Hype And Glory
(William Goldman)
William Goldman?s Hype & Glory is an entertaining account written by the only person to ever be a judge at the Miss America Pageant and the Cannes Film Festival in the same year. Written with the deadpan verve that only Goldman seems capable of writing at times, the book is a witty, often laugh out loud funny recounting of the dark side of fame.
Goldman brings his extensive experience as a screenwriter and his familiarity with stars and directors to give a behind the scenes look at just how those Cannes awards are chosen. Along the way Goldman treats us to all the delicious backroom dealing between the members of the jury, including Nastassja Kinski and Mad Max director George Miller. If you?ve ever wondered just how political the choices for film festival winners are, your worst fears will be confirmed. You can?t help but laugh as compromise after compromise is made in order to ensure that everybody?s favorite in a particular category is given the prize they most want.
After Cannes, Goldman is off to Atlantic City, NJ to take part in the great American tradition of grading women in swimsuits. The really surprising thing about the Miss America pageant section is how well this whole enterprise comes off. It would have been really easy for Goldman to satirize every single facet of the pageant, but by the end you get the feeling that he really respects what the pageant is ultimately about, which is giving these women a chance for college money that they may never find anywhere else.
Still, there?s plenty of opportunity for laughs and most of it comes at the expense of the eventual winner. Not from Goldman, who treats her with a great deal of respect, but with the comments of friends and acquaintances and complete strangers who can?t understand how he could have voted for the ugliest woman in the pageant.
Two long lasting traditions both take a ribbing of sorts, but generally come off pretty well in this hugely entertaining book by a Hollywood insider.
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