Novels and plays based on real actors.........

[susanduic]

This may be just a matter of opinion but perhaps someone with experience of or who has studied the subject can help me.



When a novel or a play, written by someone acquainted with the 'star' involved, purports to be based on the life or career of that famous person, to what extent would it be based on reality or would be pure invention. I mean beyond the known biographical details and the restraints of poetic licence?



I realise there are likely to be legal considerations if a living actor is easily identified but I mean when the core of the tale concerns facts/details strongly suggesting that a character is this way or that.....................particularly an actor no longer living.



I'm not sure I've explained myself clearly, if there any replies I'll have a better idea!

[Wicked Lady]

Well, there are quite a few examples of actors who have been used in books and screenplays.



Queenie was based on Merle Oberon



The Star was based on Joan Crawford (written by two 'friends' of hers and played by arch rival Bette Davis).



Helen Lawson in Valley of the Dolls was based on Ethel Merman.



In the The Godfather Johnny Fontane was supposedly based on Frank Sinatra





How much is based on the real person depends entirely on the author's discretion (or not), and what their relationship was with the person was like. Jackie Susann had a falling out with Merman, so her portrayal was never going to be flattering.



It's one of those things that if done well, it makes for an intriguing character study. If it's done badly, it's tacky.

[batman]

Whie Hunter Black Heart - about the making of The African Queen.

[dremble wedge]

Moonfleet has mentioned Ray Bradbury's marvellous Green Shadows, White Whale in another thread and I would heartily second that. It's about Bradbury's time in Ireland writing the screenplay for John Huston's Moby Dick.



Also Diana: The Goddess Who Hunts Alone by Carlos Fuentes is about Jean Seberg's time in Mexico shooting the western Macho Callahan.

[Steve Crook]

Star! (1968) is based on the life of Gertrude Lawrence. Gertrude is played by Julie Andrews. Noel Coward is played by Daniel Massey



There was also the stage play Noel and Gertie



Steve

[penfold]

The relationship between Keystone's Mack Sennett and his leading star Mabel Normand was the inspiration for the musical Mack and Mabel...

[CaptainWaggett]

So are we talking about films/plays based on real and named actors - like Star or Mack and Mabel - or ones with name changes? If the former, there are too many to list, if the latter I can offer The Garrick Year by Margaret Drabble which is based on her marriage to Clive Swift



Mack and Mabel is my all-time favourite musical score though the book is rubbish.

[susanduic]

The question is about 'name changes'......it is quite complicated!



Someone has told me that a novel (in this case) was based on a particular actor.



Both my informant and the author of the novel knew the actor personally.



I wondered, having read the book how much I could feel I had added to my knowledge of that person.....



As the character(s) are fiction would totally inaccurate details be used? Why beyond the desire to make a good story would something totally uncharacteristic be attributed to the character.........



I was only expecting opinions from the forum as I suppose there are 100's of possible responses!



The highlighted section is the question in a nutshell...............

[CaptainWaggett]

Presumably it would depend on the novel - who is it meant to be about?

[susanduic]

It is a novel by a playwright about London theatrical life in the 1930's. Some 'real' names are used but not as the main protagonists.



The question was general and could really apply to anyone!

[CaptainWaggett]

One by Clemence Dane? Presumably anything in a novel you shouldn't take as gospel truth but that's the case for most biographies too... I suspect you might get a better insight into character from a novel but though.

[susanduic]

Noel Langley.



I agree about not expecting totally documentary info.



Just as an example, not applying to this case.....if a character in the book is said to be teetotal

when the real person was a drunk.....

[Nick Dando]

It's a long time since I've seen it, but does Mephisto count?



And The Dresser?



Nick

[Steve Crook]

name='CaptainWaggett']Mack and Mabel is my all-time favourite musical score though the book is rubbish.

The ice-skating version was very good as well



[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MhIJqN3c_w]YouTube - Mack & Mabel 1982 Word Championships HQ[/ame]



Steve