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Gentleman: The William Powell Story
A tribute to actor William Powell details his short-lived marriage to Carole Lombard, tragic romance with Jean Harlow, forty-year marriage to Diana Lewis, and his remarkable film career
248 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 30, 2020
William Powell was a private man. He was a public figure and yet a complex, private man. Therefore the task before biographer Charles Francisco was a challenging one. Certainly there were plenty of stories in popular Hollywood magazines of the era, tabloid features and interviews, but views into his private life were limited. He married three times and fathered one child, a son, who tragically committed suicide in 1968. Aside from his third wife, these significant figures had long departed and there is no indication that wife Diana Lewis chose to reveal the private man. His closest friends, who included Richard Barthelmess and Ronald Colman, had long departed; he outlived almost all of them but Myrna Loy. In fact Powell himself died during Francisco’s research. Yet the author has done a remarkable job in giving us a solid sense of William Powell, the essence of the man and of his life; it was one filled with satisfying successes, occasional frustrations and sometimes all too public tragedies.
If you are a fan of Powell’s, as I am, this book is one to search out and find. The tone is warm and measured, never salacious or engaging in sordid speculation, despite Powell’s romancing and co-starring with some of the most beautiful and sought after women of the early days of Hollywood. Francisco treats his subject, and the numerous Hollywood luminaries and fellow players he encounters, with respect and admiration, pulling from available files, newspaper and magazine articles, archives and Powell’s own writings. In doing so he constructs a portrait of a man who was far from perfect but generally well-intended and truly the gentleman that he hoped to be. Known as a movie star, he was first an actor and an absolute master of his craft.
I was sad to reach this book’s end for to do so was to leave behind a life well-lived. Powell is painted as a man who didn’t always have the answers but who sure as hell tried to find them. This was a lovely, satisfying and moving book. I highly recommend it.
Gentleman: The William Powell Story includes a filmography and two sections of black and white photographs.
For a more in-depth review see: https://dreaminginthebalcony.wordpres...
If you are a fan of Powell’s, as I am, this book is one to search out and find. The tone is warm and measured, never salacious or engaging in sordid speculation, despite Powell’s romancing and co-starring with some of the most beautiful and sought after women of the early days of Hollywood. Francisco treats his subject, and the numerous Hollywood luminaries and fellow players he encounters, with respect and admiration, pulling from available files, newspaper and magazine articles, archives and Powell’s own writings. In doing so he constructs a portrait of a man who was far from perfect but generally well-intended and truly the gentleman that he hoped to be. Known as a movie star, he was first an actor and an absolute master of his craft.
I was sad to reach this book’s end for to do so was to leave behind a life well-lived. Powell is painted as a man who didn’t always have the answers but who sure as hell tried to find them. This was a lovely, satisfying and moving book. I highly recommend it.
Gentleman: The William Powell Story includes a filmography and two sections of black and white photographs.
For a more in-depth review see: https://dreaminginthebalcony.wordpres...
August 13, 2015
This is definitely an incomplete biography, but what is written here was very enjoyable. I liked that the author found articles from magazines and newspapers that Powell had set down for, to help promote his movies or him talking about an actress he worked with in a movie. Some of the stories that was found in the articles from other actors working with Powell, were hilarious. One of the heart tender moments in the book, describes when Powell returned to MGM studios two years after Jean Harlow passed away and Powell's own health scare, the moment mentions when Powell stepped onto the set and walked into the set lights causing a cascade of light to fall on him, everyone on the set stopped and just started applauding him. Causing Powell to become embarrassed and unsure what to say.
The only real problem with the book though, is there are a lot of guessing or possibilities to it. I feel, the author could have done more research and possibly, talked to some of the friends that William Powell made during his long career that were still alive in the 1980's. There is no sit down interviews with anyone, not even Myrna Loy.
Overall, this was worth a read, I did learn some items about Powell that I didn't know about. But I'm glad, he turned out to be a real gentleman in real life like he was in the movies.
The only real problem with the book though, is there are a lot of guessing or possibilities to it. I feel, the author could have done more research and possibly, talked to some of the friends that William Powell made during his long career that were still alive in the 1980's. There is no sit down interviews with anyone, not even Myrna Loy.
