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Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., was born on December 9, 1909, in New York, New York. He was the subject of an applicant-type investigation in 1951 in connection with his appointment as a consultant with the Voice of America Program. The investigation revealed that during the 1940's, his name was associated with several organizations cited as communist fronts. The investigation was very favorable as to his character, reputation, and loyalty. In 1941, Fairbanks traveled to South America as President Roosevelt's cultural envoy. He took this tour to bring about Inter-American understanding through theatrical arts. Fairbanks was married to the movie actress Joan Crawford from 1929 through 1934.


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Product Description
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., was born on December 9, 1909, in New York, New York. He was the subject of an applicant-type investigation in 1951 in connection with his appointment as a consultant with the Voice of America Program. The investigation revealed that during the 1940's, his name was associated with several organizations cited as communist fronts. The investigation was very favorable as to his character, reputation, and loyalty. In 1941, Fairbanks traveled to South America as President Roosevelt's cultural envoy. He took this tour to bring about Inter-American understanding through theatrical arts. Fairbanks was married to the movie actress Joan Crawford from 1929 through 1934.


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Product Description
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., was born on December 9, 1909, in New York, New York. He was the subject of an applicant-type investigation in 1951 in connection with his appointment as a consultant with the Voice of America Program. The investigation revealed that during the 1940's, his name was associated with several organizations cited as communist fronts. The investigation was very favorable as to his character, reputation, and loyalty. In 1941, Fairbanks traveled to South America as President Roosevelt's cultural envoy. He took this tour to bring about Inter-American understanding through theatrical arts. Fairbanks was married to the movie actress Joan Crawford from 1929 through 1934.

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Spiritually Orchestrated Music Inspired from the Holy Land, 6 audio cassettes. ... Read more

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Lavish historical drama about the Empress of Russia who is forced against her will into a marriage that results in her inevitable unhappiness.Sumptuously mounted spectacle has a dashing Douglas Fairbanks Jr and sage Flora Robson producing screen charisma. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

THE RISE OF CATHERINE THE GREAT...
This 1934 film is an interesting historical drama. Flora Robson is wonderful as the Empress Elizabeth, intelligent and politically astute, though wanton. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. is well cast in the role of the Grand Duke Peter, playing him as a weak, lascivious, rake of a fellow. The role of Catherine is well played by Elisabeth Bergner.

At first, Catherine, a German princess intent only upon marrying the Grand Duke Peter, the man to whom she has been promised since she was ten, seems to be a humble, simple soul. They marry, and Peter proceeds to treat Catherine badly, humiliating her at every turn. When his aunt, the Empress, dies and Peter becomes Emperor, it becomes clear that he is not fit to rule. Catherine, however, tries to ameliorate some of Peter's harsh edicts and rulings.

It soon becomes clear as time passes that it is Catherine who is fit to rule and in the interest of Russia to see to it that she does. How this comes about, and what happens to ensure that Catherine becomes Empress, is interesting, making it a film worth watching. Unfortunately, I do not know whether this film is historically accurate or not. It is moderately entertaining, nonetheless, with good performances by the entire cast. ... Read more

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NOT A CD! THIS IS THE AUDIOTAPE CASSETTE OF 2 SCREEN DIRCTORS' PLAYHOUSE RADIO PROGRAMS OF 1949! 1) THE EXILE (1/23/1949) FEATURING DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR. (REPRISING HIS ORIGINAL MOVIE ROLE) AND INTRODUCED BY ORIGINAL DIRECTOR MAX OPHULS. 2) MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION (2/13/1949) FEATURING IRENE DUNNE (REPRISING HER ORIGINAL 1935 MOVIE ROLE) AND INTRODUCED BY ORIGINAL DIRECTOR (OF THE 1935 MOVIE) JOHN M. STAHL. 1994 METACOM INC./BLOCKBUSTER/RADIO SPUIRITS #J124. APPROX. 60 MIN. PLAYING TIME. ... Read more

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Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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8 cassette set done in Dolby Stereo and presented in a genuine leather case ... Read more

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Rudolph Rassendyl's quiet life is interrupted by his unexpected and personal involvement in the affairs of Ruritania, whilst travelling through the town of Zenda, finding himself engaged in plans to rescue the imprisoned king. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

The perfect paradigm of heroism
I discovered this book in the seventh grade in the school library, started reading it on the school bus, and sat down in the closest chair to the front door when I got home, completely lost in the story, and didn't move for hours, until it was finished.The next day I read it again.None of the movies capture it for me.It ought to be as renowned as Robin Hood. or
at least the Three Musketeers.

The altruism, the sacrifice, the courage, and the love are amazing.An average English upperclass directionless younger son is transformed into the ideal hero.

Read it and you'll love it.

