LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2011 — A new biography of Ronald Reagan is the first to focus exclusively on the relationship between his experiences as an actor and his success as a politician. Written for a general audience, RONALD REAGAN'S ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE: HOW HOLLYWOOD PREPARED AMERICA'S 40TH PRESIDENT FOR THE WORLD STAGE is a fun look at Reagan's movie career – and contains over 100 photos, including some from the Reagan family collection. John Shaffner, Chairman of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, has called it a "great book."
Film producer J. Herbert Klein has long wanted to write about Reagan, his superior officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps First Motion Picture Unit. "I owe my career in the movie business to Ronald Reagan," Klein recently remarked. "He gave me a chance to learn the ropes, and put me in charge of a critical project." During WWII, Klein and over a thousand enlistees worked at the Army base in Culver City, California, creating films to educate, train, and inspire the troops – efforts instrumental in the Allies' victory.
Last year, Klein decided he was ready to tell Reagan's Hollywood story – and began to work with co-writer Melanie Villines on the book. Together, they completed RONALD REAGAN'S ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE in time for the former president's 100th birthday on February 6, 2011.
RONALD REAGAN'S ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE takes a behind-the-scenes look at Reagan's movie career – from his 1937 debut as a crime-fighting reporter in LOVE IS ON THE AIR to his 1957 appearance as a commander in HELLCATS OF THE NAVY. During this 20-year period, Reagan worked with the biggest stars in the business and delivered Oscar-worthy performances as George "The Gipper" Gipp in KNUTE ROCKNE: ALL AMERICAN and Drake McHugh in KINGS ROW.
Based on extensive research into original film production files as well as interviews with virtually all living stars who worked with Reagan, RONALD REAGAN'S ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE offers a unique perspective on The Great Communicator's movie career and reveals how his experiences in Hollywood prepared him for the world stage as president of the United States.
RONALD REAGAN'S ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE is available on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Ronald-Reagans-Road-White-House/dp/0983028060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296146261&sr=8-1
CONTACT:
Julie Johnson, International Film Arts
Email: Email
Phone: 310-894-3773; Website: http://www.internationalfilmarts.com
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