Fay Wray and Robert Riskin: A Hollywood Memoir
A Very Special Autographed Book Giveaway!
I am so pleased to announce a very special giveaway this month! Plus a Blogathon and an Exclusive Interview too! But more about those later…
CMH will be giving away TEN AUTOGRAPHED COPIES of Fay Wray and Robert Riskin: A Hollywood Memoir by Fay and Robert’s daughter, Victoria Riskin, courtesy of Pantheon Books. We’ll also be giving away TWO MORE AUTOGRAPHED COPIES via a Facebook/Blog version of the contest too (feel free to enter both contests!).
Before we start the contest, I just want to say that I found this memoir to be absolutely fascinating… a dual biography, lovingly and honestly written. Not only does author/daughter Victoria Riskin expertly weave together the story of her parent’s lives — both separately and together — she also provides the backstories, behind-the-scenes anecdotes and overall historical context that adds insight for us fans, and makes for a rich and entertaining reading experience.
That all said, please feel free to enter both contests (this one and our Facebook/Blog version) — and please check back on this blog for our Fay Wray and Riskin Blogathon on March 2nd and 3rd, co-hosted by Classic Movie Hub and Once Upon a Screen. The Blogathon will feature blog posts about Wray and Riskin, by veteran and emerging classic movie bloggers – and it’s sure to be a treat 🙂
AND, last but certainly not least, I had the honor of interviewing Victoria Riskin about her book — you can watch the video here.
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A Hollywood memoir and love story, written by Fay and Robert’s daughter, Victoria. A dual biography with over 200 photographs, many of which have never been seen before.
In order to qualify to win one of these prizes via this contest giveaway, you must complete the below entry task by Saturday, March 30 at 9PM EST. However, the sooner you enter, the better chance you have of winning, because we will pick winners on five different days within the contest period, via random drawings, as listed below… So if you don’t win the first week that you enter, you will still be eligible to win during the following weeks until the contest is over.
- Mar 2: Two Winners
- Mar 9: Two Winners
- Mar 16: Two Winners
- Mar 23: Two Winners
- Mar 30: Two Winners
We will announce each week’s winner on Twitter @ClassicMovieHub, the day after each winner is picked at 9PM EST — for example, we will announce our first week’s winner on Sunday Mar 3 at 9PM EST on Twitter. And, please note that you don’t have to have a Twitter account to enter; just see below for the details…
If you’re also on Facebook, please feel free to visit us at Classic Movie Hub on Facebook for additional giveaways (or check back on this Blog in a few days) — because we’ll be giving away TWO MORE copies via Facebook/Blog as well!
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And now on to the contest!
ENTRY TASK (2-parts) to be completed by Saturday, March 30 at 9PM EST — BUT remember, the sooner you enter, the more chances you have to win…
1) Answer the below question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog post
2) Then TWEET (not DM) the following message*:
Just entered to win the “Fay Wray and Robert Riskin: A Hollywood Memoir” #BookGiveaway courtesy of @PantheonBooks author @VRiskin & @ClassicMovieHub #CMHContest link: http://ow.ly/aAD730nOLhL
THE QUESTION:
What are some of your favorite Fay Wray and/or Robert Riskin movies and why?
*If you do not have a Twitter account, you can still enter the contest by simply answering the above question via the comment section at the bottom of this blog — BUT PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU ADD THIS VERBIAGE TO YOUR ANSWER: I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
NOTE: if for any reason you encounter a problem commenting here on this blog, please feel free to tweet or DM us, or send an email to clas…@gmail.com and we will be happy to create the entry for you.
