Criticism
Film historian Kevin Brownlow has repeatedly criticized the book, citing Anger as saying his research method was, "Mental telepathy, mostly." Many of Anger's claims have been called into question and debated since the book's initial publication. The book also featured graphic images, such as the scene of the traffic accident which killed Jayne Mansfield, and a shot of Lewis Stone lying dead in his driveway right after he had his fatal heart attack.
The book has been responsible for several urban legends, mostly about the silent film stars it covered. The book is responsible for the rumor that Clara Bow had slept with the entire USC football team which has been debunked countless times. Bow's sons considered suing Anger at the time of the second release.
Hollywood Babylon has also been the source of the rumor about a sexual relationship between Ramon Novarro and Rudolph Valentino. Although Novarro was gay, there has never been any proof that Novarro and Valentino were anything more than acquaintances. In a 1962 interview, Novarro stated that he met Valentino "only once". Anger also wrote that Novarro had died with an Art Deco dildo, an alleged gift from Valentino, shoved down his throat. No such gift existed, and no such object was found at the crime scene.
Read more about this topic: Hollywood Babylon
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