The golden guys of MGM : privilege, power and pain

Mischievous misfits, indiscriminate lovers, closet homosexuals, spoiled scoundrels and handsome legends: The Golden Guys of MGM uncovers the real lives of America's royalty during its heyday.

Clark Gable, John Gilbert, Val Johnson, Mickey Rooney, Frank Sinatra and Spencer Tracy were the most admired and beloved actors in the history of Hollywood.

Under the watchful eye of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer potentate Louis B Mayer they were pampered and protected, moulded and sculptured, glamorised and perfected.

There were no secrets at MGM - who was sleeping with whom was well known to all.

Spencer Tracy, John Barrymore and Robert Walker were dedicated alcoholics; Tracy, a married Catholic, had affairs with most of his leading ladies; Clark Gable had too many love affairs to mention, declaring he had 'had every one' of the MGM girls; while Sinatra romanced Lana Turner, Marilyn Maxwell, Marlene Dietrich and Ava Gardner while he was married.

The Golden Guys of MGM tells the fascinating inside story of these dazzling silver-screen legends.