Mit Out Sound

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Emily Bennett was used to seeing famous people wherever she was. She lived in Beverly Hills, where the sight of a celebrity was commonplace. However, Emily’s sightings were atypical. Emily suffered from face blindness, leading to her believing a teacher resembled a First Lady. Her occasional glimpses at show business glitterati only fueled her desire to become a Hollywood star. By the early 1970s, Emily had worked on various productions, performing various roles, but none merited any notice. However, it was while working on a television production that she learned of a mysterious and fabled movie project starring John Wayne and James Dean. The movie was called “Showdown” and would soon consume her life for the remainder of the decade.

Emily is fascinated by the possibility of a lost film starring two show business legends. However, the intrigue builds once the scuttled film’s existence is confirmed by a veteran actor along with the “Duke” himself. The memory of the production still rankled the aged star and Emily is mystified as to what occurred during the shoot. As Emily’s career takes her from Hollywood to New York, she can’t seem to escape this movie.

Emily’s purpose becomes clear shortly after meeting Tom Monfredo and Jimmy Riley. Tom bears more than a striking resemblance to Wayne, while Riley gives off Dean’s rebellious vibe. The men make a few dollars as impersonators, but real stardom is a pipe dream. Nevertheless, an idea arises in Emily’s mind once she has viewed some of the footage of “Showdown.” Emily believes she can reincarnate the film and use Tom and Jimmy to stand in for their real-life counterparts.

Despite the production of the movie commencing, Emily has concerns that gnaw at the back of her mind. Her director wants to revamp the script and take the plot in another direction. Jimmy appears noncommittal in his role as James Dean, and Emily is developing feelings for Tom. The addition of her brother to the cast soon threatens further trouble that Emily never could have envisioned. Sometimes, the past is better left buried.

Mit Out Sound” is a transfixing dramatic mystery that explores more than Hollywood lore. The three protagonists at the core of the narrative are equally damaged and have found a platform to exorcise their past demons. In making the movie a reality, Emily seeks validation in life that she didn’t receive from her father. While Emily’s storyline is at the forefront, the storylines of Tom and Jimmy are no less impactful and are fraught with emotion. The path to the reboot of “Showdown” is filled with the typical motion picture hurdles from financing to casting to directing, each one cleverly portrayed by author Rick Lenz (“The Alexandrite”). Lenz’s storytelling is first-rate in showcasing a movie production that takes on a life of its own. Mit Out Sound will make the reader ponder their next movie on a deeper level along with seeking out more of the author’s previous work.


Reviewed By:

Author Rick Lenz
Star Count 5/5
Format Trade
Page Count 367 pages
Publisher Chromodroid Press
Publish Date 25-Feb-2025
ISBN 9780999695371
Bookshop.org Buy this Book
Issue October 2024
Category Modern Literature
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