Tom Kemper

A fascinating intervention into the standard accounts of Hollywood's history, industry, and structure. The history nicely chronicles the rise of agents during early Hollywood, both the successes and the failures, and their role in the production of Hollywood films. The books doesn't go far enough to say that earlier accounts dismiss these agents, instead argues for this account being integrated into the earlier ones, perhaps out of academic politics.

Kemper may overstate the role of agents a bit toward the end, especially in the crafting of star persona and early package deals. The case for agents as artists seems rather far-fetched, as their motivation for improving films and star personae was far more likely money. But the account does provide a fuller overall view of the Hollywood system, and that's always a plus.… (altro)