When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead

HereisthestoryofJerryWeintraub:theself-made,Brooklyn-born,Bronx-raisedimpresario,Hollywoodproducer,legendarydealmaker,andfriendofpoliticiansandstars.Nomatterwherenaturehasplacedhim--theclubroomsofBrooklyn,theMafiadivesofNewYork'sLowerEastSide,thewildsofAlaska,orthehillsofHollywood--hehasfoundawaytoputonashowandsellticketsatthedoor."AlllifewasatheaterandIwantedtoputituponastage,"hewrites."Iwantedtosettheworldunderamarqueethatread:'JerryWeintraubPresents.'"InWHENISTOPTALKING,YOU'LLKNOWI'MDEAD,wefollowWeintraubfromhisfirstgreatsuccessatagetwenty-sixwithElvisPresley,whomhetookontheroad;totheimmortaldayswithSinatraandRatPackglory;tohiscrowninghitsasamovieproducer,startingwithRobertAltmanandNashville,continuingwithOh,God!,TheKarateKidmovies,andDiner,amongothers,andsummitingwithStevenSoderberghandOcean'sEleven,Twelve,andThirteen.Alongtheway,we'llwatchasJerrymovesfromthepokertablesofPalmSprings,tothepowerroomsofHollywood,tothehallsoftheWhiteHouse,toRedSquareinMoscow-allthewhilecounselingpotentates,poets,andkings,withclientsandconfidantslikeGeorgeClooney,BruceWillis,GeorgeH.W.Bush,ArmandHammer,BradPitt,MattDamon,BobDylan,LedZeppelin,JohnDenver,BobbyFischer...well,thelistgoeson.Andofcourse,thestoryisnotyetover...AsWeintraubsays,"WhenIstoptalking,you'llknowI'mdead."