INVENTING TROY DONAHUE: THE MAKING OF A MOVIE STAR A Biography

INVENTING TROY DONAHUE. A Biography. Michael Gregg Michaud. BearManor Media; 2023. 

As this interesting biography makes clear, Troy Donahue -- born Merle Johnson -- was a pure product of Hollywood. His agent, the voracious Henry Willson, changed his name and got him a studio contract. Thinking he could actually act, Donahue got big for his britches and pouted about the lousy assignments he was given. What really rankled him was that his studio, Warner Brothers -- he was one of the last of the contract players for that studio as well as many others -- kept putting him into TV series such as Hawaiian Eye when he felt he had already become a bona fide movie star in such films as A Summer Place and shouldn't have had to toil in TV. But his gorgeous good looks turned Donahue into a major star and a household name and the studio wanted to make as much off of him as they possibly could. (Ironically, Donahue claimed over and over again that he thought the TV scripts were terrible, but they were generally much better than the movies he made.) Working with Donahue in several pictures, the director Delmer Daves was able to get an adequate performance from him in certain movies but eventually even Daves got tired at having to impatiently guide him through every scene in every movie. Without Daves, Donahue floundered, giving absolutely wretched performances in such films as My Blood Runs Cold. The truth is, Donohue was simply not that talented.

Another problem was that Donahue had an addictive personality and couldn't get through a day -- especially when he had to face the cameras -- without alcohol and drugs. This may explain why he seems so utterly wooden in so many movies -- he was virtually anesthetized -- but one suspects the raw ability just wasn't there to begin with. He was able to trade on his sensitive good looks in such films as Parrish, but he was always out-acted by virtually everyone else in the cast. Donahue got engaged to Swedish actress Lili Kardell, who wound up suing him for a beating she alleged he gave her while drunk; Donahue, of course, denied it, and the studio paid her off but her own career was finished. Donahue had a brief marriage to Suzanne Pleshette, who starred with him in Rome Adventure, then had several more wives, some of whom he essentially lived off until they got sick of his ways or he had no more use for them. 

Donahue in later years

Donahue claimed to have lived in a bush in Central Park for a time when he was homeless, and hitting rock bottom, decided to try sobriety for a change. Apparently this worked, and Donahue managed to get various jobs in films, most of which went direct-to-video. He had a small role in Godfather Part 2 as Talia Shire's husband. Although Donahue still acted as his own press agent, giving out with the unlikely story that he made more money off the direct-to-video movies than he did in his Warner Brothers days, he also could be quite honest about his circumstances. He seems to have managed to make his peace with the fact that his days of Hollywood stardom were forever over, and he turned to theater, where he got mixed reviews. Inventing Troy Donahue is an interesting and informative book, with loads of info about the actor, although I think there may have been too much of a reliance on published interviews he gave where he tends to repeat the same things ad infinitum. 

Verdict: An entertaining look at the dark side of the Hollywood dream. ***. 

GRANT WILLIAMS

GRANT WILLIAMS, Giancarlo Stampalia. Bearmanor; 2018.

It is made clear from the beginning that this is not a traditional biography of the actor Grant Williams -- most famous for The Incredible Shrinking Man -- but a career study put together from assorted press clippings and interviews with a couple of co-workers and acting students. Stampalia was hampered by Williams' extreme privacy during his life, as well as the absence of living co-stars and others who were willing to contribute anecdotes. However, Stampalia adds depth to his manuscript with his analyses of Williams' acting approach to various roles, and whether his performances worked or not, and why they did or didn't. He goes on for some length on The Incredible Shrinking Man -- but there are also notes on all of Williams' film, TV, and radio appearances. Although it would be easy to see Williams as a closeted gay or bisexual man suffering from Catholic guilt -- and this may certainly have been the case --  Stampalia argues that this assessment is by no means certain without solid proof. If Williams failed to reach major stardom it may have been, as Stampalia suggests, that he was more interested in being a good actor than in being a movie star. However, even his TV and "B" movie career might have suffered because of his heavy drinking and possible alcoholism. Williams became a regular on Hawaiian Eye and gave a notable performance in the thriller The Couch. Stampalia makes a strong case for Williams' acting talent -- he did a creditable job playing Peter Tchiakovsky on a episode of The Magical World of Disney -- although it is also true that the effect the actor frequently exuded was one of handsome blandness. Stampalia is perhaps more erudite then other writers of movie star fan books, so he can be forgiven the occasional foray into pretentiousness. The book is bolstered with lots of interesting photographs.

Verdict: Intensive study of a comparatively minor film player who kept his secrets to himself. ***. 

HENRY BRANDON: KING OF THE BOGEYMEN

HENRY BRANDON: KING OF THE BOGEYMEN (BearManor Media; 2018). Bill Cassara and Richard S. Greene.

