Gary Cooper: American Hero

This is the definitive biography of an icon, the laconic star who came to symbolize American ideals of self-reliance, independence, and integrity, in such films as High Noon - but whose turbulent private life was often at odds with his squeaky clean screen persona. Jeffrey Meyers creates a superb portrait based on the full cooperation of the actor's daughter as well as colleagues and close friends with whom Meyers conducted extensive interviews. He examines every aspect of Cooper's life, beginning with his youth in England and Montana before making the leap to Hollywood to create some of the quintessential western characters in movie history. Though in private he was a quiet loner, the off-screen Cooper was anything but simple. He was a sophisticated, glamorous man of the world, with appetites and convictions to match his charisma. As this meticulously researched book tracks his film career in fascinating detail, it also chronicles his tempestuous relationships with Marlene Dietrich, Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly and Patricia Neal (to name but a few); explores his long friendship with Ernest Hemingway; and takes a clear-eyed look at his controversial involvement with the House Un-American Activities Committee and the Hollywood blacklist. Gary Cooper is a fully rounded portrait of a great star, whose contradictions only enhance the artistry with which he created some of the most unforgettable and enduring characters of Hollywood's Golden Age.