ALSO: Please allow us 48 hours to approve your comments. Sorry about that, but we are being overwhelmed with spam, and must sort through 100s of comments…
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Fay proposed, Bob accepted, and they married on August 23, 1942. (photo courtesy of Victoria Riskin)
About the Book: King Kong elevated Fay Wray to the tip of the Empire State Building and the heights of cinematic immortality; she starred in more than one hundred and twenty pictures, with such co-stars as Gary Cooper, Spencer Tracy and William Powell. Robert Riskin, Wray’s husband, was one of Hollywood’s seminal screenwriters, originator of the “screwball comedy” and the true populist voice of the “little guy” that gave the movies he did with Frank Capra the “Capra touch”; Riskin’s sophisticated stage plays and screen comedies of Hollywood’s classic era became famous for their blend of humor and romance, wisecracking and idealism. Winner of the Academy Award for It Happened One Night and nominated for four other Oscars, Riskin was a producer and longtime collaborator with Capra on such pictures as The Miracle Woman, Platinum Blonde, American Madness, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Lost Horizon, You Can’t Take It with You, and Meet John Doe. Their daughter, Victoria Riskin, a former president of the Writers Guild of America West, tells the story of their lives, their work, their Hollywood, and their fairy-tale marriage.
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Click here for the full contest rules.
Please note that only Continental United States (excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and the territory of Puerto Rico) entrants are eligible.
And — BlogHub members ARE eligible to win if they live within the Continental United States (as noted above).
Good Luck!
And if you can’t wait to win the book, you can purchase the on amazon by clicking here:
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–Annmarie Gatti for Classic Movie Hub
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Robert Riskin wrote the screenplay to the Frank Capra movie PLATINUM BLONDE–a top Capra movie on my list. Fay Wray was phenomenal as Ann Darrow in KING KONG, a very memorable movie role for the ages.
Love Robert Riskin’s original “Lady For A Day” (1933). It had all the heart and laughter that his remake “Pocketful of Miracles” (1961) with Bette Davis didn’t have. Also, “Meet John Doe” (1941), Maybe he should have jumped though.
As for Fay Wray. the only film of hers I ever saw was 1933’s “King Kong” which of course is a film for everyone and for all time.
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
I saw a review of this book in the MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL this morning and am delighted to have this opportunity to win a copy of the book.,
As a child, King Kong started my love for monster movies. Always a classic. With Robert Riskin’s screenplays, it’s a toss-up, but I’ll pick Meet John Doe, which always touched me.
“some of your favorite..” Uh – oh. After I cite the obvious Wray title, one of my earliest Criterion LD (!) buys, I’ve got nowhere else to go! But that’s enough of a hook to be curious for more; set me up for some learnin’. Thanks for offering the chance.
Riskin is my favorite Hollywood writer. I love many of his films, mostly the ones with Capra but also some like “Magic Town.” For Fay Wray I like “One Sunday Afternoon” and “The Richest Girl on the World.”
hope i win!
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I am a big fan of both Fay Wray and Robert Riskin’s work in Classic Film!
I love the genre that includes Dr. X, Mystery of the Wax Museum, The Vampire Bat.
I also love The most dangerous game, murder in Greenwich Village and of course King Kong among many other too numerous to type!
Robert Riskin’s work on It Happened One Night is enough to define a career…add to that The Lost Horizon, The Thin Man goes home, Meet John Doe and Pocketful of Miracles and there is a HALL OF FAMER!!!!
I can’t wait to read this book!!!
I love Riskin’s scripts, especially LOST HORIZON, MEET JOHN DOE, and YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU. Enjoyed seeing Fay Wray in the Perry Mason & Hitchcock TV series.
Okay, here we go:
My favourite Fay Wray film – and this is going to come as NO surprise to anyone – is King Kong. I mean, come on, it was a film that had a hand in changing cinema forever. It’s incredible the things it pulled off and achieved in 1933. Audiences had never seen anything like it before and I envy everyone who got to see it during its initial release. Can you imagine what their reactions must have been?? Outstanding.
My favourite Robert Riskin films have got to be It Happened One Night (because, DUH!), Lady For A Day, Mr Deeds Goes to Town, Meet John Doe, Platinum Blonde, and Ex-Lady. That’s quite the handful, isn’t it? It’s hard to choose because it seemed as if Riskin had a hand in so many great Hollywood classics!
