jealousy
The Rewrite Man
I know little of the world of writing for screen and stage, apart from a minor dabble during my creative writing course many many moons ago. So I was intrigued by a book written by an actual scriptwriter, narrating a story about a Hollywood scriptwriter who comes to the rescue of a film director stranded in the south of France battling with a third-rate production.
The book is The Rewrite Man, published way back in 1983. I picked it up in the magical National Trust bookshop I told you about a few weeks ago. The author is Brian Forbes who himself had vast experience of every aspect of motion picture production as author, actor, screen director and producer; indeed one of the most respected directors in the world. And married to the famous actress Nanette Newman to boot. We’re in safe hands: this is a man who knows exactly who and what and where and how.
Harvey Burgess is an empathetic man, and his friends use him as their chosen confidant, the laundry basket for all their soiled linen … like some neutered father confessor available for free consultations at any hour of the day or night. We listen over his shoulder to a drunken phone call from France begging him to join the team to rescue a film from certain disaster. As the narrator, he takes us with him as he flies to Europe and becomes immersed in a world that changes his life and priorities for ever. It’s Harvey’s job to re-write the script about the French Revolution, and bring the story to life.
Director, Martin James, is the man who made the fateful call, unwittingly revealing that he’s besotted by one of the young actresses, his protegee, Laura Taylor. He’s a man with a Midas touch for mediocrity, and a would-be Professor Higgins accent, who gives the impression that he had bought a do-it-yourself Rex Harrison kit, but had never quite worked out the instructions. But Martin trusts Harvey to be a safe pair of hands protecting Laura from any competition.
And there’s plenty of competition – Laura is a very beautiful girl. Harvey himself falls under her spell and begins a passionate and obsessive relationship even though he knows Laura has other boyfriends of longer standing. He knows their time together is limited to the duration of the film’s production, but he quickly realises that he’s in deeper than he’s ever been before.
When he’s no longer needed for the film script, and instead accompanies the body of a colleague back to the States, he’s convinced they will stay in touch. But his letters go unanswered; his calls are not returned; her contact points are cut off. Though he does all in his power to track her career and her whereabouts he draws a blank. Until, that is, tragic news arrives from an unexpected source.
Forbes certainly knows how to create vivid characters and lively dialogue. He writes the scenes he clearly sees, weaving a tale of obsession and jealousy with skill and verve. It’s very much of its time, but it’s always useful to read good writing and this was a benign diversion from the pile of books I’m reading on death and dying!
