The Last Tycoon

“My father was in the picture business as another man might be in cotton or steel, and I took it tranquilly.”

Cecilia’s acceptance of her father’s involvement in the picture business, likening it to someone being engaged in industries like cotton or steel, reflects the normalized yet distinct nature of Hollywood from her perspective. This line suggests that in the world she inhabits, the film industry is not viewed as an exotic or extraordinary pursuit but rather as a commonplace and essential part of life, much like any other conventional profession. It captures the industry’s integration into the daily fabric of existence for those directly associated with it, like Cecilia and her father.

“When I was at Bennington some of the English teachers who pretended an indifference to Hollywood or its products, really hated it. Hated it way down deep as a threat to their existence.”

Cecilia’s observation about English teachers at Bennington reflects a deep-seated disdain towards Hollywood among certain academic circles of that period. The line unveils an underlying tension between intellectual elitism and popular culture, suggesting that some educators perceived Hollywood as a threat to their traditional literary domain. The contempt for Hollywood, presented as a “threat to their existence,” unveils a broader conflict between highbrow literature and mass entertainment.

“On the ground Wylie and I were suddenly friends, because he held out his arm to steady me when I got out of the plane.”

Cecilia’s observation cleverly encapsulates a shift in her relationship dynamics with Wylie. The emergency landing disrupts the perceived barriers, and prompts a connection, illustrating how unexpected circumstances can reshape interpersonal dynamics, and