Very good biography of Douglas Fairbanks Sr which makes great use of the correspondence between Fairbanks and wfie Mary Pickford. The author traces Fairbanks early stage appearances to his film work. Most of the films are summarized and many that are lost I would have loved to have seen, especially the Westerns. I watched Fairbanks Robin Hood and Thief of Bagdad after reading those chapters and he was a unique and athletic actor. Additionally Fairbanks skill as a producer and businessman were also highlighted. Unfortunately, the early sound films, with their limited mobility for actors destroyed Fairbanks career - which is so poignantly recognized as it was happening. However, like so many biographers, the author does not really finish the book. While film fans will know that Sylvia Ashley (Fairbanks' widow) went on to be Clark Gable's 4th wife and Mary Pickford essentially became a recluse, the author should have followed up on these as well as Fairbanks brother Robert. Also, his funeral services were at Forest Lawn but he is interred at Hollywood Forever - how did that happen? However, most poignant is that after the months and months Fairbanks spent trying to win Mary back, as he was boarding the boat to go to Europe to marry Sylvia Ashley, Pickford sent a wire that all was forgiven but Fairbanks wired back "Too Late". How sad. Would he have lived longer if he had gone back to Mary? It is hard to say but the book reinforces that they were the love of each other's lives and it is a shame it ended the way it did between them. ( )

Interesting. Maybe more than I needed to know.