Mr Huston Mr North

"Bogie always said that, if there's an impossible location, you can be sure John will find it. John's authentic. He was about something." - Lauren Bacall "He was a landmark in film history, a great friend, and I'll miss him very much." - Michael Caine "There is nothing more fascinating-and more fun-than making movies. Besides, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it." - John Huston IN THE SUMMER OF 1987, a group of the screen's most notable stars gathered in glamorous Newport, Rhode Island to make Mr. North, a charming but unpretentious film about a magical man who turns the town upside-down. They included Anthony Edwards, Anjelica Huston, Lauren Bacall, Harry Dean Stanton, Virginia Madsen, Tammy Grimes, and a host of other talents, including legendary director John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen). The filmmaker was Danny Huston, John's son. But just as the cameras turned, John fell ill and was replaced by Robert Mitchum. There were daily reports on Huston's failing health, and the world wondered whether the lion of Hollywood, after surviving so many close calls with death over the years, would finally succumb. Nat Segaloff was the only journalist-in fact, the only outsider-allowed onto the set and behind the scenes of Mr. North, and he reported on it for The Boston Herald. But only some of it. Now, after more than a quarter century, the full story can be told of the daily interactions of these famous egos struggling to finish their movie while being overshadowed by the one person who wasn't even in it.

This is the Hardback version. "Bogie always said that, if there's an impossible location, you can be sure John will find it. John's authentic. He was about something." - Lauren Bacall "He was a landmark in film history, a great friend, and I'll miss him very much." - Michael Caine "There is nothing more fascinating-and more fun-than making movies. Besides, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it." - John Huston IN THE SUMMER OF 1987, a group of the screen's most notable stars gathered in glamorous Newport, Rhode Island to make Mr. North, a charming but unpretentious film about a magical man who turns the town upside-down. They included Anthony Edwards, Anjelica Huston, Lauren Bacall, Harry Dean Stanton, Virginia Madsen, Tammy Grimes, and a host of other talents, including legendary director John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen). The filmmaker was Danny Huston, John's son. But just as the cameras turned, John fell ill and was replaced by Robert Mitchum. There were daily reports on Huston's failing health, and the world wondered whether the lion of Hollywood, after surviving so many close calls with death over the years, would finally succumb. Nat Segaloff was the only journalist-in fact, the only outsider-allowed onto the set and behind the scenes of Mr. North, and he reported on it for The Boston Herald. But only some of it. Now, after more than a quarter century, the full story can be told of the daily interactions of these famous egos struggling to finish their movie while being overshadowed by the one person who wasn't even in it.

"Bogie always said that, if there's an impossible location, you can be sure John will find it. John's authentic. He was about something." - Lauren Bacall "He was a landmark in film history, a great friend, and I'll miss him very much." - Michael Caine "There is nothing more fascinating--and more fun--than making movies. Besides, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it." - John Huston IN THE SUMMER OF 1987, a group of the screen's most notable stars gathered in glamorous Newport, Rhode Island to make Mr. North, a charming but unpretentious film about a magical man who turns the town upside-down. They included Anthony Edwards, Anjelica Huston, Lauren Bacall, Harry Dean Stanton, Virginia Madsen, Tammy Grimes, and a host of other talents, including legendary director John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen). The filmmaker was Danny Huston, John's son. But just as the cameras turned, John fell ill and was replaced by Robert Mitchum. There were daily reports on Huston's failing health, and the world wondered whether the lion of Hollywood, after surviving so many close calls with death over the years, would finally succumb. Nat Segaloff was the only journalist--in fact, the only outsider--allowed onto the set and behind the scenes of Mr. North, and he reported on it for The Boston Herald. But only some of it. Now, after more than a quarter century, the full story can be told of the daily interactions of these famous egos struggling to finish their movie while being overshadowed by the one person who wasn't even in it.

Includes extra sessions.

Recounts the life of the influential director, writer, and actor and offers insight into his professional achievements as well as his extensive hobbies, five marriages, and homes in Mexico and Ireland.

“An extremely entertaining array of American life in a bygone era.” — New Yorker The last of Thornton Wilder’s works published during his lifetime, Theophilus North is part autobiographical and part the imagined adventures of Wilder’s twin brother who died at birth. This edition features an updated afterword from Wilder’s nephew, Tappan Wilder, with illuminating material about the novelist, story and setting. Setting out to see the world in the summer of 1926, Theophilus North gets as far as Newport, Rhode Island, before his car breaks down. To support himself, Theophilus takes jobs in the elegant mansions along Ocean Drive, just as Wilder himself did in the same decade. Soon the young man finds himself playing the roles of tutor, tennis coach, spy, confidant, lover, friend and enemy as he becomes entangled in adventure and intrigue in Newport’s fabulous addresses, as well as in its local boarding houses, restaurants, dives and military barracks. Narrated by the elderly North from a distance of fifty years, Theophilus North is a fascinating commentary on youth and education from the vantage point of age, and deftly displays Wilder’s trademark wit juxtaposed with his lively and timeless ruminations on what really matters, at the end of the day, about life, love, and work.