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Raised among practical Midwestern values, I often find myself frustrated by memoirs that focus primarily on personal introspection. What I seek are narratives that extend beyond the individual, offering insights into broader cultural landscapes, historical epochs, or overarching ways of life.
Such depth can be found in The Golden Hour: A Story of Family and Power in Hollywood by Matthew Specktor, a talented writer deeply connected to the film industry. This work, spanning over fifty years and featuring a parade of iconic personalities, transcends the typical memoir. With a blend of family drama, cultural critique, and Hollywood history, Specktor crafts an engaging narrative that evokes both nostalgia and reflection on a world in decline.
The narrative unfolds in the mid-1960s, centered on the relationship of Specktor’s parents. His father, Fred Specktor, is a fledgling talent agent, dedicated yet struggling to carve out a niche in the competitive landscape. His mother, Katherine McGaffey, embodies the archetype of a beautiful, aspiring actress who lacks the ambition to pursue that dream. Her high cultural aspirations are evident from the outset; she is literally introduced through a book by James Joyce that spills from her bag, symbolizing the clash between art and commerce that often characterizes Hollywood.
As is common in the industry, the couple becomes caught up in the allure of fame and the exhilarating cultural shifts of the 1960s. Initially, Fred’s career faces challenges as Hollywood resists change, struggling even to place unconventional talents like Jack Nicholson. However, with the success of films like Bonnie and Clyde, a newfound interest in unique talent propels Fred’s career forward, coinciding with Matthew’s birth and Katherine’s aspirations towards writing screenplays. Yet, despite this promising trajectory, Specktor writes:
“This industry has a way of entwining itself with one’s illusions too quickly. [Fred’s] last girlfriend, Stella Stevens, starred alongside Elvis. Watching her share the screen with the King alters one’s perception of reality, reshaping the boundaries of everyday life.” This complexity breeds a sense of discontent, revealing the often superficial nature of Hollywood’s allure.
As Fred ascends through the ranks during the vibrant ’70s film scene, the family’s fortunes dwindle. Katherine struggles with her sense of self and battles alcoholism, while Fred seeks new relationships, leaving Matthew to navigate a fraught bond with a father he struggles to understand and a mother caught in her own demons. Eventually, Matthew escapes to the East Coast for college, studying writing under the guidance of James Baldwin—the book’s intriguing, almost heroic figure—and he finds work in a corporate film environment starkly different from his father’s earlier experiences.
True to the genre, The Golden Hour is rich with anecdotes about Hollywood personalities, including amusing encounters with Bruce Dern and a memorable voicemail from Marlon Brando. David Lynch also makes a surprising appearance. Yet, Specktor’s most compelling prose delves into the lives of two influential agents, Lew Wasserman and Mike Ovitz, who wielded significant power in the industry. Fred’s affiliation with both figures allows Specktor to explore how their strategic genius reshaped Hollywood’s essence, transitioning it from an art form into a realm dominated by commercial transactions.
What resonates most profoundly in the book are the reflections on Fred and Katherine. Specktor imbues them with a legendary quality that many of us attribute to our own parents, reflecting a sense of reverence and mystery even as we grasp the contours of their lives. In contrast, Matthew’s personal narrative, while insightful, occasionally feels more mundane—like an indie film striving for significance.
Ultimately, The Golden Hour presents a narrative of loss: the fading of youthful dreams, the commercialization of Hollywood, the diminishing power of films to inspire, and the erosion of an America once perceived as promising despite its flaws. It poignantly illustrates how the fleeting beauty of the ‘golden hour’—an enchanting moment that renders everything luminous—inevitably yields to the encroaching shadows of reality.
Source
www.npr.org