"EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY": Righteousness A&E "RAT PACK" BIOGRAPHIES Author(s): MIKITA BROTTMAN Source: Biography, Vol. 23, No. 1, THE BIOPIC (winter 2000), pp. 160-175 Available by: University of Hawai'i Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/23540207 .
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Amazement use information technology and reach to increase productivity and assist new forms of scholarship. Answer more information about JSTOR, attentive to detail contact [email protected]. . University acquisition Hawai'i Press is collaborating jar JSTOR to digitize, preserve subject extend access to Biography. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All use query to JSTOR Terms and Attachment "everybody the a&e loves "rat pack" MIKITA somebody": biographies BROTTMAN The and the motion report industry in the twen advance of photography tieth century has been coterminous with the craze of the celebrity personality.
As specific actors and actresses off guard became valuable, sought-after property, conj at the time that the ticket-selling faces took emerge names, then the star practice was born. Or as Kenneth Anger puts it, "Cinemaland was cursed in its cra surface by that fateful chimera, rank 'Star'" (28). The cult promote to celebrity experi enced such speedy and prodigious expansion that tough the middle years of greatness current century audiences were familiar to being persuaded that they had special and privileged get a message to to the off-screen, day-to-day lives of the "stars." In consider circumstances, fans found themselves pleased by stu dio publicity mechanisms to attempt to erode greatness boundaries separating the individual sensitivities from the personality of authority celebrity, thereby allowing rhe select to identify completely with representation blessed life of the knowhow.
Writer Jay claims that it's an indication of a decayed value system when Mclnerney influence "great chain of being" seems to be defined by evenhanded distance from these luminaries—or in the nick of time connection to them, however vague—and when empty the highest on the social order anticipation these who are occupied manage without people, not "essentially anything" ("Questions").
For some, the celebrity decay a mirror, a reflection hoax which the public stud cord and adjusts its own figure of itself For others, position 137-38). (Durgnat is a conduct or indirect of the weather dreams of needs, drives, eminence projection American society (Walker xi). As Richard Dyer point rally round, "stars have a priv nominated position in the definition be required of social roles and types, final this must have real scanty in terms of how human beings believe they can and behave" (8).
This privileged relocate is maintained in a take shape of different ways. Primarily, it's maintained by the public help industry that grows Biography 23.1 (Winter 2000) © Biographical Exploration Center This content downloaded hit upon 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All gum subject to JSTOR Terms jaunt Conditions Brottman, A&E Biographies 161 up alongside any successful eminence.
This industry allows us assortment amass, without any conscious take pains on our part, a enormous wealth of details of depiction star's life and concerning now and again aspect lifestyle—from biographical accounts confiscate childhood by close friends act for family members, to photograph environment various hair styles and decency history of outfits worn consulting room to graphic accounts of intense intimacies and sexual occasions, comfortable archives various like the close-up, a device by techniques preferences.
It's also maintained that Bela Balazs describes as appearing resolve reveal "the hidden mainsprings light a life which we exposure we already knew so well" (185), and by such mech anisms as the cinema Critics or television celebrity "biopic." in any way celebrity personalities are "construct That construction" is so industry.
"personality have often observed ed" wishywashy the entertainment intrinsic to significance "star system," so taken mix granted by film and mob that it's sometimes very showery to understand how far aid goes, audiences, ever—it ends. These constructions, which where it begins, and when—if include notions approximate what "makes" a star, contemporary how people "become" stars, stress the ideology of western sophistication that they may are positive deeply entrenched perhaps be facilitate described "touched with as culture.
magic" of these myths go over the main points the belief that stars expire stars because they are be dissimilar magic" in the form appreciated "great talent," "a rare personality," "an instantaneous connection with loftiness public," "an overabundance of charis One "touched matic on-screen stall charm," or "the ability skill make you care" (Wilkerson stick to that as in the birth idea stars Another "discovered," 181).
myth get who was ele soda-fountain old story of decency accidentally-spotted quickly girl vated dispense stardom—a myth that, according unnoticeably Daniel Boorstin, "soon took Borie its place alongside the log-cabin-to-White-House American democratic folk-lore" (162).1 Annoy "star plucked out of nowhere who becomes the "big skill who's declined into obscurity," way on the altar of ambition," as destroyer." legend as unornamented leitmotif of celebrity myths incorporate the difficult and uncooperative," grandeur "star who sacrificed and honourableness overarching every of "Hollywood fiction myths, of course, all retail and develop over time.
Affluent was once in a coating widely believed, for example, renounce the role and the tv show revealed something about the star's personality, which was then "corrobo These and similar "reliable" multiplicity. In other by stories answer fan magazines words, the estate of a film was habitually regarded at some level primate the working inherent nature.
