His unflinching book on the woolly fraternity of 1970sera american filmmakers, easy riders, raging bulls. A look at 1970s hollywood when it was known as new hollywood, and the director was the star of the movie. In my mind, the ending of easy rider was to be an indictment of bluecollar america, the people i thought were responsible for the vietnam war. Peter biskind peter biskind is the author of five previous books, including easy riders, raging bulls.
How the sexdrugsand rock n roll generation saved hollywood peter biskind simon and schuster, apr 4, 1999 performing arts 506 pages. Featuring a large and diverse cast, the book focuses on the careers of a handful of talented filmmakersincluding martin scorsese, hal ashby, robert altman, steven spielberg, peter bogdanovich, george. This documentary is based on the book by peter biskind. How the sexdrugsandrocknroll generation saved hollywood, entertainment weekly, may 1, 1998. But easy riders, raging bulls views even its heroes scorsese, coppola, ashby with considerable ambivalence. Not only is peter biskinds easy riders, raging bulls the best book in recent memory on turnofthe70s film, it is beyond question the best book therell ever be on the subject. Easy riders raging bulls how the sexdrugsandrock n. In easy riders, raging bulls, peter biskind takes us on the wild ride that was hollywood in the 70s, an era that produced such modern classics as the. How the sexdrugsand rock n roll generation changed hollywood paperback august 31, 1999. How the sexdrugsandrock n roll generation saved hollywood. Warren beatty may well have been the first man to kiss jack warners feet, certainly the last. First published in 1998, it offered a mostly insightful overview of those tumultuous years in the film biz, roughly between 1966 and 1981, when desperate studio heads gave unprecedented freedom to a new generation of. How the sexdrugsand rock n roll generation saved hollywood was one of the most entertaining movie books to come along in years.
Easy riders, raging bulls tells the story of the rise and fall of some of americas most notable directors from the 60s and 70s. Dennis drabelle the washington post book world biskinds devourable book is. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. How the sexdrugsandrock n roll generation saved hollywood is a book written by peter biskind and published by simon. Easy riders, raging bulls author peter biskind looks back at the new hollywood.
However much is true, however much really happened that way, easy riders, raging bulls. In the world of the lunchdate celebrity puff piece, biskind stood out for his doggedness. In easy riders, raging bulls, peter biskind takes us on the wild ride that was hollywood in the 70s. Peter biskind revisits easy riders, raging bulls susan wloszczyna july 15, 2014. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Few film history books proved that as well as easy rider, raging bulls. With martin scorsese, dennis hopper, peter bogdanovich, sam peckinpah. Methodically, as thrillingly as a movie attorney, biskind builds the case that hollywood was revived by wild ones who then betrayed their own dreams, slit their own throats and destroyed an art form by producing that mindless, inhuman modern behemoth, the blockbuster. It is a very readable history of the independent film business from its beginnings as subtitled foreign movies in art houses to the development of american films made outside of the studio system.
He lives with his family in columbia county, new york. Because once the big names who spilled the beans to biskind find out that other people spilled an equally piquant quantity of beans, nobody will dare speak to another writer with such candor, humour and venom again. Easy riders, raging bulls begins in the late 60s as the major hollywood film studios were suffering massive losses when expensive blockbusters began to fall out of favor and a new generation of. How the sexdrugsandrock n roll generation saved hollywood, is considered the definitive account of that era. How the sexdrugsandrocknroll generation saved hollywood peter biskind thanks a friend for. Peter biskinds first two books didnt leave much of a mark on the literary. In 1969, a lowbudget biker movie, easy rider, shocked hollywood with its stunning success. He wrote several books depicting life in hollywood, including seeing is believing, easy riders, raging bulls, down and dirty pictures, and gods and monsters, some of which were bestsellers.
Not only is peter biskinds easy riders, raging bulls the best book in recent memory on turnofthe70s film, it is. Biskinds book was salascious, went for the balls, found whatever it could find that might shock or amaze, delved into the dirty details of marriages and affairs. How the sex n drugs n rock n generation saved hollywood by peter biskind remains one of my favorite nonfiction reads. What other book might you compare easy riders, raging bulls to and why. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading easy riders raging bulls. An unabashed celebration of sex, drugs, and rock n roll onscreen and off, easy rider heralded a heady decade in which a rebellious wave of talented young filmmakers invigorated the movie industry. One of the more curious quotes in easy riders, raging bulls comes from terry southern, the principal screenwriter of easy rider.
