Thank you. I feel as though you have protected Dean's narrative. I am researching Dean and am continually frustrated by all the lies about his life and relationships, and disappointed that so many would so easily repeat, spread, and create those fabrications. On the chance that you see this comment, what are your thoughts on the book James Dean: Little Boy Lost? I know you discredit the quote from Sax, but how about the rest of the book?
The biggest challenge in writing my book was trying to root out all of the lies, misrepresentations, and hoaxes. I don't discredit Arlene Sax so much as believe that she mixed some true memories with stories that she took from elsewhere and may have come to believe were true. In terms of "James Dean: Little Boy Lost," I think that Joe Hyams was generally a truthful writer who did not make things up. (I thought he made up, for example, his story about Dean getting a second draft exemption in 1955, but I got out the records, found an earlier author's mistake, and discovered it was surprisingly true!) But he was indiscriminate in reporting what people told him, with little interest in whether it was true, and he had a bad habit of mixing sources together without identifying them, making it hard to evaluate some of his stories.
What's the title of your book? I haven't come across it but I'd like to read it, I've really appreciated a lot of your articles. Thank you for clarifying about Joe Hyams' book, I figured he was trustworthy but didn't want to use the book if it conflicted with your research and knowledge.
The book isn't out yet. It's scheduled to be published later this year. (The publisher hasn't finalized the title just yet.) As for the Hyams book--the most controversial part is the claim about DeWeerd abusing Dean. That has to be treated carefully because to the best of my analysis, that is a case where Hyams interpolated material from a different source (I believe it likely to be Elizabeth Taylor) into a previously written section he first published in 1956 about DeWeerd's mentorship of Dean, creating the false impression that DeWeerd had "confessed" to Hyams.
I understand. I've always been cautious about anything about DeWeerd because I suspect that most people's statements on the matter are influenced by either their homophobia or as part of the desire to enshrine Dean as a bi or gay idol. I'll look out for that part in the book.
A picture is worth a thousand words and the old picture in the story shows Dean as a sub to Brando and very openly too by the fact that others are nearby in the photo.
Genuinely, thank you so much for writing this. It's extremely frustrating reading such blatant fetishization of queer men in Hollywood. The lies about James Dean's life just never seem to stop, and I've always struggled to voice how wrong a lot of it is, and how in reality we really should just leave the poor dude alone.
Thank you. I feel as though you have protected Dean's narrative. I am researching Dean and am continually frustrated by all the lies about his life and relationships, and disappointed that so many would so easily repeat, spread, and create those fabrications. On the chance that you see this comment, what are your thoughts on the book James Dean: Little Boy Lost? I know you discredit the quote from Sax, but how about the rest of the book?
The biggest challenge in writing my book was trying to root out all of the lies, misrepresentations, and hoaxes. I don't discredit Arlene Sax so much as believe that she mixed some true memories with stories that she took from elsewhere and may have come to believe were true. In terms of "James Dean: Little Boy Lost," I think that Joe Hyams was generally a truthful writer who did not make things up. (I thought he made up, for example, his story about Dean getting a second draft exemption in 1955, but I got out the records, found an earlier author's mistake, and discovered it was surprisingly true!) But he was indiscriminate in reporting what people told him, with little interest in whether it was true, and he had a bad habit of mixing sources together without identifying them, making it hard to evaluate some of his stories.
What's the title of your book? I haven't come across it but I'd like to read it, I've really appreciated a lot of your articles. Thank you for clarifying about Joe Hyams' book, I figured he was trustworthy but didn't want to use the book if it conflicted with your research and knowledge.
The book isn't out yet. It's scheduled to be published later this year. (The publisher hasn't finalized the title just yet.) As for the Hyams book--the most controversial part is the claim about DeWeerd abusing Dean. That has to be treated carefully because to the best of my analysis, that is a case where Hyams interpolated material from a different source (I believe it likely to be Elizabeth Taylor) into a previously written section he first published in 1956 about DeWeerd's mentorship of Dean, creating the false impression that DeWeerd had "confessed" to Hyams.
Ah, I see. I'll be watching for your name, then.
I understand. I've always been cautious about anything about DeWeerd because I suspect that most people's statements on the matter are influenced by either their homophobia or as part of the desire to enshrine Dean as a bi or gay idol. I'll look out for that part in the book.
A picture is worth a thousand words and the old picture in the story shows Dean as a sub to Brando and very openly too by the fact that others are nearby in the photo.
Genuinely, thank you so much for writing this. It's extremely frustrating reading such blatant fetishization of queer men in Hollywood. The lies about James Dean's life just never seem to stop, and I've always struggled to voice how wrong a lot of it is, and how in reality we really should just leave the poor dude alone.
I'm very excited to purchase your book when it comes out!