“The credits rolled. Then there was my name. I was part of Hollywood, if only for a small moment. I was guilty.”
Hollywood is the fictional account of Charles Bukowski’s involvement in writing the film Barfly as told through his alter ego Henry “Hank” Chinaski. Hollywood gives a fascinating insight into the darker side of the movie business. Who better to tell such a story than the master of grot?
The book Begins with the newly married Chinaski being asked to write a screenplay – which eventually becomes The Dance Of Jim Beam. The story follows the setbacks, the wine, the oddballs and the gamblers all the way though to way to the première.
To those familiar with previous works it becomes clear that marriage has mellowed the usually temperamental Chinaski, but his romance with booze and horse racing remains passionate. Finally “enjoying” success he feels in danger of losing his identity, just like, he says, the actors around him have lost their's by spending careers pretending to be someone they’re not.
“Now, after decades, I was a writer with a desk. Yes I felt the fear, the fear of becoming like them.”
Really this book is best read by those who are familiar with Bukowski’s earlier prose and not the ideal place for novices to start. Ham On Rye, Post Office and Factotum in particular offer more insight into the real Bukowski/Chinaski world, where Bukowski's true Hollywood is East Hollywood, rather than the locale of the movie industry, where he details the escapades of American low-life.
While Hollywood somewhat betrays Bukoswki’s gritty reputation, he still manages to retain his sardonic, nihilistic, misanthropic charm and is just as self-deprecating and indeed humorous as ever.
