Author: Samuel Garza Bernstein
Genre: Entertainment/Actors
Hardcover: Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781985902886
University Press of Kentucky
288 Pages
$27.95; $26.55 Amazon
August 26, 2025
⭐⭐
Dynamic and debonair, Cesar Romero was best known for creating the role of the Joker in the 1960s Batman television series. As the first actor to play Batman and Robin's villainous nemesis, Romero established the character's giddy, manic tone and the distinctive laugh that subsequent actors like Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, and Joaquin Phoenix would use as the starting points in their own Oscar-nominated (Nicholson) and Oscar-winning (Ledger and Phoenix) performances. As a closeted gay man of Latin American descent, Romero gracefully faced many personal challenges while maintaining his suave public image and starring opposite legends ranging from Shirley Temple to Marlene Dietrich, Carmen Miranda to Frank Sinatra, and Kurt Russell to Jane Wyman.
The first biography of the consummate entertainer, Cesar Romero: The Joker is Wild, captures the critical moments of Romero's childhood, adolescence, and accomplishments in Hollywood. Author Samuel Garza Bernstein shared anecdote regarding Romero's public and personal life, as well as Romero's private disdain for his reputation as the "Latin lover," a discriminatory stereotype he found constrictive both in terms of his range as an actor and as a man who kept his sexuality private.
Cesar Romero is an in-depth study of a significant Hollywood star and his impact on the entertainment industry. Batman made him immortal, but with more than four hundred film and television credits, his six-decade career as an actor, dancer, and singer made him a true Hollywood icon.
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As someone who absolutely loves classic Hollywood, I really wanted to read this book. I will say that I own thousands of classic films, and I hate the films made today. Back then, there were no blue screens, everything done was true. I also own hundreds of biographies of actors, directors, studios, etc. So at least you know that I know where I speak.
Saying that, I own every one of Cesar Romero's films. As is my wont, when I read the biography of an actor (or other), I watch several of their films to help me see them in their performances -- I watch their movements, their eyes, etc. Seeing Cesar on screen has always been a pleasure of mine, and seeing his films again has not lessened it.
Therefore, I was hoping that this book would give me something I didn't know, or something else about Cesar that would appeal. What I learned is that the author is quite taken by the fact that Cesar was gay. It is mentioned on almost every. single. page. If Mr. Romero kept it in his private life; there was a reason. I don't think he would be happy with this biography. It's not that I didn't know he was gay; it didn't matter, as it doesn't matter now. It's difficult to explain, but I would have liked to have had more insight as to how he felt about his costars, each movie, what he enjoyed when not working. Being gay is fine with me; there have always been actors who are gay, and there probably always will be. It doesn't take away from the fact that they are very good actors. (FYI, I am not homophobic; I just like good biographies).
Instead, I got page upon page of his role on the television show Falcon Crest (who cares?) and a few anecdotes thrown in once in a while about what people felt about him. I happened to know that he was lifelong friends with Joan Crawford, and they spent quite a bit of time together, but there was barely a mention of this. Why?
Oh, this book could have been so good. But instead, we got the chronology of his films and the plot lines of nearly all of them. While he had a small role in The Thin Man, he got to show his acting chops, and I love it each time I view it. He also had a very good role in Charlie Chan at Treasure Island. But ah, well. Watch them if you get the chance.
What else can I say? I didn't learn a lot about Mr. Romero from reading this book, but the pictures were nice.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Samuel Garza Bernstein's Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=
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