George Arliss: The Man Who Played God (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series) [Hardcover]

Robert M. Fells (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 14, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0810851601 | ISBN-13: 978-0810851603

By any reasonable expectation, George Arliss should not have succeeded as a star, either on stage or in film. Yet he achieved a career enjoyed by very few in the performing arts. An actor, author, playwright, and filmmaker, George Arliss won acclaim for his work first on the stage and then later, most improbably, as a Hollywood movie star. His films achieved the rare distinction of being both artistic and financial successes. Though he was neither young nor handsome, Arliss found popular acclaim for his many historical characterizations such as Voltaire, Nathan Rothschild, Cardinal Richelieu, and Benjamin Disraeli.

Robert Fells traces Arliss's life and times through his film work, providing a thoroughly researched and entertaining view of one of the most important, yet neglected figures in film history. The book also reviews the actor's uneasy relationship with screenwriters, his clashes with British film producer Michael Balcon, his championing of young unknowns such as Bette Davis and James Cagney, and his prosecution by the British Government during World War II. It also includes a complete filmography and a selected stageography of Arliss's work.

Includes 20 photos.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The first biography of Arliss to appear in more than 60 years, this book is long overdue and a must read for anyone interested in the auteur theory as it applies to actors....Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above. (CHOICE )

...Fells does an exceptional job overall. He manages to give us a vivid personal portrait of the man, even finding autobiographical touches in his films. But what sets this book apart are the critical readings of the films. (Classic Images )

Arliss triumphed as an actor first on the stage and then in Hollywood against the current wisdom of his time, which found him neither handsome nor young enough to succeed as a star. But his work as an actor, author, playwright, and filmmaker won critical acclaim; his films were hits both artistically and financially. Fells traces Arliss's life through clashes with others in the industry, his championing of young unknowns like Bette Davis and James Cagney, and his prosecution by the British government on financial charges in World War II. The work includes a complete filmography and selected stageography of Arliss's work. (Reference and Research Book News )

About the Author

Robert M. Fells has been a vintage film enthusiast since childhood. He has a B.A. in History from Iona College and a Juris Doctor from George Mason University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (September 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810851601
• ISBN-13: 978-0810851603
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,830,179 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robert M. Fells is an attorney and executive director of a national trade association in the Washington, D.C. area. Among his avocations, he is a silent film collector and historian, a pianist, and a collector of historical radio broadcasts from the 1930s. He is regarded as the official biographer George Arliss and has published three volumes on the subject. Bob lives in Northern Virginia with Maureen, his wife of 38 years. They have three grown children, two granddaughters, and Petey, a miniature schnauzer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Author Speaks on George Arliss!, March 31, 2006

By 

Robert M. Fells "Mr. Arliss's Official Biogra... (Centreville, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: George Arliss: The Man Who Played God (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series) (Hardcover)

Full Disclosure compels me to say that I am the author so you know already that you won't be getting an exactly impartial viewpoint. My purpose here is two fold: first, to thank the individuals who have taken the time and effort to comment on my Arliss biography/critique. Researching and writing the book was a labor of love and, besides, there's nothing worse than being ignored.

My second reason is to merely add a point of information. As has been stated, very few of George Arliss's films are available on video, either VHS or DVD. But thank heaven for cable stations Turner Classic Movies and the Fox Movie Channel. With a little bit of patience, you can see all 13 of Mr. Arliss's American films on these two stations. Fox has gotten quite generous by running The House of Rothschild (1934) and Cardinal Richelieu (1935) every month, although Fox seems to be stingy about running the finale scene in "Rothschild" in its original Technicolor brilliance. It did show it in color back in 2001, but in the last year or so, Black & White seems to be the rule. Perhaps if we all email Fox, they might change its corporate mind. And while we're at it, let's urge FMC to run Arliss's comedy, The Last Gentleman (1934).

Turner schedules the Warners films, The Man Who Played God, The Working Man, and Voltaire, a couple of times a year. Perhaps with a bit of encouragement, TCM will program Disraeli, Old English, The Green Goddess, The Millionaire, Alexander Hamilton, A Successful Calamity, and The King's Vacation more often than once every few years. Is it possible that George Arliss could be a TCM Star of the Month? We'll never know if we don't ask!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars George Arliss Remembered, by John Rogerson, movie enthusiast, February 1, 2006

By 

John Rogerson (Hammondsport, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: George Arliss: The Man Who Played God (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series) (Hardcover)

George Arliss, in his day a top star, is today the least-remembered of any, which makes this book especially welcome. Too bad its style is a bit pedestrian, but it does whet the appetite for Arliss's largely-unavailable output (Amazon has, through its contract supliers, his Oscar-winning "Disrael" and "The Iron Duke" and "Dr. Syn", and Movies Unlimited has "The Guv'ner" and "East Meets West", but his reputed two best, "The House of Rothschild" and "The Man Who Played God" don't seem available anywhere). The book points out Arliss's dedication (he insisted on two weeks's reheasal before shooting, even if he had to pay the Cast himself), sterling character (never a hint of scandal, no marital infidelity, etc), and modesty (he had full charge of all films and often wrote or rewrote screenplays, but insisted on being billed solely as an actor). For further info, see his two autobiographies, "Up the Years from Bloomsbury" and "George Arliss".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars George Arliss--no longer an overlooked major Hollywood star, September 20, 2007

By 

James Robert Parish (Studio City, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: George Arliss: The Man Who Played God (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series) (Hardcover)

While a major Hollywood luminary of the late 1920s and early 1930s, British-born stage/film star George Arliss (who won an Oscar for 1929's Disraeli) is too little known by modern generations. This detailed biography provides a rich study of Arliss's long life--both on and off camera--bringing the unusual (by Tinseltown standards) leading man into sharp focus.

A book well worth buying and reading!