The Big Goodbye

Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood

De: Sam Wasson

Narrado por: 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.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"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 🙂

HMB

Beautiful.
If you love Chinatown, this is as good as it gets.
Brilliant. Brought me to tears.

The epic making of China Town

The Big Goodbye is a fantastic book. It chronicles the lives of the main participants in the film China Town, Nicholson, Polanski, and more. This book is amazing but also very dense and if you don’t know much about the 1970s film culture it can be hard to follow who each person is and what their involvement in the film industry was at that point. But for me it was still a fun ride and I sopped up all the info I could. This isn’t my favorite book about making movies but it’s definitely up there. Enjoy!

Great Story

I haven't seen Chinatown in many years, but I will definitely see it again soon since reading this book. I had just finished the Audible from Michael Caine's Blowing The Bloody Doors Off (also excellent) and this author made a point about screenwriting, it must be great and if that is accomplished you don't need a big named star, such as in Alfie. Michael Caine was not a "name" when he was cast in that picture. The author makes reference to many things I had heard in the news over the years, but the book placed everything in chronological order and in great detail. I have read a few articles about interviews with Jack Nicholson and those accounts ring true with what the book discusses about his character. He's a Lakers fan, I'm a LeBron fan which means I now watch the Lakers too. Sorry Jack doesn't attend many games anymore. I've seen him a couple of times with his very good looking son sitting court side watching the game. When he is there he pays 100% attention - no cell phone use, no snacks, he just watches ~~ And prior to Michael's book I read Apropos of Nothing by Woody Allen who has the best story ever about meeting up with Roman Polanski, or so he thought. All interesting books, and great entertainment for this lover of film.

INCREDIBLE!

it was so good I just didn't want it to end. It's like this book was written for me & all my personal interests. The story of so many people that inspire me, as they make a film that drew me further in love with FILM. MUST READ FOR TRUE FILM FANS & FILM BUFFS!

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.