Book Review: Chester Morris: His Life and Career

Scott Allen Nollen, one of the foremost film historians in the literary world, now benefits from the assistance of his wife Yuyun Yuningsih Nollen on his film study projects. Their latest book covers the life and work of Chester Norris, one of the truly great actors of the sound era.

I didn't realize that Morris had done some work during the silent era, albeit in small roles, but the Nollens' book covers this period, along with his theatrical work that had not benefited from much coverage up to now. We are also offered a lot of fascinating info about the actor's early life and family, which further helps us understand him as an artist. I was particularly interested in his recognizable actor brother Adrian Morris, who is in a lot in 30s films, but sadly died young.

Chester Morris' career really takes off with his work in "The Divorcee," and truly lights up the in the classic early talkie "The Big House," which gets ample coverage. The Nollens provide the reader with a great deal of historical substance to the period in cinema, and in America, where a movie like "The Big House" could not only be produced, but also achieve mainstream popularity. Its uncompromising brutality still resonates in the 21st century, and Morris commands a film that also features Robert Montgomery and Wallace Beery.

From this point, Morris' career builds and expands, with the actor taking on roles in westerns, melodramas, and lighter fare, each time offering a performance that is the axis of each movie. There are highlights, such as the brutal "Red-Headed Woman" opposite Jean Harlow, and the original "Three Godfathers," later remade by John Ford (and itself a remake of a silent version). With each of Morris' films, the Nollens give a great deal of info on the conception, production, the audience reaction, and how well the film holds up today.

As the 1930s concluded, Chester Morris found a regular gig at Columbia Pictures playing Boston Blackie in a series of lighthearted detective mysteries. Fun, and appealing, the series allowed Morris to tap into his innate skill for comedy, as his affable manner sustained each production, even as the budgets tightened considerably. The Blackie series continued until the end of the 1940s, during which Morris also continued to take roles in other movies.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Morris spent more time working in television, but continued appearing in movies, including "The Great White Hope" (1970) made the year he died. Many studies claim that Morris committed suicide but this book explains that he contracted stomach cancer and died of an accidental overdose of pain killers. He had powered through the disease and continued acting, even joking to fellow actors in a stage production that he suffered from a "stomach thing," as if it were a simple virus.

The best film books are about those whose work we appreciate, but unfortunately little has been written about them. This makes "Chester Morris: His Life and Career" a quintessential addition to any library, research center, or film buff's collection that attempts to be at all comprehensive. The book is thorough, accurate, and enjoyable to read.

This McFarland publication is available for purchase at this link: Chester Morris