Eighty Odd Years in Hollywood

John Meredyth Lucas, son of silent screen star and screenwriter Bess Meredyth (Ben-Hur, The Sea Beast, When a Man Loves, Don Juan) and stepson of renowned Hungarian-born director Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, Mildred Pierce, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Life with Father), came of age in Hollywood during the 1930s. Lucas went on to an impressive career of his own as a writer-producer-director. He made films with Hal Wallis, Ross Hunter, Walt Disney, and others, and he wrote, produced, and directed such classic television series as Mannix, The Fugitive and Star Trek.
Completed shortly before his death in 2002, Lucas’ memoir is filled with never-before-told recollections of many Hollywood greats and features previously unpublished photographs. With Lucas, we go behind the scenes, onto the studio lots and into the parties with family friends John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Errol Flynn and Jack Warner, to name just a few. It’s a boy’s-eye-view of Hollywood in a time of glamour, decadence, and the golden years of filmmaking.

The late John Meredyth Lucas was a writer, producer and director whose Hollywood career spanned eight decades.

John Meredyth Lucas
Foreword by Cari Beauchamp
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 319
Bibliographic Info: 60 photos, index
Copyright Date: 2004
pISBN: 978-0-7864-1838-1
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8116-3
Imprint: McFarland

Foreword by Cari Beauchamp      1

1. A Hollywood Family      5

2. Cast of Characters      14

3. Home, School and Earthshaking Events      34

4. Life with Stepfather      48

5. Resisting Education and Other Pursuits      61

6. Coming Up for Air      75

7. Hungarian Goulash      91

8. Off Camera      113

9. In the Wings      134

10. Takeoffs and Landings      155

11. New Directions      166

12. Test Patterns      182

13. Foreign Accents      199

14. Finding Focus      218

15. Gains and Losses      234

16. Letters of Transit      255

17. Fade Out, Fade In      270

18. New Horizons      281

19. Full Circle      291

Epilogue      305

Index      307

“an unusually witty and observant look at growing up in Movieland during the 1920s, 30s, and 40s…anyone who’s interested in vintage Hollywood will respond…with rapt attention…wonderful rare photos and a warm introduction by film historian Cari Beauchamp are icing on the cake”—Leonard Maltin.com; “an intimate and heartfelt memoir…provides a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes during Hollywood’s Golden Era…a great deal to relish in this book”—Ron Howard.