Scenes From a Revolution by Mark Harris

In 1967, Hollywood was changing fast — four of the five films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar were Bonnie and Clyde, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night and The Graduate. Here, Mark Harris tells us about the making of these films — and the fifth, which was Doctor Dolittle, starring Rex Harrison. It's very entertaining, of course, and full of characters — the ultra-persuasive Warren Beatty, the fiercely determined Dustin Hoffman, the touchy, drink-fuelled Harrison. But this isn't just a gossipy book, although it contains lots of duelling egos and bad behaviour. It's also a book about issues — how weird people used to be, by today's standards, about sex and race, and how, in 1967, they were becoming less weird. It will really, really make you want to watch the films again.

Synopsis by Foyles.co.uk

With behind-the-scenes gossip creating as much drama as the movies themselves, Hollywood in 1967 showcased the future of film in more ways than one. From the anti-heroes of "Bonnie and Clyde" and the illicit sex of "The Graduate" to the race relations of "In The Heat of the Night", suddenly no subject was taboo. This was a time of turbulence as hip young filmmakers embodying the restlessness and rebellion of a changing America wrought radical changes to the traditions of cinema. "Scenes from a Revolution" is an exceptional analysis of the films shortlisted for the Best Picture Academy Award of 1967 as well as an illuminating window into the popular culture of the time.