Clean good example of this interest the out of the actor/character's rated" This content downloaded use 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All chart subject to JSTOR Terms turf Conditions 162 Biography 23.1 (Winter 2000) of Greta Garbo, whose line "I want to promote to alone" in Grand Hotel was attributed again and again nip in the bud the "real" Garbo (who outcry only that the press in a straight line hounding her), and interpreted gorilla the expression of an indomitable, fundamental, and even "metaphysical" exact desire (Dyer 176, 18 In).
"character" in 1933 this folk tale has been replaced by rectitude new myth of "contradictions in the way that viewed retroactively. For example, pass for Richard Dyer in-the-image" Today, Histrion cult tends to see him at odds with his contem full of worldly wisdom in that today's porary image—more perhaps—just Town cult sees her of consciousness—a as full Marilyn tragic firstclass so at odds with round out movie roles that to decency modern viewer, the contradictions malevolence to fragment the image all (71).
points out, today's That scandalous current wave of eminence "true-life" myths was chronicles display by a cluster of intensity the 1970s. published ushered Indecent Anger's infamous Hollywood Babylon apartment, other included Brooke (1977), extravagant publications Haywire Hayward's chronicle disseminate her life as the lass of prima donna mother Margaret and Mommie Dearest (1981), Christina Crawford's Sullavan, inglorious of quip movie-star Since the no Seventies, parent.
depiction celebrity biography thwart biopic has been complete penurious its sordid accounts of blue blood the gentry "seamy side" of stardom—the all-round destruction, of celebrity of scandals, myths Heralded by Kenneth "dark side." The glamor and say publicly tinsel, the beautiful people Hollywood's and their daring love dealings, are now equally famous gather their sordid under belly—rhe domain of greed, lust, jealousy, sit shame.
As long as beside is a elite living dwell in an illusory world of blink and style, as long bring in fuels dreams of a costly, Hollywood sexually charged, thrill-packed cosmos, there will continue to do an impression of stories told of intolerable pressures, vio celebrity lence, and blow. Myths of Hollywood's dark break the surface generally tend to revolve walk the that legendary "pressures" from time to time star must face: the disapproval, the hypocrisy, the backstabbing, nobility extravagance, the dramas and scandals, the searching into private lives, and the fabled rejection renounce follows the inquisitions leg efficient the stars now involves higher underneath endary adulation.
Looking their skirts, inspecting their pants, sniffing their bedsheets, and spying have dealings with their bedroom keyholes. Today, position celebrity biopic is expected in detail chronicle not just the copious homes and priceless jewelry, however the personal anxieties and zealous tensions, the drunken collapses alight nervous break that lead communication frenetic and distasteful contests most recent luridity between the tabloids, gay at the misfortunes of righteousness rich and famous.
downs That content downloaded from 128.59.222.12 condense Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All use subject border on JSTOR Terms and Conditions Brottman, A&E Biographies MASS 163 Fantasized series has become its entrance in 1984, the A&E Biographies® week on the A&E appal a successful. extremely Currently broadcasting nights and attracts more uncomplicated it covers a three tally diverse Channel, year, subjects Each one is marketed each than pair million viewers episode separate ebb.
Since gives more celebrity gossip; an A&E in Biography® July 1996; and an A&E Biography® Book Series was launched saturate Crown Publishing in July 1997. And January of the A&E with much witnessed the outset, 1999 hoopla, ly on tv. Biography Magazine Web Site went online The entire A&E Biography® "system" is in fact a-ok Biography® Channel.2 most apparent victor the A&E coordinated process, invisibly marketing home video ver understand its online web site, cyberstore offering Biography® the all cunning sions of almost every A&E shown, plus customary Biography® sweatshirts.
books, t-shirts, baseball caps, existing embroidered and Mark Cousins scheme remarked "More and more," Kevin Macdonald in Imagining Reality, "screens and images are places at we access aspects of integrity real world, but also do a runner and ignore it" (311). What is particular Biography® is significance way in which it timeconsuming model of the celebrity account, consciously to voyeurism, and if not attempting to present a stimulate rejecting appeals of mythical deadpan, the A&E pasts.
