Book review - "Peter Lawford: The Man Who Kept the Secrets" by James Spada (1991)

Peter Lawford is best remembered for his association with other people rather than anything he did on his own terms: supporting various starlets as a contract player for MGM, marrying JFK's sister, being friends with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jnr which made him part of the Rat Pack, talking to Marilyn Monroe the night she died. Nonetheless he lived a rich and fascinating life and it's well recounted by Spada.

It's a gossipy-feeling account but is also well footed and seems to have been thoroughly researched. Lawford came from an unstable, if well connected home: mum married well but cheated on his step dad with a distinguished soldier (she hated sex but wanted to upscale) resulting in a scandalous divorce case; mum was going to kill herself during labour it was so painful; mum and dad jet-setted around the world in the 1930s on inherited money; beautiful young boy Peter was molested by men and women from a young age. He did some early acting work sporadically as a child, including in Lord Jeff, but only got really serious about it when the family was stuck in the USA during World War Two; Lawford attracted the attention of agent Sue Carol (better remembered today as Alan Ladd's wife), and picked up various bit parts - a notable one in A Yank at Eton - before getting a contract with MGM.

Hollywood was lacking in leading men because of the war and Lawford was 4F because of an arm injury (he cut it badly in a childhood accident); he had a high pitched voice and wasn't much of an actor but he was handsome and had a healthy physique (honed from much mucking around on the beach). He leapt to kind-of stardom in The White Cliffs of Dover and found a niche for himself supporting bigger names on the MGM lot - Lassie, June Allyson, Fred Asatire, Esther Williams, Kathryn Grayson, Elizabeth Taylor. MGM rarely entrusted Lawford with a flat out lead role - and they were completely right because when they did the results underwhelmed eg Kangaroo (shot in Australia for 20th Century Fox), The Hour of 13, Rogue's March. Lawford's career was hit with a double whammy - the decline in movie attendance, the replacement of Louise B Mayer with Dore Schary at MGM - and was let go by the studio. He went into TV and had two decent-ish runs with Dear Phoebe and The Thin Man but what really saved him was marrying Pat Kennedy. This kept him in the nation's eye, especially after JFK was elected, and helped him become best mates with Frank Sinatra and part of the Rat Pack.

Lawford did offer JFK some genuine help in terms of media training and Hollywood connections. But when the Kennedys distanced themselves from Sinatra in 1962 Lawford was kicked out of the Rat Pack (only Sammy Davis Jnr remained loyal) and when he divorced Pat a few years later the family kicked him to the curb as well.

The last decade and a bit of Lawford's life is depressing reading - alcoholism, drug addiction (particularly cocaine), financial troubles (he spent money hand over fist), marital troubles. He remained handsome and charming and had no trouble getting female attention right up to the end of his life - although the relationships didn't last, mainly due to his drug addiction and taste for kinky sex (he preferred oral, would like a bit of S & M and a girl to join in, and was probably bisexual too - Spada doesn't hide anything!).

People interviewed in the book frequently refer to Lawford's charm and likeability, and he must have had something to have friends to were loyal for a long time, who managed to charm the Kennedys and  executives for many years. But to be honest he was a bit of a drip - a poor actor who had some good moments and was obviously professional but who never pushed himself; a bit of a dimwit; a poor financial manager, and a worse career manager; a crybaby on the topic of the Kennedys; a poor husband and father.

Quite a few things I didn't know. His mum had a relationship with a much younger lover/friend/something which was reportedly the inspiration for Harold and Maude. He had a production company which made The Patty Duke Show. He was supposedly considered for James Bond (another one!).

Movie review – Thin Man#4 – “Shadow of the Thin Man” (1941) **

If it ain’t broke why fix it – so here’s a fourth Thin Man instalment, with Nick Jnr now old enough to be attending military academy… even though he’s only a couple of years old. War time restrictions sees the Charles live in a flat rather than a mansion, although they still have their maid (Louise Beavers) and Nick still guzzles booze. He’s is called in to investigate the death of a jockey by a betting syndicate, triggering some standard adventures: Nora enjoying herself among Nick’s dodgy friends (in this case at a wrestling match), a climax with a room full of suspects, etc. 

