Download or read book Lew Ayres written by Lesley L. Coffin and published by Univ. Press of Mississippi. This book was released on 2012-10-18 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lew Ayres (1908-1996) became known to the public when he portrayed the leading character in the epic war film All Quiet on the Western Front. The role made him a household name, introduced him to his closest friends, brought him to the attention of his first two wives, and would overshadow the rest of his career. To be a movie star was his first and only ambition as a child, but once he found success, he was never fully satisfied in his choice of profession. Although lacking a formal education, Ayres spent the rest of his life pursuing dozens of intellectual studies, interests, and hobbies. He even considered ended his acting career after just a few years to pursue a more “respectable and fulfilling” path as a director. Ayres was given not one but two comeback opportunities in his acting career, in 1938 and 1945. He was cast in the film series Dr. Kildare where he showed his abilities in comedy and his unique strength at bringing a level of sincerity to even the most outlandish or idealist character. But he was willing to give up his star status to follow his moral compass, first as a conscientious objector and ultimately as a noncombat medic during World War II. To everyone’s surprise, he was welcomed back to Hollywood with open arms and new opportunities despite his objector status. Biographer Lesley L. Coffin presents the story of a man of quiet dignity, constantly searching for the right way to live his life and torn between the public world of Hollywood and secluded life of spiritual introspection.
Download or read book Lew Ayres written by Lesley L. Coffin and published by Univ. Press of Mississippi. This book was released on 2012-10-18 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A biography of Lew Ayres, an accomplished actor, pacifist, and conscientious objector of World War II.
Download or read book Lew Ayres Collection written by and published by . This book was released on with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Collection contains program file.
Download or read book Challenge to Mars written by Peter Brock and published by University of Toronto Press. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 516 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The fourteen essays in Part I look at the interwar years, which gave rise to an array of pacifist organizations, both religious and humanist, throughout Europe and North America. Twelve essays in Part II deal with the brutal challenge to pacifist ideals posed by the Second World War and include a look at the fate of those courageous Germans who refused to fight for Hitler.
Download or read book Lion of Hollywood written by Scott Eyman and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2008-06-23 with total page 612 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lion of Hollywood is the definitive biography of Louis B. Mayer, the chief of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer—MGM—the biggest and most successful film studio of Hollywood’s Golden Age. An immigrant from tsarist Russia, Mayer began in the film business as an exhibitor but soon migrated to where the action and the power were—Hollywood. Through sheer force of energy and foresight, he turned his own modest studio into MGM, where he became the most powerful man in Hollywood, bending the film business to his will. He made great films, including the fabulous MGM musicals, and he made great stars: Garbo, Gable, Garland, and dozens of others. Through the enormously successful Andy Hardy series, Mayer purveyed family values to America. At the same time, he used his influence to place a federal judge on the bench, pay off local officials, cover up his stars’ indiscretions and, on occasion, arrange marriages for gay stars. Mayer rose from his impoverished childhood to become at one time the highest-paid executive in America. Despite his power and money, Mayer suffered some significant losses. He had two daughters: Irene, who married David O. Selznick, and Edie, who married producer William Goetz. He would eventually fall out with Edie and divorce his wife, Margaret, ending his life alienated from most of his family. His chief assistant, Irving Thalberg, was his closest business partner, but they quarreled frequently, and Thalberg’s early death left Mayer without his most trusted associate. As Mayer grew older, his politics became increasingly reactionary, and he found himself politically isolated within Hollywood’s small conservative community. Lion of Hollywood is a three-dimensional biography of a figure often caricatured and vilified as the paragon of the studio system. Mayer could be arrogant and tyrannical, but under his leadership MGM made such unforgettable films as The Big Parade, Ninotchka, The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, and An American in Paris. Film historian Scott Eyman interviewed more than 150 people and researched some previously unavailable archives to write this major new biography of a man who defined an industry and an era.
Download or read book Character Based Film Series Part 1 written by Terry Rowan and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2016-04-09 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A group of films on a character-based series, which include Andy Hardy, Benji, Billy Jack, Blondie, Captain Nemo, Dr. Kildare, The Falcon, Francis the Talking Mule, Harry Potter, Henry Aldrich, Jason Voorhees, Jungle Jim. The Lone Ranger, Ma 8 Pa Kettle, Matt Dillon, Michael Myers, Robin Hood, Santa Claus, Superman, Tarzan and Zorro. These and other characters make this interesting book
Download or read book Lewis Milestone written by Harlow Robinson and published by University Press of Kentucky. This book was released on 2019-11-22 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This comprehensive biography is the first to present Lewis Milestone's remarkable life -- a classic rags-to-riches American narrative -- in full and explores his many acclaimed films from the silent to the sound era. Creator of All Quiet on the Western Front, Of Mice and Men, the original Ocean's Eleven and Mutiny on the Bounty, Lewis Milestone (1895-1980) was one of the most significant, prolific, and influential directors of our time. A serious artist who believed in film's power not only to entertain, but also to convey messages of social importance, Milestone was known as a man of principle in an industry not always known for an abundance of virtue. Born in Ukraine, Milestone came to America as a tough, resourceful Russian-speaking teenager and learned about film by editing footage from the front as a member of the Signal Corps of the US Army during World War I. During the course of his film career, which spanned more than 40 years, Milestone developed intense personal and professional relationships with such major Hollywood figures as Howard Hughes, Kirk Douglas, Marlene Dietrich, and Marlon Brando. Addressed are Milestone's successes -- he garnered 28 Academy Award nominations -- as well as his challenges. Using newly available archival material, this work also examines Milestone's experience during the Hollywood Blacklist period, when he was one of the first prominent Hollywood figures to fall under suspicion for his alleged Communist sympathies.
