Memo from David O. Selznick: The Creation of Gone With the Wind and Other Motion-Picture Classics--as Revealed in the Producer's Private Letters, Tele [Paperback]

"The most revealing, penetrating book on filmmaking I know of . . ."--King Vidor

David O. Selznick was a unique figure in the golden Hollywood studio era. He produced some of the greatest and most memorable American films ever made--notably, Rebecca, A Star Is Born, Anna Karenina, A Farewell to Arms, and, above all, Gone With the Wind. Selznick's
absolute power and artistic control are evidenced in his impassioned, eloquent, witty, and sometimes rageful memos to directors, writers, stars and studio executives, writings that have become almost as famous as his films. Newsweek wrote,"I can't imagine how a book on the American movie business could be more illuminating, more riveting or more fun to read than this collection of David Selznick's memos.Rudy Behlmer is the author of seven books including Inside Warner Bros. and The Complete Films of Errol Flynn.Gone With the Wind  (1936-1941)

WHEN I HESITATED about paying $50,000 for a novel about the Civil War--the largest price ever paid for a book that was not even established as a success--Jock Whitney wired me that if I didn't buy it for Selznick International, he would buy it, and hold it for the company if I wanted it. This was all the encouragement I needed, and rather than have Jock have the last laugh on me, we went ahead and bought Gone With the Wind. I then went to Hawaii on vacation and read the novel on board ship.

Much later, Metro demanded half the film, and secured it, for a loan of Clark Gable. They put up $1,250,000-and we took all the gamble. (The picture cost $4,250,000.) The risk money was entirely ours, secured from the banks, due to the great support I had from Jock Whitney, who approved enthusiastically everything I did in this particular.

Whitney had the last laugh on all the self-appointed crilsX