The fun here though is mild – the Thin Man was really made for the mad cap 30s rather than the more austere 40s, and the leads were becoming too domestic. Also there’s not enough Loy – she disappears for too long. (Was this because this was the first Thin Man not to be written by the Hacketts?). Beautifully shot and a cast that includes Barry Nelson (in his debut but billed third, so I guessed he was the killer), Donna Reed, Sam Levene, Stella Adler and Tor Johnson.

Radio review – Lux - "After the Thin Man" (1940) **

Myrna Loy and William Powell are good value as ever but its hard to tell the other characters apart. It’s hard enough to do this in detective films with its archetypes played by non-descript character actors – married woman, drunk doctor – but radio it’s particularly tricky.

Movie review – Thin Man#3 - “Another Thin Man” (1939) ***

The Thin Man was a classier series, like the early Tarzans, so it followed continuity – Nick, Nora and Asta are now joined by Nick Jnr. Not that they seem to do much parenting – they have plenty of servants and a nanny. That’s the way to do it! Nick is called in by C Aubrey Smith who suspects that people are out to kill him. When Smith meets Nick he locks up the liquor cabinet but enabling wife Nora sneaks it to him – good on ya Nora.
Smith winds up dead and the adventure takes off – there are late night assignations, a follow up death; Nick tries to keep Nora out of it but Nora follows (resulting in a fun night club sequence), and both flirt with other people; there’s another party with Nick’s low life old mates (this one with babies which is cute), and a finale where all the suspects are gathered together. It’s a classy production, with pleasant photography and sets, plus an impressive support cast: future cult star Tom Neal, Patrick Knowles, Virginia Grey, Nat Pendleton.

Radio review – Lux#84 – “The Thin Man” (1936) **

William Powell and Myrna Loy reprise their roles – so too does Asta, to little effect (cute dog shenanigans aren’t that effective on radio). The mystery is confusing without the benefit of seeing faces to help differentiate subjects; but the by play between the stars remains strong and at least with this one you don’t keep seeing Powell swing back drinks.

Movie review – Thin Man#2 – “After the Thin Man” (1936) *** (warning: spoilers)

Everyone’s favourite alcoholic detective, Nick Charles, arrives in San Francisco with his wife, hoping for a quiet time but he is soon dragged into a mystery involving wife Nora’s rich friends. They send him to find a rich wastrel, played by Aussie actor Alan Marshall – who soon ends up dead.

The cast is impressive: Elissa Landi, Joseph Calleia, George Zucco (fun as a bespectacled shrink) and James Stewart. I’m trying not to be wise in hindsight but Stewart is really impressive, star quality all over him even at this stage – I think it’s that deep voice. Stewart has a wonderful confession monologue which involves him having a near-nervous breakdown, a forerunner of the stuff we would do for Hitchcock in Vertigo (and a rebuke to critics who claim he had to go to war to become a “dark” actor.)

This reprises many elements of the first film – a gallery of suspects played by an impressive array of character actors, a party where Nick’s friends get on the boozer, colourful old friends of Nick, a finale with all the suspects gathered and interrogated. Myrna Loy and William Powell are fun again – she is very cute, especially when winding up in women’s prison. Asta is good too. I have to admit, though, these aren’t my favourite detective movies – Powell boozes too much and it goes on for too long.

Movie review – Thin Man #1 – “The Thin Man” (1934) ***1/2

Married couples aren’t normally found as movie heroes – filmmakers prefer their leads to come together. There are exceptions, of perhaps which Nick and Nora Charles are among the most famous. They are a marvellous couple, excellently played by William Powell and Myrna Loy, whose enjoyment of their parts are infectious.

Nick Charles is a permanently drunk ex-detective married to rich Myrna Loy, who is the perfect match for him – capable of matching him drink for drink, enjoying his low life friends and swapping quips. She doesn’t even mind when he punches her out (to ensure she doesn’t get shot). Presumably she’ll miss him when he dies of cirrhosis of the liver – he drinks an awful lot, I mean he even gets up in the middle of the night to have a drink. (I wonder if this cute depiction of alcoholism inspired people to take up heavy drinking.)

This is made with MGM polish but has Warner Bros pace, if that makes sense – the director was Woody “keep it movin’” Van Dyke. The support cast is impressive, including Maureen O’Sullivan as the missing man’s daughter and Cesar Romero as (surprise) a gigolo, plus of course Asta the dog. The story is strong, the climax is a classic with Powell inviting all the suspects around for dinner.