1939 was a watershed year. The Great Depression was barely over;
economics, politics, and culture braced for war. There was a lull before
the storm and Hollywood, as if expecting to be judged by posterity,
produced a portfolio of masterpieces. No year before or since has
yielded so many beloved works of cinematic art: The Hunchback of Notre
Dame, Gunga Din, Only Angels Have Wings, Destry Rides Again, Beau Geste,
Wuthering Heights, The Wizard of Oz, Stagecoach, Ninotchka, Goodbye, Mr.
Chips, Dark Victory, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Women, and of
course, Gone With the Wind.
Majestic Hollywood showcases fifty films from this landmark year, with
insightful text on the cultural significance of each movie and
entertaining plot descriptions. Also included are stories from the
legendary artists who made the films: directors William Wellman and John
Ford; cinematographers Arthur Miller and Lee Garmes; actors Judy
Garland, Rosalind Russell, Ray Milland, Sir Laurence Olivier, and Olivia
de Havilland.
This world of entertainment is illustrated by rarely seen images. Made
during the most glamorous era in movie history, whether scene stills,
behind-the-scenes candids, portraits, or poster art, the photos are as
distinctive, evocative, and powerful as the films they were meant to
publicize. Presenting the best of these images and the stories behind
them, this book is a cavalcade of unforgettable films from 1939:
Hollywood's Greatest Year.
