What's with the Stan Bashing??? :(

[87sal87]

Over the years, I've noticed that in the media & some people in general, sometimes they have a tendency to try & make Stan out as some kind of nasty, messed up ar*ehole!

Examples I've known:
- Members of The League of Gentlemen called Stan a "wifebeater" in their christmas special commentary, which even though I'm a fan, put me off them for quite awhile. How dare they? lol >.<

- I watched the BBC4 documentary "Stan" which again, made him out to be quite nasty, arrogant & egotistical & even perhaps quite bullying towards Ollie. & Totally uncaring towards the fact that he lost his baby son. That was what made me angry...also them trying to state that Hal Roach had called him "poison"

- I remember my sister saying once that someone had wrote a book about him, basically trashing him, saying all sorts of nasty things. One of them being that he had the actress's on set in tears because he'd "bully" them...

- My Dad said that he'd read in the paper once that had said something along the lines of "I'm only working with that fat oaf for the money!" Obviously meaning Ollie...which again, I found very hard to believe!

So I ask the question...why do people feel the need to do this to Stan? Alright, I'm not saying he was perfect, although I probably do have a biased view through being such a fan, but I personally do not believe a word of any of it.
I usually pride myself on being a good judge of character even if I don't know a person & he just didn't seem the type of person that all those people were/are trying to make out.
Yeah, I can imagine him being abit fiery, but I think that's needed when you're a performer, you need that "edge" but I don't think he was a bad of a person as some people try to make out...

I just think it's a shame that people feel the need to sully people's opinions of much loved comedy genius....

[judgefoozle]

We're all with you Sal, but unless you can understand a situation, it's very diffcult to defend it. Like a car crash, each driver blames the other one, but it's only when the accident is fully understood, that the truth comes out.
So what's to understand? A tremendous amount, I'm afraid.
First, the nature of show business. The objectives of success, fame, wealth etc. are powerful drivers. Chaplin's only complaint about Stan is that he was a better comedian than himself, and a danger.
Roach feared Stan because he saw he was a better writer, director and performer than anyone else on his payroll, and was canny enough to make Stan and Ollie's contracts overlap. so they could not walk out together.
The notorious book by Fred. Guiles is completely discredited. Very little in it is correct or factual, and the vitriol against Stan came mainly from Ruth Rogers, who worked with Guiles on the content.
Most of us have a "tipping point", and Stan was only human, but there are no records of any "wife-beating" - none of his wives even suggested that. Lois always says that her dad was a gentle, mild family man.
As for press reports, well, they are looking for one thing only - shock value. When Andy Wade's "home movie" was leaked, the gutter press homed in on Stan emptying the ashtray on to the floor, as a "litter lout" . Better on the floor than under people's noses, I'd say, particularly when the floor is your own garden, in the open air with the wind blowing.
One thing's for sure, Sal, you won't won't find any Stan-bashing around here, though the electric chair is waiting (somewhere) for his cranky chimney sweeping. The basic truth is, that nobody likes other people's success, and the backstabbing industry of showbiz is probably the worst of the lot. We all know Stan was the best and the most loved, but that doesn't make gripping drama or sensational headlines. As long as WE understand, that's all that matters, really.

[Angus McLaurel]

I too, am biased when it comes to Stan. Yes he was a ladies man and got married quite a few times.

I find it hard to believe that he was in any nasty towards women. If anything, I think it could have been the other way round.

We interviewed Nancy Wardell (one of Stan's remaining relatives in the UK) and asked her what memories she had of him...

"Fun to be with" - "Very mischievous as a child" (who isn't)


I think maybe the people who think up the nasty stuff is just to attract attention to themselves more than anything. And jealousy get you nowhere.


No matter what's written. There's no doubt about the fact that Stan was a comedy genius! - The proof is in the films.

[piedmont]

I Concur Angus, not only that I agree as well.

[87sal87]

Aw, you guys have such a lovely way of putting things. I agreed WHOLEHEARTEDLY with what you both said...

I know Stan was a "ladies man" but most men are really...lol.
& I can imagine with that babyface of his, he could have charmed the birds out of the trees & probably attracted women like a magnet lol.
But I just find that cute...cos I would. lol

& If that was his only fault in life then so be it...that's blo*dy good!

I know none of it is true but because I'm such a fan of them & Stan especially, it hurts when I read & hear stuff like that, that people could even suggest it is horrid to me...

[judgefoozle]

Sadly, part of human nature is to be the winner, and scoring points over the other guy is part of the deal. I admire Stan for surviving Hollywood with such a "clean" reputation, unlike Chaplin, who nobody seemed to like as a person.
As for the women, well he has all the admiration of us blokes. What was it, four wives plus Mae, and two mistresses - (Alice Ardell and another one I can't remember. What a swordsman! No wonder the other guys were jealous! Probably the root of all the dodgy comments, if truth were known.

[Angus McLaurel]

I still get confused as to how many wives and women Stan had had & I've read his biography twice!

It must've been his good humour and personality that did the trick. Fair play to him I say. Any fellow would probably do the same in his shoes. (with or without meat as tough as shoe leather!)

[87sal87]

Well, I know I would have certainly been interested in him if I was around at the time so I can see the attraction lol

The only thing I don't get is why most of the time he seemed to be hooked up with a "bunny boiler"...i.e Mae sounded dreadful & so did the russian lady...
He attracted the fiesty ones didn't he? lol

[Angus McLaurel]

Jan 24, 2010 21:38:44 GMT 87sal87 said:

He attracted the fiesty ones didn't he? lol

He certainly did!