Young man in movieland

the long version

"Young Man in Movieland is the autobiography of Jan Read, who grew up in a quiet Scottish town and seemed destined to follow in his father's footsteps. Instead of pursuing a career in chemistry, however, Read's passion for the camera and a bit of luck led him in a completely different direction. Sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund, an organization dedicated to encouraging young British children to explore the United States and its institutions, Read abandoned a promising academic career in 1946 and set sail on a rusting liberty ship headed for New York." "An introduction to British movie magnate J. Arthur Rank led to Read's working as an assistant to Louis de Rochemont and producing the groundbreaking Boomerang! Moving to Hollywood, then in its golden age, Read joined director Fritz Lang, learning all he could about scripting and production techniques and meeting many Hollywood greats along the way, including Katharine Hepburn, Joan Bennett, Darryl F. Zanuck, and Otto Preminger. Upon returning to England, he landed a job at Gainesborough Pictures, where he worked on a number of memorable films."--Jacket.