Ruth Roman

With her striking looks, the raven-haired, dark eyed Ruth Roman had an air of sophistication that made her seem sexy yet wholesome. She had to strive harder than most to establish herself as a leading actress in Hollywood during its glory years and finally broke through in 1949 with her role in Champion. As one of the last Warner Bros. contract players, she appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Strangers on a Train. Seen at her best in strong parts, such as the ambitious Ronda Castle in Anthony Mann’s The Far Country or as a modern-day Lady Macbeth, she enjoyed a varied career as a freelancer before re-inventing herself as a character actress of note on television. A remarkable return to the screen in the bizarre psycho-horror The Baby (1973) assured her of cult status. This is the first book dedicated to a committed but often undervalued actress who is fondly remembered by fans of classic film. More than a biography, it seeks to contextualize the actress within her own time, illuminate her Hollywood experience and celebrate her extensive career.

Derek Sculthorpe, an archives assistant and researcher, has written plays, short stories and articles. He lives in Leeds, Yorkshire.

Derek Sculthorpe

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 218
Bibliographic Info: 49 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2022
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8824-4
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4630-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments v
Introduction 1
1. The Carnival on the Beach 5
2. Buffeted on Broadway 14
3. Hope Deferred in Hollywood 20
4. Warner Bros. Contract Star 34
5. Strangers on a Train 50
6. Tomorrow Is Another Day 60
7. “The sexiest girl in town” 76
8. Freelance 87
9. The Box in the Corner 107
10. Disaster at Sea 114
11. Triumph on Tour 130
12. “Did you know Rod La Rocque?” 135
13. Whatever Happened to Ruth Roman? 150
14. The Short Goodbye 163
Epilogue 168
Appendix 171
Chapter Notes 191
Bibliography 203
Index 205