The Carpetbaggers
by Harold Robbins
(1961)
I believe I first read this book in 1962 in High School. I borrowed the book from a friend at 9:30P.M. or so and promised to return it the next morning at 7:30A.M, I had planned on reading a few chapters, recording my place and finish reading it later. I believe that I stayed up all night to finish it. That same year I was assigned
The Scarlet Letter
to read. Hawthorne might have been "better" literature, but, I enjoyed reading Robbins more. So which is more important? Teaching a "love for reading" or teaching "good literature"?
Here's an outline of the book:
I. Book One JONAS 1925
II. Book II The Story of Max Sands(aka Nevada Smith)
III. Book III JONAS 1930
IV. Book IV The Story of Rina Marlowe
V. Book V JONAS 1935
VI. The Story of David Woolf
VII. Book VII JONAS 1940
VIII. The Story of Jennie Denton
IX. JONAS 1945
The book gives us a twenty year glimpse into the life of Jonas Cord. Cord turns everything he touches into money while his own life is falling apart. The interesting thing about this novel is not really the story it tells but the way in which the story is told.
Told through the lives of the people Cord comes into contact with, Robbins gives us enough material for five novels let alone one. Here we have the history of the early twentieth century through the lives of an ex-gunfighter, a Hollywood actress, a movie company executive, and the proverbial prostitute with the heart of gold.
Robbins research into his time period was exhaustive and his storytelling ability is flawless. If there is a problem with the novel it is that it tends to go a little too deep for a little too long
Part of the fun of any novel of this type is discovering who the major characters were based on. Many think that Cord is a clear picture of Howard Hughes while Rina Marlow seems to be loosely based on Jean Harlow.
Personally, I believe that these two were only loosely based on the above, but were composite characters, a composite of many personalities that Robbins either knew or imagined.
Pop fiction like this is like pop-corn candy. It does not stimulate great or exciting thought, but it sure is fun. Isn't that the reason for reading in the first place?
If you're not a Robbins reader this would be a great place to start. It's pure entertainment, with a page-flipping pace and an excellent story. This was a monster bestseller in the early 1960s and you'll see why after Robbins hooks you on page one. Guaranteed to please.
The characters are veiled reproductions to be sure . . . This is a fascinating story told by a master storyteller who's own life story would certainly make a great book. If you're ready for a fresh perspective on Hollywood of old---filled with the erotica that Harold Robbins got us hooked on--- check outthe two mpovies it spawned the Capetbaggers and Nevada Smith.
The main story takes place over a 20 year period between the World Wars. The main character is a Howard Hughes-type tycoon named Jonas Cord with all sorts of business interests but most especially aircraft development and Hollywood pictures. His is mostly a tragic story up until the very end when he finally realizes what makes him happy. It is interesting to note that Harold Robbins knew Howard Hughes fairly well but despite so many similarities to Hughes, Robbins claims the model for the Jonas Cord character was actually Bill Lear (developer of the Lear jet and the 8-track tape player). The backdrop for the novel is absorbing as well; we get to see the roaring 20s, the depression era 30's, the lead up to World War II as well as the war itself; all major impacts on the plot.
The intriguing thing about this book is not so much the story but rather, how the story is told. It is divided into eight sections(see outline above): four sections are Jonas Cord's life told in his own first person point of view and the other four sections are devoted to the back stories of four key people who Jonas interacts with during his life. One is a former gunfighter turned stuntman turned star of the silent movie era. One is a Hollywood actress (allegedly based on Jean Harlow).
Hell's Angels (1930) is well-known for Howard Hughes' high-cost direction (production costs of about $3 million), 18-year-old blonde bombshell Jean Harlow's first major role and big break into film, and the stunning aerial footage (e.g., authentic-looking dogfights). It was the costliest film ever made until Gone With the Wind (1939) beat its record by $1 million.
It is the contrasting story of two brothers (one good and one bad), Roy (James Hall) and Monte Rutledge (Ben Lyon) respectively, who leave Oxford and join in the British Royal Flying Corps at the beginning of World War I. Roy, falls in love with Helen (Jean Harlow), a sexy, voluptuous, platinum blonde.
Its most remarkable moment and famous line (often misquoted) is delivered by blue-eyed Helen, who wears a slinky velvet evening dress (with beaded straps) that barely covers her breasts. The plunging neckline on her dress caused a tremendous controversy at the time. As the two-timing, slutty fiancé of unsuspecting Roy, she encouragingly asks brother Monte to take her home during a dance:
Are we here?...Want to come up for a cigarette and a drink?...Come see my room. I've only had a place of my own for a week...(After serving him a drink) Would you be shocked if I put on something more comfortable?
Monte non-chalantly replies: "I'll try to survive" as she moves into her back bedroom, lets her wrap drop, and reveals her backless evening dress and a side view of her remarkable figure before disappearing. A few moments later, she returns wearing a white-trimmed dark robe - provocatively open to her waist and bare underneath. As he sits next to her, she behaves like a hot floozie and stirs his passions:
Monte: Well, are you more comfortable now?
Helen: Yes, are you?
Monte: Oh yes. You know it seems strange being here like this after hearing Roy rave about you for months.
Helen: Does Roy rave?
Monte: Or rather, he idolizes you.
Helen: Well, I do wish he wouldn't. It makes me feel guilty.
Monte: I can understand his raving now.
Helen: Oh, don't be silly. You're not a bit like Roy, are you?
Monte: I should say not. Roy's frightfully high-minded. He doesn't approve of me.
Helen: He wouldn't approve of me either if he knew what I'm really like.
Monte: Doesn't he know?
Helen: No. When I'm with Roy, I'm the way Roy wants me to be. That's caddish, isn't it? But I can't help it.
Monte: I understand.
Helen: Roy wouldn't.
Monte: May I ask you a very personal question?
Helen: Yes.
Monte: Do you love Roy?
Helen: No, not really. Not the way Roy wants me to love him. I can't. Roy's love means marriage and children and never anyone but Roy. I couldn't bear that. I want to be free. I want to be gay and have fun. Life's short and I want to live while I'm alive.
Monte: I know but...that's the way I feel too. (He caresses her hair as she languishes back under his attentive gaze.) I-I think I'd better go.
Helen: Must you?
Monte: I really should.
Helen: Pull!
She stretches out her arms and he pulls her up into his arms. They are frozen, inches away from each other's lips - and then they kiss. She surrenders herself to him and they lower themselves back to the couch and embrace further - as the scene fades to black.
Most memorable wartime scenes: the beautifully photographed aerial dogfight skirmishes, German zeppelin raids over London, and the red-tinted and two-color Technicolor scenes.
While flying their mission, the brothers are shot down by the Germans and captured. A shell-shocked Monte is shot by his brother to prevent him from revealing important secrets to the Germans. As Monte dies in his brother's arms, Monte forgives his brother. Angry and in retaliation, the Germans execute Roy.
________________________________________
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A third is a movie company executive and a fourth is a high-priced courtesan turned movie starlet. We get absorbed in their individual stories; they are very captivating all on their own. And it is really through them that we come to know Jonas himself. When you put the whole thing together you really get a great sense of the characters as well as the era itself.
Highly recommended for anyone wanting a fast paced adventure story with a touch of sex.
Gunner Febrtuary, 2011
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