Five Came Back

A Story of Hollywood and the Second World War

By: Mark Harris

Narrated by: Andrew Garman

Length: 20 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

It was the best of times and the worst of times for Hollywood before the war. The box office was booming, and the studios’ control of talent and distribution was as airtight as could be hoped. But the industry’s relationship with Washington was decidedly uneasy - hearings and investigations into allegations of corruption and racketeering were multiplying, and hanging in the air was the insinuation that the business was too foreign, too Jewish, too "un-American" in its values and causes. Could an industry this powerful in shaping America’s mind-set really be left in the hands of this crew? Following Pearl Harbor, Hollywood had the chance to prove its critics wrong and did so with vigor, turning its talents and its business over to the war effort to an unprecedented extent.

No industry professionals played a bigger role in the war than America’s most legendary directors: Ford, Wyler, Huston, Capra, and Stevens. Between them they were on the scene of almost every major moment of America’s war, and in every branch of service - army, navy, and air force; Atlantic and Pacific; from Midway to North Africa; from Normandy to the fall of Paris and the liberation of the Nazi death camps; to the shaping of the message out of Washington, D.C.

As it did for so many others, World War II divided the lives of these men into before and after, to an extent that has not been adequately understood. In a larger sense - even less well understood - the war divided the history of Hollywood into before and after as well. Harris reckons with that transformation on a human level - through five unforgettable lives - and on the level of the industry and the country as a whole. Like these five men, Hollywood too, and indeed all of America, came back from the war having grown up more than a little.

©2014 Mark Harris (P)2014 Recorded Books

Surprisingly Boring

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The book contains a lot of interest facts. However by choosing to follow 5 directors simultaneously, the story telling felt fragmented. I had trouble keeping track of which director did what, when. Also since each director experienced different series of failure and success at different times and took away different lessons from the war, the story did not built up to any sense of suspense. Felt more like a text book than most historical non-fiction I read. A set of interesting facts presented by a good narrator, but oddly boring for the subject matter: Hollywood and WWII.

Master Movie Makers And World War 2

What did you love best about Five Came Back?

I very much enjoyed the bios of 5 of the most famous movie directors America produced. The vignettes about some of my favorite movies as well as period stars was tantalizing. Harris tells fascinating stories about WW2 through the lives of these extraordinary men. I really liked this book. The narrator was excellent as well.

Magisterial

The author creates rich cultural history through the lens of five great directors and how WWII changed them. I found the book riveting and could not put it down. True, I am deeply interested in the great films and filmmakers of the studio system, and an appreciation of Capra, Ford, Wyler, Huston, & Stevens will make this a more meaningful read.

However, Harris is a gifted writer and storyteller. Personalities of the protagonists are vividly drawn. How these men (yes - all men) witness and respond to the catastrophe of war and the holocaust make this much much more than gossipy memoir. It was deeply moving and unforgettable.

An Involving and Inspiring Story of War and Movie-Making

Hearing how these great directors, most of whom were in no danger of being drafted, left their careers to serve their country is truly inspiring, especially as Harris does not try to portray them as saints or heroes, but shows them as they were: brilliant, patriotic, an generous, but at times also petty, egotistical, and dishonest. The reading of the book is excellent.

Great book on WWII.

Gives a very clear picture of the impact of Hollywood during WWII & post WWII American mind set. Five of the greatest directors of all time. I predict this will be a major force in the history of film regarding WWII.

A great approach to the directors that went to war

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys film history or likes to read about World War II from different perspectives. The book could have easily been mediocre in the wrong hands. You come away knowing these people as distinct individuals.

What other book might you compare Five Came Back to and why?

It's reminiscent of Harris book Pictures at the Revolution in the way he gives deep background on characters to set you up for the story to come.

What does Andrew Garman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Like any good performance he interprets events that makes some moments more poignant that they might be otherwise. You can argue that Garman gave the reader a deeper understanding than a first time reader might get.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

George Stevens witnessing German concentration camps in person and how that shaped the rest of his life is so moving I want to reads a book just about Stevens.

Any additional comments?

I wish Harris could churn these out at Stephen Ambrose rates because both of his books are modern classics in the film history genre.

great view of Hollywood's role in the war

great story, well told, interesting lives they had, lots of great insight into the mindset of the world at the time

Fantastic in every way

I admit I'm not well-versed on the entire ouvre of these five directors, but I knew enough to find their WW II stories and experiences fascinating. The book was well written and the narrator was great, and I'm glad I decided to drop a credit on this great book (Super abrupt and awkward ending though, with really strange emphasis on "THE END.")

not a good WW2 book.

did not like this book at all. not the story I thought it would be about WW2. disappointed