THE JOYS OF SUCCESS

by James Lord ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 1958

A straight-faced account of some of the more outlandish activities of the film fauna places this second novel in Hollywood where Walter Estrin, a director, is gripped by a creative compulsion to make a classic, which after all his commercial popcorn crunchers, will be a more memorable achievement. Given the go-ahead, he finds his hero- Jack Noakes- a happy, happily married, simple guy in a small New England town; he transplants him- along with his wife- to the Coast which has its splintering effect upon his marriage. An automobile accident in which Jack is only slightly hurt- but considerably dazed- gives Estrin his chance to film ""the real reality of human experience""; under shock, Jack signs the waiver which will permit the amputation of his leg, and under coercion, a doctor is forced into performing the operation before the cameras. Others suspect- but cannot prove- the lengths to which Estrin has gone- to fulfill his genius- and disassociate themselves from the film; Jack dies; and Estrin is left with his unfinished masterpiece- a broken man. . . Fantastic?

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 1958

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: John Day

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1958

Categories: FICTION