Introduction
"Infamous Players: A Tale of Movies, the Mob, and Sex" is a 2011 book by Peter Bart, a widely known journalist and previous editor-in-chief of Variety. In the book, Bart looks into the dark underbelly of Hollywood during the late 1960s and 1970s, when organized crime figures, corrupt studio executives, and debauchery ran rampant in the motion picture market. The book is filled with fascinating anecdotes and intriguing stories about the film market throughout among its most well-known durations.
Golden Age of Corruption and Vice
The book records the golden age of vice in the film service when crime and corruption infiltrated every corner of the market. Working as an executive at Paramount Pictures from 1967 to 1975, Bart supplies an insider's viewpoint on the seedy world of Hollywood. The book checks out the many scandals, seamy company practices, and ties to the mob that defined this age in movie history.
Infamous Players is centered around the characters and individuals who ruled Hollywood during this turbulent time. Bart uses insights into the characters and actions of well-known figures such as Robert Evans, the former head of Paramount Pictures, and mobsters like Joe Colombo, who wielded considerable power in the movie and television industry.
The Mob and the Movies
One of the key focuses of Infamous Players is the impact of the Mob on the movie industry during the '60s and '70s. Bart presents an extensive look at the relationship between the Italian Mafia and Hollywood, supplying an extensive account of criminal activities and their effect on the movie-making process. The book competes that gangsters penetrated the highest levels of the studio system, controlling film productions, circulation, and even casting choices.
For instance, Bart exposes how Mafia manager Joe Colombo was deeply involved in the making of "The Godfather", the renowned movie about the Italian-American Mafia. Colombo supposedly not just had a role in securing funding for the film however likewise in casting Al Pacino ahead role as Michael Corleone. Additionally, Bart explains occurrences of mobsters influencing the content of movies - consisting of the elimination of derogatory references to the Mafia in the final version of "The Godfather" - thus highlighting the level of their clout in Hollywood.
Sex, Drugs, and Tabloid Scandals
Notorious Players delves into the wild excesses and debauchery that pervaded Hollywood during the '60s and '70s. Bart supplies a vibrant account of the widespread substance abuse, sexual experiences, and outrageous parties that were part and parcel of the market's culture at the time. He shares salacious anecdotes about widely known actors, directors, and producers who often engaged in these hedonistic activities, leading to many scandals that made headings in gossip magazines and tabloids.
These tales of vice and excess paint a photo of an industry that was typically self-destructive, as gifted filmmakers and stars were all frequently consumed by their vices. This era is marked by a climate where individuals in the industry seemed to operate with impunity from any repercussions for their actions.
Conclusion
"Infamous Players: A Tale of Movies, the Mob, and Sex" is a captivating account of Hollywood's dark side during a time when criminal activity, corruption, and decadence ruled the industry. Drawing on his own experiences and comprehensive research study, Peter Bart uses an expert's view of the seedy and scandalous world of American cinema in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The book provides distinct insights into the essential players of the time, the overarching impact of the Mafia, and the sordid information of the industry's most well-known scandals. It is a captivating and revealing look at a bygone period in cinema history that remains an interesting study of human nature and the darker side of Hollywood's glitz and glamour.
Infamous Players: A Tale of Movies, the Mob, and Sex
Infamous Players is a non-fiction book that chronicles the colorful history of Paramount Studios during the late 1960s and early 1970s, when Peter Bart was an executive at the studio, detailing his experiences working with a movie studio that was backed by mobsters and involved in a variety of shady deals.
Author: Peter Bart
Peter Bart, influential journalist, film producer & studio executive responsible for iconic films like The Godfather & Chinatown.
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