The life story of novelist Harold Robbins reads as if it were ripped from the pages of one of his very own bestsellers. An orphan who was raised in foster homes, Robbins became a self-made millionaire, but lost everything by the age of twenty. After working in the warehouse of Universal Pictures, he wrote his first book on a bet. An author was born and that fist novel, Never Love a Stranger, was made into a movie in 1958.
 

That same year, his book A Stone for Danny Fisher was made into the Elvis movie King Creole. More books followed and Robbins' tales of power, greed and betrayal became thinly veiled tell-alls of the scandalous lives of the rich and famous. Though his books were generally despised by the literary elite, there was no denying his popularity with readers worldwide. As they say… sex sells and Hollywood continued to come calling. Producer Joseph E. Levine adapted many of Robbins' trashy tales into equally trashy, big-budget films. Bette Davis, Laurence Olivier, Susan Hayward and Olivia DeHaviland all sunk their acting chops into the juicy roles of a Harold Robbins story. Below are a few recommended film adaptations that are sure to please any Cool Cinema Trash fan.

The Carpetbaggers (1964)
George Peppard plays a Howard Hughes-like aviator and movie mogul.

Where Love Has Gone (1964)
Susan Hayward is part of a scandalous love triangle/murder.

The Adventurers (1970)
A social climbing gigolo becomes part of a South American revolution.

The Betsy (1978)
Olivier hams it up as the patriarch of an automotive empire.

The Lonely Lady (1983)
Pia Zadora will do anything to make it in Hollywood…anything.
Search CCT:
Share CCT:

New & Notable DVD | Cool Cinema Trash

If renting movies is for you, try Netflix. They stock most of the movies CCT recommends.
Netflix, Inc.