"Anthony Steel: the wooden dish" by Michael Hodgson is published
A perceptive, gossipy, anecdotal biography of one of the most popular, yet troubled British actors of the 1950s.
- (1888PressRelease) October 11, 2016 - "Anthony Steel: the wooden dish" by Michael Hodgson, ISBN #978-1787190511, About the Book: By the time of his death in 2001, Anthony Steel had appeared in more than sixty films including The Wooden Horse, Where No Vultures Fly, Albert RN, Checkpoint, The Sea Shall Not Have Them, and Malta Story. Yet this tall, clean-cut, handsome British actor who became one of J. Arthur Rank's highest paid stars, and without question, a huge box-office attraction during the 1950s saw his life empty and a failure, according to biographer Michael Hodgson in Anthony Steel: the wooden dish (New Generation Publishing; 7th September, 2016; £8.99, ISBN: 978-1787190511)
Based on interviews and conversations with Anthony Steel contemporaries, family and friends, Michael Hodgson's incisive biography of Steel unearths many telling answers about a man who was often his own worst enemy. It explains how his decision to marry Swedish diva Anita Ekberg, give up his lucrative contract with Rank and emigrate to Hollywood at the height of his British fame, was a professional disaster from which he never recovered.
In Anthony Steel, Michael Hodgson analyzes the troubled personal life of a deeply private man, moving from his boyhood and distinguished war record to his short lived marriage to top London fashion model Juanita Forbes and his often turbulent marriage to Anita Ekberg. An alcoholic and an insanely jealous of any man who dared look at Miss Ekberg split the three-year marriage, resulting in divorce and Steel's departure to Italy where he lived for several years, attempting in vain, to rescue his ailing career.
After a third failed marriage to a former 'Miss Austria' beauty queen, Hodgson discusses Steel's return to Britain. There, following a few cameo roles on British television, a couple of soft porn films and stage productions, penniless, he became a total recluse, hiding away in a bed-sit sheltered accommodation provided by a West London Council, refusing to open the door to anyone who ventured to call on him, including his one-time friend Sir John Mills.
Told with consummate skill, the story of Anthony Steel is a fascinating search for the real man and his turbulent and often misunderstood life.
Anthony Steel: the wooden dish is complete with 13 pages of illustrations and appendices giving a full listing of Steel's film, television and stage work.
About the Author:
After gaining a First-class Honours Degree in Social History, which encompassed the study of the cinema and society in Britain during the 1950s and 1960s, and the cultural influence of film, Michael Hodgson became interested in the lives of British film actors and more particularly, what was it that made them stars. Before embarking the the life of Anthony Steel, he first turned his attention to Patricia Roc, publishing her biography Patricia Roc: the goddess of the Odeons in 2013.
Michael Hodgson was brought up in Twickenham, Middlesex, and now lives in Wiltshire with his wife and two dogs.
Amazon review for this book:
5.0 out of 5 stars Skillfully-written biography
By Johnny T. on 3 Oct. 2016
This is an excellent biography about a talented actor, and describes what happened to Anthony Steel when he crossed paths with one particular woman.
A good read! Highly Recommended.
"Anthony Steel: the wooden dish" by Michael Hodgson is available in paperback from Amazon.com at:
www.amazon.co.uk/Anthony-Steel-wooden-Michael-Hodgson/dp/178719051X
This book is also available to purchase on Amazon.co.uk at:
www.amazon.co.uk/Anthony-Steel-wooden-Michael-Hodgson/dp/178719051X
Press/Media Contact Details:
New Generation Publishing
Tel. 01234 712 064
E-mail: info ( @ ) newgeneration-publishing dot com
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