George Stevens was a highly accomplished director during the Golden Age of Hollywood, having worked on films including A Place in the Sun (1951), Shane (1953), Giant (1956), and The Diary of Anne Frank (1959). In My Place in the Sun: Life in the Golden Age of Hollywood and Washington by George Stevens, Jr., Stevens’s son tells the story of his father as an influential visionary.
As one can imagine, Stevens worked with many notable individuals across his many films, in addition to living through many significant cultural and political events. His son, George Stevens, Jr., grew up in Hollywood and gradually became familiar with the magnitude of his father’s work.
Stevens, Jr., began his own career journey when broadcaster Edward R. Murrow recruited him to the Motion Picture Services at the U.S. Information Agency. He was later appointed as founding director of the American Film Institute in 1967, working to protect and preserve films for generations of filmmakers. Stevens, Jr., received the Kennedy Center Honors for his achievements.
In this book, Stevens discusses his family’s five generations in the entertainment industry. Additionally, he discusses presidents, media moguls, and many Hollywood luminaries, in addition to showcasing his passion for advancing and preserving American film.
My Place in the Sun: Life in the Golden Age of Hollywood and Washington is available for purchase via the University of Kentucky Press.
Hometowns to Hollywood 