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Edmund Goulding's Dark Victory: Hollywood's Genius Bad Boy

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I must add my chorus of praise for Matthew Kennedy, who has given us not only the life of a director with amazing talent, but also a new way of looking at both silent and sound films. Maybe you've heard of Goulding, and certainly you've seen a number of his films, but never before has anyone been abel to put together all the facts, do all the right research, and conduct an amazing number of pertinent interviews to produce such a stunning result.

If Goulding had only directed "Dark Victory" and "Grand Hotel" his place in film history would be assured--and even higher. It's his lesser efforts and indeed misses that have complicated his stature.

Goulding's work in music could be a book all of its own. I had no idea he wrote the music for so many films, including such notable songs as "Love Your Magic Spell is Everywhere" (from The Trespasser), "Mam'selle" (from The Razor's Edge) and "Dodie" (from "Teenage Rebel"). Given all that you'd think he'd be a natural filming a musical, but Kennedy's account of "Friendly Island" a/k/a "Down Among the Sheltering Palms" gives one pause.

Now I'm dying to see "We are Not Alone" and "The Constant Nymph." I've read both novels but are these films on DVD? Sounds like not. Oh well, something to look forward to. Thanks, Matthew Kennedy. You do San Francisco proud!

Matthew Kennedy has done a tremedous service in detailing so thoroughly and captivatingly the life of one of Hollywood's most fascinating directors. Goulding was not only a director (and a favorite one of such stars as Bette Davis, Joan Fontaine, and Gloria Swanson), but also a writer, composer, set designer, and cinematographer.

Kennedy details Goulding's scandalous lifestyle well, but is even more interested in Goulding's accomplishments as film director, screenwriter, composer, etc. The author effectively captures the complex and paradoxical nature of the English-born Goulding whose excellent scripts and extraordinary directorial talent set standards in American cinema that are still influencing filmmaking today.

This well-researched, illuminating, and highly entertaining biography is a must for anyone interested in the golden age of Hollywood and, for that matter, anyone else who just wants to read a fascinating biography.

Author Matthew Kennedy does director Edmund Goulding (and films fans everywhere) a great service by bringing Goulding's story to life in his straightforward, well-researched, and highly readable biography. Although there's enough talk about Goulding's notorious orgies to satisfy gossip aficionados, Kennedy is more interested in the man's feats as a film director, screenwriter, composer, and all-around talent. The author emphasizes Goulding's creation of "Grand Hotel," one of the first Best Picture Oscar winners, his handling of numerous female stars (including Bette Davis in three films, Joan Fontaine, Gloria Swanson, and Ginger Rogers), and his deals (and troubles) with the powers-that-be at MGM, Twentieth-Century Fox, and Warner Bros. Highly recommended for those interested in the behind-the-scenes history of Hollywood's Golden Age.

As I read Mr. Kennedy's first book about Marie Dressler and neared the end, I didn't want the book to end because it was a perfectly written book about a great lady who lived with great style. I was delighted when his Edmund Goulding book was published not a long time later, a feeling shared with my large book club that quickly spread to other book clubs in my city. Edmund Goulding's Dark Victory: Hollywood's Genius Bad Boy is impeccably researched and, although Mr. Kennedy is a scholar who also teaches, it is quite evident he knows the mechanics of good writing yet it is not stodgy. More succinctly, he writes a rollicking, gossipy book that dishes the scandal.

Mr. Kennedy writes about Mr. Goulding's exalted place in Hollywood's golden age, how he got there, and what guaranteed Mr. Goulding's place in Hollywood history. I learned about Mr. Goulding's background and gained insight into why he also led a tortured existence even at the top of the heap.

My book club and I look forward to Mr. Kennedy's new Joan Blondell book that promises to tell all. We are encouraged by the news that Miss Blondell's family is cooperating all the way!