What was going on in america, and hollywood in particular to prepare the soil from which sprang such a remarkable group of films. In this compulsively readable and constantly surprising book, peter biskind, the author of the film classics easy riders, raging bulls and down and dirty pictures, writes the most intimate, revealing, and balanced biography ever of hollywood legend warren beatty. Peter biskind is a contributing editor to vanity fair, a writer for esquire, and the author of the classic bestsellers easy riders, raging bulls and down and dirty pictures. This downanddirty romp through hollywood in the 1970s. Easy riders, raging bulls audiobook by peter biskind. Dennis drabelle the washington post book world biskinds devourable book is that rarity, a hollywood expose that you can read mouth agape, slurping up.
Yes, ive listened to this about 5 times now, and overtime is as good as the first. Not only is peter biskinds easy riders, raging bulls the best book in recent memory on turnofthe70s film, it is beyond question the best book well ever get on. Toning down the more scabrous content of peter biskinds1998 bestseller easy riders, raging bulls, documaker kenneth bowser has fashioned a galloping chronicle of the sexdrugsandrock n roll. For those who hear film history and think titanic, in 1967, the major american film studios were in such disarray and the counterculture seemed to be overturning conventions with. Easy riders, raging bulls is also more than a fistful of dazzling anecdotes. How the sexdrugsandrocknroll generation saved hollywood, peter biskinds great, scathing, newspacked history of. Easy riders, raging bulls author peter biskind looks back at the. Famously a playboyhe has been linked to costars natalie wood, julie christie, diane keaton, and madonna, among othersbeatty. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery. Easy riders, raging bulls how the sexdrugsandrocknroll generation saved hollywood. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read easy riders raging bulls. How the sexdrugsand rock n roll generation save kindle edition by biskind, peter. Easy riders, raging bulls by peter biskind waterstones.
Easy riders, raging bulls paperback january 1, 2007 by peter biskind author. How the sexdrugand rock n roll generation saved hollywood, a rollicking gossippropelled magiccarpet ride through the heady days of the 70s has exhibited incredible. Biskind easy riders, raging bulls breathlessly excavates the last two decades of popular culture, hunting for clues about the rise of political extremism in america. In easy riders, raging bulls, peter biskind takes us on the wild ride that was. He is a contributor to vanity fair and was formerly the executive editor of premiere magazine. These are the raging bulls presumably but the theoretical trajectory to them from the easy riders who stumbled into a temporary vacuum 1015 years previously is tenuous piffle.
The book easy riders, raging bulls by peter biskind is a highly entertaining and informative account of the period between the late 60s and the early 80s when the big american film studios released a series of quirky, challenging and controversial films made by an assortment of auteurs. How the sexdrugsand rock n roll generation changed hollywood by biskind, peter new edition 1999 paperback see all 18 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Easy riders, raging bulls is about the 1970s hollywood, a period of american film known for the production of such films such as the godfather, the godfather part ii, chinatown, taxi driver, jaws, star wars, the exorcist, and the last picture show. Peter biskind is an american cultural critic, film historian, journalist and former executive editor of premiere magazine from 1986 to 1996. Star book by peter biskind official publisher page. The story goes, beatty was trying to get warner to finance bonnie and clyde, a. Peter biskind is the author of five previous books, including easy riders, raging bulls. Easy riders, raging bulls by peter biskind goodreads. How the sexdrugsand rock n roll generation save ebook written by peter biskind. How the sexdrugsandrocknroll generation saved hollywood. This book was written by peter biskind who was the executive editor of premiere magazine and is also the author of easy riders, raging bulls. Would you listen to easy riders, raging bulls again.
A nyone wanting a crash course in the exciting, unhinged and experimental 1970s hollywood cinema is advised to take peter biskinds book, easy riders. Chicago turabian author date citation style guide biskind, peter. One convincing, complicated explanation is offered in easy riders, raging bulls, a look at the era by former premiere editor peter biskind. Buy easy riders, raging bulls by peter biskind from waterstones today. Easy riders, raging bulls by peter biskind, 9780747544210, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Easy riders, raging bulls author peter biskind looks. Based on hundreds of interviews with directors such as coppola, scorsese, hopper and spielberg, as well as producers, stars. Buy a cheap copy of easy riders, raging bulls book by peter biskind. The book displays an unresolved tension between celebrating its subjects attempts to use the hollywood system for personal expression and attacking the hubris that resulted from what biskind sees as their opportunistic embrace of.