“Alan possessed to a high degree a quality that I’ve seen equaled by only two other stars: Rita Hayworth and Gary Cooper. None of the three were superb actors or technicians, but all had the ability to make an ordinary scene become — when projected on screen — a thing of sensitive beauty and strength. I believe that this gift was what made Alan the sensational star that he was. He was a good friend, and I value that friendship. I miss him very much.” — Lloyd Nolan

Those final words in the introduction of this fabulous look at one of the great stars, and my personal favorite, caps off a wonderful story from Nolan about Alan Ladd. It is a story which offers insight into the man himself, and why he was so beloved. Ladd became a huge star in crime and action films, and westerns, but rarely got to stretch his abilities. When he did, as in the classic Shane, or as Fitzgerald’s Gatsby, he was marvelous. He was so good in Shane that George Stevens wanted him for the James Dean role in Giant, and so good as Gatsby, the studio buried the film when they remade it with Redford, so that no one could see it for decades. And no filmgoer will ever forget his mesmerizing performance in This Gun for Hire, as the sensitive, emotionally damaged, but deadly killer known as Raven. It was the film which deservedly rocketed him to stardom.

Marilyn Henry and Ron DeSourdis have done a wonderful job in helping understand Ladd as a human being; talented but insecure, warm and caring to those he held dear and his fans, but plagued by self doubt. It also helps us understand his career, full of films that are more memorable for Ladd’s personality than the scripts. Ladd was held back by the studio system, but then he made some poor film choices once he finally had the leverage and stardom to pick and choose. The book deals with it all.

This is a large, coffee table size paperback, and there are tons, just tons of wonderful photos, a great mix of stills, and scenes from films — each of which are given its due. Yeah, it would have been great if they were high-end, glossy photos rather than on paper, but they’re still here, and it’s great that they are. While I sometimes disagree with the assessment of each film given, it’s also great that the cast, credits, synopsis and evaluation is there. Ladd’s appeal was universal, and he most often eclipsed every other male star in film polls around the world. There was even a nine-issue The Adventures of Alan Ladd in comic book form from DC. The book even touches of his radio show, Box 13, where he starred as Dan Halliday. It has long been a favorite of mine.

The book deals with Ladd’s impoverished childhood, which led to poor health during his youth — there was a reason he wasn’t tall. It deals with his mother Ina, buried in grief and alcohol, which led to tragedy. And it deals with his marriage to Sue Carol, which was solid, but perhaps a detriment to him later on in some ways. There isn’t much the book doesn’t at least touch on. This might be the best book about the quiet, kind and easy-going star we’re likely to ever get. He was the biggest box office star in the world at one time, and when he wasn’t number one, he hung around that spot so close he could smell it. How he felt about his craft, knowing what worked and what didn’t, is touched on. Ladd realized he didn’t have the acting chops some had, but also that he was much better than many gave him credit for being. Shane and The Great Gatsby were proof.

For most who come at this book, however, we do so for The Blue Dahlia, This Gun for Hire, The Glass Key, and even Saigon. Because we want to revisit one of the greatest screen pairings of all-time: Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. They were magic together on screen, and even on radio. But Ladd starred in two films with the lovely Gail Russell as well. A slew of solid and memorable action films get listed here, all of them with photos and information about the filming, and the film itself. The thing which becomes most clear is what a huge star Ladd was, and what a good guy he was. He has long been my favorite, and will continue to be.

I return to this film book (I own many) perhaps more often than any other. If you’re an Alan Ladd fan — and why wouldn’t you be? — this is worth the effort of tracking down. It’s probably the best book we’ll ever have on him, its blend of filmography and personal background information, celluloid heaven for film buffs. That comment by Lloyd Nolan speaks volumes. Maybe he’s speaking for us all, because somehow, after watching Ladd’s films, we feel like we knew him too. ( )