Five Came Back: A Story Of Hollywood And The Second World War (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
I loved Harris's earlier book but I just can't get into this one. There's a bit too much derring-do-love. It's so full of research that there's no room for character. At page 114, where I've abandoned ship, I am still wondering who William Wyler and George Stevens kind of are, and having read Lillian Ross's excellent Picture earlier this year, I can't help just wanting more about John Huston. I think it's the subject matter too; I'm just not that interested in the war effort or in war movies. This is also not a book that would pass the Bechdel test, if you know what I mean. It's just a bit dry. I'm teetering on the edge, but I'm going to let it go in favour of something else. I hope Harris's next film book is on a subject I'm a bit more interested in. There are a few movies here I want to chase up, though. Five Came Back - A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War written by Mark Harris and narrated by Andrew Garman is available at Amazon and Audible.com. This Audiobook is 20 hours of great insight and history of film during WWII. It chronicles the lives of five directors who left Hollywood at the height of their careers to join the military. They documented the war on film as well as made training videos and propaganda films.The insight that these men had as well as the studios who hedged their bets against both sides of the war is an incredible look at business during wartime as well as sacrifice made.You know the films, now look behind them to see the psychological impact war had on their creators and how it affected their filmmaking. If you like film of war history this book will grab your interest. Also many of the war films they speak of in this book are available to view on YouTube. This is a great audiobook that grabs the listeners attention and takes them behind the camera during WWII.I purchased this book for my own pleasure.
What do You think about Five Came Back: A Story Of Hollywood And The Second World War (2014)?
An absolute must read for ww2 and film buffs. Learned some amazing things.
—ayah
Not as good as Pictures at a Revolution but interesting
—babhussein
