Contains enough tantrums, firings and exposed star insecurities to thrill the most jaded Hollywood-watcher . . . a terrifically enjoyable read. -- Christopher Fowler * * Independent on Sunday * *
Harris's book is racy, wise and deeply funny...All human life is here and most of Hollywood too. -- Nigel Andrews * * FT * *
Absolutely wonderful. An extraordinary book that combines social and pop history in an unputdownable volume. -- Richard E. Grant
Wonderful, addictively engrossing and very smart . . . one of the best books about film I have ever read -- NICK HORNBY
Mark Harris understands that film making depends less on creative talent than on social connections, bullshit, and work done in restaurants. As an exercise in social gossip (and incest), Scenes from a Revolution is hard to beat. -- Chris Petit * * Guardian * *
Harris's book initially overlaps with Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind's roaring study of 1970s US cinema. But in fact it stands shoulder to shoulder with it, like a better organized 1960s prequel. -- Larushka Ivan-Zadeh * * Metro * *
Beyond the intrigue and the gossip, Scenes from a Revolution is a persuasive account of one of the turning points in our cultural history. * * Daily Telegraph * *
A fresh and detailed portrait of counter-culturalism on the move through American cinema. Harris' style is easy and lucid and well-worth spending time with. -- Paul Dale * * The List * *
Impeccably researched, engagingly written and remarkably readable . . . the real joy here is the elegant flow of Harris' narrative, moving seamlessly from picture to picture and presenting a thorough, and entertaining, look at a turbulent time. -- William Thomas * * Empire * *
A near-faultless work of film criticism -- Melissa Katsoulis * * Sunday Telegraph * *
Excellent . . . might justly claim to explain how Hollywood came to be what Hollywood has become. -- Andrew O'Hagan * * London Review of Books * *
[Harris] is excellent on shifting attitudes towards race and homosexuality, but the real entertainment here comes from unsparing depictions of back-room machinations, business betrayals and egos so beastly Dr Dolittle would struggle to tame them. -- Victoria Segal * * Guardian * *
The depth and scope of Harris' research, coupled with his nose for a good anecdote, bring to life the book's dramatis personae of visionary egomaniacs and Machiavellian rainmakers. If you can get to the last page without having rented all five DVDs, I'd like to know how. -- Daragh Downes * * Irish Times * *
Very entertaining and full of characters . . . lots of dueling egos and bad behaviour. -- William Leith * * Scotsman * *
