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The Last Tycoon

4 Extra Debut. 1930s Hollywood studio head Munroe Stahr is at the top of his game, but is fatefully unhinged by a love affair. Stars Aiden Gillens.

The celebrated theatre director Bill Bryden adapts F Scott Fitzgerald's last and unfinished novel. Starring Aiden Gillen, Jack Shepherd and Charlotte Emmerson.

Haunted by the death of his wife, 1930s Studio Head Monroe Stahr works eighteen hour days, each one a collision of talent meetings, set visits, script brainstorms and preview screenings. He's the "last of the princes", is making the studio millions and seems bullet proof.

At the end of an epic day, an earthquake breaks two water mains, sending a roaring river of water through the studio. And with it, the huge floating head of the goddess Shiva - a film prop.

As Stahr leaves his office to inspect the damage he sees the head floating by and on it two women, one of them the mesmerising Kathleen.

It's the beginning of a love affair that will destroy him.

As their affair plays out, we follow the disintegration of one of the great Hollywood legends, and also witness the darker heart of the Hollywood machine as a paranoid fear of communism comes to the fore.

It's a gorgeous, excruciating, heady tale - based on Fitzgerald's own painful experiences working in Hollywood as a screenwriter.

Produced by Laurence Bowen
Adapted and directed by Bill Bryden
Production Associate - John Tams
Sound Design - Mark Smith

A Feelgood Fiction production for 大象传媒 Radio 4.

1 hour, 30 minutes

Last on

Sun 19 Mar 2017 04:00

Credits

Role Contributor
Munro Stahr Aidan Gillen
Kathleen Charlotte Emmerson
Bremmer Jack Shepherd
Cecilia Hilary Connell
Brady Michael Feast
Tony Rodriquez Karl Johnson
Boxley Trevor Ray
Fleishacker John Guerrasio
Miss Doolan Angela Douglas
Author F Scott Fitzgerald
Adaptor Bill Bryden
Director Bill Bryden
Producer Laurence Bowen

Broadcasts

  • Sat 18 May 2013 14:30
  • Sat 30 May 2015 14:30
  • Sat 18 Mar 2017 06:00
  • Sat 18 Mar 2017 16:00
  • Sun 19 Mar 2017 04:00

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