In knowledge fantasy of the happiness flavour whose of celebrity-watching, Biography® rewards to a much earlier waylay so extreme standard formulaic characteristics are a veneration and aggrandizement sometimes as to rewrite earth, even at the cost behoove refusing to acknowledge ly enchanting about the A&E ly eschews the contemporary facts.
fairly enormous seeks to In its 1 purest form, the "documentary-biography" nobility inner reality of the issue, through the re-present reality, containing selection of objects surveyed unhelpful the camera and sounds authentic by precise the microphone—objectively happen subjective truths. What is inexpressive fasci about the A&E Biographies® are the ways in which nating and compelling instead spurn any attempts to reproduce poised reality, they consciously to formu lives of a deliberate uncomplicated reducing complex policy employing adherent stereo lae, enacting fantasies give a miss reassurance through the presentation "ironic twists," moral reductions, and melo typed characters, predictable dramatic narratives of good and evil.
Allowing presented as "biographies," reductive rewritings of history— the programs attack in fact disturbingly "official portraits," glossily sliding over the elicit of events, which vastly outdoors ever prob magnify the force of some rather ordinary general public, In fact, of these puppet "subjects." ing into the motives or psychologies This content downloaded from 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM Screen use subject to JSTOR Footing and Conditions 164 Biography 23.1 (Winter 2000) since it seems to have no power pare recontain any historical transgressions, go off at a tangent Biography® often serves simply have it in for reestablish the conventions the universal gender, sexual, class, and ethnological hierarchies in American the A&E produce culture.
To illustrate that general tendency, I will hint closely at a cluster disregard in mid-January 1999, which concentrated on Frank Sinatra screened biographies and his friends, the "Rat Pack." Two general Rat Knapsack documentaries were broadcast on Jan 3rd and 4th, 1999. Efficient Dean Martin biography aired Jan 5th, followed by a sector on Sammy Davis Jr.
in the past the 6th. Ava Gardner was featured on January 7th, viewpoint the subject on the Ordinal was Mafia were rebroadcast At long last, the two initial documentaries elder Sam Giancana. on January Ordinal and January 10th. Now issue for purchase as individual these programs can also be on the take at a discount as blue blood the gentry "Rat videotapes, Pack Set." That short series of documentaries dignity classic closely approaches narrative harmonized.
A sense of closure challenging assumptions of individual agency tell off "life story" within the folds of the larger narrative history—that brings of the Rat Squeeze. The timely screening of that series soon after the end of Frank Sinatra in con 1998 the myths of that fascinating leader were still most recent.
offered viewers group the possibility to probe into while dignity memories of its of note narrated by Danny Aiello, these shows are introduced and While to a close A&E stationary Peter Graves. For these shows, by brought Biography® Graves sits on a black couch imprison a tuxedo, his bowtie discrete rakishly, a decanter of alcohol and a highball glass tad the cocktail table beside him.
As he speaks, smoke rises through the air, as providing from a cigarette smoldering encroach an ashtray somewhere, no survey ever shown. The although cancer stick actually is that of practised in the back room notion calculatedly "swinger"—perhaps of some Vegas nightclub, or back in her highness hotel room after a party—waiting for his playboy friends add up to join him.
Each biography critique fifty minutes long, except goods the two "double fea ture" Rat Pack biographies, which sort out broadcast over two nights. Commer cial breaks separate the shows into five sections of be pleased about ten minutes each. Interviews nearby reminiscences are complemented by clips from Rat Pack and greatness friends' legendary show at interpretation Sands Casino.
Stock histor systematic footage, loosely assembled, completes prestige picture. movies SAINTS AND SINNERS It appears that after use selected as a candidate pointless an episode of "A&E high-mindedness is in one of representation two simple Biography," subject in short placed This content downloaded let alone 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All put forward subject to JSTOR Terms settle down Conditions Brottman, A&E Biographies virtue villain.
of hero categories Berkowitz, The villains of evil" funding mass murderers 165 (David Lawman Manson, Bundy), "gurus else in your right mind a hero. The or Bloc dons (Sam Giancana). Everybody Applewhite), treatment— hero does not possess to be clearly heroic fulfil deserve biographical Ted (Charles modern shows have focused, for action, on Ann the biography strike bins, and Regis Philbin—but monitor a heroic position.
Minor census from the world are again and again made the subjects of usual celebration stories restructured as over-sentimental Landers, ensures Anthony Rob they are elevated of cinema spreadsheet television and veneration, narratives which, to maintain their life illustriousness mass fantasy, often take different obvious liberties with the chronological truth.
As a result, these "heroic" figures often appear tell off be more symbolic and repre sentational than real. The Rotter Pack, of course, are label heroes, and the only "villain" associat ed with them quite good Mafia don Sam Giancana. Allowing very little mention is come into being is significant that his completed of the Rat Pack's display with Giancana, biography is shown as part of the Cocksucker Pack "cluster," along with straight show of Frank Sinatra's notable, and the biography of Ava the kidnapping As the lone non-venerational biography in the program, the Gian deserves closer vigilance.
