The premise of What If They Lived? is pretty straightforward. Authors Phil Hall and Rory Leighton Aronsky profile 48 film stars who died prematurely, and speculate on their careers had they lived. This is a game anyone can play — indeed many of us probably have. For one thing, there is no wrong answer as to what Heath Ledger or James Dean might have accomplished had they lived past 30. For another, it is something of a dark pleasure to think of what might have been.
What sets the book apart from the purely speculative about these stars’ pre-empted lives are the detailed biographies of each. The 48 entries are broken down into a simple format. There is an introductory piece as to the overall impact the actor or actress had on Hollywood, then a discussion of their life and career, followed by the big question “What if they lived?”
The book is presented in chronological order, thus we begin with Robert Harron (April 12, 1893 - September 5, 1920). Harron’s most famous role was in D.W. Griffith’s landmark The Birth Of A Nation (1916). The final entry is Natasha Richardson (May 11, 1963 - March 18, 2009). Richardson is probably best remembered for her role in the Lindsey Lohan remake of The Parent Trap (1998).
As far as notable films go however, Heath Ledger’s Academy award winning performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008) is the latest entry in the book. There is quite a gulf between the silent Birth Of A Nation and The Dark Knight, and What If They Lived? tells the story of the intervening years through the abbreviated lives of some of Hollywood’s finest performers.
Some of the more intriguing stories are those of Lon Chaney, Ernie Kovacs, and Leslie Howard. All three men died tragically — and while their careers were in full bloom. Chaney was cut down by throat cancer in 1930, Howard is believed to have been shot down by German fighter planes in 1943. Kovacs was senselessly lost in an auto accident following a party at Milton Berle’s house in 1962.
Article comments
1 - jesse
What a lazy idea for a book. So many good people out there are trying to get REAL books published and THIS is what gets published? Riding on the coattails of famous people is what they are doing. There is no "writing" involved. Who cares what roles they may have taken? Really? Do you think THAT's what matters in life? Mr Ledger is missing life, his baby daughter was 2, she is now 5. He missed all of that. His parents miss their son, his sisters miss their brother, his friends/co workers miss him. THAT is what "could have been" and what is important, not some movie role he may have or have not taken. I miss Heath, not his acting.