Description
Volume 3: After the War examines Jeanette MacDonald and Gene Raymond’s lives following World War II, when changes in the entertainment industry affected their careers. Many planned projects never materialized, some of which are described in detail, showing the disappointment that the Raymonds encountered. The strain and frustration they faced in their careers, as well as the continued interference from Gene’s mother, put stress on their marriage. They often were apart, due to their work and Gene’s service in the Air Force Reserve. Additionally, Jeanette had numerous health problems, which led to her untimely death. Although Gene remarried nine years after he was widowed, he never stopped loving Jeanette. He kept her legacy alive by playing an active role in her fan club, taking flowers to her crypt, and promoting her career in TV and print interviews. The third volume addresses some of the erroneous information published in other books, web sites, and blogs, and includes the bibliography for the series. As with the other volumes, it includes some photos from the Raymonds’ collection and utilizes personal letters, private papers, and various drafts of Jeanette’s unpublished autobiography. The cover depicts the Raymonds walking in their gardens, a wistful image reminiscent of the end of Jeanette’s favorite film, Maytime. It shows how happy they were to finally be together after the war, unaware that, in less than twenty years, they would be separated by death.
