Joe Eszterhas

Josef Eszterhas (born November 23, 1944 in Csakanydoroszlo, Hungary) is a controversial Hungarian-American screenwriter best known for his work on the films Basic Instinct and Showgirls. He is the son of Istvan Eszterhas, a Hungarian novelist.

Early forays in journalism

Prior to his involvement with screenwriting, he was a reporter with the Cleveland Plain Dealer and, later, a writer for Rolling Stone.

Related Topics:
Cleveland Plain Dealer - Rolling Stone

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During his stay at the Plain Dealer, he gained his first touch of notoriety due to his handling of color photos of Vietnam?s My Lai Massacre, which depicted American soldiers murdering Vietnamese civilians.

Related Topics:
Vietnam - My Lai Massacre

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Although annoyed at his newspaper?s apparent lack of belief in the authenticity of the photos, the paper permitted Eszterhas to try and sell them for $125,000. Some media outlets, however, used the photos without permission, causing the photos to decline in value. He ended up receiving only $20,000 from Life magazine.

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