Download or read book Exit with Honor written by William E. Pemberton and published by M.E. Sharpe. This book was released on 1997-05-08 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Few presidents have sparked as much interest in recent years as Ronald Reagan, already the subject of a large number of biographies and specialized studies. This concise biography, based on the latest research into the Reagan archives and synthesis of the large memoir literature that has appeared in the past decade, explores the shaping of his values and beliefs during his childhood in the American heartland, his leadership of the American conservative movement, and his successful political career culminating in the first two-term presidency since Dwight Eisenhower. Pemberton finds Reagan's personal career and ability to understand and communicate with the American people admirable, but finds many of the long-term effects of his presidency harmful. This is the first complete survey of Reagan's life for a general audience, and the first book to make use of the Reagan Library archival sources.
Download or read book Lionel Barrymore written by Kathleen Spaltro and published by University Press of Kentucky. This book was released on 2024-08-13 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Once called "the most gifted character actor of our time" by Broadway theater producer Arthur Hopkins, Lionel Barrymore (1878–1954) was part of the illustrious Barrymore acting dynasty. Although he garnered success on stage and screen and was a talented actor, writer, director, visual artist, and composer, he never quite escaped the shadow of his family members—including his brother, John, famous for his leading roles. Barrymore won the Academy Award for Best Actor in A Free Soul (1931) and was nominated for Best Director for Madame X (1930). However, he is best known for his role as Mr. Potter in It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and as the voice of Ebenezer Scrooge in radio broadcasts of A Christmas Carol from 1934 to 1953. He spent the last two decades of his career playing versions of his signature character—the curmudgeonly but lovable gentleman—in a variety of films from You Can't Take It With You (1938) to Key Largo (1948). Barrymore worked alongside some of Hollywood's most recognizable names, including Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, Frank Capra, Lauren Bacall, Clark Gable, and Ava Gardner, and his legacy is enshrined at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where he has two stars—one for radio and one for film. In Lionel Barrymore: Character and Endurance in Hollywood's Golden Age, Kathleen Spaltro examines Barrymore as an individual rather than just a supporting cast member of the famous dynasty. This comprehensive study divides Barrymore's life into three compelling acts. Act One follows Barrymore's early days—his failed endeavor as a visual artist, his performances in the family vaudeville acts, his first silent motion pictures, and his greatest successes and failures on the stage. Act Two details Barrymore's establishment as a fixture at MGM, his foray into directing, his success as the first actor to thrive in the talkies, and his estimable Oscar-winning performance. Finally, Act Three expounds on Barrymore's curation of his trademark character—the endearing grouch—his exploits in radio, and his fateful final years. Spaltro also unearths Barrymore's personal challenges, recounts his difficulties with—and sometimes estrangement from—members of his family, and delves into the devastating losses Barrymore suffered: his divorce, the deaths of his two daughters, and later, the death of his second wife and the accidents that eventually led to permanent disabilities requiring the use of a wheelchair. Lionel Barrymore is a detailed, multifaceted portrait of a brilliant character actor.
Download or read book New Outlook written by and published by . This book was released on 1956 with total page 1112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Stars at War written by Marvin D. Pipher and published by Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.. This book was released on 2022-11-30 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book outlines the lives and achievements of one hundred entertainers and athletes, mostly Americans, who served their nations well, both in times of war and in times of peace. It spans the period from the Spanish American War, 1898, up to 2020, but concentrates most heavily on World War II. The book was initiated in response to an apparent difference noted between the reactions of entertainers and athletes to the events of September 11, 2001, and those following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. It began as an effort to understand who those earlier people were, what they did, and why; to identify the one hundred who did the most during World War II; and to rank them in accordance with their achievements. This proved to be an impossible task since there was no way to identify the one hundred, and there was no common basis for comparison: some were truly heroic, some were wounded and some killed, while others simply served to the best of their abilities. The best that could be done was to categorize the men and women selected and subjectively rank them with their peers. Over time, this effort expanded to be more inclusive: touching lightly upon the Spanish American War, World War I, the Korean War, Vietnam, the war on terror, and upon more recent events. Some of those presented herein served before becoming famous, some after; some volunteered and some were drafted, while others served as civilians in their chosen fields. Two became presidents of the United States. Three won the Congressional Medal of Honor. Aside from their service, however, these were truly remarkable men and women whose stories deserve to be told if for no other reason than to give us a glimpse into the kinds of people who made the United States the greatest nation in the history of the world.
