The Salad Days: An Autobiography

by Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

This is an autobiography of the crown prince of American cinema, son of the disputed king of the silver screen, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. The relationship of father and son looms large in the book for the book ends in 1940 shortly after Fairbank Senior's death.

431 pages, Hardcover

Published March 1, 1988

About the author

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. is the son of actor Douglas Fairbanks and his first wife Beth. He became an actor during the late silent era and a star of A-budget films starring alongside actors such as Greta Garbo, Edward G. Robinson, Ronald Colman, Katharine Hepburn, Irene Dunne, Ginger Rogers, Cary Grant, Rita Hayworth, and Maureen O'Hara.

Before America's entry in World War II, he joined the United States Navy Reserve and was duly commissioned. He spent four years on active-duty and became a highly-decorated officer with honors for valor and distinguished service from the USA, Britain, and France. Post-war, he resumed his career as a film actor but the momentum he had achieved in the film industry prior to the war did not revive as well as could have been hoped upon his return to Hollywood. He remained active, however, with many film, radio, television, and theatre appearances. He also remained in the US Navy Reserve and retired with the rank of Captain in 1954.

In addition to his acting career and service in the US Navy, he was a patron of the arts and philanthropist.

Three stars are dedicated to him on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one each for his achievements in film, radio, and television. In addition, he was invested an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) and appointed Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France).

Fairbanks Jr. was married to Joan Crawford (divorced in 1933), Mary Lee Eppling (who predeceased him in 1988) with whom he had three daughters, and Vera Shelton.

Reviews

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely written and very thorough. The author pulls you into his life and brings to life the Hollywood years as experience by actors of the 1920's up to the 1940's. I realized there is a sequel though I have not found it as yet and would very much like to read it. Fairbanks probably had a ghost writer but the stories are uniquely his own.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very pleasant and informative and informal memoir. Seems as if written from recall rather than from contemporaneous diaries. Probably a fair amount of errors, as Fairbanks readily admits he doesn't have records or clear memories of various events in his life. A few obvious errors, e.g., he puts the pre-WW II "destroyers for bases" deal with the Brits at 200 aging destroyers rather than the actual 50. OK, he's wrong . . . but where were the editors? As so often the case, asleep at the switch.

Seems like a really nice guy and fairly modest . . . or at least willing to admit when he's not!

Have checked out the follow-up memoir dealing with his WW II experiences.