The making of "Munich"

Mister Bear loves a good movie. Even some not so good ones, at times. I remember watching "The Towering Inferno" three times in a row at a theater - about 9 hours sitting in a dark room watching sets go up in flames. (In my defense, I was much younger then, and not as wise as I am today). I also enjoy the business side of movies, amazed at how things eventually see the light of day. So, it was a delight to come across the story of the book behind Steven Spielberg's movie "Munich", and how it was "transformed" into the screenplay of the film.

George Jonas wrote the book "Vengeance". He tells his tale of the book, and of it's journey into film in this article. A few samplings:

My book was all about avenging evil. Then the King of Hollywood got hold of it.

and

The phrase used in Hollywood is "development hell." It means studio bigwigs trying to get screenwriters to write scripts they themselves would write if they knew how. It also means writers -- or "stenographers" as the ink-stained wretches are known locally -- trying to read the minds of the studio bigwigs. The winning stenographer guesses correctly, and the losing ones vanish into a black hole.

It will eventually take five writers to satisfy the masters of Universal and Spielberg's DreamWorks: two credited, three unsung. In hockey terms, Tony Kushner will get the goal and Eric Roth the assist for "Munich," but the puck will have been handled by at least three other players: Janet and David Peoples first, and later Charles Randolph.

and

[Spielberg] conceives of "Munich" as a prayer for peace. His screenwriter Tony Kushner says they do not wish to demonize either side. Such remarks illustrate why, in an era of moral chaos, Hollywood is unlikely to restore clarity. With due respect to pop culture and its undisputed master, one doesn't reach the moral high ground by being neutral between good and evil.

I highly recommend that you read the entire article - you'll come away with a deeper understanding of Hollywood today. A Hat Tip to It Comes in Pints? for the reference.