Lauded by his peers Van Heflin won a place in the hearts of cinemagoers with his portrayal of a resolute homesteader in George Stevens timeless classic Shane. But there was far more to this superlative actor than one role. He impressed in all genres and could convincingly portray every kind of character from a heel to a hero and each shade in between. This first fulllength work about him provides a full commentary of all his films with insights into his life as a sailor and his stage career. The aim is to restore him to his rightful place among the gallery of stars of Hollywoods Golden Age to whose luster he added a stage craftsmans unique talent. He first caught the public attention as the sensitive drinkaddicted friend of gangster Johnny Eager for which he won the Academy Award and contributed notable performances in a string of terrific noirs dramas and westerns. He was especially memorable as the psychotic cop in Joseph Loseys masterpiece The Prowler but equally at home as the doubtful executive in Negulescos smart satire Womans World. A restless spirit whose heart never left the sea he learned early on about life and human motivations sailing the oceans of the world this undoubtedly informed his natural acting instinct. A versatile risktaking actor he was never concerned with popularity or comfortable with the trappings of stardom. However he brought to every role a rare emotional intensity which made all his portrayals real and ensured they should live for all time.show more