At an Oscar party the other night, we were asked to list our top 5 romantic movies. Lots of young people were around, I’m 74, and I was hesitant to list old movies I love that aren’t A Star is Born or something filled with Queen songs, but I announced my top 2: It Happened One Night and King Kong. Loud applause from ALL! How I would love to read this book about this talented and creative couple who made my faves! Hoping to win.
Thanks.
For Fay Wray Dr X sticks with me because of the color process used. It was the first time I saw her in color. She had such a beautiful complexion. I enjoyed her acting with Claude Rains in The Clairvoyant. She had an innocence that was frightening. You were drawn to her. Fay Wray had quiet dignity in The Richest Girl in the World.
I was introduced to Robert Riskin since I am a fan of Frank Capra world. The Miracle Worker was so compelling. Lady for a Fay and You Can’t Take it With You were charming and sentimental. Capra/Riskin works pitted the individual against society. This combo of films is watchable & enduring
What are some of your favorite Fay Wray and/or Robert Riskin movies and why? Loved KING KONG -Classic special effects and Fay Wray’s scream!!
It Happened One Night -Fantastic coupling of Claudette Colbert & Clark Gable
You Can’t Take It with You -Crazy fun with a crazy family!
Hi Joe, I can’t seem to find your tweet. Could you please confirm that you tweeted, or just let me know if you don’t have a twitter account, or if it’s a private one. Thanks so much 🙂
[pinned tweet] = https://twitter.com/garyorjoe
thank you 🙂
Love her in King Kong. Who doesn’t like, a love story from old hollywood. I don’t have twitter.
Thanks so much for entering and Good Luck 🙂
I love Fay Wray in anything, especially KING KONG with DOCTOR X as a runner-up because she looks so extraordinary in Technicolor. I’ve always been partial to Robert Riskin’s script for MISTER 880, a fun 1950 comedy starring Burt Lancaster and Edmund Gwenn as an aging counterfeiter.
I have such wonderful memories of Fay Wray. King Kong is one of my mom’s favorite films and I remember her and I watching it almost monthly when I was younger! It instilled in me a love for classic films and from there, I discovered Doctor X and The Most Dangerous Game. I’ve been a fan of Fay ever since! I was only vaguely aware of Robert Riskin and I have to admit that I still don’t know that much about him (which is why I’m entering this amazing giveaway; the excitement of being able to learn about this talented man is beyond!) My favorite works of his are It Happened One Night, Platinum Blonde and You Can’t Take it With You because they’re just the epitome of classic 1930’s films. Fay Wray and Robert Riskin are definitely Hollywood royalty and to get the chance to learn about them from their daughter would be just simply wonderful!
Fay Wray is great in everything I have seen of hers – I’ve especially enjoyed King Kong, Doctor X, Most dangerous game, Mystery at the wax museum, and Wild horse stampede, which I can proudly say I’ve seen on the big screen.
Favorite Robert Riskin movie would be Lost horizon.
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WOW! I would love to read this book! I had wanted to attend Capitalfest the year Fay Wray was to be highlighted but the stars did not align for that to happen. Victoria Riskin is coming to Austin for a screening of MEET JOHN DOE ( thought-provoking screenplay by her father) & KING KONG (her mother’s seminal role) and I will already be in Los Angeles for TCMFF…I’m hoping there will be something at the festival…Larry Edmunds Bookshop… I think my favorite Robert Riskin film is IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT which he wrote the screenplay. My favorite Fay Wray film is MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM. Both classics! Both films you can see many times and find something new to admire about them. IHON has great witty dialogue. One cannot resist Gable. Surprisingly Colbert & Gable have great chemistry together. MOTWM in two strip Technicolor with the Scream Queen is a deadly great combination + Michael Curtiz direction…Both should be essential viewing!
My favorite Fay Wray film has to be the classic King Kong. It is also the best version amongst the remakes.
