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Truman Capote’s legacy is in many ways defined by his complex relationship with Hollywood. In Truman Capote: A Literary Life at the Movies, Tison Pugh explores the author and his literature through a cinematic lens, weaving elements of Capote’s biography—including his flamboyant public persona and his friendships and feuds with notable stars—with critical analysis of the films, screenplays, and adaptations of his works.
Capote’s masterful prose made him an iconic twentieth century author, and his screenplays, including Beat the Devil, Indiscretion of an American Wife, and The Innocents, allowed him to collaborate with such Hollywood heavyweights as Humphrey Bogart, John Huston, and David O. Selznick. But the beloved and acclaimed adaptations of his literature, most notably Breakfast at Tiffany’s and In Cold Blood, undercut his daring treatment of homosexuality in favor of heterosexual romance.
Pugh demonstrates how Capote’s gay southern identity influenced perceptions of his literature and its adaptations. Illuminating Capote’s successes and disappointments in the film industry, Pugh delivers a revealing and nuanced portrait of the author’s literary life.
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
October 7, 2020 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780820347097
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780820347097
- File size: 4590 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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June 30, 2014
While Truman Capote is known as an esteemed literary author, it is surprising to learn just how complicated his relationship with Hollywood was. In Pugh's (Queer Chivalry) newest book, he explores Capote's contributions to film despite his opining that film was not "the greatest living thing." Of course, much of Capote's writing has been adapted to filmâmost notably Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Bloodâbut he also contributed to various screenplays and even gained his own controversial form of celebrity. Capote "was famous for being famous, as much as he was revered as a remarkably talented writer" writes Pugh. Each chapter concerns itself with different aspects of his life and writings from his aforementioned celebrity, which led to cameos in films like Annie Hall, to the contrasts between his novella, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and that of the film to the subsequent depictions of Capote in cinema, in films like Capote and Infamous. With thick paragraphs on every page, each chapter is its own academic essay, with enough content to be stretched into a full collegiate course. This makes for dense reading but also opens many avenues of film and literature to explore as well. It's a hefty book yet rich with insight into Capote's literary and cinematic achievements. -
July 1, 2014
Pugh's (English, Univ. of Central Florida; Queer Chivalry) latest is the piece of film history that you didn't even know that your library was missing. It's a fascinating look at the effect of Truman Capote's literature (In Cold Blood) and scriptwriting on film, sprinkled with allusions to his increasing cheekiness in regards to movies of his time (1924-84). The title includes smart discussions, answering such questions as how Breakfast at Tiffany's made it to the big screen when Capote had such reservations about adapting literature to film. Pugh explores how the author's sexuality permeated his writing and what that meant when translated into mainstream movies. This book is not for those seeking a quick read or a photo-filled tome, but for a fresh perspective on the meeting of literature and film, look no further. VERDICT This book expertly explains how film studies, film history, and queer theory all converge in the charismatic Capote. A must for anyone interested in seeing the connections between film adaptations and quintessential Capote literature.--Jennifer Thompson, Richland Lib., Columbia, SC
Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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