Although he has been dead for 30 years, character actor Robinson's popularity continues. This compendium consists of alphabetically arranged entries detailing his life and career. Entries run from one sentence to a couple of pages and offer facts and commentary about all of the actor's known appearances and performances, ranging from starring roles in theater and feature films to commercials for Maxwell House coffee and a cameo on the
Batman television series. Also covered are individuals, including wives and coworkers, and various aspects of Robinson's professional and personal life. The entry
Art, for example, discusses his private collection of French impressionist paintings as well as the ways in which fine art figured in some of his films. A bibliography consisting of more than 230 print sources attests to the author's extensive research, and the exhaustive index should ensure that no particulars get overlooked.
The August 8, 2002, "Dear Abby" syndicated advice column devoted to a series of personal affidavits from readers attesting to Robinson's graciousness and generosity is proof of his enduring appeal. This volume is the only source entirely devoted to Robinson currently available (two books about his work, The Cinema of Edward G. Robinson [A. S. Barnes, 1972], by James Parish, and The Complete Films of Edward G. Robinson [Carol, 1990], by Alvin H. Marill, are out of print, as is the biography Edward G. Robinson, by Foster Hirsch [Pyramid, 1975], and Robinson's autobiography, All My Yesterdays [Hawthorn, 1973]). Of obvious interest to film and performing arts collections, this offering should also be considered by public libraries. RBB
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Review
"Beck has created a hard-to-put-down, fascinating, not to mention exhaustive volume that will go unsurpassed for its scope and its authority." --
Classic Images"Extensive research...exhaustive index." --
Booklist/RBB
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.