Los Angeles Times: 'Douglas Fairbanks' by Jeffrey Vance

[silentfilm]

http://www.latimes.com/features/books/l ... 2541.story

'Douglas Fairbanks' by Jeffrey Vance
The silent movie star founded a major studio, wed, had affairs and sired another movie legend.
By Carolyn Kellogg
February 5, 2009
He presented the first Academy Awards -- in his office. He founded what would become USC's film school. He was the first to press his hands and feet into cement in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre, with his wife, who was America's sweetheart. He co-founded a movie studio with Hollywood's greatest director and two of its biggest stars.

If the name Douglas Fairbanks doesn't ring a bell, that might be because he's been dead for 70 years. Or maybe it's because his greatest achievements were in silent films.

Either way, Jeffrey Vance's biography "Douglas Fairbanks" retells the story of the man who became one of Hollywood's first superstars.

Douglas Elton Ulman was born in Colorado in 1883. By the time he was 5, his father had abandoned the family and his mother reverted to Fairbanks, the name of her deceased first husband.

Fairbanks had tremendous energy and athleticism as well as a fondness for Shakespeare, and when a traveling theater troupe came through Denver, the 16-year-old persuaded the group to take him along. Eventually, his acting caught up with his enthusiasm; he had his first hit on Broadway in 1906.


That was the year he met Beth Sully; they married and after two years had a son, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. But Fairbanks was restless, and when a $2,000 a week offer came from Hollywood, he took it.

The camera loved his flashing smile, and his joyous physicality electrified the screen. He was so popular he even published a series of books (which were ghosted) lauding all-American optimism, athleticism and laughter.

His salary soon rose to $15,000 a week, making him one of Hollywood's highest-paid stars. But this was just a fraction of the millions his movies made.

At actress Mary Pickford's urging, he got out of his contract and started his own production company in 1917. Although many of his films from this period have been lost, Vance describes them and includes some stills; film scholars will appreciate his attention to significant crew members, although it feels a bit like sitting through a film's credits.

In 1919, Fairbanks, Pickford and Charlie Chaplin joined director D.W. Griffith to launch United Artists. Metro Pictures' president Richard Rowland skeptically remarked, "The lunatics have taken charge of the asylum." Nevertheless, UA survived.

Meanwhile, Pickford and Fairbanks, still wed to other people, struck up an affair. Fans didn't turn on them; when they married in 1920, they were embraced as luminous equals of beauty and fame. In Beverly Hills, their house, Pickfair, became a destination for both Hollywood's elite and genuine royalty.

The year 1920 also saw the release of "The Mark of Zorro," a landmark action-adventure picture. "Up until then," Vance writes, "most costume films had been turgid affairs; Fairbanks contributed his winning charm, humor, and athleticism executed in a modern manner. His approach -- particularly his ingratiating humor -- gave his films great appeal to audiences of the 1920s and helped usher in a renaissance of costume adventures."

Youth and vitality were essential to Fairbanks' persona. His physique was so perfect that he was, artist Joe Schuster explained, the model for his comic book character Superman.

But Fairbanks was more than just a graceful athlete. Using contemporary accounts and first-person histories, Vance makes the case for him as an early auteur.

He was involved in every stage of production, selecting properties, working so closely with his writers that he got credit (as "Elton Thomas"), bringing on researchers for historical accuracy, reviewing casting and production design and original scores.

He created a wall-size blueprint system for his shooting schedules and often served as de facto director. Like Hitchcock, he tackled technological challenges, building massive sets for one film, using miniatures and glass shots in another, even shooting "The Black Pirate" (1926) in two-color Technicolor.

When "The Black Pirate" was released, Fairbanks was in top form; a snapshot shows him bronzed and muscled on the beach. But he was 43, a rival studio had recruited his son to capitalize on his name and he'd been playing a youth for more than a decade.

Emphasizing the professional over the personal, Vance focuses on Fairbanks' career. "Douglas Fairbanks as The Gaucho" (1927) showed a shift in his persona: for the first time, he drank and smoked on-screen. He danced a steamy tango with Lupe Velez, with whom he had an affair. (Adding insult to injury, he cast Pickford in a cameo as the Virgin Mary.)

While audiences thrilled to "The Jazz Singer" in 1927, sound was the one technological advance Fairbanks wouldn't embrace. Instead, he looked backward, reprising one of his most popular characters, D'Artagnan, in 1929's "The Iron Mask." Vance sees this film, Fairbanks' last silent picture, as a farewell: In it, all the musketeers die.

Of course, to read about Fairbanks, even looking at his stunning photos, is not enough to understand his work. He crafted his own pantomime code, in which he never just pointed but lunged, one arm extended, head thrown back, eyes flashing.

The artistry of it takes some getting used to -- these vibrant, nakedly joyous displays of action.

But when he hurls his arms open, embracing the millions on our side of the screen, it is impossible not to want to hug him back.