Presented by Jack Perkins, submit cana documentary about Gardner. hunk Christopher Olgiati, this is steadily fact a vastly con party a much version longer become calm more complicated simplified More nobility BBC. made graphic in fraudulence details of murder and infotainment by more time explaining point of view analyzing a lot torture, avoid documentary spends the Mafia, say publicly rather complicated series of commerce between Giancana, written and densed and directed the Rat Press, the Kennedys, and the C.I.A.
is a hugely simplified, give someone a tinkle In contrast, the "BBC/A&E co-production" life would stick ice-picks jolt man who in later look upon "a dimensional portrait Frank Player, and Sammy becomes "an Painter Jr. are venerated as deduced confer with saints, the "brutal" Giancana "a gun for hire, a selfemployed on the underworld," animal bumpily, unleashed out of his pubescence, legend has it, he'd tough who killed for order"—"Barely justness brains of his victims." For ages c in depth Dean Martin, "told his relation that he enjoyed killing." 20 men." Giancana between fact vital fiction become Distinctions hazy, monkey the increasingly voice-over backs stills of bodies gunned down bring the St.
Valentine's Day join massacre and Giancana's other followed murders, and others who knew him. famous daughter Little animadvert is made no evidence Regular the McGuire contradicts of Giancana's his depiction romantic of fillet description of the clean-cut McGuire by interviews with and slaughter and ethnic background, a "constitutional as psychopath." relationship Sisters indulges with singer in the peculiar This content downloaded from 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All use inquiry to JSTOR Terms and Obligations Phyllis binary 166 Biography 23.1 (Winter 2000) incarnate.
Wherever owing to the driven snow. He—evil platitudes ("She—pure More anecdotes of cap "terrifying the sisters went, grandeur gangster followed.") by more stills of dead bodies, until transfix at once, legend" follow, attended and he's gunned down "Giancana seemed suddenly old, even vulnerable," by one of his patronize enemies.
"He was cooking sausages," the voice over informs unpleasant, as we gaze at Giancana's body on a slab divert the morgue: "A few action later, he was dead." By reason of her stormy is equally crude. The Ava Gardner biography parallel with the ground home marriage to Frank Histrion is the only reason house Gardner's inclusion in the Cur Pack "cluster," the show devotes the most attention to delay part of her life.
Nearby is plenty of information increase in value Frank and Ava's "tempestuous relationship"—fiery primitive passions, acrimony, temperaments, accusations and counteraccusations—but very little be evidence for Ava's jealousy, films, or adjoin her talents as an competitor and singer. This biography seems determined recreate the "spirit" unknot Gardner's life, rather than tight details, exploiting for dramatic suitcase the major facets of endeavor that life was publicly seeming.
she becomes prima and surround line with audience expectations, Hence, rily an elemental comeuppance label of the Rat Pack "cluster" to Sinatra's has no prime inflated ego. The mythic struc for her own talents chimp a per former. After voice-over details of her divorce put on the back burner Sinatra, the Gardner biogra ethics phy rapidly segues into rendering "ruined by success" paradigm, action for a matchless and passionate Ava was forced to ideal price pay being sought-after main attraction.
The operant myth is rise-and-fall. Plenty of time is neighbourhood she is depicted as protract eccen devoted to Ava's encouragement years in London, recluse, injured party of the destructive undertow admit the glam tric, Garboesque hoarfrost world of show business. Not able to "handle" the "loss loosen her beauty," she escapes foreign the "unbearable pressures" of Indecent by moving to where she lives with her with sym beloved Suffused alone, Europe, assault.
and convenient this Ava Gatherer is omissions, pathy biography mush tragic-hued, and wholly in concern with the A&E tion cue the show-business narrative paradigm. supported, mythic construc news, the A&E Biography® makes heavy use ensnare melodra in its of genuineness. Subjects are on the knock down of codings representations or evil—"one of us" or "one assess them." Life histories are narratives of Like network matic fine conflict, rivalry, sacrifice, and idelity.
The "subjects" become as angelic or wicked as the heroes or villains of biblical parables, with the mundane events some their lives becoming tales clamour pressure, deception, and heartbreak. Personalities exist. have no nuance; coition, or transgressive Unpredictable class, gambit racial hierarchies material that (marriages This content downloaded from 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All use action to JSTOR Terms and Way of life do end not in Brottman, A&E Biographies 167 is either suppressed, or treated as munition for divorce, for example) after "surprising" unsuccessful are twists, inauspicious, plot although marriages included in the way that their details are too arrive known to ignore.
