The Shocking Miss Pilgrim: A Writer in Early Hollywood - Hardcover

Maas, Frederica Sagor

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0813121221 ISBN 13: 9780813121222

Publisher: University Press of Kentucky, 1999

Synopsis

" Freddie Maas's revealing memoir offers a unique perspective on the film industry and Hollywood culture in their early days and illuminates the plight of Hollywood writers working within the studio system. An ambitious twenty-three-year-old, Maas moved to Hollywood and launched her own writing career by drafting a screenplay of the bestselling novel The Plastic Age for ""It"" girl Clara Bow. On the basis of that script, she landed a staff position at powerhouse MGM studios. In the years to come, she worked with and befriended numerous actors and directors, including Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Eric von Stroheim, as well as such writers and producers as Thomas Mann and Louis B. Mayer. As a professional screenwriter, Fredderica quickly learned that scripts and story ideas were frequently rewritten and that screen credit was regularly given to the wrong person. Studio executives wanted well-worn plots, but it was the writer's job to develop the innovative situations and scintillating dialogue that would bring to picture to life. For over twenty years, Freddie and her friends struggled to survive in this incredibly competitive environment. Through it all, Freddie remained a passionate, outspoken woman in an industry run by powerful men, and her provocative, nonconformist ways brought her success, failure, wisdom, and a wealth of stories, opinions, and insight into a fascinating period in screen history.

About this title

Review

"Choice A bittersweet, extraordinarily detailed recollection of Maas's 30-year career in the motion picture industry.... Chockablock with anecdotes, and a blinding amount of star-wattage to boot." -- Salon.com

"Maas's story is important because she tells us how the various studios operated back then." -- Rapport

"An excellent history of what it was to be a writer in the film industry then." -- Southern Pines (NC) Pilot

Synopsis

In 1920, a young journalism student answered an advert for "Assistant to Story Editor at Universal Pictures". Frederica Sagor's new job found her reviewing the opening night performances of Broadway plays and she quickly became the story editor herself. But when Universal reneged on their contract with her, Sagor moved to Hollywood and launched her own writing career by drafting a screenplay of the bestselling novel "The Plastic Age" for the then "It girl" Clara Bow. In the years to come, she befriended and worked with numerous actors and directors, including Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and Eric von Stroheim. As a young woman working in an industry run by powerful men, Frederica was an unspoken pioneer, and her provocative, nonconformist ways brought her both success and failure. This revealing memoir illuminates the plight of Hollywood writers and offers a unique perspective on the early film industry.

Edition details

• Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0813121221
• ISBN 13: 9780813121222
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 296