Overall, this was worth a read, I did learn some items about Powell that I didn't know about. But I'm glad, he turned out to be a real gentleman in real life like he was in the movies.
October 19, 2013
Great book ... about a great actor. I never realized he was married to Carole Lombard ... or had such a deep love affair with Jean Harlow. After reading this book I want to watch all his movies all over again!
March 26, 2012
When my father saw I was reading this, he said to make sure I told him whether William Powell really was a nice guy or not.
The answer to that is: Why, yes. Yes he was.
The answer to that is: Why, yes. Yes he was.
September 5, 2016
Awesome. Detailed and interesting. Makes me love William Powell more. Great man.
March 21, 2022
This was a biography of William Powell, icon of classic Hollywood films. I always enjoy his movies as he is quite debonair and witty. I was interested to learn that he began his career as a dastardly villain, somehow I cannot imagine him in that role. But I definitely want to check those films out.
The beginning of the biography provided great detail into Powell's early life and ambitions. You get a sense of his Midwestern upbringing and his indomitable work ethic. You also can understand how the dreams and ideals of a young man can quickly fade as real life intrudes. Though his persistence helped to promote his career, his early marriage suffered as a result.
I enjoyed reading contemporary accounts of that time period, particularly Powell's interviews with various publications and gossip mavens. His responses were thoughtful - I especially liked his explanation of why women go for the "bad boy". This is true still 100 years later! He understood the need to discuss his work, but tried to stay more guarded with his personal life. This was difficult since he married Carole Lombard, then an up and coming starlet/comedienne and then his long-term relationship with era's sex symbol - Jean Harlow.
It was particularly sad to read how in love he and Jean were but since he was already twice divorced, he did not want to embark on matrimony yet again. As he was in his 40s, that was understandable. However, Jean being in her 20s (though divorced 3xs herself) wanted nothing more than to be Mrs. William Powell. Her joy at receiving the birthday cake with 3 candles (for 3 years) on their anniversary was so sweet. It was beyond tragic that she died so young at age 26 and the picture in the book of Powell at her funeral was gut-wrenching. He regretted not marrying her then.
Time went on with Powell and he had his own illnesses and then career dissatisfaction. However, when he met a young lady that he connected with, he decided to leave nothing to chance. He and Diana married and it seems from all accounts that they were extremely happy. This part of the book was the shortest and the least revealing. I did like reading that he actually had a great relationship with his on-screen wife Myrna Loy.
The beginning of the biography provided great detail into Powell's early life and ambitions. You get a sense of his Midwestern upbringing and his indomitable work ethic. You also can understand how the dreams and ideals of a young man can quickly fade as real life intrudes. Though his persistence helped to promote his career, his early marriage suffered as a result.
I enjoyed reading contemporary accounts of that time period, particularly Powell's interviews with various publications and gossip mavens. His responses were thoughtful - I especially liked his explanation of why women go for the "bad boy". This is true still 100 years later! He understood the need to discuss his work, but tried to stay more guarded with his personal life. This was difficult since he married Carole Lombard, then an up and coming starlet/comedienne and then his long-term relationship with era's sex symbol - Jean Harlow.
It was particularly sad to read how in love he and Jean were but since he was already twice divorced, he did not want to embark on matrimony yet again. As he was in his 40s, that was understandable. However, Jean being in her 20s (though divorced 3xs herself) wanted nothing more than to be Mrs. William Powell. Her joy at receiving the birthday cake with 3 candles (for 3 years) on their anniversary was so sweet. It was beyond tragic that she died so young at age 26 and the picture in the book of Powell at her funeral was gut-wrenching. He regretted not marrying her then.
Time went on with Powell and he had his own illnesses and then career dissatisfaction. However, when he met a young lady that he connected with, he decided to leave nothing to chance. He and Diana married and it seems from all accounts that they were extremely happy. This part of the book was the shortest and the least revealing. I did like reading that he actually had a great relationship with his on-screen wife Myrna Loy.