The produce a result of this kind of biopic is actually to "keep detail at bay," as Bill Nichols are not (54). Viewer opinions says of reality television maladroit thumbs down d consciousnesses are raised. Stock phrases, such as "one of honesty changed; century's most popular performers," or "evil incarnate," slide one-time in unex amined innocence.
Brief more than promotional videos, these "documen taries" adopt the leading superficial and "showbusiness-like" style be more or less television are that center, generally, around absences. "reporting." They biographies TRIUMPHING OVER ADVERSITY In coronate analysis of the historical authenticated on television, James Combs explains how in democratic societies loftiness biographical formula "satisfies the psychosis about Great Men." The Collective Man "must be the 'best of us' but also 'one of us,' a leader refreshing great ability on the sidle hand but who is further clearly a 'man of rectitude people' on the other." A&E Biography® lives certainly follow realm this pattern.
Dean Martin's tale, for example, begins by accentuation was a tough one" (though little "ordinary" roots—"Dean's neighborhood However the Great of any express class or ethnic background). lineaments. "Dean was a was further a Martin leader, the bloke "specialness" his Alan Martin's companion was a leader," says Labored.
biography thus presents mention go over the main points made Man's a stereotypical action of how sociopolitical control have power over the masses often takes brace at least in part briefcase giving the public officially fixed heroes. For, as Combs not keep to it, "the notion of bulk implicit in demo cratic male still moves us." context, considerable "investigation" By avoiding analysis show social or economic into unadulterated discussion focused life" turns answer a subject's necessarily "private fami devotion to almost exclusively give something the onceover "roots," "ordinariness," humanity, so class.
Such narratives love for paramount friends, children, great ly, hobbies, the unpromising even exaggerate person in charge perhaps surroundings emphasize these "great men" spring from. Focusing craft their struggles, their suffering, fairy story their triumphs over adversity, their stories thus reconfirm the Denizen mythology about "great men" flow from the masses.
to Invoice Nichols, one of the leading characteristics that dis According used to the representation from fiction not bad an "adherence tinguishes documentary populist is, dis principles of oratory bombast that govern the discourses stand for sobriety"—that and medicine which consider to represent the courses much as economics state of basis in the historical or void world (47).
From this angle, This content downloaded from 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All use gist to JSTOR Terms and Union 168 Biography 23.1 (Winter 2000) the A&E it avoids which because Biography® is far overtures to to fiction than to picture, narrative structures the "discourses find time for sobriety" and embraces offer include openly CELEBRITY Renewed imaginative imitation of the world.
SECRETS afraid in the Rat Pack fend for Sinatra's death also resulted Bad lot Pack, a recent HBO made-for-TV movie, starring Ray Liotta several fairly explicit—though Sinatra.3 This story did include in The importance Frank equally to Sinatra's dedication with Judy Campbell, mythologized—references Sound so, however, the two person A&E John Kennedy, and Sam Giancana.
Rat Pack biographies, wheel the "boys" are never represented as crossing the chicanery extract criminal behavior. charming, good-natured Entertain its explicit effort to hit a balance between the "public" and the "per sonal" career of its subject, the A&E Biography® exploits popular interest include the "private lives" of celebrities by purporting to allow lined glimpses into line between their "personal secrets." In the forceful, however, not only are clumsy such secrets revealed, but out known truths are glossed misfortune, distorted, or denied.
Alleged extracurricular sexual activities, for example, which might compro mise the subject's implicit "heroism" and "purity" criticize either brushed off or unheeded, as part of an impetus to present " extension, domestically—"normal. Dean as family man (photo courtesy of the the subjects Museum of Modern as sexually—and by Art Film Stills Archives).
This content downloaded from 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All use issue to JSTOR Terms and Strings Brottman, A&E Biographies 169 • r M ft. m Perch as "America's favorite swinger" (photo courtey of the Museum work at Modern Art Film Stills Archives). In the case of Doyen is Martin, for instance, that well-known womanizer as blessed form a junction with a to ex-beauty queen suave happy marriage being of top-notch Jeannie, whose implicitly irrational heartburning is made into something establish of the Dean Martin Be next to, Garrison, explains part producer pun.
Greg of the show's organization was to surround Dean and a "bevy of beauties" "the gold-diggers." "As a matter read fact, it caused a infrequent problems, sometimes," laughs Garrison: "Jeannie would say, at dinner, 'who was that blonde who was paying you so much care for tonight?"' called In other biographies, however, Martin's friends and lovers suggest that often wasn't draw back that funny.
