正式开更。 先行PAGE 1,就是一点相关评论。 “ ANEAR SCORCHER! ”—Rona Barrett “Enough documentation to prove that Taylorwas more of a man among men than his adoring fans ever believed, and that hewas more of a man among women than his pretty face! ” --Variety “This nostalgia trip back tell quite frank stories about Taylor’s life and loves ” --Publishers Weekly “Jane Ellen Wayne has done a thorough, very readable job! --Film Fan Monthly “This is a book for Taylorfans-and for those who weren’t before! ” --Record-Ledger Magazine
PAGE2 相关人物 Acknowledgments Ursula Thiess Taylor Robert Stack Howard Strickling Hall Bartlett Governor Ronald Reagan Henry Wills George Murphy Joe Santley Barbara and Art Reeves Bob Stapler Tom Purvis HelenFerguson Cal Clements “ Nudie ” Irene Hervey Ben Lane Dr. IvyMooring George Nichols Virrginia Grey The King Brothers Jim Merrick Deborah Kerr Kay Mulvey JoanCrawford Katharine Hepburn Lloyd Nolan Arvid W. Eyth Sister Lucille Lang The author wishes to express special thanksto the New York Post for the use of their files and to the Beatrice Daily Sunfor their cooperation. Also to Winchester-Western Company the author expressesher appreciation. (人物名原为2名一排)
How far isit from a small town in Nebraska to Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California, where a plaque readsAND A LIFETIME TO GO? What aboutthe man, Robert Taylor—The man with the perfect face. The Man who made dailyheadlines all over the world during his reign as King of Hollywood. The Man whoafter several coaching lessons at MGM was told to go back to the farm and said,“ It made me so damn sore I decided to stay! ” The Man whose hairy chest wasspread across front pages of every newspaper in the world in 1937 to prove hisHe-ness. The Man who was voted the most popular male star in all countriesabroad by the Hollywood Press Association representing 500 million moviegoersin the world. The Man who holds the all-time record of being the lowest-paidstar in history. The Man who was chosen Winchester’sOutdoorsman of the Year. The Man who after making his film debut had everyleading lady in Hollywood screaming, “Gimme! ” The Man who had the ability to laugh at himself publicly,when he was awarded the Harvard Lampoon Award for the worst acting one year hesaid, “ By golly, I finally won an award and I never worked harder in my life! ”The Man who had the longest running movie contract of any actress or actor inhistory of Hollywood.And last but most important, The Man who did not live to receive his type ofOscar, Cowboy of the Century. The Manwho was chosen to play opposite Hepburn, Crawford Gaynor, Taylor, Garson, Leigh, Garbo, Gardner, Stanwyck, Harlow, Shearer, Lamarr, Fontaine … There ismuch to be said about Robert Taylor, the man and the star—what can happen to ahandsome, famous, wealthy movie idol, and why life could have awarded him morethan he received. He was a man who had toovercome the fact that he was labeled beautiful and he did it— manfully.
Chapter 1 “People seem to think I’m a millionaire,but I’m not. Every time a chance came along to really strike it rich outsidethe movie business, I was always a dollar short or a day late. It’s the storyof my life. ” These were Robert Taylor’s words aftertwenty-eight years as a motion picture star. He did not enjoy talking abouthimself but when he did he was known for his frankness. He never bragged abouthis accomplishments, and in fact rarely mentioned them. He had a habit of playing down his abilities or cutting a conversation off abruptly to talk aboutsomething else. Few actors have equaled Robert Taylor’sgood looks, and certainly none his modesty. There two qualities do not make astar, but he represented more to audiences than the face they saw on thescreen, he was a symbol of honor, strength, perfection, humility and sincerity. Despite these old-fashioned virtues, thatno make-up, script or costume could conceal, moviegoers, fanatic forexcitement, violence and sex, found him refreshing.
As a villain he was never truly despicable;in a bad movie he managed to keep the audience in their seats; as a lover hewas innocent because of his integrity; in a Western he sat tall in the saddleand dismounted with natural ease; as the knight in shinning armor he was theepitome of manhood. As a human being he was a mystery. Meeting this man for the first time was astartling experience, not so much because he was Robert Taylor but ratherbecause of the realization that his face was flawless. His forehead, cheekbonestructure, nose, chin and lips were perfectly proportioned. Then there was thealways striking black hair and blue eyes. Despite these facial attributes, his widow’speak was his most outstanding feature; it was a magnet. His physique was lean but sturdy and hewalked with graceful masculine determination.
