The Whole Equation: A History Of Hollywood - Hardcover

A historical odyssey through the Hollywood film industry ranges from the silent movie era to the present day, exploring the ways in which movies both shape and are shaped by American culture; discussing the contributions of such pioneers as Griffith, Chaplin, Selznick, and Spielberg; profiling Hollywood's leading citizens, past and present; and more. 75,000 first printing.

David Thomson taught film studies at Dartmouth College and served on the selection committee for the New York Film Festival. He is a regular contributor to The New York Times, Film Comment, Movieline, The New Republic, and Salon. He was the screenwriter on the award-winning documentary The Making of a Legend: Gone With the Wind. His other books include Showman: The Life of David O. Selznick, Beneath Mulholland: Thoughts on Hollywood and Its Ghosts, and three works of fiction. Born in London, he lives in San Francisco with his wife and their two sons.

David Thomson’s The New Biographical Dictionary of Film is available from Knopf in hardcover and paperback, and Rosebud: The Story of Orson Welles is available in Vintage paperback.