Stars in the Corps: Movie Actors in the United States Marines [Hardcover]

James E., Jr. Wise (Author), Anne Collier Rehill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1999

Filled with over forty revealing celebrity profiles of motion picture stars who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including Purple Heart recipient Lee Marvin.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Following the lead of their Stars in Blue (1997), about movie actors who served in the navy, Wise and Rehill sketch Hollywood stars who served in the Marine Corps. Nary a negative observation appears. All the fightin' thespians are represented as bold, true, clear-headed, and uncomplicated. Tyrone Power's spirit must be cackling in derision, given the usual tenor of posthumous commentary on the strikingly handsome, allegedly bisexual leading man. Wise and Rehill describe Power's early life in publicity-hack terms, summarize his film career, and account for his military service. The other profiles follow suit. Readers may chuckle cynically over the differences between these wholesome descriptions and commonly available rumor and innuendo about such matters as, for instance, Power's inability to carry on a completely faithful romance. "Tyrone Power was loved by everyone who knew him," we read. "Such as Errol Flynn," Hollywood dirt diggers Charles Higham and Kenneth Anger might retort. Still, Wise and Rehill provide congenial historical star trivia as well as unintentional cause for mirth. Mike Tribby

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557509492
• ISBN-13: 978-1557509499
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,099,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, December 14, 1999

By 

George (Illinois - USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stars in the Corps: Movie Actors in the United States Marines (Hardcover)

STARS IN THE CORPS. is a most entertaining and informative book. Well written and researched, it deals with the military service of a number of movie stars that served in the Corps through America's wars. Among the stars profiled, readers will find the opening chapter particularly interesting, since it relates the life and service of a much-decorated Vietnam Marine, Dale Dye. In case the name is not familiar, he was the military advisor for the movies, PLATOON, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, AND THE THIN RED LINE. He has also acted in a number of movies and television specials. The chapter about Lee Marvin is riveting. In every sense of the word he was a Marine throughout his life. His burial marker at Arlington reads, LEE MARVIN, PFC, U. S. MARINE CORPS. Many of the subjects and stories will surprise readers. What I liked about the entire read was the avoidance of tabloid innuendo. True to the theme set by authors Wise and Rehill in STARS IN BLUE, they focus on the service contributions of these men, which are often unknown to the American public.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, August 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Stars in the Corps: Movie Actors in the United States Marines (Hardcover)

Thank you for making my father John R. Post so happy to have someone care about something that consumed a great deal of his young life. He was so thrilled to receive your book and share it with me and all his military friends. It was a time to be remembered - for the friendship - not the death. And he may be different but he remembers every name of every person he spent time with during WWII and the Korean Conflict. Thank you for acknowledging his memory and caring about his fellow man. Thank you.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Warrior at Heart, April 11, 2011

By 

Gordon Rohn - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stars in the Corps: Movie Actors in the United States Marines (Hardcover)

There are several books about the war exploits of movie and stage stars. I have read several and enjoyed them all. This one covers those who served in the Marine Corps. It is an easy read made up of many short chapters, each one covering a different star. If you follow the silver screen, stars or our participation in war you should enjoy it and learn from it.