JOAN CRAWFORD: THE LAST WORD

London: Pavilion, 1995. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Near Fine. Cloth, lightly rubbed at spine tips and corners. In NF, faintly rubbed dust jacket. Inscribed by the author, "To Douglas, Fairbanks, Jr., who knew the heroine of this book as well as anyone. With gratitude and best wishes always, Fred Lawrence Guiles / Gainesville, March 13, 1995." Fairbanks and Crawford married when he was just 19, and she was 23. They divorced 4 years later and, though it was not exactly amicable (Crawford cited "grievous mental cruelty," "a jealous and suspicious attitude," and "loud arguments about the most trivial subjects") he was quick to defend her after the scathing publication of MOMMIE DEAREST. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., descends from the "Royal Couple" of Hollywood's Golden Era. Fairbanks, Sr., and his wife, Mary Pickford (Junior's step-mom) were amongst the most prolific and powerful actors and producers, as co-owners of Fairbanks-Pickford Studio and co-founders (along with D. W. Griffith and Charlie Chaplin) of United Artists. They did not whole-heartedly approve of the marriage. Nonetheless, Fairbanks, Jr. would carry on the royal tradition with aplomb -- he has more than 50 films to his credit, including the starring role in GUNGA DIN -- and also became a highly decorated naval officer of WWII.