Hype and Glory

Goldman, prolific novelist ( Marathon Man ) and screenwriter ( The Princess Bride ) was invited to be a judge at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1989, and then, to his surprise, to help choose Miss America the following September. With a witty storyteller's talents, he here describes these heady experiences. His ruthlessly candid, insider's report on the ``hype and glory'' inherent in these tinselly events, is bound to incense the contestants and promoters. Goldman reveals the way movies are selected for competition at Cannes and how compromises determine the winners; his account of how the least likely Miss America was awarded the crown is a satiric blockbuster. Throughout, Goldman weaves reflections on his personal life, including his divorce after 27 years from his wife, Ilene. (Apr.)