Van Heflin: A Life in FilmA versatile craftsman, actor Van Heflin was never concerned with popularity or comfortable with stardom. Lauded by his peers, Heflin won over moviegoers with his portrayal of resolute homesteader Joe Starrett in George Stevens' classic Shane (1953). He impressed in all genres, convincingly portraying every type of character from heel to hero. Van Heflin first garnered attention as the sensitive, alcoholic friend of gangster Johnny Eager (1941), for which he won an Academy Award, and later gave notable performances in a string of noirs, dramas and westerns. He was memorable as the psychotic cop in Joseph Losey's masterpiece The Prowler (1951) but equally impressive as the doubtful executive in Jean Negulesco's smart satire Woman's World (1954). This first full-length biography of Heflin covers his early life as a sailor and his career on stage and screen, providing detailed commentary on all his films. |
Contents
Preface | 1 |
One The Call of the Sea 190832 | 5 |
Two The Lure of the Stage 193141 | 15 |
Three Hollywood Awaits 193641 | 25 |
Eager and After 194145 | 42 |
Five Radio Days 193460 | 58 |
Six Dissatisfaction at MGM 194549 | 65 |
Seven Possessed by Noir 194651 | 87 |
Ten Return to the Stage 195265 | 140 |
Eleven European Sojourn 195868 | 148 |
Twelve Reluctantly to Television 195071 | 163 |
Thirteen The Final Years 196371 | 168 |
Epilogue | 186 |
Film Stage Radio and Television Credits | 191 |
Chapter Notes | 201 |
| 217 | |