Vanda Krefft

Long overdue biography of William Fox, the founder of the Fox Film Corporation (forerunner of 20th Century Fox). The biography is well-balanced, in that while it has a good deal of sympathy for the subject, it doesn't shy away from the character flaws the man had, nor does it flinch from describing the actions that got him into legal trouble later. The "fall," as the book's subtitle notes, was indeed tragic, and has resulted in the man virtually vanishing from film history. No small wonder, since a large portion of Fox's production during the 1915-1930 period was destroyed in a 1937 vault fire. Well-edited and well-researched; it does seem obvious that a number of contemporary sources were carefully reviewed. Warmly recommended.… (més)