Little Caesar: A Biography of Edward G. Robinson

Incredibly detailed life of Edward G Robinson. Well written. Interesting.

This book explores the period when no further scripts were sent to Edward G. Robinson as a result of him being put on a list of people who should not work in Hollywood. Robinson was not aware of the case being built up against him by the FBI, but he wasn't the only one on the hitlist. Gale Sondergaard (Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman), Canada Lee (Lifeboat), screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo (Spartacus) and actor Howard Da Silva (Fourteen Hours) were on the blacklist. Robinson was on the greylist. This meant that he could still work in 'B' pictures doing insignificant roles that would not stand the test of time. He tried to finance a production of his own, but could not secure further finances, nor would any distributor accommodate a Robinson project. There was no place for him to turn to for work except the stage. This he did in 1951 in a play titled 'Darkness at Noon', but it was not a pleasant experience. He was tempted to walk out of the production, but there was nothing waiting for him. The question he had to ask himself was: 'Do you want to go years without work again?' You can either work in an unpleasant environment, or you can be unemployed. 1951 was a lonely year for Edward G. Robinson.This is why I love this book because not only does it show Robinson's journey towards being a Hollywood film actor, but also his greylisting period when he was denied leading roles in 'A' films and given insignificant roles in 'B' pictures or no films at all.I'd love to read about Howard Da Silva's experience during his blacklisting period as Dalton Trumbo and Barbara Bel Geddes.

Very pleased,thank you.

THE LITTLE CAESAR BIO WAS TOTALY ENJOYABLE, FROM COVER TO COVER. THE AUTHOR DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF FOLLOWING HIS CAREER FROM BEGINNING TO END. HE REALLY KEPT YOUR INTEREST THROUGHOUT THE BOOK. CURRENTLY, I'M READING THE BIO ON GEORGE C. SCOTT CALLED''RAGE AND GLORY''. I WAS A BIG FAN OF MR. SCOTT,BUT THE AUTHOR, DAVID SHEWARD, LEFT OUT ONE VERY IMPORTANT FACT. GEORGE C. SCOTT'S HERITAGE.!!! NOW I'VE READ MANY MANY BIOS AND ALL THE AUTHORS OF THESE BIOS ALWAYS, IN THE OPENING PAGES ALWAYS STATE THE SUBJECTS HERITAGE. NOT THIS GUY!! SO I EMAILED THE PUBLISHER TWICE. SO FAR NO RESPONCE. THE PUBLISHER IS APPLAUSE BOOKS. MAYBE YOU CAN FIND OUT HIS HERITAGE AND LET ME KNOW. I WOULD BE MOST CURIOUS TO FIND OUT. I THINK SO FAR I'VE PURCHASED ABOUT 6 OR 7 BOOKS FROM YOU IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. THANKS SO MUCH FOR MAKING THESE WONDERFUL BIOS AVAILIBLE. SINCERELY, FRANK COLLETT TAGLIERI

A very enjoyable book that showed the real man . Covered his life from childhood to death. I wanted to read this book for years , it was worth the wait. He was a great actor and a good human being that didn't get a gigantic ego.