In this never-before- published memoir of Hollywood, Ed Wood, Jr., reveals the down and dirty about the cutthroat world of movie-making.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An insight into the mind and life of Edward D Wood Jr., in his own words.
6 Dec 2009
Format:Paperback
Greetings, my friends!
There's little in here that will be of any use to anyone wanting to make it in Hollywood, which is clearly the idea behind the book, but it does give anybody who's interested a chance to listen to this infamous filmmaker speak. As the title suggests, the book is tinged with bitterness. Mr. Wood never made it in Hollywood. His films only really found an audience after his death. This sense of disappointment hangs over the entire book. Much of his advice consists of warnings about people dead set on ripping you off and ways to save money while living in Hollywood (sleep on park benches). It's a quick read, and it's not especially well written, but it provides a glimpse into the life of a man who we would otherwise never have heard from. (Nobody was interviewing him about Glen or Glenda.) If you want to know a bit more about Edward D. Wood Jr. then give 'Nightmare of Ecstacy' a try too.
There's little in here that will be of any use to anyone wanting to make it in Hollywood, which is clearly the idea behind the book, but it does give anybody who's interested a chance to listen to this infamous filmmaker speak. As the title suggests, the book is tinged with bitterness. Mr. Wood never made it in Hollywood. His films only really found an audience after his death. This sense of disappointment hangs over the entire book. Much of his advice consists of warnings about people dead set on ripping you off and ways to save money while living in Hollywood (sleep on park benches). It's a quick read, and it's not especially well written, but it provides a glimpse into the life of a man who we would otherwise never have heard from. (Nobody was interviewing him about Glen or Glenda.) If you want to know a bit more about Edward D. Wood Jr. then give 'Nightmare of Ecstacy' a try too.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ed Wood: Bad Director, but Highly Amusing Writer
11 Jan 2002
By Bryan A.
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Ed Wood is famous as "the world's worst director." That title was never true, because his movies were always interesting even on a shoestring budget. In this book, the Great Man offers his [intentionally] hilarious advice for those aspiring to Hollywood. "Stay home," he insists. "You can be a devoted actor or actress there as well as any place."
All of his favorite fetishes are here in this book as he explores the [1960s version of] seedy Hollywood. He manages to mention "angora sweaters" nearly a dozen times throughout the book. Mr. Wood warns starlets that there isn't any film in that screen test camera. He explains how to seem like a bigshot while living a dive apartment-- have all your meetings downstairs at the complex's POOL. He brags that all of his movies got RELEASED [wow]-- unlike some other cheapie
directors. He even explains how to live for FREE in Hollywood [sleep in the park-- but don't forget blankets].
Chapter Ten: How to Make a Cheap Picture and Fail. "This is the easiest chapter of all to write,"-- Ed's implied admission that maybe he isn't the Hollywood BigWig he pretends to be.
Ed wrote his books as a stream of consciousness-- and it shows. But "Hollywood Rat Race" is like having a great three hour conversion with someone who's seen it all... and can still laugh about it!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Absolute MUST For Ed Wood Fans
20 Dec 2004
By J. Pinkerton Snoopington
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
"Hollywood Rat Race," a guide to surviving in Hollywood by none other than Edward D. Wood Jr., should be considered a must for any of his fans. Unpublished until the late-nineties, this guide covers Ed's thoughts about acting, screenwriting, producing, and a lot more. In addition, this is probably the closest we're ever going to come to Ed's memoirs. He tells stories about his early Hollywood career, his films, his friends (Kenne Duncan, Lyle Talbot, Tom Keene, some long stories about Bela Lugosi), and, best of all, his own account of the notorios baptism performed to get financing for "Plan 9 From Outer Space."
Some highlights: his scattered references to angora; his referring to the "Plan 9" cast as "The best cast I ever had" (listing off the names of David De Mering and Ben Frommer as if they were legendary); his list of some top character actors (all of them obscure); and his guide to living in Hollywood without any money (sleep in the park!). It's all written in a decidedly humorous style.
In conclusion, if you're a self-respecting Ed Wood fan, you simply can't be without this book.
Some highlights: his scattered references to angora; his referring to the "Plan 9" cast as "The best cast I ever had" (listing off the names of David De Mering and Ben Frommer as if they were legendary); his list of some top character actors (all of them obscure); and his guide to living in Hollywood without any money (sleep in the park!). It's all written in a decidedly humorous style.
In conclusion, if you're a self-respecting Ed Wood fan, you simply can't be without this book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
JUST STARTED READING THIS BOOK. IT IS VERY GOOD ACTUALLY...
9 Jun 2009
By Barry J. Gillis
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
I just started reading this book, and I am enjoying it. I've noticed that the book has a couple of negative reviews, and I disagree with what those reviews say. This book is well written, contrary to what is written in those reviews.. (What were they expecting an Ed Wood Jr. book to be like??? Ernest Hemmingway, John Steinbeck or William Shakespeare?) It never ceases to amaze me how people with no talent, very little talent, or "no credits" whatsoever to their name, are so quick to judge someone else. Hollywood Rat Race has a great amount of advice and insight about Hollywood. Some of the information is dated, but Ed Wood Jr. Pulls NO PUNCHES, and it is better written prose than what you're reading about from some of these clowns here. I reccomend this book...
Also, who is to say that Ed Wood never "made it" in Hollywood? He may have never made it to the to the top level that say Sylvestor Stallone made it, etc,etc... But on various levels he did "make it", and he does have the authority to write such a book even though he didn't make it in the traditonal definition of the words "making it"...
Also, who is to say that Ed Wood never "made it" in Hollywood? He may have never made it to the to the top level that say Sylvestor Stallone made it, etc,etc... But on various levels he did "make it", and he does have the authority to write such a book even though he didn't make it in the traditonal definition of the words "making it"...
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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