The following year, we watch as she falls in love with the crown prince of hollywood, douglas fairbanks, jr. If you are a douglas fairbanks fan, the fourth musketeer is a musthave. Fairbanks was born in 1883, and to coincide with his 125th birthday, an ambitious book douglas fairbanks, by jeffrey vance with tony maiettahas just been published. Fairbanks was also a screenwriter, a director, and a producer. Early biography of the hollywood royal, douglas fairbanks, jr. Ghost story by john irvin fred astaire, melvyn douglas. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The salad days by douglas fairbanks book a hell of a war by douglas fairbanks book. Robinson, ronald colman, katharine hepburn, irene dunne, ginger rogers, cary grant, rita hayworth, and maureen ohara.
Fairbanks was born in 1883, and to coincide with his 125th birthday, an ambitious bookdouglas fairbanks, by jeffrey vance with tony maiettahas just been published. Douglas fairbanks by jeffrey vance, robert cushman hardcover. He was highly decorated naval officer of world war ii. Luckily, in planning for a fairbanks biography back in the early nineties, vance was able to extensively interview douglas fairbanks jr. Douglas fairbanks takes the full measure of fairbankss remarkable life. Douglas fairbanks 18831939 was one of the first film superstars, a screenwriter. If you would like to participate, you can visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks. This is the first part of his life story covering his relationship with his father, his early involvement in silent movies, his marriage to joan crawford, it was so interesting that i wanted to read it all in one sitting. This first volume of his twopart autobiography a hell of a war came next tells about his childhood, living with his mother after his parents were divorced. Here, fairbanks profiles his wife three years before their divorce. For movie fans, it was a match made in heaven, the perfect hollywood romance, the true love story of a prince and a flapper.
It was just six weeks before pearl harbor, and the star of gunga din and the prisoner of zenda, now a newly commissioned lieutenant. Douglas fairbankss most popular book is the canterville ghost. Fairbanks is a dandya witty, intelligent ladies man and sometimes a bit of a cad, with. B this article has been rated as bclass on the projects quality scale. The history guy remembers when a movie star served in world war ii. Smoots dedication to keeping the fairbanks legacy alive is truly admirable.
Douglas fairbanks simple english wikipedia, the free. The most delicious discovery in this book is that fairbankss first film was not. For anyone with an interest in golden age cinema andor joan crawford, books like this are little treasure troves. He was reconciled with his actor son douglas fairbanks jr, but divorced from pickford and hastily remarried to. Douglas fairbanks, jr john gilbert douglas fairbanks dating tips for women paramount pictures silent film portrait photo american actors hollywood stars movie stars. The films effectiveness is especially surprising given that it contains two lengthy flashbacks which fly in the face of the genres usual need for immediacy and features a cast of primarily senior citizens john houseman and douglas fairbanks jr. He became an actor during the late silent era and a star of abudget films starring alongside actors such as greta garbo, edward g. Although celebrated as an actor, fairbanks was commissioned as a reserve officer in the united states navy when the united states entered world war ii and was assigned to lord mountbattens commando staff in the united kingdom. Richard schickelover the years i have had an interest in douglas fairbanks life and films before reading jeffrey vances book.
Fortunately, for from his and his familys mountainous accumulation of fairbanks photographs, clippings, film stills, and letters, and from the. An avowed anglophile, fairbanks had a strong sense of the history of his. But this book is for a much wider audience than already established fans of fairbanks. Fairbanks was born douglas elton thomas ullman spelled ulman by douglas fairbanks jr. Still sporting his familiar thinly trimmed moustache and red carnation, he sat behind the desk of his madison avenue office immersed in a vast. Douglas fairbanks and the american century on jstor. Jeffrey vance is a film historian, producer, and lecturer as well as the author of an acclaimed trilogy of books on the great. One of the greatest stars of the silver screen recalls his experiences dur. Fairbanks is a dandya witty, intelligent ladies man and sometimes a bit of a cad, with an avid craving to be one of the rich and famous. He was reconciled with his actor son douglas fairbanks jr, but. Born in 1909, fairbanks is, of course, the son of movie swashbuckler douglas fairbanks. As the son of one of the worlds most famous actors of the silent era, doug jr. And jeffrey vance tells it with verve and compassion and admirable compression in his handsomely illustrated biography of douglas fairbanks.
Somerset maughams 1932 novel, the star of the show was douglas fairbanks, jr. The second volume of fairbanks jrs autobiography, about his war experiences, and, like the. Undoubtedly inspired by charles lindberghs unprecedented sudden fame but not the ensuing tragedy, mary mccalls 1932 novel the goldfish bowl was turned into a satirical comedydrama featuring an engaging douglas fairbanks jr. His athletic prowess, gallant romanticism, and natural sincerity made him king of hollywood during the 1920s.
He was a founding member of both united artists and the academy of motion picture arts and sciences. Here are two remarkable men, douglas fairbanks and douglas fairbanks jr. Dvdr this title is manufactured on demand using dvdr, when sold by. Douglas fairbanks by jeffrey vance, hardcover barnes.
Beyond his two volumes of autobiography, fairbanks collaborated with richard schickel on the illustrated survey of fairbanks sr. In 1927 fairbanks made his stage debut in young woodley based on a book by john van druten. In the 1920s and early 30s, joan crawford and douglas fairbanks jr. Douglas fairbanks has 23 books on goodreads with 853 ratings. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Jeffrey vance, who had complete access to the stars personal and professional papers and scrapbooks, also incorporates 237 photographs, some unseen for more than seventyfive years. Salad days, the first volume of douglas fairbanks, jr. He was the son of legendary silent movie actor douglas fairbanks fairbanks was born on december 9, 1909 in new york city, new york. The iron mask was douglas fairbanks sequel to his popular 1921 vehicle the three musketeers. It is a book that restores his subject to his rightful place as the american movies founding big brothershrewd, playful, flawed and endlessly fascinating.
Kindle direct publishing indie digital publishing made easy. Douglas fairbanks by jeffrey vance, robert cushman. It truly is the closest we will ever get to an autobiography of the great actor. The motion picture legend talked recently to the naval institutes history division director paul stillwell and naval history editors fred l. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books. Books by douglas fairbanks author of laugh and live. Douglas fairbanks, american motion picture actor and producer who was one of the first and greatest of the swashbuckling screen heroes. This is such an easy book to read, douglas fairbanks jr had a real talent for writing. Making life worth while 1918 hardcover by douglas fairbanks and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Oh boy, did i enjoy this terrific bio of douglas fairbanks and his flicks.
The iron mask by allan dwan allan dwan, douglas fairbanks. Early on in his magisterial biography of douglas fairbanks, jeffrey. Schultz and linda odoughda about his new book, a hell of a war new york. The douglas fairbanks museum preserving film history. I started the book knowing nexttozero about the great silent screen superstar and walked away with a flurry of information which made me admire the star as an entertainer and cinematic genius. Doyle new york will hold a major auction of items from the estate of the late douglas fairbanks, jr. To menand especially womenof rainies generation, douglas fairbanks jr.
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