Cobb in golden boy, 1939, from clifford odets play view the tcmdb entry for golden boy 1939. He became william holden, and he got his first break in 1939s golden boy, a film with established stars barbara stanwyck and lee j. His last name was changed to holden by an agent that was still in love with his exwife. It was said of him that in more than seventy films, he never once gave a bad performance. Director john ford as told by stefanie powers duration. The untold story of william holden by bob thomas 1983, hardcover at the best online. According to bob thomas, bill was not a happy man, apparently he started drinking when he first started acting because he needed courage. Young, promising violinist joe bonaparte william holden is in financial. The studio threw him into golden boy when he was 20 and nowhere near ready to carry a major film. Golden boy is the story of william holdens life, his loves, his films, his international adventuresand his valiant combat against his personal demons. The untold story of william holden by bob thomas and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I couldnt put up my tribute post on his big day, but since holden month is drawing to a close today, im sending him. By now the story of william holdens alcoholism isnt exactly untoldbut hollywood journeyman thomas joan crawford, walt disney, etc.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Three times nominated for the best actor award, he won his only oscar in 1953 for his role in stalag 17. Holden won the academy award for best actor in 1953 for his role in stalag 17, and a primetime emmy award for outstanding lead actor for his role in the 1973 television film the blue knight. The handsome, affable holden had broken through a decade earlier in the highprofile screen adaptation of clifford odetss hit play golden boy, playing the title character, a promising young violinist who becomes a boxer. His birthplace ofallon, illinois celebrated him accordingly, he was aprils star of the month on tcm, and holden 100 was created by diana of flickin out to commemorate our golden boy s golden year. William holden was a hollywood star whose career spanned four decades, more than 70 films and three academy award nominations. The exwife was gloria holden who starred in draculas daughter 1936.
This book is about the life of actor william holden and discusses his childhood and teenage years, being discovered as an actor, his early acting years, his years as a big movie star, his relationships and friendships, his world travels, his later years in acting, and his work in animal conservation. Heartbreaking not for him but for those that were close to him and could do nothing to assuage his torments. Jun 11, 2012 he did not keep a little black book, he told mason, but kept it all in his head. The dunnes gave their party every other year, and it was the new year. The untold story of william holden by bob thomas 1983, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Golden holden won an oscar for his role in stalag 17 and, after films like sunset blvd. In addition to golden boy he was also in the movie versions of thornton wilders our town 1940, f. William holden was a dear friend to babs, theyd worked together on a movie golden boy, 1939 william perlburg, the producer, was not satisfied with holden s performance. And now one of her greatest films, the classic golden boy, comes to dvd. William holden golden boy silver scenes a blog for. William holden appeared in more than 70 films, generally as the leading man, including love in the afternoon, sunset boulevard, sabrina, golden boy, and the country girl. Feb 23, 2016 william holdens achievements as an academyaward winning, internationallyacclaimed actor are revealed in clips from some of his best films, such as the golden boy, born yesterday, the country. Nov 18, 2011 he became william holden, and he got his first break in 1939s golden boy, a film with established stars barbara stanwyck and lee j.
One of the most popular movie stars of all time, holden was one of the biggest box office draws of the 1950s. He did not keep a little black book, he told mason, but kept it all in his head. Author bob thomas re calls that in 1979, holden was taking thera. With blake edwards, glenn ford, scott holden, sidney lumet. William holden april 17, 1918 november 12, 1981 was an american actor. Publication date 1989 topics holden, william, 19181981, holden, william, 19181981, motion picture actors and actresses, motion picture actors and actresses contributor internet archive language english.
Cobb in an unusual role as the bewhiskered italian immigrant father of holdens characher. Actress stefanie powers dishes on her love william holden. The films of william holden dominated the 50s and holden was the favorite actor of the great billy wilder, my favorite director and appeared in three of the very best of wilders wonderful films. His first major film role at age twentyone, was in the boxing drama golden boy in 1939 and that nickname stuck. William holden he was nominated three times for the best actor academy award winning it once in 1954 for his performance as the cynical sergeant in stalag 17. William holden the golden boy takes a comprehensive look at an unconventional actor, who frequently chose untraditional projects. Born this day, april 17, 1918, william holden was one of hollywoods biggest box office draw cards of the 1950s. When william holden was found dead at sixtythree, all america mourned and wondered what had driven its golden boy to the alcoholic binges that in the end cost him his life. Apr 30, 2018 april 17th, 2018 marked william holden s centenary. William holden died drunk and alone classicmovierev. Apr 17, 2016 on april 4, 1939, variety reported, william holden, paramount contractee, yesterday was set by columbia for title role in golden boy.
On april 4, 1939, variety reported, william holden, paramount contractee, yesterday was set by columbia for title role in golden boy. William holden, american film star who perfected the role of the cynic who acts heroically in spite of his scorn or pessimism. William holdens achievements as an academyaward winning, internationallyacclaimed actor are revealed in clips from some of his best films. Golden boy the untold story of william holden bob thomas on. Golden boy the dramatic ups and downs of actor william. The untold story of william holden first edition by thomas, bob isbn.
He was born william beedle junior in illinois in 1918. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. His family moved to pasadena, california when he was three, and 16 years later, in 1937, he was signed by paramount pictures because of his looks alone. Golden boy is the winner of an alex award from the american library association, a lambda literary award finalist for best lgbt debut, a booklist top ten first as a writer, she is best known for golden boy, a grippingly innovative comingofage novel with a radical nonbinary, prointersex message autostraddle. This biographical video features oneonone interviews with actors. A portrait of william holden details the actors life, film career, and personal relationships and reveals the darker side behind the golden public image. With barbara stanwyck, adolphe menjou, william holden, lee j. His personal life included international adventures and romances with such stars as audrey hepburn and. Golden boy, the tremendously successful 1937 stage play written by clifford odets.
