Now in paperback. William Desmond Taylor (1872-1922) was a leading silent film director remembered as the victim of Hollywood's most sensational unsolved murder, which shook the nation and shattered the reputations of several top Hollywood stars. Until now, Taylor's film career and leadership role in the Hollywood film industry have been completely overshadowed by the scandal of his death. By reprinting over 400 items from contemporary newspapers, magazines, and trade journals, the book reveals Taylor's life in Hollywood_from his arrival as a minor actor in 1912 until his death in 1922 as one of Hollywood's top directors. These annotated clippings and articles, many containing Taylor's own words, provide substantial insight into Hollywood life and film production during the decade that transformed Hollywood into the movie capital of the world. Included in the book is the most extensive filmography of Taylor's work ever published. Taylor's murder is also examined, including a critical analysis of two published 'solutions' to the crime.
About the AuthorBruce Long, on the staff of Arizona State University, has published articles in Classic Images, Movie & Film Collector's World, Classic Film Collector, and The Big Reel. He was editor and publisher of Taylorology, a review of the Taylor case.
Reviews...a more detailed account of Taylor's career and murder than anything ever written. * The Big Reel *
...a compendium of primary sources as fascinating for students of early Hollywood as of unsolved crime. * Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine *
As film history, human story or murder mystery the book...grips the attention throughout. * Film Review Annual *
Long's absorbing tale sheds a curious light on that period's Hollywood lifestyle. * American Cinematographer *
Book InformationISBN 9780810841710
Author Bruce LongFormat Paperback
Page Count 472
Imprint Scarecrow PressPublisher Scarecrow Press
Series The Scarecrow Filmmakers SeriesWeight(grams) 599g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 139mm * 36mm