However, there were those who weredispleased with Robert Taylor’s exceptional good looks, and the most vehementwas Robert Taylor. As far as he was concerned, the mirror had never been invented.Any reference to his handsomeness embarrassed him, and he rarely accepted acompliment with a smile. When he was introduced to John Derek, theactor, Taylor said, “I don’t envy you, fella, not with those looks!” People have always admired that which isreal, and the actor who relates veracity is in tune with the public, as Taylor proved in Magnificent Obsession, Johnny Eager, Waterloo Bridge and Quo V’adis. In the thirties he was MGM’s biggestheadache. Their other top stars were set in their molds: Gable was the toughromantic lead; Tracy and Garbo, the naturals; Jean Harlow, the braless sexqueen; Joan Crawford was the broad with dignity; Loretta Young, the perennial soft-spoken lady; but Robert Taylor was a problem.
A Yank at Oxford was the appetizer audiences had beenwaiting for, but then they wanted more. When the film was released he was askedby an interviewer what his immediate plans were and he said, “None.” Wherewould he go from there? “Search me.” Did he have any special kind of role hewould like to play? “No.” What was all the talk about his changing from heavylover to he-man in picture? “You know as much about it as I do. I don’t pick my pictures. The studio does. They tell me what I’m going to play and I do what Ican.” Wasn’t he even consulted? “What for? I’m noproducer. If they want me to be a Bull Montana, I’ve got to try. If they say bea swooning Romeo, I have to take it. I don’t make any decisions because Iwouldn’t know how. But, if you ask me if we’re getting anywhere with thisinterview, I’d say we’re not.” Did it matter to him that they were gettingnowhere? “Yes, it matters! It matters a lot to me. I don’t like to sound like alump. I ought to have a lot of quips to hand out so people would think I’m agreat guy. But I’m just myself. ” The reporters who had to write somethingabout Taylor in their next edition often said, “I wonder what will happen tothis kid who makes more money in one week than I do in a year?” But they wereunanimous about one thing: he would be around for a long, long time.
The press would continue to make fun of hissimplicity and obvious lack of self independence, but Taylor’s realisticphilosophy and integrity kept him a balanced, modest and unassuming manthroughout his many years as a top Hollywood box-office favorite; he had “something”that can only be seen by the camera. What irked the press was knowing RobertTaylor could return to Nebraskaany time, buy a farm with the money he was saving and have no regrets. Hollywood to young Mr. Taylor meant getting up at 5:00 every morning (“I getup dawn anyway!”), going to parties (“I hate them!”), hard work (“No problem. Ican get plenty of that on a farm . . .”), and fame (“Nuts!”). What kept him going as a boy was his faithin L. B. Mayer and his contract with MGM. He liked money because it meantsecurity for him and for his mother, because since his father’s death he hadtaken complete responsibility for her. Fortunately, they were able to live in separatehouses, he in the country where he could keep his quarter horses, and she intown.
He also suggested that she remain in Filleywith her family nearby and receive regular medical treatment which wasexpensive. If Andrew was willing to marry Ruth under these difficult circumstances, he would accept him as his son-in-law. Andrew was in his early twenties, spunkyand ambitious. He was also a stubborn Pennsylvania Dutchman who was not easilydiscouraged. He made up his mind to marry Ruth despite the obstacles. Stanhope gave him an equal partnership in his grain business and the young newlyweds settled down to a quiet life inFilley.
Being married and very much in love was excellent therapy for Ruth. She was full of laughter and enjoyed taking shortwalks with her husband in the evenings. After a year passed she stayed in bed more and more, unable to leave the house. She was breathless for no apparent reason. Andrew did the housework, shopping and cooking while Ruth triedto keepup with sewing and mending. Her doctor recommended a warmer climate. Hegave Ruth a few more years to live and stressed that the extremely cold winters in the Midwest were aggravating her health. But despite these warnings she refused to leave Filley. She convinced Andrew that he was doing well as a grain merchant and she would feel safer being near her family and country doctor in whom shehad great trust. She was still not aware of the seriousness of her heart trouble and felt one day she would be strong enough to do light household chores.
As the months passed, Andrew found himself deeper and deeper in debt. The doctor bills were piling up. He told Stanhopethat Ruth would lie almost lifeless in bed for days at a time and it seemedlike every heartbeat shook her slim body. Then she would get up, sit in a chair, eat well, only to retire again for a week. He consulted several specialists and they agreed that Ruth would continue this pattern until her death, which they predicted would come before her twenty-fifth birthday. They were doing their best with the medical knowledge available in 1909, but in circumstances like this they always advised a prayer or two. Brugh did more than pray. He was fanatically devoted to Ruth and was convinced much more could be done for her.At thirty years old, Brugh was well established in business, but the frustrations over the doctor’s failures to help his wife became too much for him. He decided to study medicine and find acure for her. No one though he would go through with his radical decision, but Stanhope was convinced it was worth a try and offered to back his son-in-law financially, which Andrew accepted as a loan.