Roman Times

In the past few years, author Derek Sculthorpe has become the film noir fan's best friend, with his well-researched books on the likes of Edmond O'Brien, Sydney Greenstreet, and Claire Trevor. He scores again with his newest, Ruth Roman: A Career Portrait (McFarland), which shines an overdue spotlight on the talented beauty who graced the likes of The Window (1949), Lightning Strikes Twice (1951), and Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train (1951).

One of the few Golden Age actors who appeared in movies under her real name, Miss Roman originally pursued an acting career in New York City, with little success. In 1943, she relocated to Hollywood with a $100 bankroll. Not exactly an overnight success, she spent much of the next several years stuck in minor roles. But as the 1940s gave way to a new decade, her career was finally on the upswing, with an attention-getting role in Champion (1949). She was signed to a contract by Warner Brothers and given the star buildup. Though her sultry sensuality won her many fans, she fell short of becoming a major star. However, as Sculthorpe's text makes clear, Miss Roman's lengthy career in film and television amply merits a book-length study, and this is a fine one.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Miss Roman increasingly found steadier work in television. A series regular in The Long, Hot Summer (ABC, 1965-66), she also made numerous guest appearances on popular shows of that era. I was unaware of just how many classic series featured her as a guest star. Late in her career, she had recurring roles in Knots Landing and Murder, She Wrote.

Subtitled "A Career Portrait," the book's main emphasis is indeed on the actress' professional life. However, it is substantially enriched by the participation of Hollywood agent Budd Burton Moss, Miss Roman's third husband, still with us in his nineties. He gives a poignant explanation of how their marriage went awry, at a time when she felt he was making great deals for many of his clients, but not her. There's also an intriguing account of her experiences as one of the survivors of the S.S. Andrea Doria's tragic 1956 shipwreck.  

Like many of the best film books, this will leave you wanting to watch more of its subject's work. Film fans will appreciate the care and attention Derek Sculthorpe has given to an underappreciated actress who's well worth rediscovering. 

NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.