Reviews
Clever, thought-provokingDick has the ability to explain the complex in-fighting among studio executives in the corridors of power in a movie studio--and their even more complex negotiations with the conglomerates who own the studios--in a way that is clear and incisive., "Through the richness in cases, examples and anecdotes it gives a practical, nuts-and-bolts insight into the workings of the film business." -- Business History, An important book not only about the history of a studio, but also about the apparently ineluctable direction big business has taken in American society., Does a fine job of detailing the death of a studio and its reincarnation as a subsidiary of a conglom. Dick's forensics peel back history, revealing the passions, politics and power plays of filmmakers and dealmakers that culminated in the dissolution of a Hollywood empire., "Traces Paramount's lineage from its 1912 origins to its 1966 purchase by Gulf & Western and its present ownership by Viacom/CBS." -- Publishers Weekly, Provides a helpful scaffolding of Paramount's fascinating history thus far and suggests that business historians would do well to engage the film industry further in their explorations of twentieth-century business and economic life., Provides historical insight into the death of Paramount Pictures as an autonomous studio and its fall to the conglomerate Gulf + Western in 1966., Traces Paramount's lineage from its 1912 origins to its 1966 purchase by Gulf & Western and its present ownership by Viacom/CBS., "Dick lends the personalities and events so much emotional colour that his book is as compulsively readable as a biography." -- Sight and Sound, Dick has composed an authoritative account of Paramount Pictures Corporation and accomplished the not inconsiderable feat of making it read less like business and more like history., "Uses Paramount Pictures to illustrate the evolution of the motion-picture industry from Thomas Edison to Michael Eisner.... Always erudite and entertaining." -- Kirkus Reviews, Dick lends the personalities and events so much emotional colour that his book is as compulsively readable as a biography., "Everybody knows that Paramount was one of the major studios, but few know the twists and turns of the history of the studio over the years." -- Peter C. Rollins, "This thoroughly researched story reveals the shift in the industry's primary focus from making fine film to making a successful, multifaceted business deal and prompts debate over which one is considered to be real art in modern Hollywood." -- Library Journal, Everybody knows that Paramount was one of the major studios, but few know the twists and turns of the history of the studio over the years., Uses Paramount Pictures to illustrate the evolution of the motion-picture industry from Thomas Edison to Michael Eisner.... Always erudite and entertaining., Through the richness in cases, examples and anecdotes it gives a practical, nuts-and-bolts insight into the workings of the film business., "The stories behind some of the greatest films ever made pale beside the story of the studio that made them." -- Hollywood Inside Syndicate, "Dick has composed an authoritative account of Paramount Pictures Corporation and accomplished the not inconsiderable feat of making it read less like business and more like history." -- Washington Times, "A breezy and informative six-reeler about the 'engulfing' of the once proud studio by a mega-conglomerate to which film art was merely another commodity." -- EH.NET Reviews, "Provides historical insight into the death of Paramount Pictures as an autonomous studio and its fall to the conglomerate Gulf + Western in 1966." -- Journal of Economic History, A breezy and informative six-reeler about the 'engulfing' of the once proud studio by a mega-conglomerate to which film art was merely another commodity., "Does a fine job of detailing the death of a studio and its reincarnation as a subsidiary of a conglom. Dick's forensics peel back history, revealing the passions, politics and power plays of filmmakers and dealmakers that culminated in the dissolution of a Hollywood empire." -- Daily Variety, The stories behind some of the greatest films ever made pale beside the story of the studio that made them., Astutely analyzes the role of outside corporate money in the film industry, and how the changes at Paramount heralded a new, inevitable trend in American film and arts.... Dick's in-depth analysis and research makes for great--and shocking--journalism., This thoroughly researched story reveals the shift in the industry's primary focus from making fine film to making a successful, multifaceted business deal and prompts debate over which one is considered to be real art in modern Hollywood., "Astutely analyzes the role of outside corporate money in the film industry, and how the changes at Paramount heralded a new, inevitable trend in American film and arts.... Dick's in-depth analysis and research makes for great -- and shocking -- journalism." -- Publishers Weekly, "An important book not only about the history of a studio, but also about the apparently ineluctable direction big business has taken in American society." -- Donald Spoto, "Clever, thought-provoking...Dick has the ability to explain the complex in-fighting among studio executives in the corridors of power in a movie studio -- and their even more complex negotiations with the conglomerates who own the studios -- in a way that is clear and incisive." -- Gene D. Phillips, "Provides a helpful scaffolding of Paramount's fascinating history thus far and suggests that business historians would do well to engage the film industry further in their explorations of twentieth-century business and economic life." -- Enterprise and Society