This labor of love looks at the work of actor Henry Brandon, who never attained stardom but was a working actor in films, on TV and on the stage for decades. Because of his association with Laurel and Hardy due to his playing nasty old Barnaby in Babes in Toyland, he later became a film-buff favorite because he often appeared at various conventions for the comedy duo and others. Not a biography as such, which the authors make clear, there is a lot about Branden's life which is not covered in this book. Just when I thought the writers were indulging in some "gay erasure" they do mention that Brandon, after a very brief marriage and a child, had a boyfriend in Mark Herron, who himself was briefly married to no less than Judy Garland. (The whole business behind this might be fascinating but it is not covered in this volume.) In any case, there is a definite downplaying of Brandon's sexuality among some of the people interviewed, but then, this book is really about his talent, which was prodigious. Brandon appeared in a great many films and TV shows and was also an accomplished Shakespearean actor. He performed with Judith Anderson in Medea and other vehicles as well.

There are separate chapters on Brandon's most notable roles in such films as The Searchers with John Wayne, the serial The Drums of Fu Manchu, in which he portrays the Oriental arch-fiend, and When the North Wind Blows, among others. The section on his appearances at film conventions gets a little tedious, but the rest is interesting enough. What comes across is how hugely admired Brandon was by his many fans and those who got to know him through his film-buff convention appearances.

Verdict: In general this is strictly for fans of Henry Brandon, but those who admire his work will enjoy this thorough look at his career. ***.                                                     

ROBERT WISE: THE MOTION PICTURES

ROBERT WISE: THE MOTION PICTURES. J. R. Jordan. Newly Revised and Updated. BearManor; 2020.

Although Hitchcock, John Ford, Billy Wilder and William Wyler, among others, may get the lion's share of the attention and critical kudos, the fact remains that Robert Wise was not only a solid and highly-skilled director who worked in many genres, but the architect of many successful and famous motion pictures. Beginning as an editor -- Wise worked on Welles' Citizen Kane and Magnificent Ambersons, among others -- his first professional directorial credit was for producer Val Lewton's Curse of the Cat People. (He returned to the horror genre with The Body Snatchers and the marvelous Haunting). Although today Wise is probably best remembered for directing the box office blockbusters The Sound of Music and West Side Story, in his younger days he helmed such gritty film noir-type pictures as Born to Kill, Odds Against Tomorrow and The Set-Up. Wise also did two major science fiction films, The Day the Earth Stood Still and The Andromeda Strain. He also helmed Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the unfortunate Star!, among others. Some of his other notable films include Three Secrets and Tribute to a Bad Man, and there was the very occasional stinker, such as Executive Suite.

J. R. Jordan's well-written tome finally gives Wise his due with an illustrated book that covers all of his motion pictures. Each essay gives a background to the film, why Wise chose the project, his working methods on the set, synopses, important highlights of each picture, and lengthy quotes from people, including crew and cast members, who worked with Wise. Aside from one man who claims Wise was unsympathetic when he was injured on the set, everyone's recollections are positive. Wise was no martinet, a la Otto Preminger, but a reasonable and well-adjusted craftsman and artist who didn't need to scream at or belittle people to get what he wanted from them. Like Hitchcock, he was always fully prepared for each scene, choose his actors with great care, and only gave them direction when it was required. Wise left behind an impressive body of work and this well-researched tome will remind readers of the director's long and distinguished career. This is by no means a gossipy book, but Janette Scott's comments on Rossana Podesta when they were working together on Helen of Troy are amusing.

 Verdict: For Wise fans and film enthusiasts in general. ***1/2.

Addendum
The book is dedicated to the author's father. Joseph C. Jordan Jr. suddenly passed a short time following the publication of this article. In Robert Wise: The Motion Pictures the author wrote, "Those I interviewed for this book generally described Robert Wise as noble, patient, validating, and a class act. Such words, in short, apply to Dad."

Mr. Jordan's wife, Rosetta, preceded him in death by 37 years (see photo). He missed her terribly and never remarried. The author was fortunately afforded the opportunity to be at his father's bedside on the day of the passing. Prior to the moment of death, the author faced his father and said, "This is a special day. You're going to be with Mom again." Mr. Jordan's face lit up, as his excitement was clearly apparent. He passed a short time later.

MOVIE BOOK EXPLOSION

Baby Leroy

It seems that there have never been quite so many movie-oriented books before. Companies such as BearManor come out regularly with tomes on (to most people) obscure players, long-forgotten movies, supporting players with a story to tell, and everyone, apparently, has put together their memoirs. Then we have hastily cobbled together self-published bios from people with a tenuous connection to the "star" as well as books on old TV shows with lots of stills and production photos. Nothing wrong with any of that, except at times you think it looks like it's getting a little out of hand. To my knowledge, the following books don't actually exist (yet), but any day now you may see one of them.