Kellogg is lead blogger for Jacket Copy, The Times' book blog.

[silentfilm]

The New York Review of Books has a long review at http://www.nybooks.com/articles/22350

[misspickford9]

You know what strikes me as sad? That it took till 2008 for a Fairbanks bio to come out. Griffith had several right up to the 90s. Mary had several especially in the 60s and 70s and of course the definitive one in 96. Charlie has like 6 books a year. And only 1 book on Fairbanks (a small published collection of his writings) was released by his museum in I think the 90s.

I like Douglas...but its absolutely mind boggling hes been so forgotten. Especially when a lot of his films hold up very well. And Im still not fully a fan of that bio...I hear its very well researched (I havent read it yet...TIME AHHH) but its so big, bulky, and expensive...I feel it shuts out average joe as a lot of silent bios do. For Olive Thomas thats one thing, for Douglas Fairbanks thats just a shame. Maybe there will be more bios...one can hope.

[hetton]

It strikes me as sad that the reasons you list are preventing you from seeking out this book. If you want more silent film bios, the core audience needs to support those silent bios published by major publishing houses.

It's less about the success of DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS (it is published) than it is about the next author trying to get a book contract with the same publisher.

DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS is neither "big" (it's 7''x10"), bulky (it's less than 400 pages), or expensive (the Strand Book Store in Manhattan--which services mail orders--sells it new for $22.50).

However, in a way, it is about Douglas Fairbanks. Sales of the book--and the Flicker Alley DVD box set--are going to be factors in whether it will be possible to get the funding to produce a new Fairbanks documentary.

I hope--Miss Pickford (!)--you will reconsider and support the new bio, DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS.

[misspickford9]

It strikes me as sad that the reasons you list are preventing you from seeking out this book. If you want more silent film bios, the core audience needs to support those silent bios published by major publishing houses.

It's less about the success of DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS (it is published) than it is about the next author trying to get a book contract with the same publisher.

DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS is neither "big" (it's 7''x10"), bulky (it's less than 400 pages), or expensive (the Strand Book Store in Manhattan--which services mail orders--sells it new for $22.50).

However, in a way, it is about Douglas Fairbanks. Sales of the book--and the Flicker Alley DVD box set--are going to be factors in whether it will be possible to get the funding to produce a new Fairbanks documentary.

I hope--Miss Pickford (!)--you will reconsider and support the new bio, DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS.

My reasons arent stopping me from reading it; my timeline is. Im trying to organize a film festival, I have a stack of 10 books (silent and not) to read, Im actually in the middle of some very important articles, and I have a Griffith site to put together. I will definitly read it someday; I am very interested in Fairbanks' life.

That being said I stand by what I said. In my humble opinion Im a big fan of books laid out like Pickford: The Woman who made America. Its comphrensive and well researched, has pics, but isnt overly fancy or large size wise (I dont mean pages, I mean literal size). Its also priced at $20.

My stickler with price is that I feel anything over $20-$30 turns off anyone just randomly curious about these people. If your new to silent films or film study or even just pass the book in the store and are interested your probably going to be turned off by a near $50 price tag. I buy many many books a month but I am still not a fan of spending that much on a book...call me cheap. But seriously I dont think Im the only one.

THAT being said 1) I've lodged this complaint with other books (which are on more obscure artists so its vaguely reasonable) and 2) no one has to give a dang what I think. No one even has to agree with me. Its just my little opinion. And Im sorry but I dont see it changing as I am a big champion of 'making silents available to the masses'.

[silentfilm]

Hey, there have been Fairbanks books out before now. The best one up to this point (before Jeffry Vance's book) is The Fairbanks Album by Doug, Jr. and Richard Schickel. It's a biography told in photographs and text.

I've also got Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks: The most popular couple the world has ever known by Booton Herndon.

There are a few more older books on Amazon.

[rudyfan]

Well, let me chime in here for a moment.

The Fairbanks book by Jeffrey Vance and The Academy is well worth having. There are several books on Fairbanks that have been written, I too enjoyed the Booton Herndon book. But, there is a new bio in the works that will cover some new ground that I am very excited about. Among the cache of unpublished material will be the love letters that Doug and Mary exchanged. So there is much to read now, and some really great stuff down the pike which will be very exciting.

That being said I stand by what I said. In my humble opinion Im a big fan of books laid out like Pickford: The Woman who made America. Its comphrensive and well researched, has pics, but isnt overly fancy or large size wise (I dont mean pages, I mean literal size). Its also priced at $20.

My stickler with price is that I feel anything over $20-$30 turns off anyone just randomly curious about these people. If your new to silent films or film study or even just pass the book in the store and are interested your probably going to be turned off by a near $50 price tag. I buy many many books a month but I am still not a fan of spending that much on a book...call me cheap. But seriously I dont think Im the only one.

Well, the Pickford book is beautiful, BUT, it was also published when the costs of producing such a book were far less than they are now. When originally published it was not $20, it is now remaindered or available used.