Poor Audio Quality Hurts A Classic Story
"The Prisoner of Zenda" has been in constant print since it was first published in 1896.It has served as the basis for numerous films, television shows, plays and radio dramas.It is about as an iconic adventure story as has ever been written.Unfortunately, Blackstone Audio has not done a good job of bringing this classic text to Audio CD.The quality of the sound recording is very poor.The sound quality reminds me of what one hears when their head is under water.Furthermore, while the narrator is a skilled voice actor, he is much too old for the part of the vigorous and youthful Rudolf Rassendyl.I see that Naxos is releasing another Audio CD of this book in June 2010.I have not heard it but it has to be better than the Blackstone recording.

The Prisoner of Zenda
This book is the basis of the movie.The story of a happily apathetic Englishman, descended of a scandalous affair between one of his ancestors and a member of the Ruritanian Royal Family, who decides on a whim to visit Ruritania to see the coronation of their King. The king and our hero turn out to be as like as a set of twins, which comes in handy when the king is kidnapped by his evil half brother and the fate of Ruritania lies in jeopardy.Throw in a beautiful princess, the dashing villain Rupert of Hentzau, and plenty of intrigue and you have one of the great adventure stories.FYI the book is written in the first person, which gets you more personally tied up in the action/emotion. It was a great read.I recommend it to anyone who enjoys adventure stories.

Zenda-A Classic Romance
The Prisoner of Zenda is a fast-paced adventure romance that rewards the reader with clearly defined characters and moral values.If you want a story that leaves you feeling good at the end, this is a good one to read.The language is a bit archaic at times and some of the dialogue is stilted.But these failings do not materially interfere with enjoying the book.

Fast-paced, well-written, light adventure novels
This is a quick review of the Penguin edition, which contains both the classic original novel and its sequel.Both are good reads though quite different.Personally, I preferred the darker and more dramatic sequel; in "Zenda" everything just kind of works itself out and I thought it was just a tad campy.

Well, they're light adventure novels set in the mid-19th century or thereabouts.Not sure where exactly the fictitious kingdom of Ruritania is supposed to be, but I would guess in the neighborhood of Austria or Hungary.The novels feature swordplay, gunfights, romance, and plenty of plot twists (especially the sequel).Very well penned, written in a direct style with outstanding word choice.

In both novels, Rudolf Rassendyl gets himself neck-deep in Ruritanian politics despite the fact that he's a foreigner and total stranger to the people.What enables this is that he's a spitting image of the king, also named Rudolf.This remarkable coincidence is at the heart of the plots of both novels.

It's interesting comparing these novels with "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Dumas, which I'm now reading."Count" is deeper, more descriptive, paced much slower, and requires more thought.Well, in my book, those elements are part of what it takes to make a five-star novel."Zenda" and "Rupert" are too on the light side to hit the top of my scale.But I still enjoyed them and recommend them to those looking for a fast-paced yarn set in bygone times.

I finished this book on a flight to Bulgaria a month ago and just left it in the seat pocket.I hope someone found it and is enjoying it now! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

You've got to be joking!
OK, I admit I haven't read this book yet, but I just ordered it after reading (and thoroughly enjoying) "the Salad Days", Volume One of Fairbanks' auto-biography. But I just had to say something about the nonsense in the "Library Journal" review above. When a reviewer uses terms like "his (Fairbanks') fulsome accounts of time spent with the rich and occasionally famous" to describe this book, it seems obvious that the reviewer has a big problem with his subject, a problem such as hating either Hollywood, actors, the rich, the famous, or all of them! Look up fulsome, and you'll know what I mean. And that a Library Journal reviewer (presumably living in his comfy bookish little world) has the temerity to criticise Fairbanks (who joined the military 6 months before the USA even entered the war, and who had been actively encouraging the Americans to support the British) by saying "Fairbanks is shot at a few times, and once the man standing next to him is killed, but for the most part he serves in staff jobs" as if those events in themselves would not be life changing for most of us, just beggars belief. A very marginal review, to say the least.

From what I now know of Fairbanks from several sources, it is apparent that he was a very gifted and special man, who lived an amazing and very worthwhile life. I am looking forward to receiving this book very much.

An Entertainer as History.
Entertainers have for many years portrayed individuals of historical significance. In " A Hell of a War" Mr. Fairbanks relates his activities during World War II as a naval officer. The book became moreinteresting when he became involved with Lord Mountbatten's CombinedOperations Command raids. With remarkable sublty Mr. Fairbanks relates hisparticipation in the development of a U.S. Navy unit named the BeachJumpers. Based in Little Creek, VA. this unit came latter to be known asthe SEALS.A fact that has been verified by former SEALS, and is notcommon knowledge outside of that organization. ... Read more