How I became a fan of Robert Taylor

[Birdy]

Where to start...? I am 40 and a bit now, what means – I wasn't 1 year old yet, when he died.
In the regular German tv programme they don't show many of his movies, almost only „Ivanhoe“ and „Quo vadis“ from time to time, which I was used to watch since my early childhood. But at that time I was more interested in the story or had a crush on other actors. Meanwhile I have noticed, that for almost every movie there exist a German title and German fan-stuff (posters, lobbycards, programmes), what means that the movies must have been shown once in the cinema and later on tv in the 30ies up to the 60ies.
I am a fan of „Gone with the wind“ too and when I tried to find out, what films Vivien Leigh also played in, I became interested to see „Waterloo Bridge“, what fortunately came a few weeks later on tv. That was about 2 years before, I think. I loved that movie and became curious about that handsome leading man... Robert Taylor..... Hmmh, of course the name sounded familiar to me, it's well-known. But what did I know him for? Only afterwards I saw the connection to „Ivanhoe“ and „Quo vadis“. A few months before now I was in the mood to watch „Waterloo Bridge“ again and fortunately found it on youtube in full-version. This was the beginning of my love for Robert Taylor..............
Then came one thing to the other: searching on the internet for more informations, pictures, dvds --- I found this fansite --- started my picture collection --- and became quite addictive, I tell you. Meanwhile I have seen 12 of his movies in a short time and the wishlist is still quite long. But I can't afford to buy more dvds (anyway not all are in European region code) or to pay for the extended cable access to receive TCM... Maybe later.
What do I love him for? Well, at first I can't deny to be a woman, who feels attracted to that man. Only the voice yet. I can't help it.... At second the fact, that he himself didn't much care about his beauty but rather suffered from the attention others payed on it – that makes him even more sympathic to me. I like the gentle, polite and respectful way, how he treated women. I appreciate how he did his job as an actor – without star-affectations, always well-prepared, just a professional (!) - and that he didn't mix up job and personal life.
I still can't understand, why he was so often, too often reduced to his looks and that the critics only reluctantly admitted, that he had acting skills, too. Maybe Shakespeare wasn't exactly his cup of tea, but that doesn't unevitably mean, that one isn't a good actor. Not at all! For me always is a sign of having a good actor infront of me, when one entirely merges with the character he plays and I don't see the private person behind anymore, who plays that role. Robert Taylor is much underrated, already at his lifetime and unfortunately until this very day.
BUT we can change it! For the beginning with keeping this fansite alive and letting the fan-community growing – all over the world!
So, come on, I am interested to learn about how you all became a fan of Robert Taylor.

[mymm]

I'm in my mid-twenties and I got interested in him while watching old movies. I really love old movies, specially those from 30s, 40s.
But what really got me, was when I recently read this article. And I definitely want to learn more about him.

[Dianne]

Birdy:

I frequently check into this site & love your pictures. I have saved &
printed out a number of them, so it isn't only Bryan who appreciates your
picture collection.

I'm fascinated by the fact that someone your age is a fan of a star who has
been dead for nearly your whole life. Film, TV, tape & DVD has
made that possible. I've been a fan since I first saw "Quo Vadis" in an
elegant movie "palace" in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1951 when I
was 12, which makes me a very "old lady" compared to you, but I just retired
from working more than 46 years last year & don't feel like one.

I saw his 1950s & 1960s films in theatres as well as many times later on TV,
saw the 1930s & 1940s films on TV many times, & watched his "Detectives" &
"Death Valley Days" series on TV. I have purchased some of his movies on tape &
taped many more from TV broadcasts over the years, & now have some of these on
DVD as well.

I hope you can soon afford to subscribe to Turner Classic Movies in Germany. I wrote 3
letters (1 in 2006, 1 in 2007 & 1 this year) to TCM requesting that they
honor Robert Taylor as a "star of the month" or a "star for a day" when they
have their annual "Summer Under the Stars" featuring the films of a single
star all day each day of August. I finally received a reply from their
Senior Vice President of Programming in March, indicating they will honor my
request NEXT year sometime.

Linda Alexander's book & fan web site have certainly renewed interest in
this very handsome, talented & misunderstood star.

[Birdy]

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[Birdy]

Thank you so much for posting that lovely article! It seems like if they had a wonderful time together. They also look so great together on the promo-photos for "The Gorgeous Hussy", don't they? My favourite scene in the movie is when there are whispering and kissing in the bed - so cute! By the way: I am still looking for this picture without watermark. It's from the set. http://gi102.photobucket.com/groups/m105/GQF2A0LP4O/untitled7.jpg

mymm said:

I'm in my mid-twenties and I got interested in him while watching old movies. I really love old movies, specially those from 30s, 40s.
But what really got me, was when I recently read this article. And I definitely want to learn more about him.

