{"product_id":"james-mason-2","title":"James Mason","description":"\u003cp\u003eJames Mason (1909–1984) was born to be an actor. He just didn’t know it. A Cambridge graduate with a degree in architecture, he arrived in London at a time when nothing was being built. With few prospects, he turned to the stage, where his modest experience proved enough to land him a spot in repertory theater. Those early performances led to film roles in which he was initially deemed \"adequate\" before finding his niche as a brooding, sophisticated villain—an identity that made him a star in British cinema.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the height of his fame and spurred on by his Hollywood-obsessed wife, Pamela, Mason made the leap to California. There, he built a successful career in films that are now deemed classics, like \u003ci\u003eA Star Is Born\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eLolita\u003c\/i\u003e, while attempting to enjoy the trappings of Hollywood life—lavish parties, late nights on the town, and high-profile friendships. But in spite of a beloved collection of cats, whimsically captured in his own sketches in this volume, his sumptuous Beverly Hills house never truly felt like home. Surprising everyone—including Pamela—after \u003ci\u003eLolita\u003c\/i\u003e’s New York premiere, Mason abruptly boarded a one-way flight to Switzerland, where he would spend the rest of his life, often travelling with his second wife to remote movie locations around the world, and settling happily into the role of character actor.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eJames Mason: The Movie Star Hollywood Forgot\u003c\/i\u003e explores the complexities of Mason’s life and career—a reluctant star whose refined demeanor and enigmatic choices made him one of cinema’s most intriguing figures. From British popularity to Hollywood prestige, from exile to final triumph, his story is one of artistry, reinvention, and quiet rebellion.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"University Press of Mississippi","offers":[{"title":"Default Product","offer_id":57258892886360,"sku":"9781496858641","price":34.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/james-mason-2","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}