{"product_id":"george-brent-irelands-gift-to-hollywood-and-its-leading-ladies-hardback","title":"GEORGE BRENT: IRELAND'S GIFT TO HOLLYWOOD AND ITS LEADING LADIES (hardback)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none;\"\u003eBest Book of the Year (2017) - Classic Images\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eBette Davis answered, “George Brent” whenever asked to name her favorite co-star. Her longtime crush on the actor (they teamed in eleven films) culminated in an off-screen affair while filming \u003cem\u003eDark Victory \u003c\/em\u003e(1939) \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003efor which she received an Oscar nomination and \u003c\/span\u003e Brent gave what many consider his “finest performance.” Hollywood’s top stars clamored to play opposite Brent, who infused his easy-going warmth into such blockbuster films as \u003cem\u003e42\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e Street \u003c\/em\u003e(1933). Before long, Garbo demanded that MGM cast him opposite her in \u003cem\u003eThe Painted Veil \u003c\/em\u003e(1934). Brent was perfect foil for cinema’s leading ladies: Ruth Chatterton (his second wife), Ginger Rogers, Loretta Young, Claudette Colbert, Barbara Stanwyck, Myrna Loy, Kay Francis, Olivia de Havilland, Joan Fontaine, Hedy Lamarr, Merle Oberon, and Ann Sheridan (his fourth wife). Not to be pigeonholed Brent’s perfection as the dissipated Englishman in \u003cem\u003eThe Rains Came \u003c\/em\u003e(1939) and surprise turn as the heavy in \u003cem\u003eThe Spiral Staircase \u003c\/em\u003e(1946) fueled the longevity of his career.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eThe personal life of George Brent remained undercover. Upon signing with Warner Bros., studio publicity fabricated a back-story for Brent: a graduate of Dublin University (he dropped out of school at 16); a player in the Abbey Theatre (for which no record exists); a dead mother (who was very much alive); and, a dispatcher for Michael Collins during the Irish Revolution (this . . . was true).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003eBrent’s biography offers a fascinating look into the life of Hollywood’s elusive lone wolf.  Scott O’Brien, whose biography on Ruth Chatterton made \u003cem\u003eThe Huffington Post’s \u003c\/em\u003e“Best Film Books of 2013,” abetted by Irish filmmaker Brian Reddin, sheds new light on Ireland’s gift to Hollywood and its leading ladies: George Brent.     \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14px;\"\u003e(Foreword by Wesleyan University’s Chair of Film Studies, Jeanine Basinger.) 331 pages with 125 illustrations capture the glamour and private world of Hollywood’s Golden Age.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e\u003c!--\n\/* Font Definitions *\/\n@font-face\n\t{font-family:\"Cambria Math\";\n\tpanose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;\n\tmso-font-charset:1;\n\tmso-generic-font-family:roman;\n\tmso-font-format:other;\n\tmso-font-pitch:variable;\n\tmso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;}\n@font-face\n\t{font-family:Calibri;\n\tpanose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;\n\tmso-font-charset:0;\n\tmso-generic-font-family:auto;\n\tmso-font-pitch:variable;\n\tmso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;}\n \/* Style Definitions *\/\np.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal\n\t{mso-style-unhide:no;\n\tmso-style-qformat:yes;\n\tmso-style-parent:\"\";\n\tmargin:0in;\n\tmargin-bottom:.0001pt;\n\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan;\n\tfont-size:12.0pt;\n\tfont-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;\n\tmso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;\n\tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;\n\tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";\n\tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}\n.MsoChpDefault\n\t{mso-style-type:export-only;\n\tmso-default-props:yes;\n\tfont-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;\n\tmso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;\n\tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;\n\tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;\n\tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";\n\tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}\n@page WordSection1\n\t{size:8.5in 11.0in;\n\tmargin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;\n\tmso-header-margin:.5in;\n\tmso-footer-margin:.5in;\n\tmso-paper-source:0;}\ndiv.WordSection1\n\t{page:WordSection1;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black;\"\u003eOne of my favorites, Scott O’Brien, has