As someone working on her own photobook on Valentino (as you may or may not know), as much as I would like to tell you it's going to be $20, it won't. I won't be making any significant $$ on it, but it will be priced between $45-$65. Depending on PB or HB version. That's the rules of the game and the cost of production.

I like a bargain, too, but you have to be realistic, the cost of producing a book has risen and unless you mind having a cheaply made, low quality graphic book, expect to pay a little money for it.

[misspickford9]

Well, let me chime in here for a moment.

The Fairbanks book by Jeffrey Vance and The Academy is well worth having. There are several books on Fairbanks that have been written, I too enjoyed the Booton Herndon book. But, there is a new bio in the works that will cover some new ground that I am very excited about. Among the cache of unpublished material will be the love letters that Doug and Mary exchanged. So there is much to read now, and some really great stuff down the pike which will be very exciting.

That being said I stand by what I said. In my humble opinion Im a big fan of books laid out like Pickford: The Woman who made America. Its comphrensive and well researched, has pics, but isnt overly fancy or large size wise (I dont mean pages, I mean literal size). Its also priced at $20.

My stickler with price is that I feel anything over $20-$30 turns off anyone just randomly curious about these people. If your new to silent films or film study or even just pass the book in the store and are interested your probably going to be turned off by a near $50 price tag. I buy many many books a month but I am still not a fan of spending that much on a book...call me cheap. But seriously I dont think Im the only one.

Well, the Pickford book is beautiful, BUT, it was also published when the costs of producing such a book were far less than they are now. When originally published it was not $20, it is now remaindered or available used.

As someone working on her own photobook on Valentino (as you may or may not know), as much as I would like to tell you it's going to be $20, it won't. I won't be making any significant $$ on it, but it will be priced between $45-$65. Depending on PB or HB version. That's the rules of the game and the cost of production.

I like a bargain, too, but you have to be realistic, the cost of producing a book has risen and unless you mind having a cheaply made, low quality graphic book, expect to pay a little money for it.

I stiiiilll disagree as it depends who the publisher is and what the book is. There are quite obviously $20 bios out there on obscure people. As for Mary's hers was republished in 2007 meaning it must have had some amount of success. I already own it but I noticed it at Barnes and Nobles the other day (nice for LA LOL) and it was the $20 something price. I think sometimes the authors (or they are jibed into it) go too fancy...that Fairbanks book would have been just as nice in paperback without glossy tinted pages minus for photos. But Im not a publisher, and I know some books that are like the Pickford one do go for the higher price; as they are obscure.

As for a picture book (which I eagerly await btw) I would expect that to cost more as it is indeed a picture book. That requires the pretties. But when its info I dont think it needs to be super fancy...not unless we're talking Chaplin who already has a million books out on him (and btw had a hardcover Pickford type book out this year for I believe $25-$28).

[T0m M]

I was quite excited when I learned about the semi-coordinated releases of the Vance book and Flicker Alley's DVD box set. However, my initial enthusiam waned considerably when I saw that the book appeared to be a standard, smaller format, biography. Based on the price, I had expected a large format, filmography with biography, the likes of Vance's previous efforts; Buster Keaton Remembered and Harold Lloyd Master Comedian.

This format seems to have been the trend in recent years, being established by Brownlow with Mary Pickford Rediscovered. In my opinion, this seems to be the perfect format. It is heavily biased towards the actual films with beautiful, large photographs with substantial but not minutiae information on the non-film related aspects of their lives. The film notes typically include a plot synopsis, which I feel is important for the novice. The rest of the notes usually have a nice balance of production stories, facts, figures and era reviews to maintain the interest of the silent film buff. While they are fairly pricey, the money seems well spent.

I was a bit disappointed to find that Cowie's book on Louise Brooks did not follow the filmography format, though it does include reproductions of numerous, original film posters, many in full-color, an addition which would have enhanced the Brownlow and Vance books.

Due to my geographic location I have to purchase my silent era related merchandise via mail. Consequently, I rely on reviews and forums before making purchases. After my experience with the Brooks volume and noting the smaller format of the Fairbanks book, I decided to delay its purchase until I could see it in person or someone could confirm or assuage my fears. The last thing I want is more blood and sand on my hands.

In the meantime, I will be content with my copy ofThe Fairbanks Album, which I picked up at a used book store for $7.00 US.

[WaverBoy]

I absolutely agree about the format of the previous Vance tomes; I love it. A perfect mix of great pictures and filmography-plus-biography text. I would highly recommend them as primers; they give you a nice overall view of each of the Big Three (sorry guys, they'll always be the Big Three to me, and I've seen plenty of others in action).

Richard Roberts posted that he thought Vance's text in the Keaton volume was dispensable, and it may very well be to someone already familiar with the details of Keaton's life story (I'm presuming Richard is, since he eats, lives and breathes silent comedy, and admirably so), but I thought it was a most interesting read, not having read much previously about Keaton's life.