Norman Jewison directed some of the most iconic and beloved films of an
era, from In the Heat of the Night and The Thomas Crown Affair to Jesus
Christ Superstar and Moonstruck. But despite being what his friend
William Goldman called "a giant of the industry," Jewison could also
walk the streets of any city in the world and go unrecognized. Jewison
was a man of contradictions: he cared more about telling great stories
than gaining fame and fortune by showcasing movie stars, but generations
of Hollywood's marquee actors--Judy Garland, Sidney Poitier, Faye
Dunaway, Al Pacino, Jane Fonda, Burt Reynolds, Goldie Hawn, Bruce
Willis, Denzel Washington--trusted him at crucial moments in their
careers. Yet, for all his talent and the passionate support of his
actors, Jewison suffered heartbreaking rejection from the executives who
refused to believe in his dreams. Norman Jewison: A Director's Life is a
story of artistic survival and reinvention, and about the fate of
original cinematic ideas in an industry increasingly captive to
corporate greed. Drawing upon exhaustive archival research and dozens of
interviews, Ira Wells provides a soulful portrait of an idealist who had
to fight for every frame of his legacy. Here are Norman's legendary
collaborators-- Hal Ashby, William Rose, Steve McQueen, and
more--brought to vivid life in original letters, telegrams, and
revealing, unpublished interviews. A clear-eyed reassessment of
Hollywood's final golden age, Norman Jewison: A Director's Life is both
the intimate portrait of an artist and a rallying cry for anyone who has
had to fight for their creative vision.
