6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Jeff Chandler - The Forgotten Hollywood Star, July 14, 2006
This review is from: Jeff Chandler: Film, Record, Radio, and Television Performances (Paperback)
Jeff Wells has done an admirable job of putting together a well researched and nicely written book - however this is a compact book - it is not a typical biography. Wells has split the book into a brief and very straight forward biography, then there are sections on Chandlers' films, his work on the radio, random appearances on television and a synopsis of Chandler's music.
If a reader didn't know anything about Jeff Chandler, this would be the book to recommend. This is a quick read but there is a lot of solid information regarding Chandler's film and radio career in Hollywood.
For those in the know about who Jeff Chandler was and what films he was in, this is not entirely satisfactory read - basically the book reads like a blue print - the author doesn't allow his voice to emerge and it feels like Wells may not have viewed all of Chandlers' films - missing from this book is an analysis of Chandler's performances. Basically, Jeff Chandler was the king of the B's and most unfortunately, Chandler didn't always have the right co-star or director. Chandler worked mostly in Westerns, War Films or the obligatory "Swords & Sandals" (with the exception of Sinatra, it seems every leading man got stuck in one of these 1950's oddities) - once in a great while, Chandler would be found in a contemporary piece - not often enough.
For instance, a film like "A Stranger In My Arms" - this is a great story with some very good actors (Mary Astor, June Allyson, Charles Coburn, Sandra Dee) However, there is no chemistry between Chandler and his leading lady, June Allyson and the film was shot in black and white when it should have been in glorious technicolor. Produced by Ross Hunter it surprising lacks any real passion from the leading man and woman - the best stuff in the film is Chandler and Sandra Dee haming it up in bar scene. See this film for the fine performances of the supporting players. With the right leading lady, it could have been a nice film for Chandler.
Unfortunately, Wells does not try to examine Esther Williams' nasty claims about Jeff Chandler and cross dressing. Also, the biography section ends in 1961 when Jeff Chandler passes away.
In 2003, Marilyn Kirk "self published" a book on Jeff Chander - basically her book is a horror show; mistakes, quoting from old movie magazines (the least reliable source of information) and the book is in desparate need of a good editor but overall Marilyn Kirk is a huge fan of Chandler and between the lines of her poorly written & somewhat delusional book there is a great passion for Chandler.
After reading Well's book on Chandler - just a little touch of that passion would have been welcomed. All in all, Wells has created his version of "the dummy's guide to Jeff Chandler" BUT it doesn't make it a bad book. Laura Wagner, book reviewer for great movie buff zine "Classic Images" gave Well's book a poor review which wasn't deserved.
Essentially, this book is like a pebble skimming across a very large pond. Jeff Wells has created an excellent research tool on Jeff Chandler, at least the essence of Chandler's work has been cataloged and because of Wells, someone who can really write a biography will come along for the late and much forgotten, Mr. Jeff Chandler.
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