1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

1939 truly was a banner year for the motion picture industry. With the majority of the American public recovering from the Great Depression and not yet involved in the Second World War, movies were the major source of entertainment.

There were so many fine films made that year. Just two of the films which captured the hearts and mind of the viewing public were "The Wizard of Oz" and "Gone With the Wind." Both of these films have stood the test of time as classics for over 70 years now. "The king of the forest" or Leo, the lion of MGM, couldn't have imagined these film's longevity. Yet, these were only two of the 510 films released in 1939.

20th-Century Fox, Paramount, Warner Brothers, Columbia Pictures and the smaller studios were all releasing memorable, well-done and not-so-memorable motion pictures of romantic and crime dramas, musicals, westerns, comedies and historical bio-pics. 510 films in one year... can you imagine? The quality of the studio system and the star power of their players reached a zenith of creativity which continues to captivate and entertain film aficionados in 2017.

With "1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year," author Thomas S. Hischak has created a veritable film almanac of this year. He chronicles the release dates, important filming dates of certain movies, and a meticulous description of plots, cast and characters and a personal and press analysis of each film, short, or cartoon. His writing style and research is phenomenal. Not only has Hischak provided all of that he gives the reader [when a film wasn't opening on that day in 1939] a very informative glimpse of history outside the Hollywood gates. Whether it's the oncoming rise of Hitler in Germany, The Spanish Civil War or what was happening in Japan or China, his clarity and knowledge of the year puts it all into perspective. There are also cultural events in theater, literature and sports in the mix.

There is no need to "turn back time"; just realize that in 1939 a remarkable amount of silver screen history and world and cultural history was being made. Thomas S. Hischak takes you down the "yellow brick road" in a fascinating way.

"1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year"
by Thomas S. Hischak
$45.00
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442278059/1939-Hollywood's-Greatest-Year