King Baggot began making films for Carl Laemmle in 1909 and was a major star from 1910 to 1916. Baggot then gained renown as a director in the 1920s and as a character actor in the 1930s and 1940, but perhaps most notably, he was the first publicized leading man in America. If you are not a silent movie buff, you probably never heard of the man. In his two-reel Shadows he played ten characters and also directed - a first in film history. He founded the Screen Club, the first and most prestigious club strictly for film personnel. He directed The Home Maker, a social drama that explored role reversal between a husband and wife when such an idea was not at all accepted, and Tumbleweeds, now considered a classic among Western films.
This biography, published through McFarland, has a steep price tag but is worth the price. It covers Baggot's early life before he broke into the film industry, traces his career from his beginnings as a stage actor in 1900 to the peak of his career in the 1920s, 30s and 40s, and ends with his death in 1948. The extensive filmography documents every known film in which he took part, providing cast and production credits, release date, length, Library of Congress registration number, places where the film can be found today, and other information proving the author not only knows her subject but did her research as well. Great photos!
 |
| www.CoverOut.com |
No comments:
Post a Comment