Peerless

Kurt Jensen has been a film reviewer and news writer for several Catholic publications, and his contributions have been published in Studies in Musical Theatre and the Los Angeles Review of Books.

• Introduction: Enjoy the Journey1. Tiflis to New York2. Catfish Row3. From Eugene O’Neill to Burlesque4. Finding Elissa5. Those Darn Cats6. Isn’t it Romantic?7. Dietrich and Garbo8. In Which Anna and Miriam Star9. My Colored Brainchild10. The Folks Who Live on the Hill11. Golden Holden12. Mon General Zanuck13. A Bright Golden Haze14. Otto and Ethel15. A Real Nice Clambake16. Come Rain or Come Shine17. Found in the Stars18. Mamoulian Marches On19. Breathtaking Cinemascope20. Perfidy and Bess21. Dulce et Decorum est Cleopatra Mori22. Leavin’ TimeAcknowledgmentsNotesBibliographyIndex

“Jensen’s fresh, sparkling prose allows Mamoulian to emerge as the type of suave, charming, larger-than-life character so often portrayed in his films. Jensen’s thoughtful use of Mamoulian’s own words in journals and interviews allows this work to serve as the intimate, lively memoir the great director never completed.” - Cynthia Brideson, author of He’s Got Rhythm: The Life and Times of Gene Kelly“A biographical feat: a multidimensional portrait of a trailblazing director and his turbulent times. Jensen fills his book with resonant details that spark surprising revelations about Mamoulian’s life and career. He conjures such an intimate perspective on Mamoulian’s groundbreaking work, including soundstage marvels like Love Me Tonight and stage milestones like Porgy and Bess, that we feel present at its creation.” - Michael Sragow, contributing writer, Air Mail and Film Comment, and author, Victor Fleming: An American Movie Master“Jensen generously takes us to the heart of Mamoulian land: his genius, his arroganc--and his absolute refusal to budge on his opinions. Yes, warts and all live here. Where there was brilliance and controversy, there was Mamoulian. In this relentlessly detailed telling of Mamoulian’s life, there is no place for the peerless to hide!” - Marilyn Ann Moss, author of Raoul Walsh: The True Adventures of Hollywood’s Legendary Director“A scrupulously researched portrait. . . . Musical theater buffs will be riveted.” - Publishers Weekly