Baby: The Wild, Sweet Life of Baby Leroy.
"The Tammy Grimes Show" Companion.
"Life with Lucy:" The Best Lucy Show Ever!
Everyone I have Ever Had Sex With. The Hot, Secret Life of Zasu Pitts.
Troy and Tab: Parallel Lives of Hollywood Heartthrobs
"Raw Wind in Eden:" The Story of This Fabulous Masterpiece.
Pinky! The Pinky Lee Story.
Shug Fisher as "Shorty Kellems": The Heart and Soul  of "The Beverly Hillbillies."
Jethro Bodine: His Life Story.
"The Partridge Family" Companion.
"My Mother the Car:"Behind the Scenes of the Classic Sitcom.
 Full of Genius. The Lives of the Barry Sisters.
Such Pain: The Horrible Hollywood Feud of Margaret Hamilton and Mary Wickes
Judy: I Married Garland in Secret -- and Wasn't Gay!
The Unparalleled Genius of the Fabulous Ritz Brothers.
Slightly Alfalfa: The Gas House Kids Companion.
My Story: Greta Garbo's Maid Tells of Her Life with The Reclusive Star
I Was Dean Martin's Dentist!
Sinatra's Pets: Frank's Menagerie from Sammy the Poodle to Ted the Chimp.
Love Bites: How I Slept with over 100,000 Men and Women in Hollywood!

FREDRIC MARCH: A CONSUMMATE ACTOR Charles Tranberg

FREDRIC MARCH: A CONSUMMATE ACTOR. Charles Tranberg. BearManor; 2013.

Tranberg, who has also written books on Fred MacMurray, and an especially outstanding tome on Agnes Moorehead, now looks at the life and career of Fredric March. Tranberg makes the point that March, strangely, seems forgotten when he won and was nominated for several Academy Awards, and appeared in several famous motion pictures, such as the original A Star is Born. Tranberg looks at March's early life, his stage career, his brief first marriage, and his long-lasting union with actress Florence Eldridge. Unfortunately, nowadays March would be seen as a bit of a pig and sexual harasser when it came to women, at least according to several accounts in the book, but this, of course, doesn't negate his considerable acting ability and his many achievements. Two of March's greatest performances were in Inherit the Wind and Middle of the Night, his last romantic lead role.

Verdict: Solid bio of a fine and unjustly neglected actor. ***.

ON THE GOOD SHIP HOLLYWOOD: JOHN AGAR

ON THE GOOD SHIP HOLLYWOOD. John Agar, as told to L. C. Van Savage. BearManor Media; 2007.

There are actors who never quite attain the top rank of Hollywood stars yet become familiar due to the many roles they play over the years or the fact that they appear in certain beloved, or at least, popular movies or cult films. The late John Agar certainly fits into that category, because of the westerns he appeared in (for some movie fans) or the science fiction/monster movies he starred in (for others). To B movie lovers Agar is probably best-known for Tarantula, The Revenge of the Creature, and the zesty Brain from Planet Arous, in which he delivered a lively performance, among others. Agar also had featured roles in "A" productions directed by the likes of John Ford and Raoul Walsh (Along the Great Divide). Agar basically fell into acting (his family had been in the meat-packing business) because of people he met when he was married to Shirley Temple. (He was 22 when he started dating her at 15!) Agar was apparently never able to have any kind of relationship with the daughter that resulted from this union, which ended in divorce, but he did adopt two sons with his second wife, Loretta. (His great-aunt Edna was the lead character in Greer Garson's Blossoms in the Dust, and the foundation she began helped with these adoptions.) Agar developed a serious drinking problem and his occasional falls off the wagon got him fired from jobs both in and out of show business. Agar made out better than most supporting players/"B" movie stars in that he did develop a fan following that existed up until his old age instead of being forgotten. This is hardly an in-depth autobiography, but it does touch all the major bases and makes a good read.

Verdict: From planet Earth, not Arous. ***.

GRIPPING CHAPTERS: THE SOUND MOVIE SERIAL

GRIPPING CHAPTERS: THE SOUND MOVIE SERIAL. Ron Backer. BearManor Media; 2010.

Did you know that the Green Hornet was actually a descendant of the Lone Ranger [both characters were created for the radio by the same people]?  This is one of several interesting factoids that fill Gripping Chapters, a fond look back at the wonderful cliffhanger serials by an obvious admirer. There are looks at cliffhangers from various sources, comparing the serial with the original (comic, radio show, work of fiction, pulp story etc,), as well as chapters on types of cliffhangers and "cliffovers" [where somebody or something goes over a cliff], stock footage and bloopers, familiar faces in the serials, prominent directors, and so on. There are lots of illustrations as well. The best thing about the book is that I learned about quite a few movie serials that I was unfamiliar with [and I thought I had a list of every one ever made, poor fool I!] Although movie serials died out in the 1950's, it's wonderful that they are probably more widely seen than ever, thanks to DVDs. Thanks to this book, I can catch up with even more of them. 

Verdict: Anyone who loves cliffhanger serials ... ***