TT 149: Stanley Crouch and Paul Devlin on the Movies; Otto Friedrich's CITY OF NETS
New DTM page: A guest post from Paul Devlin: “Stanley Crouch on Classic Cinema.”
Speaking of movies, I’m rereading City of Nets: A Portrait of Hollywood in the 1940's by Otto Friedrich. The title is not engaging: The phrase “city of nets” is from Brecht, and in general there may be too much about Brecht in Friedrich’s narrative. The very opening conceit, a visit to Tussaud’s Wax Museum, likewise lacks charisma. However, all is forgiven, for once Friedrich finds his rhythm, the amazing stories just roll and unroll. I have never laughed as loud or as long from any other non-fiction.
While not a memorable title, the idea of “city of nets” is true enough. In that era seemingly everything could be ensnared by Hollywood.
Connections, connections, connections…
Just yesterday I read the following post-Pearl Harbor passage from the book after seeing headlines debating pro-Ukrainian sentiment at the Oscars:
One contemporary news story is notably distasteful, the boycotting and worse of Russian goods and services in America. City of Nets has that covered:
Note the sidebar about Rubinstein above: Friedrich had a genuine passion for classical music (among other things he wrote a book about Glenn Gould) and there must be more musical anecdotes in City of Nets than any other history of Hollywood.
After getting a gift of Russian honey from a lovely friend
I read this bit:
All and all, City of Nets retains its status as one of my very favorite books, one that I intend to keep re-reading for a lifetime.