Fred MacMurray (Paperback)

~ Charles Tranberg (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Fred MacMurray is one of the most successful American film actors of the 20th Century. From 1935 until 1973 he was the star, or one of the stars, of more than 80 films. Along with his amazing career longeivity Fred proved to be very versatile, working succesfully in different genres. In addition to his comedic skills (Rosalind Russell considered Fred "the most talented light comedian I ever met"),he was also one of the great romantic leads of his day. Considered by some to be a light-weight, the truth is that even when he played opposite the likes of Colbert, Lombard, Hepburn, Stanwyck, Dunne, Arthur, and Crawford, he was never overshadowed. Because his screen persona is multi-faceted, he is hard to define as an actor. Warm, down-to-earth and comforting to be around, he could also be the consummate cad. Always taken for granted, the critics didn't champion him, and he never received a major industry award. Only by looking back on the whole of his long and amazing career can we begin to see and understand his remarkable achievement.

From the Author

This book is based on over four years of research and dozens of interviews with friends, associates and family. The book also includes over 70 photographs.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 392 pages
• Publisher: BearManor Media (September 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593930992
• ISBN-13: 978-1593930998
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #440,386 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Offering from author Tranberg, February 4, 2008

By	Scott O'Brien (California) - See all my reviews

One of the biggest challenges facing biographers who venture into telling the stories of stars from Hollywood's Golden Age is getting input from former co-stars and co-workers - most of whom are no longer with us. Charles Tranberg has accomplished a difficult task admirably. MacMurray's biography is filled with ample commentary from actors, producers, and directors who worked alongside him in films and television. Although MacMurray may have referred to himself as a "boring" subject, this biography is anything but. Background details on some of MacMurray's classic offerings (Alice Adams, Double Indemnity, The Caine Mutiny, The Apartment) make for a very interesting and informative read. Tranberg acquired interviews with MacMurray's TV sons, who give an honest portrait of a talented if often insular man. MacMurray's children were also involved with the telling of this story and they detail their father's passion for the outdoors and their ranch-life in Sonoma County California. Nicely illustrated, this is a wonderful addition for anyone's film library.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Movie Star Next Door, November 14, 2007

By	Bookreader (USA) - See all my reviews

Film and TV star Fred MacMurray brought an amiable, breezy charm combined with a rock solid Middle American integrity to most of his many roles. When you watched Fred in his earliest roles, his Disney films, or his TV series "My Three Sons", you liked him and you believed in him. The same qualities are found in Charles Tranberg's new biography. Charles brings solid scholarship and an entertaining and fast moving style to the subject. This is to be expected of the author of the award-winning Agnes Moorehead bio. "I Love the Illusion." I'd say if he could read the book, Fred himself would slap Charles on the back paternally and say, "Good goin', Chuck!"

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fred mcmurray's book, January 31, 2009

By	Linda A. Bahr - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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Really enjoyable book without all the smut so many stars seem to engage in. He was a faithful husband, and a good man.