November 2, 2025
"The eloquent statement- simple, yet dignified as the man himself- made by the anonymous graffiti artist of Theatre 80 says it all: 'William Powell, forever.'" - Staton Rabin
My impression is that writing an in-depth biography on William Powell is nearly impossible. He was fastidiously private from his early days on stage and in silent film until his death in 1984. This book was published just a year later without cooperation from him or any insiders. As a result it's slight and speculative at certain points, but covers the span of his ninety-one years. It's the only serious attempt I know of, and I doubt that another biographer will be able to tackle his life any time soon. All of his contemporaries are dead, he has no surviving children and left little to no record of his thoughts or inner life.
What drew me to this book was getting whatever little information I could that wasn't already out there. My impression is that he was one of those rare decent people in a harsh and exploitive business who suffered more emotional hits than a seasoned boxer. He maintains that reputation here, the same as everything else I've read about him. No one has anything truly negative to say about him, and he had a sterling reputation as a film professional, as well as a complete delight on and off camera.
I'm drawn to this type of personality in Hollywood because decency and kindness is so hard to find in that business, especially among men. That was what led me to read about Valentino, and I was surprised by a quality these men had in common. They were both incredibly articulate and self-aware of what drew women to their screen personas. In 1926, while typecast as a screen villain, Powell wrote a piece explaining his appeal to female fans: "As many men relish the stimulant of physical danger, so many women are fascinated by the presence of moral danger. This fascination is likely to attach itself to the embodiment of the danger, which is the villain, and he becomes an object of absorbing interest."
As someone who has never gravitated toward screen villains, antiheroes or bad boys, I'm glad that an essay written by a guy almost 100 years ago has cleared that up for me. I've never understood that draw, but Powell's thoughts have made it somewhat easier to comprehend. He was also quick to divorce that attention from his actual personality and appearance. A few years later when he was cast as romantic leads, he was resistant and thought it was a joke.
Although he isn't the first person to come to mind when it comes to onscreen sex appeal or animal magnetism, Powell had a lot of pull during his lifetime. From what I gathered from this book, it was because he treated women with respect, and when he committed to them he was an invested partner, great listener and a willing support system for their emotional needs and career challenges. He was also a blast to be around- generous, witty and funny- but more of a homebody as he grew older. When he parted ways with wives and girlfriends, it was always amicable, and he maintained platonic relationships with women that lasted for decades.
Unfortunately, his love life was beset by tragedies beyond his control. His ex-wife, Carole Lombard, died in a plane crash. Months later his other ex-wife, Eileen Wilson Powell, died suddenly at age 48. He had split with both of these women on friendly terms and had remained close to both for years, so these losses deeply affected him. But most importantly, the steep health decline and death of his girlfriend (and potential third wife), Jean Harlow, took the biggest toll on him. Shortly after he was diagnosed with life-threatening colon cancer and had to use a colostomy bag for months, but he was able to recover due to radiation therapy and surgery. He survived, but for a while he was probably asking himself, "What for?"
In Myrna Loy's autobiography, there is an anecdote about him calling her and saying, "Today is a good throat-cutting day," which made her rush to his home. No harm had been done and he apologized. "It was an Irish funk," he explained. In this book he is quoted the same way: "It's the Irish in me. I'm primarily Irish, and we get these dark periods."
Unfortunately, this tendency was passed on to his son, who also dealt with divorce and illness before committing suicide in a similar scenario: stabbing himself to death in the shower. Although he and his father were on good terms, he explained his actions in a letter he left behind: "Things aren't so good here. I'm going where it's better." It was another crushing loss for Powell, and strangely enough, the most engaging and funny insights into his character come from what his son said on record, which are included in this book. It gives you a glimpse of who the private man was, which remains somewhat of a mystery to this day. Then again, I suppose Powell wanted it that way.
There are anecdotes here and there that I'm sure I'm the only person who finds hilarious and enjoyable. One is how at the height of his bachelorhood he is scheming for ways to convince his parents to move in with him because he wants to take care of them and be a part of his life. All while running around and partying and dating constantly (he had another apartment for romantic liaisons). But yeah, he loves his parents and eventually convinces them to move in and "work" for him when in actuality he just wants them around. I suppose that actions like this made him even more appealing to the women he spent time with. A man who treats his parents that way can't be a complete shitbag, and that was a rare find in show business.
