City of Nets

In this compelling cultural history, Otto Friedrich chronicles Hollywood's golden age and subsequent decline from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Highlighting a vibrant cast of filmmakers, actors, and industry figures, the narrative explores how the industry's peak—marked by the production of 530 films a year—gave way to a tumultuous era influenced by anticommunist hysteria and antitrust regulations. Drawing from a wealth of sources, Friedrich weaves together engaging anecdotes and incisive analysis, examining iconic films like Citizen Kane and All About Eve along the way.