Gore Vidal in the Cinema

Abstract

Throughout his writing life Gore Vidal had an ambivalent relationship with the world of films in general, and Hollywood in particular. On the one hand he understood how Hollywood was a dominant cultural force in twentieth century American cultures, helping to shape people’s beliefs as well as embodying changing political moods. One character remarks in his novel Hollywood 1989 : “We [Hollywood producers] are now supplying the world with all sorts of dreams and ideas. Well, why don’t we shape these dreams, deliberately?” Vidal, Hollywood 447 .