The Way We Lived Then : Recollections of a Well-Known Name Dropper

This review is mostly for the seller who deserves 5 stars. Book was shipped and received very quickly and is in very good condition for its age. I had a copy of it years ago and wanted to read it again after buying Griffin Dunne’s new book. Dominick Dunne’s The Way We Lived Then provides the reader with an interesting view into the life of the author, his family and the Hollywood world of the 1960’s through the 1980’s. It’s a good story…

When Dominick Dunne left Hollywood mid-life to begin a new career as a writer, he sold off all of his possessions, except one: His scrapbooks of photos, invitations and clippings. These ultimately became this book, an autobiography of his first 50 years.He covers his privileged upbringing as a star-struck child in a prominent Catholic family in Connecticut. After a harrowing tour as a soldier in WWII, he finds his way into show biz, at first as a stage manager in the early days of TV in New York. Thrilled to be near the glamor of the entertainment industry, he moves to LA to get closer to Hollywood.He finds success both as a TV/film producer and social butterfly, working his way into the constant party scene of mid-century Hollywood. The book is filled with his snapshots of movie stars and moguls at numerous dinners and parties, as well as printed invitations and telegrams (the Facebook and email of the day).But the party doesn’t last. Drinking and drugs catch up with Dunne as he loses social favor, his marriage, his home.A book about mid-century Hollywood gossip isn’t my normal read, but Dunne is a fantastic writer. He brings the mid-century Hollywood social scene to life in tantalizing glimpses. His photographs make up in intimacy what they lack in technical quality. I’m a generation or more behind Dunne in age, and most of the names dropped in the book were only vaguely familiar. Readers from this century may need to do some homework to learn who his cast of characters were.

The book is smashing. Buy it. If you're very young and not deep into movies, you might be disappointed. However, if you're a movie maven of any age, you'll recognize almost everyone.In many ways, the photos bring to life all of the names that turn up in other books about the movies - producers, producers wives, etc.Dunne knows his audience, though, and most of the book's photos depict highly recognizable faces. It was fun, for example, to finally see a photo of Natalie Wood's habit of checking her makeup in her reflection in her silverware. Many books about Ms. Wood write about this habit, but Dunne got the charming photo of Wood spoofing herself.A few of the photos are startling. For example, there is a four-photo montage of Elizabeth Montgomery trying to make her husband, Gig Young, jealous by dancing with George Hamilton. The two last photos show Montgomery casting a positively wicked look over her shoulder, then George Hamilton dissolving into tears.Dunne's writing, as usual, is so spare it seems simplistic. But as a longtime fan, I admire the way he just put the words on the page, without excessive embellishment. He seems to always be asking himself, "How can I make my point in five words? In four? In three?"If you're a movie fan, this is a must-have for your bookshelf.

A wonderful book by Dunne that portrays the rarified world that he and his family inhabited so many years ago. The names and faces of so many celebrities will keep the reader enthralled and the tales Dunne relates are intriguing.I recommend this book to readers who want to take a trip to places and times that are gone but definitely not forgotten.

I was disappointed to see that other than name of people in photo there are no interesting tidbits that Dominick usually does on people. Just lots of black & white photos throughout book.

thought it would be more about the gilded age , not Hollywood.

Focus's mostly on the 1950's-'80's. Easy to read. Lot's of salient pictures. What I found most "enjoyable" in a sad way was the author's honesty not only about the movie industry people, but his forthright honesty about his own role, experience's and shortcoming's in the industry and his personal aspects of dealing with cultural expectations. A story of movers and shakers that reflect even today's society of "cancel-culture", and misanthrope's. Offer's understanding of the cost of hubris, denial and coming to terms with reality.

What a trip down memory lane! The book is full of black & white glossies of stars of yesteryear caught in candid moments, & the recounting of events was fascinating. I was a longtime fan of Dominick's & through this book learned a lot about his life & I grew to be a fan of Lenny's as well.This book has elements of an enduring love story, backstories & backstage gossip, comedy & tragedy. It's not a 'fluffy' book.He did not sugarcoat his downward spiral, nor did he make excuses or resort to self-pity.Well worth reading!

Havn't read it all yet... give me some time.....

Good book very enjoyable read.

Great book full of reminiscences of times gone by in Hollywood.

I had been wanting to read this for years as I had read his novels which fascinated me. I was expecting a similar type of book but was disappointed when it turned up that it was not a straight forward autodiography. I had neverbeen able to follow what his life had been before Dominque was murdered. This is all about it but a very slight book in written content. The pictures are good but very much 'name dropping'. I was surprised at the style in which they lived but I suppose it was all on the wife's money.

it was as advertised.