"What Makes Sammy Run" is an incredibly jaded look at Hollywood. It follows the career of Sammy Glick--a guy who would probably shoot his own mother if he thought it would help his career! And, it makes for a very interesting and very jaded look at Hollywood--much in the tradition of films like "The Great Man", "Death of a Scoundrel" and "What Price Hollywood?". But we all know that unlike this movie, Hollywood couldn't possibly filled with such conniving, dishonest jerks (ha!!).
When this made for TV movie begins, Sammy is only a lowly copy boy at a newspaper in New York. Yet, within a brief instant, he's gotten a huge promotion and is sharing an office with Al Manheim (John Forsythe). Not too long after this, he's off to Hollywood to work on a movie project. And, surprisingly, he convinces Al to join him later to help him. Al is thrilled but a little worried--after all, Sammy seems like a conniving rat. And, after spending some time there, it's rather apparent that Al's instincts were right--Sam is a rat! And, the ultimate jerkish thing that Sammy has done is claim credit for a script he didn't even write! Nice guy, huh? To learn the rest of the story, tune in to episode two.
Larry Blyden did a great job in the film as Sammy--plus the likes of Forsythe, Dina Merrill, Barbara Rush and David Opatashu sure helped make this a fine acted movie. But the big star was the incredibly biting script by Bud Schulberg--which was based on his best-selling 1941 tell all book. Schulberg was a natural for this, as his father, B.P. Schulberg was an old-time Hollywood exec--the sort of mover and shaker that make the city. Well worth your time.
When this made for TV movie begins, Sammy is only a lowly copy boy at a newspaper in New York. Yet, within a brief instant, he's gotten a huge promotion and is sharing an office with Al Manheim (John Forsythe). Not too long after this, he's off to Hollywood to work on a movie project. And, surprisingly, he convinces Al to join him later to help him. Al is thrilled but a little worried--after all, Sammy seems like a conniving rat. And, after spending some time there, it's rather apparent that Al's instincts were right--Sam is a rat! And, the ultimate jerkish thing that Sammy has done is claim credit for a script he didn't even write! Nice guy, huh? To learn the rest of the story, tune in to episode two.
Larry Blyden did a great job in the film as Sammy--plus the likes of Forsythe, Dina Merrill, Barbara Rush and David Opatashu sure helped make this a fine acted movie. But the big star was the incredibly biting script by Bud Schulberg--which was based on his best-selling 1941 tell all book. Schulberg was a natural for this, as his father, B.P. Schulberg was an old-time Hollywood exec--the sort of mover and shaker that make the city. Well worth your time.