Summary: There are many western actors, but few were real cowboys. Gary Cooper could have boasted of having been in his youth, but he was of modest temperament. The unforgettable performer of the Train will whistle three times and of The man of the west has not, moreover, distinguished himself in this genre alone: from sentimental comedy to war film, from exotic adventure to parody, he has brought his natural aura to all the genres he has touched, always with this generosity is quick to highlight its partners. “American par excellence”, in the best sense of these terms, the one who was L’Extravagant Mr. Deeds (Frank Capra) and the Sergeant York (Howard Hawks), was also the friend of great writers, Hemingway in mind. And if Clark Gable was the “king”, John Wayne the “duke,” Gary Cooper deserved to finally be awarded the title of prince.
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Gary Cooper – The Prince of Actors – Book
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In 2019, Roland Jaccard reminded us, not without humor, that John Wayne is not dead. Today, it is Adrien Le Bihan who assures us that Gary Cooper must not be forgotten. The writer and translator does it in a beautiful way. This biography of the actor is the first to appear in France for forty years and we take, over the pages, the extent of this rediscovery. Because if the work takes on its account the traditional chronology of biographical writing, Le Bihan had the intelligence to privilege films on social life. In fact, if the man interests the author, it is first of all by the character of his characters and his artistic personality. Less than glamor or myth, it is the qualities of the actor that benefit from long developments. Le Bihan recalls the stylistic singularity of Cooper, his relaxation and his naturalness, his ability to listen to his partners, but also his constant desire for improvement and renewal which made him one of the forerunners of the actors of modernity. Cooper’s career also allows us to retrace the history of Hollywood cinema, from its industrialization to the gradual collapse of its production system. In this sense, his work is presented as an exemplary case, shedding light on the different aspects of the star-system, from contractual relations with the studios to more or less successful collaborations with filmmakers of different stamps, including access to relative economic autonomy. and creative. During his story, Le Bihan dwells at length on the historical context that accompanied the emergence and then the height of Cooper’s fame.
Among the various events that surrounded and sometimes influenced his career, the author dwells at length on the activities of the HUAC (House Un-American Activities). By referring to various archives, Le Bihan returns to the involvement of the actor and, without seeking to justify his behavior, manages to put into perspective the judgment that we sometimes pass a little hastily on the Hollywood informers.
This in-depth work is in fact a constant in the book. If certain film descriptions sometimes stretch to the length, Le Bihan returns with relevance and numerous references to their formal and dramatic interests. We regret on this point that the author has not proposed a bibliography capable of synthesizing these different sources, but their use throughout the text convinces by its size and accuracy. These different qualities make this work a new benchmark for those who are directly or indirectly interested in this actor whose surname and presence will forever be synonymous with eternal.
- GARY COOPER. THE PRINCE OF ACTORS
- Author: Adrien Le Bihan
- Editions: LettMotif
- Release Date: May 5, 2021
- Languages: French only
- Format : 366 pages
- Prices: € 26 (print) – € 14.90 (digital) – € 36 (luxury format, cardboard and numbered jacket)
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