There are other bits that I found amusing, like how he was pegged as well-dressed, so he started dressing as ridiculously as possible, but people still found him fashionable. At home he preferred to wear swim trunks and a bath towel (he swam daily) or a bathrobe with a rip in the back that his son and third wife couldn't get him to part with. After settling down with wife #3, Diana Lewis, he retired from acting in 1955 and actually stuck to his word. As far as I know, he's the only celebrity who has done so. He enjoyed twenty-seven more years of bliss with Lewis in Palm Springs, getting the happy ending that nice guys richly deserve but don't always get.
Anyway, this was an enjoyable and brisk read. My only regret is that there will never be another William Powell. It seemed like he was a pleasure to know. I'm glad for the work he has left behind and have been enjoying a lot of it this year.
Side Note: It was a task to get a copy of this book. It's hardly in print and the one I purchased was discarded from a library with cracked and warped binding that has proved impossible to fix. But at least it has a permanent home with me now, joining other biographies on my shelf.
My impression is that writing an in-depth biography on William Powell is nearly impossible. He was fastidiously private from his early days on stage and in silent film until his death in 1984. This book was published just a year later without cooperation from him or any insiders. As a result it's slight and speculative at certain points, but covers the span of his ninety-one years. It's the only serious attempt I know of, and I doubt that another biographer will be able to tackle his life any time soon. All of his contemporaries are dead, he has no surviving children and left little to no record of his thoughts or inner life.
What drew me to this book was getting whatever little information I could that wasn't already out there. My impression is that he was one of those rare decent people in a harsh and exploitive business who suffered more emotional hits than a seasoned boxer. He maintains that reputation here, the same as everything else I've read about him. No one has anything truly negative to say about him, and he had a sterling reputation as a film professional, as well as a complete delight on and off camera.
I'm drawn to this type of personality in Hollywood because decency and kindness is so hard to find in that business, especially among men. That was what led me to read about Valentino, and I was surprised by a quality these men had in common. They were both incredibly articulate and self-aware of what drew women to their screen personas. In 1926, while typecast as a screen villain, Powell wrote a piece explaining his appeal to female fans: "As many men relish the stimulant of physical danger, so many women are fascinated by the presence of moral danger. This fascination is likely to attach itself to the embodiment of the danger, which is the villain, and he becomes an object of absorbing interest."
As someone who has never gravitated toward screen villains, antiheroes or bad boys, I'm glad that an essay written by a guy almost 100 years ago has cleared that up for me. I've never understood that draw, but Powell's thoughts have made it somewhat easier to comprehend. He was also quick to divorce that attention from his actual personality and appearance. A few years later when he was cast as romantic leads, he was resistant and thought it was a joke.
Although he isn't the first person to come to mind when it comes to onscreen sex appeal or animal magnetism, Powell had a lot of pull during his lifetime. From what I gathered from this book, it was because he treated women with respect, and when he committed to them he was an invested partner, great listener and a willing support system for their emotional needs and career challenges. He was also a blast to be around- generous, witty and funny- but more of a homebody as he grew older. When he parted ways with wives and girlfriends, it was always amicable, and he maintained platonic relationships with women that lasted for decades.
Unfortunately, his love life was beset by tragedies beyond his control. His ex-wife, Carole Lombard, died in a plane crash. Months later his other ex-wife, Eileen Wilson Powell, died suddenly at age 48. He had split with both of these women on friendly terms and had remained close to both for years, so these losses deeply affected him. But most importantly, the steep health decline and death of his girlfriend (and potential third wife), Jean Harlow, took the biggest toll on him. Shortly after he was diagnosed with life-threatening colon cancer and had to use a colostomy bag for months, but he was able to recover due to radiation therapy and surgery. He survived, but for a while he was probably asking himself, "What for?"
In Myrna Loy's autobiography, there is an anecdote about him calling her and saying, "Today is a good throat-cutting day," which made her rush to his home. No harm had been done and he apologized. "It was an Irish funk," he explained. In this book he is quoted the same way: "It's the Irish in me. I'm primarily Irish, and we get these dark periods."