[Linda Alexander]

Great details on how we've become Robert Taylor followers! I'm in my early 50s & a bit on the too-young side to actually recognize seeing many of his films during their day. Even though he had some out in the '60s, the recognition or association wasn't there.

I do, however, recall seeing Bob on TV in "Death Valley Days" when he took over for Ronald Reagan (I had no idea at the time that was the situation). I remember that "20 mule team" looking so silly running across the bottom of the screen, & this very handsome man coming on. Funny, how our child-like mind compares to what we summon up as an adult.

And to be honest . . . this question has been asked of me many times: Why Robert Taylor? Why write about him? I can only link it back to that recollection. In my child's mind, my dad resembled Bob Taylor & I didn't grow up w/my dad. If I were to pschoanalyze it, I'd have to say that the comparison in my head kept him somewhere in my thoughts 'til it all came together in the idea to write this book.

So "fandom" comes in all flavors & from all sorts of associations. An odd thing, though--as I did more research on Bob Taylor, I found that personality-wise, he was a lot like Bob Alexander . . . my dad. They shared many of the same ideologies & personality quirks. Strange but true.

[mymm]

Here you have it.
I'll look if I may have some more photos that you don't have.

Birdy said:By the way: I am still looking for this picture without watermark.

[Bryan Aherne]

Birdy,
im 44 and remember watching RT movies as a youngster in the 70's. I forgot about him other than knowing he was a great actor, then i saw Above and Beyond again and really enjoyed his acting.
He seemed to be a great man, so i thought id read as much about him as possible.
I really enjoy coming to this site to talk RT

Bryan

[mario63]

Let me go back in time almost 40 years ago. It was the early seventies and I was about six or seven years old, when I first watched a Robert Taylor movie, Quo Vadis. Then here in my country Argentina, there was a TV section every saturday from noon to midnight called "Saturdays of super action" on Chanel 11 of Buenos Aires. I already was a big fan of classic hollywood because I always was around when my father and my older brother watched those wonderful movies of the the golden era. And I remember very clear watching a lot of Robert Taylor movies along with other great stars like Glenn Ford, Tyrone Power, John Wayne, James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, etc. But Bob always was my favorite, because I liked his action characters, specially those in flashy costumes, like Ivanhoe, Knights on the Round Table, Quentin Derward, Valley of the Kings, and also his westerns.
I believe he was a very underrated perfomer, never put in the real measure he deserved at the same level that many of his contemporary pals. Bob was a very good and correct actor, and I guess Hollywood maybe put the blames on him after his testimony against the reds in the industry in 1947.
Because there is no other reasonable reason why he never was put in his right place of a real star.
That´s why is so important this new site about our idol, to remind the people about who he really was, and to teach the new generations of movie fans about one of the REAL expressions of the roots of this classic art. May God Bless Robert Taylor´s memory and his legacy.

[Margaret Gaffney]

I have been a fan of Robert Taylor since see him in Knights of the Round Table from then on all I watched was Robert Taylor movies on television or in the theater. He was in some good movies which he was never recognize for his ability. I have some of them on VHS tapes and looking to get them in the DVD format. Today I got Three Comrades, When Ladies Meet and Quentin Durward from Movies Unlimited which is contected with TCM web site. It will be great to have some of his other movies such as Johnny Eager, All the Brothers were Valiant, Billy the Kid and Party Girl. I also love him in his television series. He did appear in some episodes of Death Valley Days besides being the host role that he took over when Ronald Reagan was running for California governor. I wish that TCM channel would have a month of his movies he made such a wide variety of films in his career which was cut short by his death from cancer. Every June 6 I watch is his movies D-Day the 6 of June and also Above and Beyond which I hoping will be coming out in DVD format.

[Bryan Aherne]

Hi All,
Here in Melbourne Australia, in a shopping mall, i just picked up DVD of Ivanhoe, Knights of the round table, D Day, Waterloo Bridge, and Camille. I will stay in touch with this distributor as he has a lot of other RT movies on DVD.............

[Birdy]

Sounds like having a RT - marathon this weekend,eh? That's great! I hope your wife shares your passion or - at least - understands it.

Bryan Aherne said:

Hi All,
Here in Melbourne Australia, in a shopping mall, i just picked up DVD of Ivanhoe, Knights of the round table, D Day, Waterloo Bridge, and Camille. I will stay in touch with this distributor as he has a lot of other RT movies on DVD.............

[Bryan Aherne]

Birdy,
My wife half understands, she has read Linda and Ursula's books. I will watch the rest of the movies this week........:-)