Alexis Smith

Author:    Peter Shelley

Genre:     Biography

Hardcover; Paperback; Kindle

ISBN #:    9798887714509; 9798887714493

Bear Manor Media

248 Pages

$37.99; $28.00; $9.95 Amazon

April 22, 2024

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Alexis Smith (June 8, 1921-June 9, 1993) was an American star of film, television, theatre, and radio.  Born in Canada, she grew up in Los Angeles and was a professional dancer.  She also studied acting and was discovered in a college production by a Warner Bros. scout.  Signed to a long-term contract Smith spent nine years playing supporting parts, appearing three times with Errol Flynn, twice with Humphrey Bogart, and with Cary Grant in Night and Day.  During this time, she also met fellow actor Craig Stevens whom she married in 1944 and stayed with until her death.  In the 1950s and 1960s Smith freelanced, appearing in her only leading role in film in Undercover Girl for Universal, on television and in theatre in summer stock.  In 1970 she was cast in the leading role in the musical Follies which earned her the Tony Award for Best Actress.  The acclaim revived Smith's career and she continued in theatre roles, films, and television including a guest spot on Cheers which earned her an Emmy Award nomination.  Her last film appearance was in Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence which was released posthumously.

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I will first say (as I often do) that I love classic films and don't even watch the movies made today.  Back then, movies were magical, and watching people work (without blue screens) was incredible.  I first noticed Alexis Smith in the film The Two Mrs. Carrolls with the magnificent Humphrey Bogart.  Playing against him, while he seemed to have the true artist's temperament, being brusque, a little rude (sometimes they are!), and unapproachable, Alexis played her role as a manipulative, conniving woman to the hilt. It is a wonderful film (regardless of what some critics say), and she played her role with gusto.

Yes, she came off as a cold, statuesque blonde, but she had warmth as well; she could play either hot or cold, although most of her roles had her appearing as the latter.  After reading this book unfortunately, I didn't learn much about Alexis at all.

I say this because the book is merely a compilation of her films, what role she played, who the hairdresser was and how she wore her hair (even whether it was a wig or not), and who designed the wardrobe.  I have never wondered who designed her clothes or how she wore her hair. 

What I was interested in -- and never discovered -- is what her life was like.  We learned all about her professional life, but very little about her private life.  When did her mother pass?  There is a sentence mentioning how her father attended an event, but no mention of her mother's passing and how it might have affected her.  There is no mention of her home with Craig Stevens (although by all accounts they had a wonderful life together).  Did they live in Hollywood?  On a small ranch?  Up in the hills?  Did they entertain at all?  Who were their close friends?  We never learn any of this.  We know she had one close friend throughout her life, but did they spend time at each other's homes?  Did her friend marry and have children?  Would she have doted on them, if so?

When she lived in New York, did she leave Craig at home in California or did he travel with her?  Were them both having careers difficult or did they choose not to work at the same time?

I know that there are people who might be interested only in her professional credits; the people she worked with, and the small anecdotes they give about her and vice versa, but I wanted more.  Sadly, I was still left wanting.

https://www.amazon.com/Alexis-Smith-Peter-Shelley-ebook/dp/B0D2JKPJJS/ref=

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8834718909

More on Peter Shelley's Books:    https://www.amazon.com/stores/Peter-Shelley/author/B002JV8HAI?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=deee5337-1471-4132-8abb-727884e0d2f2 

The Accidental Star -- The Life and Films of Warner Baxter

Author:    Dan Van Neste

Genre:     Biography/Actors

Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9788887712253; 9798887712246

BearManor Media

498 Pages

$45.00; $35.00; $.9.95 Amazon

August 3, 2023

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A Best Actor Academy Award on his mantel, a four-decade-long acting career on his resume, 104 feature films in his filmography, enough great reviews to fill a dozen scrapbooks, the highest paid actor in Hollywood in 1938, and the second highest in 1937, a popular star admired and loved by coworkers and fans everywhere, a man beloved by his wife, family, and friends whose philanthropy, community serve, and acts of kindness won him wide approbation.  Those were but a few of the accomplishments of Warner Baxter, the actor and the man.  Yet in spite of all his achievements, the life of Warner Baxter was no bed of roses.  An insecure, troubled man bedeviled by grave self-doubts, negative thoughts and inner demons which he never seemed totally able to control, Baxter often appeared incapable of enjoying his many triumphs.  On a surface level, his unhappiness and inner turmoil appear irrational, but when one learns his history, past experiences, and the astonishing series of accidents, injuries, and catastrophes which befell Baxter and those closest to him throughout his life, his insecurities and instability become considerably more understandable.  Similarly sad is the fact that since his early death in 1951, Warner Baxter's fame and professional legacy have basically faded into oblivion, an unjust victim of fame and neglect. 

