'Flatbush' Reaches Milestone

'Flatbush' Reaches Milestone

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty-five years ago, Hollywood began its love affair with looking back...to simpler, perhaps happier times, to the good old days of our parents' youth, or even our own. Thirty-five years ago this summer marks the production of a little film called "The Lords of Flatbush."

In his new book, The Making of The Lords of Flatbush, (Creative Book Publishers International, $14.95, http://www.bookpubintl.com/) writer/producer/director Stephen Verona* chronicles the mini-classic film from inspiration to perspiration to final reward. It is the story of one man's dream to make an independent movie based on his life in a motorcycle gang in the 1950s.

From the original idea through the pain of raising money and the rigors of independent film production to the film's instant success and sale to Columbia Pictures, topping the box office as the biggest grossing film in release, The Making of The Lords of Flatbush tells a sometimes hilarious and often dramatic, but never uneventful story. For dollar invested to dollar returned, "The Lords of Flatbush" was one of the biggest money-making films of all time.

The book reveals how everyone involved went on to become legends in their fields: From Sylvester Stallone who went on to become Rocky to Henry Winkler who became the Fonz, from Richard Gere who was cast as the original lead to Bette Midler whose manager pulled her out at the last minute...from composer Joe Brooks who won an Academy Award for "You Light Up My Life" to Paul Jabara who won an Oscar for Donna Summer's "Last Dance"...add to the list the names of Perry King, Armand Assante, Ray Sharkey and Susan Blakely and the impact of this picture in Hollywood is more than evident.

This film started a cultural revolution with the TV shows that it inspired. Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley and Welcome Back Kotter all found their inspiration in "Flatbush." It was the beginning of Hollywood's ongoing strolls down memory lane that account for some of its biggest hits...The Wonder Years, That '70s Show, Mad Men...because sometimes it's just more fun to look back.

*The work of Stephen Verona, the artist, is currently on exhibit at Karen Lynne Gallery West, Beverly Hills.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Creative Book Publishers International

CONTACT: Nancy Sayles, The Sayles Organization, +1-818-999-9571,
nsayles@socal.rr.com

Web site: http://www.bookpubintl.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For a review copy of The Making of The Lords of Flatbush or to set up an interview with Stephen Verona, contact Nancy Sayles

-------
Profile: intent