Download or read book Katharine the Great written by Darwin Porter and published by Blood Moon Productions, Ltd.. This book was released on 2004 with total page 626 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on years of painstaking research, this tell-all biography unveils the secret, closeted life of the indomitable grande dame of American actresses, Katharine Hepburn, covering the years between her birth in 1907 and the debut of her role in The African Queen in 1950.
Download or read book From Under My Hat written by Hedda Hopper and published by Graymalkin Media. This book was released on 2017-04-20 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hedda Hopper came into this world screaming, and she liked to say that she never stopped. Decades after, she could still out-shout any producer in Hollywood, and she wasn’t afraid to do whatever it took to get her way. One of the most glamorous stars of the silent era, Hopper became one of the most notorious gossip columnists in the country, whose acid wit and razor-sharp pen fearlessly attacked the biggest names in Hollywood. In From Under My Hat, she tells her story as only she can. From her birth in the suburbs of Pennsylvania, to her early days as a Broadway understudy to her rise and fall as a Hollywood starlet, Hopper tells the story of the golden age of the movie business with candor and grace. At the height of her popularity, 20,000,000 read Hopper’s column. Reading her searing autobiography, it’s easy to see why. Hedda Hopper is portrayed by Judy Davis in the Ryan Murphy TV series Feud about Joan Crawford and Bette Davis.
Download or read book Broken Silence written by Michael G. Ankerich and published by McFarland. This book was released on 1993 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A Labor of Love...Informative, Insightful Reminiscences"---The Silent Film Monthly --
Download or read book Alcohol in the Movies 1898 1962 written by Judy Cornes and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2015-03-12 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A 1906 film called The Dream of a Rarebit Fiend shows a man drinking and eating voraciously at a restaurant, then going home to bed. In the surreal scenes that follow, furniture disappears, tiny devils poke the man's head with pitchforks, and his bed hurls itself out the window and across the city. But it wasn't commentary on drinking; rather, it was a showcase of early special effects--double exposure photography, panning shots, and montage. Turn-of-the-century films typically treated drinking as a subject for comedy and ridicule, and the comic possibilities translated well into silent movies. As talkies developed and the film industry matured, alcohol's portrayal was reflected in the times: prohibition, the Great Depression, the war years, and as social commentary. Here is a study of 64 years of alcohol as portrayed in film. The author begins with the appearance in 1898 of what is probably the first commercial: a 30-second film of men in kilts dancing and the words "Scotch Whiskey" appearing in the background. The final film is 1962's Days of Wine and Roses, which addresses alcoholism. The author includes a film from each decade, those with artistic or historical value, those that represent the comedy, drama and musical genres, and well-known pictures such as The Lost Weekend and A Star Is Born. The first three chapters cover 1903 to 1939. The remaining chapters follow not a timeline but the growing complexity of the movies. A recurring motif is the use of the term "white logic," a phrase used by writer Jack London in his 1913 memoir John Barleycorn. It refers to disillusionment with everyday life brought on by and exacerbated by alcohol. An annotated filmography lists the date, source and other relevant information about movies in this study.
Download or read book Wild Bill Elliott written by Gene Blottner and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2011-10-14 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Wild Bill Elliott was a major western star. His screen persona met evil head-on and emerged victorious, bringing cheers from Saturday audiences. This book covers Elliott's entire career. It begins with a biographical sketch and then discusses each of his 78 starring roles as well as his more than 130 supporting roles. The film entries include studio, release date, alternate titles, cast and credit listings, songs, location filming, color, running time, source, story synopsis, notes and commentary, quotations from published reviews and a critical summation of the film. Appendices include Elliott's short films, TV and radio appearances and comic books.
Download or read book Playing Doctor written by Joseph Turow and published by University of Michigan Press. This book was released on 2010-09-29 with total page 472 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Playing Doctor is an engaging and highly perceptive history of the medical TV series from its inception to the present day. Turow offers an inside look at the creation of iconic doctor shows as well as a detailed history of the programs, an analysis of changing public perceptions of doctors and medicine, and an insightful commentary on how medical dramas have both exploited and shaped these perceptions. Originally published in 1989 and drawing on extensive interviews with creators, directors, and producers, Playing Doctor immediately became a classic in the field of communications studies. This expanded edition includes a new introduction placing the book in the contemporary context of the health care crisis, as well as new chapters covering the intervening twenty years of television programming. Turow draws on recent research and interviews with principals in contemporary television doctor shows such as ER, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scrubs to illuminate the extraordinary ongoing cultural influence of medical shows. Playing Doctor situates the television vision of medicine as a limitless high-tech resource against the realities underlying the health care debate, both yesterday and today. Joseph Turow is Robert Lewis Shayon Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania. He was named a Distinguished Scholar by the by the National Communication Association and a Fellow of the International Communication Association in 2010. He has authored eight books, edited five, and written more than 100 articles on mass media industries. He has also produced a DVD titled Prime Time Doctors: Why Should You Care? which has been distributed to all first-year medical students with the support of the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation.