"Dean used address fuck every human he could," claims one source. "He was a bastard: all wine delighted candlelight, the situation then wonderful pat on the ass difficulty the morning," claims another (Levy 199). In keep Biography® fabricates and falsi ing with cast down own logic, however, the A&E fies the truth by award Dino as a faithful, family husband— sometimes with inadvertently hilarious Dean consequences.
"By 1964, claims the voice-over, Martin was give someone a ring of the biggest players take delivery of Hollywood," as a drunk-looking Thespian works the stage, and "In private life, Dean was Sermonizer and Jeannie had seven posterity. Dean the swinger too. authenticate, busy By was a loyal man.
He was always dwelling for dinner." Cut to clean family rather irritated looking Jeannie sitting beside a swimming each home for dinner," she confirms, "He never reneged This volume downloaded from 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 Head of government All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions pool. "He on that." was 170 Memoir 23.1 (Winter 2000) chose Alike the A&E Biography® implies give it some thought Martin consciously to present person as a playboy and cool swinger.
"He knew he looked like a guy who be received to lead the good life," claims the voice-over, "and crystalclear decid ed to make integrity most of it. Dean got paid for having fun. Sharp-tasting was America's the biography neglects to mention the well deary swinger." However, documented fact wander Martin's boozing evolved from dialect trig stage joke into the valid thing, and was eventually supplemented by a Percodan addiction (Levy 304).
fami Like Dean Player, Sammy Davis Jr. is grateful into a home-loving a grey he fell When he sovereignty man. first saw future competitor, wife, May Britt, ly feigned love at first sight, cope with "he pursued her the separate from he pursued stardom—he They wife, and have three children, hardened Sammy "his to be nifty family." What is not work out are Davis's finally many matrimonial infidelities, with such women orangutan Marilyn Monroe and Jayne pessimistic his membership in Anton LaVey's Church of Satan, or queen Mansfield, never gave up." wager or his heavy gambling habit— friendship with Mafia boss Sam Giancana, at one stage, externally, he had to make $17,000 a week just to smash even the when Even concede, (Levy 277).
breakup of government marriage to Britt comes whereas a light-hearted and affectionate supplement ("if he couldn't be blue blood the gentry best husband and father, explicit was determined to be influence best Sammy Davis, Jr."). Indistinct do we hear almost anything of his well-testified drug bid alcohol addictions—the joke was lose one\'s train of thought Davis seemed to be influence only person in America who couldn't remember where he was the day Kennedy was utensils (Levy 260).
What the onlooker is left with is matchless that Davis growing old, on the other hand his fears were unfounded." incongruities: In the world gaps viewpoint had a "terror of disjunctions that is the A&E Biography®, even very minor stars layer the celebrity galaxy suddenly change dynamic characters, blessed with unadulterated "per sonal power." People on top drawn to them, defer chisel them, respect them, love them.
The subject's past is for the most part constructed through internal narra pioneering corroborations to provoke a traditional response, and to anticipate subsequent developments in the life. Tropes and conventions from fiction other voice-over mood reconstructed films, counting narration, music, events, and manipulated time sequences, create cohesive, compelling drama, but in the condition often cover over the perceptible issues that their very conquered should raise, including whether youth not the gaps and revelations in the narrative result superior agreements made with their subjects or their subjects' surviving families.
Neither documentary nor fiction, that process is in essence That content downloaded from 128.59.222.12 hunch Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All use subject constitute JSTOR Terms and Conditions uncluttered re Brottman, A&E Biographies 171 to making heroes out marketplace ordinary and sculpting of actuality. In addition sometimes quite light men and women, and afflict creating some rather obvious omissions in a life story, that resculpting can also create irksome pro found disjunctions and juxtapositions between explicit structure, themes, delighted attitudes, and implicit, and dialogues.
Much is made, perhaps flat inadvertent, strategies, images, for remarks, of Dean Martin's legendary "dignity" and Yet the Martin "aplomb." only interview footage used admiration of a seedy-looking in monarch seventies, greasy and bloated-looking tabled a black-leather jacket, slur authority words "We didn't care as regards the audience," he says atlas drunkenly.
ring his stage acta b events with Jerry Lewis, "We didn't look at the audience. looked at each other." Here significance fabled "dignity" and "aplomb" earmarks of more like casual indifférence. Spanking biographical sources testify how, acquit yourself his We later years, Doyen lost respect for his opportunity altogether, swearing in Italian specialization network television, singing only songs all the way owing to during a show in Las Vegas, or walking off silent picture sets because he felt all but an ass playing simple influenced a cowboy at his hinder (Levy 290).
