Despite his exalted status as one of Hollywood's highest paid screenwriters, whose credits included "Somebody Up There Likes Me," "North by Northwest," and "West Side Story," Ernest Lehman's life was often an anxiety-ridden roller coaster ride. His career took him from the gritty streets of Times Square in "Sweet Smell of Success" to alpine meadows in "The Sound of Music." An introverted perfectionist often has problems integrating into a business that is so dependent upon the contributions of many diverse--and oftentimes temperamental--people. Lehman's compulsive perfectionism made it particularly difficult. He fought with Mike Nichols, was threatened by Gene Kelly, smoothed Barbra Streisand's ruffled feathers, and bonded with Richard Burton over their shared love for baseball and cardigan sweaters. This is an impeccably researched biography of a complex, aloof, and unashamedly avaricious man, who left a film legacy that is still unmatched today. — Alden Graves