The Real Stories Behind Hollywood’s Most Famous and Infamous Icons

Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg are visionaries of the silver screen who need no introduction. But before they redefined American cinema, these three ambitious young filmmakers were hungry to make a name for themselves in Hollywood. In The Last Kings of Hollywood, Paul Fischer draws on extensive research and revealing interviews to tell the untold story of the Hollywood icons, detailing how they pushed, provoked, and inspired one another to create some of the greatest films ever made — from Coppola’s The Godfather and Lucas’s Star Wars trilogy to Spielberg’s era-defining works like Jaws and E.T. The Last Kings of Hollywood is “a gripping thrill-ride through the lives of the flawed men who invented the modern American dreamscape” (Josie Riesman, bestselling author of Ringmaster).

From Jon M. Chu, the celebrated director of Crazy Rich Asians and Wicked, Viewfinder “is a riveting chronicle of a singular filmmaker’s journey, exploring serious matters of visibility and viability” (Ava DuVernay). Chu is a first-generation Chinese American. Growing up, he helped out at his parents’ Chinese restaurant in Silicon Valley. His emergence in the film industry was intertwined with a more personal journey of identity and circumstance. As the world around him changed — and cutting-edge technology began to merge with Hollywood — Chu found his creative path and followed it to success. Highly recommended for anyone in the arts, Viewfinder offers a candid and heartfelt look at pursuing your artistic dreams.

In Hollywood: The Oral History, film scholar Jeanine Basinger and New York Times bestselling author Sam Wasson weave a flowing tapestry of Hollywood, unfolding its story from the early days to the present. The authors draw on thousands of hours of interviews housed in the American Film Institute archives to illuminate the words, perspectives, and experiences of countless Hollywood figures, from silver-screen stars and beloved directors to the behind-the-scenes artisans who make movie magic happen. Lively and insightful, their sweeping account offers an authoritative history of Tinseltown, as told by the people who were there. 

In the early 1960s, moviegoers flocked to see musicals, Westerns, and war films. By 1967, however, audiences’ tastes had shifted drastically — a change that ultimately reshaped filmmaking in America. In his New York Times bestseller Pictures at a Revolution, author Mark Harris delves into this pivotal moment in movie history, illustrating how the success of five Hollywood films — Bonnie and Clyde, The Graduate, Dr. Dolittle, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, and In the Heat of the Night — mirrored the changing tides of the ’60s and America’s cultural revolution.

Film reporter Alicia Malone tells the stories of women whose contributions to the film industry have been too often overlooked in Backwards & In Heels. From the first “film editor” to award-winning screenwriters and the inventor of the boom microphone, the women spotlighted in Malone’s book deserve their place in film history. Filled with stories of exemplary work, perseverance in the face of prejudice, and inspiring accomplishments, Backwards & In Heels celebrates the women of Hollywood’s past, champions those of the present, and looks hopefully to the future.

Of course, we all know movies are just stories. And yet, when the theater darkens and the silver screen lights up before you, movies really do feel like magic. How does that magic happen? How does a director channel the spirit of a script, elicit extraordinary performances from actors, and conjure a new world onto the screen? In Making Movies, acclaimed director Sidney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon) offers insights into his process and 40 years of moviemaking magic. Part memoir and part expert guide on the craft of filmmaking, Making Movies is an essential read for budding filmmakers, lifelong cinephiles, and everyone in between. “I am sometimes asked if there is one book a filmgoer could read to learn more about how movies are made and what to look for while watching them. This is the book” (Roger Ebert).

An instant New York Times bestseller, The Boys is a delightful celebrity memoir by child actor turned award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard and his brother, beloved actor Clint Howard. Together, the siblings share their experiences growing up as young television stars and navigating the ups and downs of Hollywood life at an early age. From Ron’s roles in shows like The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days and Clint’s in Gentle Ben and Star Trek, the Howard boys were set for success from the beginning — but it didn’t come without obstacles. Full of nostalgia, candor, and emotion, The Boys is as much a story about family as it is about showbiz.

Sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll: In Peter Biskind’s mind, it’s what revitalized Hollywood and brought on a new golden age. In 1969 Easy Rider — a heady biker movie shot on a shoestring budget — found surprising success and ushered in an era of revelry, experimentation, and excess in Hollywood. Young filmmakers were in demand, and mind-altering substances flowed freely on and off the screen. From interviews with directors, filmmakers, and stars, Biskind’s Easy Riders, Raging Bulls paints a raucous picture of a transformative era in Hollywood — one defined by drama, debauchery, and intoxicating films.

In his New York Times bestseller, acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino channels his boundless passion for cinema to offer a compelling perspective on the magic of movies. Centered on pivotal American films of the 1970s, Cinema Speculation intertwines film theory and film criticism with Tarantino’s own story and insights into his craft. The result is a vivid look at American cinema and an electrifying glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential filmmakers working today. 

An impressive chronicle of movie history, The Story of Film by author and filmmaker Mark Cousins is a must-read for film students and movie fans alike. Breaking down the history of film into three main eras — Silent (1885–1928), Sound (1928–1990), and Digital (1990–present) — Cousins dissects the distinct styles, techniques, and cultural influences of each period, revealing the many ways movies shape the social and political climates of the moment, and vice versa. Looking at both American cinema and moviemaking from around the globe, Cousins delivers an engaging and accessible work on the history of film.