. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"I’ve had the good fortune to work with Irwin Winkler on many pictures over the years, from the 70s up to the present, and he’s one of my most trusted and valued collaborators and friends. Irwin and his late producing partner Robert Chartoff started making movies at a very particular time: the period of transition from the old Hollywood to the age of the independent producers. That’s why this book is valuable on multiple levels—as a lively memoir with more than one amazing inside story, as a first-hand work of cinema history, and as the testament of a pivotal figure in American moviemaking."

Martin Scorsese

Winkler’s new memoir, A Life in Movies, is his personal chronicle of what did happen in a distinguished career that always kept him guessing: the Academy Award win for best picture, even though the studio wanted a different leading man (“Rocky”); the Oscar contender that had everything going for it but was a confounding box office disappointment (“The Right Stuff”); and a now-certified classic that could have starred Tom Cruise and Madonna as the leads (“Goodfellas”).

Washington Post

Devoid of cynicism and full of relish, here’s a deftly written recollection of an eventful and happy life in a precarious and, frankly, insane business; a remarkably clear-eyed look behind the scenes of moviemakingand behind the schemes of getting movies made.

Kevin Kline

"I’ve had the good fortune to work with Irwin Winkler on many pictures over the years, from the 70s up to the present, and he’s one of my most trusted and valued collaborators and friends. Irwin and his late producing partner Robert Chartoff started making movies at a very particular time: the period of transition from the old Hollywood to the age of the independent producers. That’s why this book is valuable on multiple levels—as a lively memoir with more than one amazing inside story, as a first-hand work of cinema history, and as the testament of a pivotal figure in American moviemaking."—Martin Scorsese

“Devoid of cynicism and full of relish, here’s a deftly written recollection of an eventful and happy life in a precarious and, frankly, insane business; a remarkably clear-eyed look behind the scenes of moviemakingand behind the schemes of getting movies made.”—Kevin Kline

“A candid, revealing memoir … Winkler explores the exigencies of conceiving, financing, casting, and shooting a movie as well as the incessant troubleshooting, placating of the intemperate or churlish, cajoling, pleading, negotiating, and always thinking fast on one's feet—not to mention promotion, securing distribution, and other responsibilities. … Any film buff would love to join Winkler for a long conversation over drinks and dinner. At their best, his recollections are as rich as his films are memorable.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Illuminating … Drawing on work diaries, Winkler gives insight into the creation of Raging Bull, The Right Stuff, the Rocky series, and Martin Scorsese’s forthcoming The Irishman, among many others. … Winkler’s recollections add up to a lively chronicle that will entertain film buffs and enlighten film students.”—Publishers Weekly

“Fascinating … A Life in Movies is full of delicious stories … Winkler's memoir proceeds movie by movie, failures as well as successes, so that it can serve both as a primer for would-be producers and an account of Hollywood's greatest generation that will engross the general reader as well.”—Peter Biskind, The Hollywood Reporter

“Winkler has produced some of the most memorable films of the past 50 years, from Raging Bull and The Right Stuff to the entire Rocky franchise and Martin Scorsese’s up-coming The Irishman. … His behind-the-scenes look at the interpersonal workings of Hollywood is a treat.”—Library Journal

“Charming and anecdote packed…popcorn for movie nerds.”—Newsweek

“Winkler’s new memoir, A Life in Movies, is his personal chronicle of what did happen in a distinguished career that always kept him guessing: the Academy Award win for best picture, even though the studio wanted a different leading man (“Rocky”); the Oscar contender that had everything going for it but was a confounding box office disappointment (“The Right Stuff”); and a now-certified classic that could have starred Tom Cruise and Madonna as the leads (“Goodfellas”).”—Washington Post

From the Publisher

2019-02-03
A candid, revealing memoir from the acclaimed film producer and director.
Throughout the book, Winkler explores the exigencies of conceiving, financing, casting, and shooting a movie as well as the incessant troubleshooting, placating of the intemperate or churlish, cajoling, pleading, negotiating, and always thinking fast on one's feet—not to mention promotion, securing distribution, and other responsibilities. Beginning his career as a talent agent and manager, the author, with longtime partner Bob Chartoff, produced such Academy Award-winning films as Rocky, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and The Right Stuff while also directing other films. At 87, he's still at it. His diary is the chief wellspring of a highly detailed account of 50 years on the hot seat. Winkler chronicles the development of many well-regarded movies as well as the aborted attempts and misfires both accountable and unaccountable. Because the author moves in linear fashion from film to film, a certain sameness begins to creep into the telling. But this is more than compensated for by the diversity of the films discussed, Winkler's palpable love of the industry, his insider's knowledge, and the generosity he extends to colleagues—not to say that the author doesn't call out the occasional lout. Winkler also celebrates many longtime friends and associates, none more affectionately than (the late) Chartoff, Martin Scorsese, and Robert De Niro. Winkler's writing style is breezy, consistently modest, and amiable. Like many in the business with an emotional investment, he occasionally overrates a film or a performance. However, as a screenwriter himself, Winkler knows a clunker when he sees it. You don't win so many awards if you don'tknow what you're doing.
Any film buff would love to join Winkler for a long conversation over drinks and dinner. At their best, his recollections are as rich as his films are memorable.

Kirkus Reviews

Fascinating … A Life in Movies is full of delicious stories … Winkler's memoir proceeds movie by movie, failures as well as successes, so that it can serve both as a primer for would-be producers and an account of Hollywood's greatest generation that will engross the general reader as well.

The Hollywood Reporter - Peter Biskind

Charming and anecdote packed…popcorn for movie nerds.

Newsweek

Winkler’s new memoir, A Life in Movies, is his personal chronicle of what did happen in a distinguished career that always kept him guessing: the Academy Award win for best picture, even though the studio wanted a different leading man (“Rocky”); the Oscar contender that had everything going for it but was a confounding box office disappointment (“The Right Stuff”); and a now-certified classic that could have starred Tom Cruise and Madonna as the leads (“Goodfellas”).

Washington Post

Charming and anecdote packed…popcorn for movie nerds.

Newsweek

A Life in Movies: Stories from 50 years in Hollywood

A Life in Movies: Stories from 50 years in Hollywood

Hardcover

Hardcover

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Overview

Product Details

About the Author

Table of Contents

Customer Reviews

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Overview

Product Details

About the Author

Table of Contents

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