James Mason (1909ā1984) was born to be an actor. He just didn't know it. A Cambridge graduate with a degree in architecture, he arrived in London at a time when nothing was being built. With few prospects, he turned to the stage, where his modest experience proved enough to land him a spot in repertory theater. Those early performances led to film roles in which he was initially deemed "adequate" before finding his niche as a brooding, sophisticated villaināan identity that made him a star in British cinema.
At the height of his fame and spurred on by his Hollywood-obsessed wife, Pamela, Mason made the leap to California. There, he built a successful career in films that are now considered classics, like A Star Is Born and Lolita, while attempting to enjoy the trappings of Hollywood lifeālavish parties, late nights on the town, and high-profile friendships. But in spite of a beloved collection of cats, whimsically captured in his own sketches in this volume, his sumptuous Beverly Hills house never truly felt like home. Surprising everyoneāincluding Pamelaāafter Lolita's New York premiere, Mason abruptly boarded a one-way flight to Switzerland, where he would spend the rest of his life, often travelling with his second wife to remote movie locations around the world, and settling happily into the role of character actor.
James Mason: The Movie Star Hollywood Forgot explores the complexities of Mason's life and careerāa reluctant star whose refined demeanor and enigmatic choices made him one of cinema's most intriguing figures. From British popularity to Hollywood prestige, from exile to final triumph, his story is one of artistry, reinvention, and quiet rebellion.
- 239 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
About this book
Information
Subtopic
Film & VideoTable of contents
- Cover Page
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- Prologue
- Introduction: A Biography in Search of James Mason
- Chapter 1: Movies for a New Audience
- Chapter 2: Fast Forward
- Chapter 3: On Acting
- Chapter 4: Illustrations
- Afterword: Morgan Mason: Riffs and Reflections on His Dad
- Acknowledgments
- Source Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
- About the Author
Trusted byĀ 375,005 students
Access to over 1.5 million titles for a fair monthly price.
Study more efficiently using our study tools.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription
No, books cannot be downloaded as external files, such as PDFs, for use outside of Perlego. However, you can download books within the Perlego app for offline reading on mobile or tablet. Learn how to download books offline
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.5M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1.5 million books across 990+ topics, weāve got you covered! Learn about our mission
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more about Read Aloud
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS and Android devices to read anytime, anywhere ā even offline. Perfect for commutes or when youāre on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Yes, you can access James Mason by Madeline King Porter in PDF and/or ePUB format. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.