I adore Fay Wray. The Four Feathers, The Unholy Garden, The Wedding March, her run of classic pre-code horrors are just the titles that jump to mind right now, but I love her in everything I’ve seen her in. Robert Riskin wrote the screenplay for Lost Horizon, one of my desert island films.
I do not have a Twitter account, so I am posting here to enter but cannot tweet the message.
Thanks so much for entering and Good Luck 🙂
For my favorite Riskin film I’d pick It Happened One Night, a true classic. My Favorite Fay Wray film is her star turn in King Kong, one of the greatest of all time. Thanks!
For Fay Wray it is KING KONG and MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM, because they are both horror classics — great stories, well produced. I have a feeling that if I get a chance to see THE VAMPIRE BAT, it will be another favorite.
For Riskin, I have to go with LADY FOR A DAY. Not only is it great movie; it also inspired two excellent remakes — POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES and MR. CANTON AND LADY ROSE.
“What are some of your favorite Fay Wray and/or Robert Riskin movies and why?”
Lost Horizon is one of my favorites. I love the exotic setting of Shangri-La and how it is evoked by the film makers.
Another of my favorites is The Whole Town’s Talking, where Edward G Robinson gives a great dual performance.
It’s cliche but my favorite Fay Wray movie is King Kong. My son is four and absolutely adores it. King Kong was his first black and white movie and its introduced such a broad world to him that I could not have accomplished without the film (Wray is “super pretty”).
Riskin was talented and involved in some of the greatest movies ever made. My favorite (again, cliche) is It Happened One Night. Colbert and Gable were screen gold and Riskin made it happen. I also love Platinum Blonde, Meet John Doe, and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.
My favorite Robert Riskin films would be IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, romantic and a little cheeky, AMERICAN MADNESS, and ILLICIT. My favorite Fay Wray films are of course KING KONG, where she makes the big ape believable, and THE WEDDING MARCH, such a sad but romantic film. The Youtube clip above is saying unavailable.
I have seen most of Riskin’s films, and nearly all of Ray’s. I don’t really have a favorite.
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I’d love to win!!!!!
King Kong is my Favorite with Fay!
The Best Ann Darrow in my honest opinion.
Later I Loved The Wax Museum Movie she was in ,and lastly
Tammy and the Bachelor with Debbie Reynolds. She played Leslie Nielson’s Mom.
She played a good part.
Fay Wray – Definitely can’t beat King Kong, but also love her in most of the films of that time, Doctor X, Mystery of the Wax Museum, The Vampire Bat, and who can forget The Dangerous Game, a highly underrated movie that most people know the general premise of but don’t remember the movie or short story that premise is from.
Robert Riskin – We all know his classic works, but I can’t help it that my favorite thing he wrote was Thin Man Goes Home.
I love Fay Wray and most of Mr. Riskin’s movies (I am horrible with director’s names) and, honestly, know very little about him. I would love to know more, especially coming from their daughter
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My favorite Fay Wray movies are The Most Dangerous Game; King Kong; Doctor X; and The Mystery of the Wax Museum. For Robert Riskin, they are It Happened One Night; Meet John Doe; and Lost Horizon.
great actress!
Canadian born Fay Ray to this day thrills us with King King but most people forget her role as another Canadians mother Mrs Brent in Tammy and the Bachelor. Although not a starring role she was memorable none the less and a nice change from those B horror movies. Both these films made me feel a range of emotions and that is when I know I’ve just seen a great movie.
Robert Riskin wrote so many great screenplays especially working with Frank Capra that you could choose any and leave wonderful comments but the one I’ve seen so many times I’ve lost count is one he collaborated with Sydney Buchman. Lost Horizon was a view of what we all wish the world could be like. Written at a time when fascism and hate we’re spreading it was a wonderful alternative from reality. I fell in love with Jane Wyman and Ron Coleman and the story of the films travels from 1935 to today which could be a good movie as well. This was one power couple.
Just saw THUNDERSTRUCK at the Film Forum NYC, very good noir with Fay Wray. Highly recommended!!
I mean THUNDERBOLT -doh!!