David O. Selznick was one of the most powerful individuals working during the Golden Age of Hollywood. His company produced numerous hits with some of the era’s most popular stars. Thanks to Selznick, film triumphs such as King Kong (1933), Gone with the Wind (1939), Rebecca (1940), and many more were realized.

Milan Hain’s Starmaker: David O. Selznick and the Production of Stars in the Hollywood Studio System delves into the life of Selznick, focusing primarily on his professional accomplishments and array of studio stars. He also examines how Selznick went about marketing his stars and films, in addition to exploring how Selznick’s style of film production differed from his contemporaries.

The book is filled with interesting photographs as well as supplemental information about stars under contract with Selznick as well as various film releases overseen by Selznick. Hain offers an extremely well-researched overview of Selznick, in collaboration with numerous archives, and crafts a narrative that is sure to be enjoyed by fans of classic film and various Selznick productions.

Starmaker: David O. Selznick and the Production of Stars in the Hollywood Studio System is available for purchase via the University Press of Mississippi.