Unfortunately, this tendency was passed on to his son, who also dealt with divorce and illness before committing suicide in a similar scenario: stabbing himself to death in the shower. Although he and his father were on good terms, he explained his actions in a letter he left behind: "Things aren't so good here. I'm going where it's better." It was another crushing loss for Powell, and strangely enough, the most engaging and funny insights into his character come from what his son said on record, which are included in this book. It gives you a glimpse of who the private man was, which remains somewhat of a mystery to this day. Then again, I suppose Powell wanted it that way.
There are anecdotes here and there that I'm sure I'm the only person who finds hilarious and enjoyable. One is how at the height of his bachelorhood he is scheming for ways to convince his parents to move in with him because he wants to take care of them and be a part of his life. All while running around and partying and dating constantly (he had another apartment for romantic liaisons). But yeah, he loves his parents and eventually convinces them to move in and "work" for him when in actuality he just wants them around. I suppose that actions like this made him even more appealing to the women he spent time with. A man who treats his parents that way can't be a complete shitbag, and that was a rare find in show business.
There are other bits that I found amusing, like how he was pegged as well-dressed, so he started dressing as ridiculously as possible, but people still found him fashionable. At home he preferred to wear swim trunks and a bath towel (he swam daily) or a bathrobe with a rip in the back that his son and third wife couldn't get him to part with. After settling down with wife #3, Diana Lewis, he retired from acting in 1955 and actually stuck to his word. As far as I know, he's the only celebrity who has done so. He enjoyed twenty-seven more years of bliss with Lewis in Palm Springs, getting the happy ending that nice guys richly deserve but don't always get.
Anyway, this was an enjoyable and brisk read. My only regret is that there will never be another William Powell. It seemed like he was a pleasure to know. I'm glad for the work he has left behind and have been enjoying a lot of it this year.
Side Note: It was a task to get a copy of this book. It's hardly in print and the one I purchased was discarded from a library with cracked and warped binding that has proved impossible to fix. But at least it has a permanent home with me now, joining other biographies on my shelf.
April 13, 2018
A good book about a great actor. I just wish that William Powell hadn't retired so early.
July 12, 2022
Admittedly not too in depth but with someone as reclusive as Mr. Powell, I will take whatever I can get!
January 3, 2024
The only biography I could find of this Hollywood icon, but a great read on one of my favorites from Hollywood's Golden Age.
August 14, 2023
Covers the private and professional life of a star
June 15, 2008
"The important thing is the rhythm. Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan you shake to fox-trot time, a Bronx to two-step time, a dry martini you always shake to waltz time." This bio is shaken to fox-trot time, a perfect tempo... mildly gossipy, but witty and swiftly paced. Though Powell doesn't deserve the lurid treatment (his bisexuality is only implied here), I do wish more of his nasty traits and inner turmoil got some excavation.
I should warn readers that this book -- published in the eighties -- doesn't include any of David Stenn's updated research on Jean Harlow's life and death -- though Francisco is still admirably perceptive about their relationship. (And he reproduces that eerie photo of Powell weeping inconsolably at Harlow's funeral, propped up by his own mother and a studio functionary.)
I should warn readers that this book -- published in the eighties -- doesn't include any of David Stenn's updated research on Jean Harlow's life and death -- though Francisco is still admirably perceptive about their relationship. (And he reproduces that eerie photo of Powell weeping inconsolably at Harlow's funeral, propped up by his own mother and a studio functionary.)
May 6, 2014
If you want to read a biography of William Powell, by all means, read this one. If you're just looking for a good biography of somebody, look elsewhere.
Competently written, not a complex analysis of Powell's psyche, and nothing too salacious. The guy was married to Carole Lombard, and was close to marrying Jean Harlow when she died, so there is something to satisfy the inner gossip inside us all, but Powell still comes out looking noble. The author seems to respect Powell so much that he would have discounted anything that painted Powell as less than exemplary.
Competently written, not a complex analysis of Powell's psyche, and nothing too salacious. The guy was married to Carole Lombard, and was close to marrying Jean Harlow when she died, so there is something to satisfy the inner gossip inside us all, but Powell still comes out looking noble. The author seems to respect Powell so much that he would have discounted anything that painted Powell as less than exemplary.
November 30, 2008
Nice to read something about one of my favorite actors but I find the full conservations to be a bit of a stretch. I know that the author interviewed a lot of people who knew him but asking someone to recall a conservation from 50 years ago an using it as fact I do not like.
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