The Big Goodbye

Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood

By: Sam Wasson

Narrated by: Sam Wasson

From the New York Times bestselling author of Fifth Avenue, Five A.M. and Fosse comes the revelatory account of the making of a modern American masterpiece.

Chinatown is the Holy Grail of 1970s cinema. Its twist ending is the most notorious in American film and its closing line of dialogue the most haunting. Here for the first time is the incredible true story of its making.

In Sam Wasson's telling, it becomes the defining story of the most colorful characters in the most colorful period of Hollywood history. Here is Jack Nicholson at the height of his powers, as compelling a movie star as there has ever been, embarking on his great, doomed love affair with Anjelica Huston. Here is director Roman Polanski, both predator and prey, haunted by the savage death of his wife, returning to Los Angeles, the scene of the crime, where the seeds of his own self-destruction are quickly planted. Here is the fevered dealmaking of "The Kid" Robert Evans, the most consummate of producers. Here too is Robert Towne's fabled script, widely considered the greatest original screenplay ever written. Wasson for the first time peels off layers of myth to provide the true account of its creation.

Looming over the story of this classic movie is the imminent eclipse of the '70s filmmaker-friendly studios as they gave way to the corporate Hollywood we know today. In telling that larger story, The Big Goodbye will take its place alongside classics like Easy Riders, Raging Bulls and The Devil's Candy as one of the great movie-world books ever written.

Praise for Sam Wasson:

"Wasson is a canny chronicler of old Hollywood and its outsize personalities.... More than that, he understands that style matters, and, like his subjects, he has a flair for it." --The New Yorker

"Sam Wasson is a fabulous social historian because he finds meaning in situations and stories that would otherwise be forgotten if he didn't sleuth them out, lovingly." --Hilton Als

©2020 Sam Wasson (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"If you love Chinatown, then you'll love The Big Goodbye - and it's good reading for any American cinema buff." --Kirkus Reviews

"Inimitable Wasson...argues convincingly that Chinatown was one of the last great Hollywood films...this portrait of a neonoir classic will cast a spell over cinephiles." --Library Journal, starred review

"Wasson...is one of the great chroniclers of Hollywood lore. And he has truly outdone himself this time." --New York Times

"One of the best things about this audiobook is author Sam Wasson's narration. His modulation and timing are as good as any professional narrator's, and his use of accents provides subtle shading to everyone from John Huston to Henry Kissinger." —AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award Winner

Dreamy and engaging

This book is a treasure trove for anyone interested in film making, the history of LA, the American film industry, and our shared cultural heritage. Gorgeously written and perfectly narrated by the author. The stories surrounding the making of Chinatown are harrowing, inspiring and hilarious and Mr Wasson is a master at telling them.

Highly recommend 👌

This was a very enjoyable listen and really captured an era. I will buy this hardcover as a gift for a family member. The writing is easy to listen to and very much can be appreciated. I watched the movie half way through the book for context and was not dissatisfied in doing so as I could appreciate the author and his story telling more so.

THE Backstory of THE Movie

A moviegoer’s delight. Sam Wasson presents an amazing amount of details and storylines of the before during and after of this all-time favorite movie of yours and mine.

Behind the scenes making of Chinatown

This is the fascinating story of how talent, ego, and ambition came together to make a great film and then the descent or ascent of each of the artists involved.

Hollywood History

So interesting, both as a behind-the-scenes description about the making of Chinatown, but also a fascinating discussion of the changes in filming, from the end of the studio era into the emergence of independent producers. Surprising ( for me ) Jack Nicholson is the hero of this story. His loyalty to friends and commitment to his craft is commendable; his treatment of women, though, not so much. The author did a great job narrating. He’s quite a good impersonator 🙂

Brutal, inspiring, and very well crafted.

Highly recommended, but be sure to watch/study CHINATOWN first. Context is everything, and will certainly enhance the experience.

Hard to put down

As an NYU film school grad in 1973 this was the world of Hollywood filmmaking I wanted to know and be part of. As I worked my way up in editing rooms there was so much beyond that you heard about but didn’t understand . This intelligent masterful book explains a lot and puts that world an era in context.’

It was a good wrap around with the movie Chinatown.

I was absolutely enamored with it. Riveting and encompassing. I loved it. Stunning and breathtaking.

Unbelievably entertaining

Sam Wassen is my favorite non fiction writer and this book is one of his best. It’s incredibly well written, entertaining, thoughtful, and researched. Mr. Wassen tells a compelling narrative that includes some fun and fascinating anecdotes about these hollywood characters, but also dives into the human elements that allow us to identify parts of these characters, that allows us to cry, laugh or cringe.
Sam Wassen is the greatest chronicler of Hollywood of all time...and apparently a darn good audio book reader. I can’t wait to see what he has coming up the pipe next.

Swan Song

Sad, poignant, nostalgically told tale of the “old” Hollywood. Wasson paints a vivid picture of people, place and circumstance, it’s like you’re there. Great storytelling, we are in the moment and like the ending, poof, it’s gone!