Two years after his death, bob thomas wrote a wonderful but too brief biography called, what else, golden boy. It was a big film for a newcomer and a minor hit, but at the age of 20, golden holden was too young to transition to traditional leadingman roles. For sale on 1stdibs now out of print this book is rare and collectable, on the. Golden boy features william holden in his film debut, the role that made him a star. Born william beedle, from a bland middleclass background, holden was a student at pasadena junior college in 1939 when he was spotted by a talent scout in an amateur show. But william holden beat the odds by achieving instant stardom with his first leading role, that of the wholesome young prizefighter who wants to be a violinist in golden boy 1939. William holden, whose handsome face and easy, masculine manner made him the quintessential american in many movies, was found dead monday morning in his apartment in santa monica. His personal life included international adventures and romances with such stars as audrey hepburn and grace. Film fans today consider william holden to be one of the great stars of the silver screen, but put yourself in the shoes of a theatregoer in 1939. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. William holdens tribute to barbara stanwyck youtube. His bestknown movies, most from the 1950s, included golden boy, sunset boulevard, stalag 17, the bridge on the river kwai, the wild bunch, and network.
It was a highprofile project for an unknown, since. Hugh herberts the moon is blue 1953, odets the country girl 1954, and william inges picnic 1955, which returns us to one of the themes of golden boy. It had subsequently been made into a film starring william holden, in his film debut. Well liked and a great actor, he became estranged from everyone, eventually due to alcohol abuse. William holden debuted in films at a very young age, in 1938 and went on to become one of the finest screen actors of all time. In the golden era of hollywood the 1940s and 50s the studios carefully manicured the images of their stars. They had plans of getting rid of him, but, stanwyck was very insistent on keeping him on. Golden boy, the untold story of william holden, 1st, first. Mar 24, 2017 at the 1978 academy awards, william holden goes offscript and makes a heartfelt tribute to barbara stanwyck during their presentation of an award. Holden was still an unknown actor when he made golden boy, while stanwyck was already a film star. A keeper of hollywoods secrets now spills them cbs news. William holden the golden boy takes a comprehensive look at an unconventional actor, who. Golden boy the untold story of william holden book. Golden boy which is about william holden left me sad for someone who had it all and threw it away.
About the book william holden was a hollywood star whose career spanned four decades, more than 70 films and three academy award nominations. For starters, we unearthed these articles from a november 1939 issue of modern screen magazine on william holdens appearance in golden boy. The play was about an italianamerican concert violinist, joe bonaparte, who turns to boxing. Joe bonaparte william holden brings girlfriend lorna barbara stanwyck home to sister anna beatrice blinn and dad lee j. William holden 1918 1981 was an unknown in hollywood in 1938. Oct 29, 2010 the first time i saw william holden in the flesh was at a new years eve party given by dominick dunne and his wife, lennie. Hugh herberts the moon is blue 1953, odets the country girl 1954, and william inges picnic 1955, which returns us to one of the themes of golden boy, which is william holden with his shirt off. He won the oscar for best actor for the film stalag 17 1953, and a primetime emmy award for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie for the television film the blue knight 1973. The first time i saw william holden in the flesh was at a new years eve party given by dominick dunne and his wife, lennie. Golden boy, the untold story of william holden, 1st, first edition. His inexperience made filming difficult, and after two weeks columbia president harry cohn was ready to fire him, but costar barbara stanwyck, who had great faith.
Joe bonaparte william holden, with morally compromised supporters adolphe menjou and barbara stanwyck in the crowd, wins his fight with chocolate drop james cannonball green then gets bad news from fight commissioner driscoll stanley andrews in columbias golden boy, 1939. Upon its released, it became an instant success, and so did holden. Cobb in golden boy, 1939, from clifford odets play. According to bob thomas, bill was not a happy man, apparently he started drinking when. The golden boy of vintage hollywood this sunday marks the birthday of william holden, who was born april 17, 1918. Golden boy is a 1939 american drama romance sports film directed by rouben mamoulian and starring barbara stanwyck, adolphe menjou and william holden. What a wonderful book and all the beautiful pictures of william holden. When william holden was found dead at sixtythree, all america mourned an. William holden born william franklin beedle jr april 17, 1918 november 12, 1981 was an american actor who was one of the biggest boxoffice draws of the 1950s. William holdens achievements as an academyaward winning, internationally acclaimed actor are revealed in clips from some of his best films. Golden boy, the untold story of william holden, 1st, first edition thomas, bob on.
Apr 17, 2020 in addition to golden boy he was also in the movie versions of thornton wilders our town 1940, f. A biography and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Apr, 2020 william holden, american film star who perfected the role of the cynic who acts heroically in spite of his scorn or pessimism. Despite his musical talent, joe bonaparte wants to be a boxer. The dunnes gave their party every other year, and it. See more ideas about actor, o fallon illinois and movie stars. Golden boy the dramatic ups and downs of actor william holden. As a result, william holden would become a top boxoffice star over the next several years, appearing in some of the most memorable movies of the fifties. Newcomer william holden became an overnight sensation in the role of a young violinist who turns to boxing and finds himself torn between his two occupations especially when seductive stanwyck slinks into his life.
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