British Novelists in Hollywood, 1935 1965
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British Novelists in Hollywood, 1935 1965 Travelers, Exiles, and Expats Lisa Colletta
british novelists in hollywood, 1935 1965 Copyright Lisa Colletta, 2013. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2013 978-1-137-38075-3 All rights reserved. First published in 2013 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN in the United States a division of St. Martin s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave and Macmillan are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. ISBN 978-1-349-47937-5 DOI 10.1057/9781137380760 ISBN 978-1-137-38076-0 (ebook) Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data is available from the Library of Congress. A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library. Design by Scribe Inc. First edition: December 2013 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents Acknowledgments vii Introduction: The British in Hollywood: Travelers, Exiles, and Expats 1 1 Movies and the Lure of Hollywood 15 2 Hollywood Architecture and the Technicolor Landscape 45 3 Forest Lawn, Hollywood, and the American Way of Dying 75 4 Movie Stars and Celebrity 103 5 British Hollywood Fiction 139 Notes 171 Bibliography 189 Index 195
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Acknowledgments So many people have helped in the making of this book and deserve much more than a mere acknowledgment, so I will also extend my heartfelt thanks. I would like to begin by thanking Brigitte Shull and Ryan Jenkins at Palgrave Macmillan, who are so professional, courteous, and thoughtful. It is never easy doing things at such a distance, but they made things very easy and smooth, despite time zone differences. As always, I thank Wendy Martin for being a very special mentor and friend and for her unfailing encouragement and always sound advice. On that front, I would like to thank as well Kristin Bluemel, who is a marvel in every way, encouraging, funny, whip smart, and kind. Thanks, too, to Christine Berberich, whose expertise and friendship have been very important to me over the years. There are many in the Space Between network who are wonderful colleagues all, even though I have not been present at many of those conferences: particularly, Phyllis Lassner and Faye Hammill, whose humane scholarship has set such an example for me. In Los Angeles, I would have been lost without the wonderful staff at the Huntington Library, where this book originated, most specifically Sue Hodson. Thanks also to Jim Berg and Chris Freeman, Isherwood scholars extraordinaire, and to the whole Isherwood Foundation. I am deeply indebted to Don Bachardy, who is one of the most generous and kind human beings I have ever met. His portrait of me is my most prized possession. Very special thanks go to John
viii Acknowledgments and Sarah Fowles, who were so generous and warm in sharing their stories and their friendship. I owe them both very much. The Babson College Board of Research made much of this book possible with its support during my time in the United States, so thanks go to Susan Chern for all her help during those years. In Rome, thanks to Andrew Thompson, who bet on me early with the support of his Provost s Award. Also, I am very grateful to Antonello Villani, whose friendship and documentary film work on the subject of Hollywood exiles gave me much inspiration. I would also like to thank all my close friends and colleagues who put up with me over the many years of whining about this book: Anna Zagorksi, Mary O Donoghue, Silvia Esposito, Vasiliki Kynourgiopoulou, Paul Zinder, and Kristen Palana. Thanks very much to Silvano Susi, who always inspires me with his curiosity and passion for life. Special thanks to my family, especially my wonderful parents, Charles and Iris. And a very special thanks to Stephen Croes, who has been there since the beginning and is my constant supporter and encourager and to whom this book is dedicated.