- Narrator: Thalberg's name stands as a benchmark of how a producer can not only shape a motion picture, but, actors, directors, and an entire era of Hollywood, as well. A man who never put his name on a film; yet, was christened the architect of the motion picture industry. Whose unprecedented prowess and talent are still spoken of today - more than 60 years after his death. Irving Thalberg - simply, has no equal.
- [first lines]
- Narrator: In 1941, F. Scott Fitzgerald's final finished novel, "The Last Tycoon," was released to critical acclaim. In notes to his editor, Fitzgerald made it clear that the character of studio head, Monroe Stahr, was modeled after legendary film producer, Irving Thalberg. "Thalberg has always fascinated me. His peculiar charm, his extraordinary good looks, his bountiful success, the tragic end of his great adventure."
- Michael F. Blake: Irving Thalberg, before he was 22, was in charge of production at Universal Studios. Hence, he got the title: the boy wonder.
- Gavin Lambert: [referring to Norma Shearer] My impression of her was this strange mixture of theatricality and a kind of seething emotion underneath it.
- Narrator: Unlike his peers, Thalberg clearly had posterity in mind for the film industry - certain it was the art form of the 20th Century. F. Scott Fitzgerald would write, "He was a marker in industry like Edison and Lumiere and Griffith and Chaplin. He led pictures way up past the range and power of the theatre."
- Narrator: Irving and Norma had been living with his parents. An arrangement that suited the working couple.
- Bob Thomas: His mother was accustomed to running Irving's home life and couldn't quite adjust to having a wife of his in the household. That got to be a problem for Norma and she finally decided, "We're going to have to move to our own house."
- Gavin Lambert: He wanted to make her into the great lady of the theater - in the movies. But, then, she was responsible for her second... which was "The Divorcee." Norma read it and was desperate to play the part which was of a very glamorous, adventurous sort of Scott Fitzgerald type of heroine. And Irving simply did not see her in that role. He didn't think that she had the glamour or the sex. She was absolutely determined to get the part and prove that she could do it. So, she go George Hurrell to take sexy photographs. When Irving saw them, he was convinced. He'd never looked at her in that way. And I remember asking Norma what her reaction had been when Irving had this reaction to the photographs. And she said,"It was thrilling."