Charles Brackett's Unpublished Hollywood Diaries
This annotated collection presents the unpublished diaries of Charles Brackett, the Golden Age Hollywood screenwriter who formed one of cinema's most successful partnerships with director Billy Wilder. Wilder famously called them "the happiest couple in Hollywood," and these diaries reveal the creative process behind their legendary collaborations.
Behind the Scenes of Classic Films
Brackett's detailed observations document the creation of some of Hollywood's most significant films. His entries recreate the initial meetings, breakthrough moments, and creative tensions that shaped Ninotchka (1939), Hold Back the Dawn (1941), Ball of Fire (1941), The Major and the Minor (1942), Five Graves to Cairo (1943), The Lost Weekend (1945), and Sunset Blvd (1950). The diaries also chronicle the breakdowns that eventually forced these collaborators to part ways.
Annotated by Leading Film Historian Anthony Slide
Film historian Anthony Slide has carefully annotated Brackett's writings, clarifying his critical contribution to Wilder's films and enriching our understanding of Wilder's achievements in writing, direction, and style. Slide's expertise provides essential context for understanding the Golden Age studio system and the personalities who shaped it.
More Than a Screenwriter
Beyond his screenwriting partnership with Wilder, Brackett served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Screen Writers Guild. He worked as a drama critic for the New Yorker and became a member of the Algonquin Round Table, the exclusive literary club that included Dorothy Parker and other prominent writers.
Inside the Studio System
These diaries offer a front-row seat to the inner workings of Paramount, Universal, MGM, and RKO during Hollywood's Golden Age. Brackett documents interactions with legendary theater and literary figures including Alfred Lunt, Lynn Fontanne, Edna Ferber, and Dorothy Parker. His keen, witty perspective brings to life the political and creative intrigue at the heart of Hollywood's most significant films.
About the Editor
Anthony Slide is the author or editor of more than two hundred books on the history of popular entertainment. He has served as both associate archivist of the American Film Institute and as resident film historian of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His recent publications include Silent Players, Inside the Hollywood Fan Magazines, and Hollywood Unknowns.
