Brian Donlevy the Good Bad Guy

<p> Brian Donlevy (1901-1972) was an underrated film actor with surprising range and a little-heralded gift for comedy. Often typecast as a villain he played the definitive bad guy in such films as <I>Destry Rides Again Union Pacific</I> and <I>Beau Geste</I> (all in 1939). He showed his versatility in the title role of Preston Sturges' political satire <I>The Great McGinty</I> (1940) and impressed both New York critics and the Soviet government as the cooly authoritative Major Caton in <I>Wake Island</I> (1942).</p><p> Donlevy was fondly remembered as globe-trotting U.S. Special Agent Steve Mitchell in the television series <I>Dangerous Assignment</I> (1952) and as Professor Quatermass in two acclaimed science fiction films.</p><p> This first ever biography of Donlevy covers his colorful early life as a boy soldier his years playing comedy roles on Broadway and his long career in Hollywood.</p>