Who was Warner Baxter?  Why is he important?  How is it possible such an acclaimed and popular actor, someone so admired by fans and Hollywood elites during his heyday could be disregarded and/or forgotten today?  The Accidental Star chronicles the dramatic life and career of this talented, versatile and vastly underrated film star in an attempt to answer those questions.

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Two things I will first say about this biography: It is very well researched, and gives us an excellent insight into both the man and the actor who is Warner Baxter.

To start off, I will tell you that I was born after Mr. Baxter died, so there should be a possibility that I would never have heard of him.  But I am a tremendous lover of classic films.  So much so, I don't even watch the movies made today.  I would rather live in the glory that was once Hollywood than what has unfortunately become.  I also have thousands of classic films, so I never get bored!

Warner Baxter has always struck me as a wonderful actor, most deserving of his Oscar, for the film In Old Arizona.  It began a long career of movies, one in which he excelled in whatever character he chose to play.  He always struck me as not only handsome, but strong and steady, someone you could talk to about anything -- this was his screen persona.  In fact, I recently watched once again The Prisoner of Shark Island, just to bring me back into seeing him once more on screen.  I won't go into the movie, as the author does that quite nicely.  But watching it, you can see the emotions flit over his face as he encounters life -- happiness, despondency, confusion, determination, and eventually, triumph and once again happiness, although this time sadly.  It is a wonderful picture, and you should watch it.

He made many wonderful pictures; unfortunately, also quite a few that are "lost" because of the way films were made long ago, and there are no prints available to watch.  (I long to see them, but alas, it will never be).  There is no doubt that he was spectacular in whatever role he chose; until, at least, he allowed his own health issues to intervene.

Mr. Baxter was also happily married for thirty-three years to his wife until his death in 1951.  Their marriage was more than solid.  The Baxters traveled, and had several homes, including an impressive (even by today's standards) home in California, which, eventually, they sold, along with other 'impulse' purchases by Baxter.  But while they were there, they enjoyed them, and also spending time with friends, which included other great actors such as Ronald Colman and William Powell.

Warner Baxter, unfortunately, had demons he was never able to rid himself of.  His mother was widowed when he was only five months old, and never remarried.  He spent his life devoted to her and taking care of her.  He always knew he wanted to be an actor even when he had other jobs.  It was by sheer luck that someone knew and took notice of this tall, imposing man with the baritone voice and expressive face.

There were several accidents and incidents throughout his acting career -- and we will never know if he blamed himself for any of them -- but he kept this to himself, as well as his other insecurities.  No matter how much money he had -- and the Baxters were, by all accounts, very wealthy -- he believed that tragedy was around the corner.  But Baxter loved to act, and he kept on even late into his career, which spawned a ten-movie series named The Crime Doctor.  Occasionally, you can catch this series on Turner Classic Movies (or better yet, buy it!).  It is one of the last films (but not the last) that Mr. Baxter made.  

I could list all the movies I've watched, and those I love best, but the author does a superb job of doing this for me.  As I stated above, the book is well researched, and there is an extensive bibliography and filmography in the back of the book for you to reference.  Above all, there are many wonderful pictures of this star throughout the book, and tons of those I have never seen before.

While Warner Baxter remains, I imagine, not as well-known as stars such as James Cagney, his roles were nevertheless diverse and worth watching, and I implore you to read this book and then delve into a few.  You will not regret it.  Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Star-Films-Warner-Baxter-ebook/dp/B0CW1B1JWC/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6665274560  

More on Dan Van Neste's Books:    https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ADan+Van+Neste&s=relevancerank&text=Dan+Van+Neste&ref=