Matthew Kennedy's brand new "Edmund Goulding's Dark Victory" is a respectful, restrained biography of one of Hollywood's great directors. For the first time, it chronicles the dashing, dapper Englishman who chatted with aristocratic, mannered actresses by day; and hosted secret, erotic Beverly Hills' parties by night. A butcher's son, Eddie Goulding became a child actor on the London stage. After World War I, Eddie immigrated to America; writing and acting for his one true great love: New York's Broadway. Hollywood beckons, and for the sake of money, Eddie travels West. Eddie becomes the director of classics "The Dawn Patrol(1938)" with Errol Flynn, and "Dark Victory(1939)" with Bette Davis. The peak of his career is 1932's "Grand Hotel". But Eddie is self-destructive. During "Grand Hotel", an all-night orgy at his home sends 2 young girls to the hospital. Eddie is temporarily barred from the United States as MGM micro-manages the scandal...."Edmund Goulding's Dark Victory" is thorough. Some may be bored with so much cinema history(I never was). Frank Sinatra once said that "Most things are not what they seem". In Hollywood past, studios were careful about re-constructing the "facts" regarding the lives of it's citizens. Eddie's life is a good example. Kennedy reports that Eddie died on Dec. 24, 1959, after an unsuccessful operation. However, Internet Movie Data Base lists his cause of death as suicide. Once again, we may-or-may-not have the "facts". Eddie Goulding lived the "fast" life; only slowing down to direct a handful of shining, brilliant, motion picture gems. And he took his own advice: "Enjoy yourself. It is later than you think".

Edmund Goulding's Dark Victory is a perfect read for anyone looking for a bit of the unusual. Here was a first-rate director, adored by actors for his sensitive style, who has been largely forgotten in Hollywood history.Reading Kennedy's book will make you wonder why - for his life and his art both make for compelling reading. Kennedy writes in a lively style well suited to the mercurial, complicated Goulding. Highly recommended!

I was very pleased that finally someone has written a full-length treatment of versatile film director Edmund Goulding. Not only does the author explore the many facets of his enormously popular film career, but delves into the subject's many other talents (play writing, song writing, etc). Of importance to anyone interested in the cultural history of Hollywood is the author's detailed evocation of the era in which Goulding reigned (1930s-1940s) and Kennedy brings forth a fascinating tapesty of the director's offbeat personal life.
Like the author's past book on Marie Dressler--another too often unsung talent--this new work on Edmund Goulding shines a bright light on a major Hollywood personality who deserved (and NOW HAS) a solid examination and strong evaluation. Good job!!

I highly recommend this book! I would say it is a must for any student of film history as it is a tale of the "unknown famous" told in an intelligent and humorous voice. I began this book without a clue as to who Edmund Goulding was and slowly realized that he was one of the ringmasters of the circus that was old Hollywood. I read it very quickly as I found the story fascinating and simply could not put it down. Mr. Kennedy has done all the research and then some. Even the "Notes and Sources" make for interesting reading as they are most entertainingly rendered. Chapter 6 by itself is worth the price of admission! Do yourself a favor and read something about Hollywood history that you can't recite by heart.

This was a interesting & fascinating read about the director of Grand Hotel, Dark Victory, the Great Lie and many other excellent films. Kennedy describes the films without giving away too much of the plot and provides behind-the-scenes stories. The subject's somewhat debauched lifestyle is presented factually, but without judgment. I came away genuinely liking Goulding and appreciating his films even more than before.

I'm sorry to have to do this but the sheer torture of reading this book prompts this negative review.I have been reading this book for the past 2 weeks normally I read movie bios in a matter of days.The author has offered no insight into this man's life and worse he does no critcal thinking in regards to the films,in fact on the silent films I question if he has even seen them.But what promted me to even expend the energy to write this review is when I got to page 66.On that page there is a still which the caption says is from Love when in fact it is from the talking picture remake Anna Karenina and the author is a teacher of film history and he misses this mistake-give me a break.Sadly this is a case of a bad bio happening to a good director.