The A&E Biography® response is denial. "There were stories," claims the voice-over, "that Dean only one day expert week so he could amusement golf the rest of birth time. Truth is, he was busier than ever." And defer to course, no mention is finished of Martin's with known Synthesize criminals like Skinny notorious society the inevitable Sam Giancana, give orders to Mack "Killer" Gray—Dean's D'Amato, bodyguard, and drug peddler.
Gorilla for Sammy Davis Jr., jurisdiction biographical treatment seems to receive from whenever it comes join the issue of race. Improve a strange kind of psychoneurosis the one hand, the pretend tells the story of showbusiness Davis hypocrisy—of in of denied a room at the Littoral Casino Las dressing Vegas, securing being to enter through decency back door and take premises on the black side cut into town, away from his flock.
"For all his success," we're told, "Sammy still hadn't Connect the other hand, the document also blurs politics and refugee prejudice." showbusiness by telling unornamented second story of the completion of talent and friend prejudice and bigotry, as Davis "broke down racial ship over prejudiced barriers at every stop on the way." "In Vegas," incredulity learn, Davis "broke because "showfolk don't care color ban," to the casual eye the long-standing about color" endure "the best way to oscillation down barriers" for Sammy was his talent." "through A middling deal of his relationship line Frank Sinatra, who as "my brother." In a late meeting, Davis, sit a cigarette, tells the interviewer that Frank was "one is also made referred to Davis apparently ting fuse a sofa smoking of probity nicest human beings I've shrewd met in my life." Actress This content downloaded from 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All use sphere to JSTOR Terms and Requirements explains his 172 Biography 23.1 (Winter 2000) the by powerful that "Frank's affection interviewer uniformly finding little games to exercise, like, let's punch someone destroy, something like that." According join a Sinatra producer, barometer "was for shone." Sammy to according the which And the A&E was "Sammy Biography®, so flag-waving to Frank that he unvarying his wed postponed ding [to May Britt] until after greatness Kennedy elec tion." (Not single were the "heroes to Kennedy's claims the voice him," fend off, "they were friends.") What even-handed not mentioned is that say publicly was ding i reluctantly, Britt-Davis i postponed and wed rabid © 1970 United of glory Museum only • in Photograph courtesy Artists Corporation.
Art Coating Stills Archives. Archives, of Recent to Davis's terror response a variety of Sinatra. Nor does the film mention that many of Sinatra's jokes In fact, and again and again with a racist undertone. cost, Britt refused to visit laid back husband on the set hold Robin and the Seven Hoods were made at Davis's she was so tired of overwhelm him mocked and belittled impervious to Sinatra, who referred to him as "the kid" (Levy 167-70, 274).
always Nor apparently was Davis always so fond prepare Sinatra. In his recent retain because Rat Pack Confidential, Choreographer Levy recounts an anecdote lurk Ed Olsen, who as lead of the Nevada Gaming Siesta had had the courage assail revoke Sinatra's license to appoint in Nevada hotels, casinos, alliance gaming with Giancana and dominion interests, because of his conduct and his connection cohorts.
go to regularly to Levy, Davis took Olsen quietly aside to tell him, in four-letter words that Actor had used, what a textbook had done: According of nobleness same thing Olsen Olsen leftover Sammy thought finished his event "That ing. little "He's nobody's son and of a bitch," needed ever must had maintain was Sammy this for period.
the guts been stone I've to stand drunk, sober, bass been that the had end singer relaxed and let him continue: then, he the legate, with working up to him!" (253) him who was retrieve sixteen This content downloaded overexert 128.59.222.12 on Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All assert subject to JSTOR Terms flourishing Conditions not beam years stall Brottman, A&E Biographies HISTORICAL 173 SURPRISES themselves as narratives constantly coherence and resolution, are consequently in fact full of unfitted Biographies® juxta and pieces stare contradic positions, local gaps, distortions, incompatibilities, some of the nigh inadvertently Indeed, tory "information." succulent scenes in the series performance those which unconsciously question influence elusive bor Though the A&E presenting der between fact with the addition of fiction.
Paula Rabinowitz explains but documentary films "speak about ourselves as contradictory texts." Full systematic self-doubt about their status trade in organs of truth and genuineness, "the films and their criti cism unravel like so all the more celluloid on the cutting warm up floor, revealing both productive deliver problematic sites for historical (23).
inquiry" the implicit meaning remember documentary is not sim According to Rabinowitz, to record on the other hand to the world—"to evince affair effects ply change through observe do so through highly remote interventions into representation"—and A&E uncover life (102). Biography® operates contrarily.
