Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood, and Communism

by Linda Alexander

Reluctant Robert Taylor, Hollywood, & Communism is the exhaustive biography of the life of Golden Era movie star, Robert Taylor. He was called "The Man With The Perfect Profile," and some considered him the most beautiful man to ever grace the movie world. Yet there was more to him, lots more. He was complicated. He saw history--movie history and world history--and he was part of both.

3361 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2008

About the author

Linda Alexander has written since she was a kid. Growing up starry-eyed in the '70s, she began writing about well-known movie and TV stars, and figured out how to work that fascinating detail into biographies and novels. Since the early ‘80s, she's written for magazines, newspapers, and websites. Credits include Soap Opera Update, Spotlight, Baton Rouge Advocate, Washington Times, and an appearance on The Oprah Show.

She has interviewed such TV music and movie personalities as Jim Varney aka Ernest P. Whorrel, Robert Stack, Michael Zaslow from "Guiding Light," Gary Puckett, Lou Christie, Dion, Taylor Hicks, and her teen-aged hearthrob, Michael Cole from the original TV show, "The Mod Squad."

With seven books published—five biographies and two dark, sexy suspense novels—and another few due this year, characters live large in her head 24/7, forever talking to her. She always talks back, and conversations are always entertaining. She’s been a college adjunct faculty member with a popular course, “Getting Into Character: How To Develop Your People.” Writers from beginning to the experienced learn from her how to listen, respond to, and trust the voices in their heads.

She has made her biggest mark with biographies on classic Hollywood stars. On July 4, 2014, I Am Mister Ed: Allan “Rocky” Lane Revealed debuted from publisher, BearManor Media. Lane was a popular B-movie cowboy actor in the ‘40s & ‘50s before becoming the voice of TV’s famous talking horse, Mister Ed. In 2011, BearManor Media brought out A Maverick Life: The Jack Kelly Story. Kelly co-starred in the ‘50s – ‘60s long-running TV western, Maverick. In 2008, there was the life story of Golden Era movie star, Robert Taylor, titled Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood, & Communism. This book is expected to be re-released soon through BearManor Media, this time with photographs.

Coming from a long line of southern women, Linda’s always wanted to live in the south and now calls Alabama home. The countryside on the outskirts of Montgomery is the best of peaceful living with all a city can offer only moments away. She moved from Maryland in late 2013 with her cat, and her husband, who retired from the federal government in Washington, DC. All three of them wanted a more serene, friendly atmosphere. Linda can now genuinely call herself a “southern gal.”

Reviews

[Malcolm Davis]

Having previously read a good boot of Taylor I was intrigued because of the title.However the HUAC hearings were confined to or chapter. Furthermore, far from being reluctant he seemed quite happy to name names.This book is very bland and novels fish.Little criticism is offered of Taylor behaviour and too often the author conjectures a persons feelings.In fact much of this sounds like a fan magazine.

[Karen Young]

As a fan of biographies I was recommended by the author to read this one and I wasn't disappointed. I love all the old Hollywood movies and although Robert Taylor was an actor that I had heard of it was good to get to know him through this book.You felt as if you were there watching what was going on. Highly recommended was fans of the golden age of Hollywood.

[Debra]

In Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood and Communism Linda Alexander has created a verbal family album of a man’s life and passions, loves and triumphs. I now feel as though I knew him, and upon reading of his death, mourned him as I would a friend. No greater accolade can be can be said of a biographer, than the fact that the reader was made to feel as though they were actually present...experiencing each moment in time. Debra Shiveley Welch, author