Lisa Burks Online

Twelve Angry Men on DVD

Out now on DVD, the original Twelve Angry Men presented in 1954 on the CBS dramatic anthology program Studio One.

One of the stars? Franchot Tone, of course, as Juror #3.

I saw this in 2003 at the Museum of Television and Radio when the only known copy of the entire production, credits-to-credits, was discovered and given to the archive.

Five Stars!

Available on Amazon.com.

The Perfect Combination of Voice and Words

I was lucky enough to be raised by parents who enjoyed reading books to their children.  Today I love, love, love listening to audio books because it drums up in me the same cozy, visceral experience.

Back in 1957, actor Franchot Tone recorded an entire album of readings ~ The Jazz Age of F. Scott Fitzgerald ~ which included selections from The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise and The Crack-Up. I can't think of another recording that has combined a better blend of voice and words.

Franchot had the perfect, velvety, lyrical voice for such projects. While I'm glad to own this marvelous LP, selfishly, I wish he had done more of them.

Astute film buffs will recognize a further connection between Franchot and F. Scott ~ the original story/script for MGM's 1938 film Three Comrades was penned by Fitzgerald (his only screenwriting credit) and starred FT, Robert Taylor, Robert Young and Margaret Sullavan.

Special thanks to UK filmmaker and writer ClarityInWonderland who created, and alerted me to, a wonderful excerpt from this rare recording for all to enjoy! (Part II now available as well, thanks Ami!)

 

Telling Truth in Biographies

I'd like to thank Gary Sweeney (The Midnight Palace) for inviting me to be a guest tonight on his Blog Talk Radio program, The Stroke of Midnight.  The topic is one that is near and dear to my heart: telling the truth in biographies.

The goal was to discuss classic Hollywood biographies and books that have been written about the history of film - many of which are wonderfully-researched and well-written, while others seem to have been created strictly for financial gain by slandering a famous personality who can no longer defend themselves.

It was wonderful to have had the opportunity to offer my point of view as an author who has taken over a decade to research Franchot's life story in order to get the facts as straight as possible.

Other guests tonight included:

Classic Images book reviewer Laura Wagner
Alan Rode, author of "Charles McGraw: Biography of a Film Noir Tough Guy" and director of The Film Noir Foundation
Barbara Washburn, author of the historically researched biographical novel about Carole Lombard, Chasing Carole.

To hear the show, go to Blog Talk Radio or play it on the widget below:

The Mysterious D.D.D.

Last week an original, 1933 portrait of Franchot Tone by famed photographer George Hurrell went up on Ebay.  Its inscription, "My beloved D.D.D. I love you - Franchot," has had me stumped.

Here's an enhancement of the signature from the auction photo:

Franchot's son, Pat, is stumped as well.  We both thought that possibly it could have belonged to Franchot's last wife, Dolores Dorn, but Pat spoke with her and she said it wasn't hers.  Franchot's brother-in-law, Jack Wallace, did not remember ever seeing it and did not believe it belonged to his sister, Jean Wallace, who was Franchot's second wife and the mother of his two sons.

I talked to the auctioneer, Phillip Weiss, in Oceanside, New York, for more clues.  Phil told me that the photo was part of an large collection that belonged to a gentleman who spent many years purchasing vintage movie photos and who has since passed away.  No notes came with the photo to indicate its origins.

In looking at Franchot's inscription more closely, Phil thought that perhaps it could read "D.O.D." which made me think it could have meant one of Franchot's college friends, Otto Doering.  But after speaking with Otto's son this week, Otto III, that doesn't seem likely either.

Inquiries I made for possible clues to various Joan Crawford experts, such as Stephanie Jones of The Best of Everything: A Joan Crawford Encyclopedia, and to Barbara Payton's biographer, John O'Dowd, (both actresses also being former Mrs. Tones) which equally resulted in no definitive answers or clues.

The photo is dated 1933 and also signed by George Hurrell.  Hurrell expert Mark Vieira of the Starlight Studio told me that the photo in question looks to be genuinely vintage as that paper was not manufactured much after the 1930s.  He also thought Hurrell could have possibly signed this particular print in the 1980s based on the signature.

But when did Franchot sign it?  And to whom?

I've seen, and own, a lot of photos signed by Franchot, and this is probably the first I've ever seen floating around in public that has such an intimate inscription. So, who is this mysterious D.D.D.?  Another question about Franchot that keeps me awake at night.  Please leave a comment here if you have any suggestions on where to look next.

The portrait will be auctioned off by Phil this Saturday, June 9, in Oceanside.  Absentee bidding is being accepted via Ebay.  See the listing here.

Franchot at AltFG

Big thanks to my friend and fellow writer André Soares (Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramon Novarro) for taking an interest in my Franchot Tone biography project. 

Franchot Tone (MGM, 1932)

André's wonderful article about Franchot, which also includes a Q&A with yours truly, can be read at his informative film news site, Alternative Film Guide.