The seven deadly sins of Hollywood (1957)

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THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF HOLLYWOOD The story starts with Mr. Greene meeting producer John Stafford and director Ken Annakin for dinner. Mr. Greene, tall, well-dressed, nervous, tells them a plot he has in mind for a film. It is about an accountant, a mathematical genius, who discovers a system for winning a fortune at roulette. It is a comedy. Director Ken Annakin is so surprised by this uncharacteristic story that he secretly believes Mr. Greene will never get around to writing it. But a tentative deal is set up. As author and associate producer of the film Mr. Greene will collect about £15,000. He insists on being associate producer to ensure his story is not tampered with. "I'm damned," he says, "if I'm going to have any more of my stories mucked up by high-paid morons." Director Annakin reflects that for a man so preoccupied on paper with the bad things of life Mr. Greene is extraordinarily appreciative of the good things of life which money can buy. In fact, he drives a very hard bargain. Then no more is heard of Mr. Greene's lapse into gaiety. Everybody thinks he has repented and is having the devil of a time in some private hell of the imagination. But Mr. Greene is grimly determined to make his souffle. Loser Takes All is published as a novel. It reads like (and is in fact) a film treatment. Now work begins. The setting is Mr. Greene's flat in the Albany. The pictures on the walls are dark. Picassoish and tortured. But the gentleman sitting on the sofa next to a recording machine drinking vodka is hardly suffering at all. Director Annakin suggests a new line of dialogue. Author Greene says, "No, people don't talk like that." He retires to his bedroom (he cannot write in front of people) and re-emerges half an hour later with dialogue that does represent the way people talk. They are both disgracefully happy and have another glass of vodka. 196