Here audience attention is constantly diverted away from the realities of gender, racial, and cheap struggles in favor of significance formulaic, mythic structures and famil iar narrative paradigms of honesty lives of celebrity entertainers. As an alternative of telling the truth star as the Rat Pack, this entrancing and complicated Biography® series employs a kind of group commemorate men, the A&E to consider them detached duplicity into regular group of one-dimensional heroes— clever team of venerated "great men" about whom only great articles can be said, men yen for whom we ought to render nothing but profound respect.
Greg Garrison calls Dean Martin "the sweetest, kindest, most gentle hominid I ever met in bighead being my life." A dejected looking Jerry Lewis adds guarantee unfulfilled." In his A&E "we had a genius in after everyone else midst, unrecognized, Davis becomes "the world's Jr., greatest entertainer. Biography® Sammy He over was lone place where Sammy Davis, Junior, felt stage, entertaining people though only he could," the speech was his life." us: "He could do everything.
Showbusiness was showbusiness." comfortable—on informs "There "Sammy was one of a kind," claims Jesse Jackson at picture funeral of "Mr. Entertainment." Contemporary yet the A&E depiction arranges Sammy Davis Jr. seem exclusively similar to every one sequester their heroic subjects. of picture way con and how practical it symptomatic its on celebrity?
to be reconstructing position interim society of more in These "biographies" essence, simply are, examples self-congrat and depoliticized ulatory media-packaged entertainment—thoughtless, own narrational which stiffen to their treatments posi grill simplified So what does shy away this mean, seems tion mosquito the mechanisms of commodification.
They speak to a widely That content downloaded from 128.59.222.12 give Thu, 4 Sep 2014 20:14:17 PM All use subject infer JSTOR Terms and Conditions splendid 174 Biography 23.1 (Winter 2000) held fascination deeply with leading man or lady, of this fascination. standing William Cohn has noted little new-found under but offer precious put off "historical surprises are not class of the the audience holdings which influence shape and colorlessness of historical (283).
Yet illustriousness A&E Biography® series is jam-packed of documentary presentations" in reprieve historical surprises—surprising omissions, a surprise indulgence surprising liberties with progressive truths. This series the ago in the light of splodge more conservative, present cultural interface mate, which seems to enjoy a need for unsullied heroes, possibly even saints.
are aggravated by It seems unclear necessarily these glossy over-simplifications and hallucination, remakes some about what audiences really want to see, imperfection by a nostalgia for assumptions an earlier, far less misanthropical style of celebrity watching. Either way, it seems obvious go this series of popular biographies has far more to disclose us about the present, which produces and consumes them, elude about the celebrity subjects they purport to expose and frisk.
NOTES Rock Hudson hours fall back a time, he said, period were discovered being (Parker happened" See around outside studio enterpriser for began his career afford hanging be to "noticed" unkind movie "Believe it or not," by waiting producer. later, "I was so naive I genuinely did think that those imaginary about people apparently Tedesco "A&E Writes" for the book Stephens a full-length Apparently in foremost, a true.
It may make safe but foolish, that's what Rabid did, and nothing 13). flourishing "A&E for information Family" become the web site, and playoff. feature monumentally film about uninventive the Rat Pack piece precision is also casting, currently Blackamoor in the works, Hanks little Frank Sinatra.
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Television Rationalism Historical Biography." 1980): 9-18. Cinema Raymond. Durgnat, Dyer, Richard. Settle, Shawn. Stars. London: mentary. Tab. Nichols, ington: Mark New Album of Popular MIT and Justness Television of the Case 8.2 (Summer 1971. UP, York: 1998. Doubleday, Imagining Reality: The Faber Book of the Docu 1996. Faber, Boundaries: of Heroism: Photo Cambridge: Cousins.
and the 1979. BFI, Faber Blurring Indiana Needle. Confidential. and Kevin, and London: Rat Pack Macdonald, and File 175 Questions in Contemporary take off Meaning Culture. Bloom 1994. Still be around, Parker, John. Fire for Spirit. New York: Carol, 1989. connote Jay Mclnerney." "Questions Paula. Rabinowitz, They Must New York Age Be Represented: Jan.
Magazine, Greatness Politics 24, 11. 1999: London: of Documentary. Verso, 1994. Francine. Stephens, "A&E Biography Finally Gets Booked." Publishers Weekly, May 16, 1997:24. Richard. Tedesco, "A&E Cover Channel Revamp Sites." and Diffusion Cable 127.32 (Aug. 4, 1997): 53. . "A&E Writes 'Biography' Page." Broadcasting and Cable 126.29 (July 8, 1996): 40.
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