Robert Taylor: Male Beauty, Masculinity, and Stardom in Hollywood

Robert Taylor was a central figure of Hollywood's classical era, but he can be regarded as a "lost" star due to his lengthy screen resume and marriage to Barbara Stanwyck. In his book, Robert Taylor: Male Beauty, Masculinity, and Stardom in Hollywood, author Gillian Kelly investigates the construction and development of Taylor's star persona across his thirty-five-year career, examining how gender, masculinity, and male stars and the ageing process affected his career. Kelly places Taylor's persona within specific historical moments to show the complex paradox of his image remaining consistently recognizable while shifting seamlessly within the Hollywood industry. She also explores Taylor's importance to Hollywood cinema by demonstrating how a star persona like his can "fit" so well that it becomes invisible and eventually forgotten.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 224 pages
\n Publication date: 30 May 2019
\n Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
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Robert Taylor, a prominent figure in Hollywood's classical era, left an indelible mark on the film industry with his extensive screen resume, featuring nearly eighty appearances in iconic movies like Camille and Waterloo Bridge. His life was marked by a marriage to actress Barbara Stanwyck and a divorce, adding a unique dimension to his story. Despite his enduring success, Taylor is often considered a "lost" star, a contradiction considering his continued popularity during his lifetime.

In her book, Robert Taylor: Male Beauty, Masculinity, and Stardom in Hollywood, author Gillian Kelly delves into the intricate construction and evolution of Taylor's star persona throughout his thirty-five-year career. By exploring concepts such as male beauty, the erotic gaze directed towards men, white American masculinity, and the remarkable longevity of a career initially centered on physical appearance, Kelly sheds light on how gender, masculinity, and the dynamics of male stars influenced Taylor's career.

Kelly's study situates Taylor within the broader contexts of Hollywood's classical era and mid-twentieth-century America, providing a comprehensive understanding of his place within the industry. She examines Taylor's film and television work, as well as ephemeral materials like fan magazines, to trace the development of his on- and off-screen personas over time. Kelly adopts a mostly chronological approach, placing Taylor's persona within specific historical moments to showcase the intricate paradox of his image remaining consistently recognizable while also evolving seamlessly within the Hollywood industry.

Furthermore, Kelly explores Taylor's significance to Hollywood cinema by demonstrating how a star persona like his can "fit" so well and for such a long time that it becomes almost invisible and, eventually, almost forgotten. Through her meticulous analysis, Kelly offers a fresh perspective on Robert Taylor's legacy, shedding light on the complexities of male beauty, masculinity, and stardom in the Hollywood landscape.

\n Weight: 314g\n
Dimension: 225 x 155 x 15 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781496823144\n \n