Only at the conclusion of the novel does Isherwood significantly separate his voice from the stream of dialogue to provide a deeper commentary and to ask, "What makes you go on living?

Mr Patterson (journalist), Lawrence Dwight (headcutter), Fred Murray (gaffer), Mr Harris (art director), Mr Watts (lighting technician), Mr Pfeffer (musical director), Roger (sound recordist), Teddy (boomer), Joyce (continuity girl), Clark (clapper boy), Jack (camera man), Eliot (assistant director), Timmy (make-up man), Anita Hayden (actress), Arthur Cromwell (actor), Eddie Kennedy (director) The main character, Isherwood himself, is a moderately successful author of fiction.

As Hitler lays the foundation for war, movie executives such as Mr Chatsworth stress over the timely production of the film Prater Violet.

Ashmeade, the story editor, who we are led to believe is Isherwood's first, meaningless lover, and Dorothy, the secretary, both fade into a cast of minor characters who fail to comprehend the truth of life.

Prater Violet is based on Isherwood's experience as a screenwriter on the British Gaumont film Little Friend (1934), directed by Berthold Viertel, and starring Matheson Lang and Nova Pilbeam.