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Harper

Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears

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The author of the New York Times bestseller Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep returns with a lively history of the Academy Awards, focusing on the brutal battles, the starry rivalries, and the colorful behind-the-scenes drama.America does not have royalty. It has the Academy Awards. For nine decades, perfectly coiffed starlets, debonair leading men, and producers with gold in their eyes have chased the elusive Oscar. What began as an industry banquet in 1929 has now exploded into a hallowed ceremony, complete with red carpets, envelopes, and little gold men. But don’t be fooled by the pomp: the Oscars, more than anything, are a battlefield, where the history of Hollywood—and of America itself—unfolds in dramas large and small. The road to the Oscars may be golden, but it’s paved in blood, sweat, and broken hearts.In Oscar Wars, Michael Schulman chronicles the remarkable, sprawling history of the Academy Awards and the personal dramas—some iconic, others never-before- revealed—that have played out on the stage and off camera. Unlike other books on the subject, each chapter takes a deep dive into a particular year, conflict, or even category that tells a larger story of cultural change, from Louis B. Mayer to Moonlight. Schulman examines how the red carpet runs through contested turf, and the victors aren't always as clear as the names drawn from envelopes. Caught in the crossfire are people: their thwarted ambitions, their artistic epiphanies, their messy collaborations, their dreams fulfilled or dashed.Featuring a star-studded cast of some of the most powerful Hollywood players of today and yesterday, as well as outsiders who stormed the palace gates, this captivating history is a collection of revelatory tales, each representing a turning point for the Academy, for the movies, or for the culture at large. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper


Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 21, 2023


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 608 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062859013


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 13


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.25 x 9 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #476,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #17 in Performing Arts History & Criticism #92 in Movie History & Criticism #126 in Performing Arts Reference


#17 in Performing Arts History & Criticism:


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • An Excellent Book About a Tiny, Heavy Statue
Format: Hardcover
An excellent book about a tiny statue. Michael Schulman writes a sweeping history about the Academy Awards that covers their nearly 100 year long history. As much drama as we sometimes see on stage, there's just as much, if not more, going on behind the scenes. You'll walk away with a better understanding of the entertainment history as a whole, as well as many, many more movies to watch. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2025 by Yuvraj Singh
    • An Excellent Approach To The History Of Hollywood
Format: Kindle
This is not the book to get if you are looking for a year by year recap of the Oscars with a comprehensive list if winners. Instead, it focuses on certain years and certain ceremonies, using them to tell the larger story of what was happing in the filmmaking industry as a whole. It’s a great way to approach it. By focusing on key Oscar races and ceremonies, Schumann is able to tell both a history of the Motion Picture Academy and Hollywood in a way that is both entertaining and enlightening. Beginning with the first Oscars and ending in 2023, it documents how Hollywood responded to such things as World War II, blacklisting, the civil rights movement, the tumult of the 1960s, the collapse of the movie studios, and the #MeToo movement. Very well researched, it is easy to read and moves along quickly, despite its length. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in movie lore and history. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2025 by R. Jones
    • Him, Again (and thank god for that!)
Format: Hardcover
Michael has done it again! A pop culture storyteller legend of his time. There's no greater podium for him to bring to us than the subject he clearly loves and respects, and who shares the greatest stage of all - Mr. Oscar. He brings wit, fun, intrigue, hope, sadness, and love to each chapter, tied in a perfectly bedazzled bow. I find myself totally immersed in each period and each character as if he's creating the ultimate set design for these important cultural moments. As Steve Jobs says, you can't connect the dots forwards, but Michael sure as hell connected them backward - the great rollercoaster ride you will find. Get your ticket (book) now - the ride awaits. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2023 by Amazon Customer
    • Good writing but just more than I needed
Format: Paperback
Well written and well researched but does anyone really need this much detailed history of the motion picture academy and the Oscar awards? Some interesting tidbits buried in an ocean of Hollywood self importance that is often not very interesting or weighty in any way. Great if you’re obsessed with Hollywood but I guess I’m not. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2026 by James
    • Well-researched and extremely entertaining
Format: Hardcover
I love the Oscars and Hollywood drama and this book checked all the boxes — it’s funny and filled with stories and anecdotes from the almost century of Academy Award history. You will learn, laugh, and gasp at some of the shenanigans that have gone on behind the scenes in the hunt for the coveted golden man. Film buffs will definitely find much to appreciate here, as will casual Oscar viewers. Love how the book is structured, too — around watershed moments/films/years that turned the tide. A great (and fast) read, highly recommend! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2023 by Katie Vagnino
    • fun read
Format: Hardcover
any one who likes movies will find something here.
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2025 by warren
    • Incredibly well researched and an amusing delight to read
Format: Hardcover
A must have book for anyone who enjoys film history and award show madness - it's dishy and deeply researched. Schulman weaves together such an amusing tapestry of streakers, backstabbers, the hustled and the hustlers that you can't put it down. It's like sitting next to the best person at a glamorous dinner party and they lean over and whisper "Want to hear a story about how Courtney Love almost bludgeoned someone to death with Quentin Tarantino's Oscar?" You have no choice but to lean over and drink it all in. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2023 by Britt
    • Great book for movie buffs
Format: Kindle
Mostly quite interesting, although some parts were overly dry. Overall, a well researched and informative look at all the politics and campaigning behind the glamour of the Oscars.
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2024 by RueRue

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