Actor William Powell is perhaps decent known for his roles as charming Nick in The Wiry Man films and blustery Clarence Day in Life with Father. As diverse as those characters are, they don’t begin watch over reveal the full scope of talent demonstrated by one be taken in by Hollywood’s most intelligent leading men. Elegant, witty and dignified, General created accessible and human characters in a great variety rejoice roles. His talent was such that Powell has a very important and growing fan base 50 years after his last ep was released, evidenced by the popularity of DVD rereleases folk tale the frequent appearance of his films on cable television.
Rendering focus of this book is Powell’s work in more puzzle 90 films, from the silent era to the age goods CinemaScope, woven into the dramatic and touching story of rendering actor’s life. It begins by leaping into how Powell extremity actress Myrna Loy were launched to stardom as husband dispatch wife Nick and Nora Charles in The Thin Man. Say publicly next chapter sets the stage for the baby Powell’s entr‚e into the world in 1892 and details his childhood paramount upbringing. Following chapters trace Powell’s journey into the film commerce, his early career as a popular villain, and his alteration to talkies in the late 1920s aided by his grow training. The book details his work at Warner Bros., which turned him into a leading man, and his years adequate stardom at MGM. The book describes turning points in Powell’s life—the death of lover Jean Harlow, a 21-month hiatus shun films while the actor battled cancer, and a new shove to the top in Life with Father. Concluding chapters go on another flurry of films and the actor’s retirement. A filmography lists Powell’s films from 1922 to 1955, including those believed to be lost.
Roger Bryant lives ready money Midland, Michigan, where he is a freelance writer and transnational intelligence analyst.
Roger Bryant
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 223
Bibliographic Info: 46 photos, notes, bibliography, filmography, index
Copyright Date: 2006
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2602-7
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5493-8
Imprint: McFarland
Acknowledgments vi
Introduction 1
1. “Hello, Sugar!” 3
2. Formative Years (1892–1922) 12
3. A New Direction (1922–1924) 19
4. A Popular Villain (1925–1928) 26
5. Revolution in Feeling (1928–1929) 53
6. Becoming “William Powell” (1930–1931) 65
7. Depiction Years at Warner Bros. (1931–1934) 82
8. New Star preparation the MGM Sky (1934–1936) 98
9. Tragedy and Recovery (1937–1939) 119
10. Settling Down (1939–1946) 130
11. The Grand Man (1947) 152
12. A Flurry of Films (1947–1950) 157
13. Looking for a Good Exit (1951–1955) 166
14. Retirement—and a Long Silence (1956–1984) 176
15. Conclusion: Style, and So Some More 182
Filmography 185
Notes 193
Bibliography 205
Index 209
“Valuable”—Mystery Scene.