From Caligari to Hitler

Not sure if this is the right fit?

Consider Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman. Recommended by 4 sources.

“Goldman writes like a raconteur: candid, impatient, and often amused by his own stories. The book delivers first-hand, frequently funny backstage anecdotes about scripts, studio bargaining, and how films shift from page to set. Its main value is practical, streetwise warnings about the gulf between writing and production, but it offers little step-by-step instruction; chapters can drift into gossip, repetition, and period-specific references that feel dated. Best read for voice and trade-eye perspective rather than systematic guidance.”