written another excellent biography, \u003cb\u003eGeorge Brent: Ireland’s Gift to Hollywood and Its Leading Ladies \u003c\/b\u003e($29.95, BearManor Media softcover). The title might sound a bit long, but O’Brien’s storytelling ability is first-rate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black;\"\u003e      While never a superstar, George Brent (1904-79) was a major name of the 1930s and ‘40s who appeared with top leading ladies: Kay Francis, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Fontaine, Ruth Chatterton, Ann Sheridan, Greta Garbo, Joan Blondell, Myrna Loy, Loretta Young, Ginger Rogers, Claudette Colbert, Merle Oberon, Olivia de Havilland, Hedy Lamarr, Bette Davis, et al. With the latter, he made 13 films, notably the classics \u003ci\u003eJezebel \u003c\/i\u003e(1938), \u003ci\u003eThe Old Maid \u003c\/i\u003e(1939),  and \u003ci\u003eDark Victory \u003c\/i\u003e(1939). Many have the impression that Brent was a limited actor, used mainly to support a stronger female partner. Dependable is the way he is most often described. Yet, when given the chance, he turned in some really good performances, in particular \u003ci\u003eThe Spiral Staircase \u003c\/i\u003e(1946). Even in his so-called support performances, he brought a strength that was very appealing, attractive and memorable. Proof of this can be seen in regard to \u003ci\u003eThe Old Maid\u003c\/i\u003e. Initially, Humphrey Bogart was the male lead, but he just wasn’t working out, and he was replaced by Brent. Even when he’s off screen, you remember George Brent. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black;\"\u003e      In real life, Brent was catnip to the ladies. He was married five times, and three of his wives were actresses: Ruth Chatterton, Constance Worth and Ann Sheridan.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black;\"\u003e      O’Brien adds much to our understanding of Brent. He was a complicated man, not easy to like and sometimes difficult, but I can honestly say that the author etches a fascinating portrait that shows both sides of his personality. Brent might not have been easy to know, but I found him ultimately likable. He often preferred to be a “lone wolf,” and O’Brien conveys this aspect beautifully. How his difficult childhood affected his subsequent life is eye-opening.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black;\"\u003e      It goes without saying that the author has done a tremendous amount of research, and this includes getting Brent’s family involved for a more personal inside look. We have always heard of Brent’s colorful life in Ireland: Dublin University graduate, Abbey Theatre player, and his time with Michael Collins during the Irish Revolution. His childhood has been murky, at best. I cannot even imagine getting to the bottom of all this, especially when it concerns a different country. The research would be a killer. O’Brien, as always, makes it look easy and sorts fact from fiction. His sources are extensive and, unlike hack writers, O’Brien provides pages of documentation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black;\"\u003e      The movies are not neglected. O’Brien has a rare skill in describing movies and their memorable and not-so-memorable moments. He truly loves film and whether it is good or bad, it will get a fair assessment. Brent is usually relegated to that “dependable” tag, so to see an analysis of all his performances is welcome. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black;\"\u003e      You will find no dirt here, just an excellent, honest and well-written biography of an under-appreciated actor at last getting his due. Icing on the cake: 125 illustrations, including one from 1926, before Brent’s nose job. Talk about shocking! Foreword is by the terrific Jeanine Basinger.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"mso-margin-top-alt: auto;\" class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-style: italic;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black;\"\u003e- Laura Wagner, Classic Images\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRead the First 10 Pages Here\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BearManor Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50211231957249,"sku":"lpn1787307991071","price":25.57,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0756\/1979\/5201\/files\/george-brent-irelands-gift-to-hollywood-and-its-leading-ladies-hardback_1.png?v=1787307998","url":"https:\/\/www.juniperavenue.shop\/products\/george-brent-irelands-gift-to-hollywood-and-its-leading-ladies-hardback","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}