The Tough Guys - Softcover

James Robert Parish

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0895080079 ISBN 13: 9780895080073

Publisher: Rainbow Promotional Books, 1978

Synopsis

Part of the Encore Film Book Classics series, this is a reprint of the original text to The Tough Guys by James Robert Parish. The astonishing thing about them was their versatility. Certainly, they were tough, ready to trade punches at the drop of an insult, and well acquainted with the ins and outs of assorted firearms. Bumping off and getting bumped off were almost the same to them. And they were ready to take their just desserts (as approved by the Motion Picture Code) without ratting on the boys. But like some ham-fisted pug who raises rare orchids, the subjects of The Tough Guys—James Cagney, Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, Robert Mitchum, Paul Muni, Edward G. Robinson, and Robert Ryan—could doff a crumpled hat and shoulder holster and turn in an elegant, beautifully controlled performance worthy of a classical actor. This volume gives the reader everything but the fingerprints of seven of movieland’s toughest, most talented, most complex actors; complete with detailed biographies, career studies, film analyses, and filmographies (with comprehensive casts and credits). The Tinseltown rogues’ gallery includes: JAMES CAGNEY—He never said, “You dirty rat.” But Bette Davis did call him the actor “who made the gangster artistic” . . . KIRK DOUGLAS—Take away the cleft in his chin, he would still be “The Champion” . . . BURT LANCASTER—Fortunately for Hollywood, this former circus trapeze artist gave up his ambition to teach physical education . . . ROBERT MITCHUM—He broke into movies as a bad guy in the Hopalong Cassidy film series . . . PAUL MUNI—As an eleven-year old, he played a man in his late sixties. And to prepare for The Good Earth, he spent months observing locals in San Francisco’s Chinatown . . . EDWARD G. ROBINSON—Cultured art lover, he was the screen epitome of gangland evil . . . ROBERT RYAN—The Jesuits taught him to love Shakespeare. The Marines gave him steely determination. Whatever role he played reflected his sincerity and thoughtfulness. To get the full lowdown on these rugged leading men of the screen, read The Tough Guys.

About this title

About the Author:

JAMES ROBERT PARISH, a former entertainment reporter, publicist, and book series editor, is the author of many published major biographies and reference books on the entertainment industry including Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You; The Hollywood Book of Extravagance; It’s Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks; The Hollywood Book of Breakups; Fiascos: Hollywood’s Iconic Flops; The Hollywood Book of Scandals; The Hollywood Book of Love; Hollywood Divas; Jet Li; Hollywood Bad Boys; The Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Hollywood; The Hollywood Book of Death; Gus Van Sant; Whoopi Goldberg; Rosie O’Donnell’s Story; The Unofficial “Murder, She Wrote” Casebook; Today’s Black Hollywood; Let’s Talk! America’s Favorite TV Talk Show Hosts; Prison Pictures from Hollywood; Prostitution in Hollywood Films; The Great Cop Pictures; Ghosts and Angels in Hollywood Films; Pirates and Seafaring Swashbucklers on the Hollywood Screen; Gays and Lesbians in Mainstream Cinema; Hollywood’s Great Love Teams; and The Fox Girls. Mr. Parish is a frequent oncamera interviewee on cable and network TV for documentaries on the performing arts. The author resides in Studio City, California.

About this edition

• Publisher: Rainbow Promotional Books
• Publication date: 1978
• ISBN 10: 0895080079
• ISBN 13: 9780895080073
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 635