Michael Douglas memoir: five calls to five women the day he chose Catherine Zeta-Jones
Michael Douglas's memoir "One Helluva Ride", released Tuesday, describes ending relationships with five women in one day after Catherine Zeta-Jones asked for monogamy. A Deadline excerpt from the same book covers his casting as Gordon Gekko in "Wall Street".
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1Michael Douglas's memoir "One Helluva Ride" says Douglas phoned five women in one day to end their relationships after Catherine Zeta-Jones told Douglas that being with her meant not dating other people. Fox NewsR “That day, Douglas wrote, he made five phone calls to five women he was seeing who lived in different cities.”“"I'm not interested in dating you if you're dating other people," she told him.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1According to Fox News's account of the book, Douglas wrote that the women were seen "just after my marriage" ended, that they knew Douglas was separated and heading for divorce, and that Douglas chose cities so each lived somewhere different, which "felt like a respectful way to be nonmonogamous". Douglas wrote that "they all took it well". Fox NewsR “I made sure they all lived in different cities, which felt like a respectful way to be nonmonogamous.”“According to Douglas, "they all took it well."” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1The book recounts that Douglas became interested in Zeta-Jones after seeing her in "The Mask of Zorro" (1998) and reading an interview in which she said she liked older men. At the Deauville Film Festival in France, Douglas told her, "I'm going to be the father of your children." Douglas is 25 years older than Zeta-Jones. Fox NewsR “Douglas first fell head over heels for Zeta-Jones when she caught his eye in the 1998 movie "The Mask of Zorro."”“Douglas blurted out, "I'm going to be the father of your children."” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1The couple married in 2000 and have two children, Dylan (born 2000) and Carys (born 2003). Fox News reports they split their time between New York, Mallorca and Santa Barbara. Fox NewsR “The couple married in 2000. They welcomed their son, Dylan, that year, followed by their daughter, Carys, in 2003.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1The memoir also covers a 2013 separation, when the couple took time apart after a run of challenges including Douglas's 2010 cancer diagnosis, a son's imprisonment on drug charges and a legal dispute with Douglas's ex-wife Diandra Luker. They reconciled in 2014 and recently marked their 25th wedding anniversary. Fox NewsR “We decided to take some time apart.”“The couple reconciled in 2014.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Douglas told Fox News Digital that the lesson for a lasting marriage is to make a partner feel as special 25 years later as on the first day of wooing, adding that it takes "mutual respect and a good sense of humor". Fox NewsR “Make her feel as special 25 years later as the first day you started wooing her.” Read at Fox News ↗
Centre · 1The book was written by Douglas, Shane Salerno and Deadline's Mike Fleming Jr., and was released Tuesday by Grand Central Publishing. Deadline says details of Douglas's personal life have dominated headlines this week. DeadlineN “Written by Douglas, Shane Salerno and me, the memoir One Helluva Ride was released Tuesday by Grand Central Publishing.”“Details revealed by Douglas about his colorful personal life have dominated headlines this week” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1Deadline instead ran an exclusive excerpt on "Wall Street": in the book Douglas says the studio wanted Warren Beatty for Gordon Gekko, then offered the role to Richard Gere, who turned it down, before Oliver Stone cast Douglas despite Fox executives' doubts that Douglas could play the part. DeadlineN “For the part of Gekko, the studio really wanted Warren Beatty but he would not commit. Next the role was offered to Richard Gere, who turned it down.”“He gave me the role.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1The book tells Douglas's story through a dozen of his films, including "Romancing the Stone", "Fatal Attraction", "Basic Instinct", "Traffic" and "Falling Down". DeadlineN “The book tells Douglas’ story through a dozen of his most memorable films – Romancing the Stone, Fatal Attraction, Basic Instinct, Traffic, Falling Down and The War of the Roses among them” Read at Deadline ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Deadline, whose editor co-wrote the book, runs an exclusive excerpt about the casting and making of "Wall Street" and says it chose the film material over the personal-life headlines.
- Emphasis
- Douglas's career, the shadow of Kirk Douglas, and Gordon Gekko's casting and creation.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not repeat the Zeta-Jones phone-call story. Its editor's note discloses the co-authorship.
- Charged language
- “slick villain”“Oscar glory”
- For example
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“we thought Deadline readers would be most interested in the dissection of the seminal film that helped forge a great career.” — Deadline
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Fox News leads with the romance and the five phone calls, telling it as a love story with a rocky patch and a happy reconciliation.
- Emphasis
- The five calls, the monogamy condition, the 2013 separation, the couple's 25th anniversary and Douglas's marriage advice.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the book's film-career content or its co-writers.
- Charged language
- “pulls back the curtain”“Hollywood womanizer”
What every side reports
- Michael Douglas's memoir "One Helluva Ride" came out this week.
- Douglas is married to Catherine Zeta-Jones and the book discusses their relationship and family.
Michael Douglas person
In the memoir Douglas presents the five calls as a respectful end to non-exclusive relationships, and describes the marriage as stronger after a 2013-14 separation.
“Our marriage deserved a second chance.” — Fox News
“None of them asked for a commitment or even asked what else I was up to.” — Fox News
Catherine Zeta-Jones person
As described in the book, Zeta-Jones was wary of Douglas's reputation and set monogamy as the condition for a relationship.
“Eventually, Zeta-Jones was willing to give Douglas a chance, but under one condition: he needed to be monogamous.” — Fox News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Celebratory Promotional excerpt from a book co-written by the outlet's editor, celebrating Douglas's career and Gekko role.
Right1 article
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Michael Douglas reveals he made five phone calls to five women the day he chose Catherine Zeta-Jones
Sympathetic Romantic, entertainment-news retelling of the memoir's love story with Douglas's own quotes.
- 7 Oct 12:00 First Fox NewsR Michael Douglas reveals he made five phone calls to five women the day he chose Catherine Zeta-Jones
- 8 Oct 16:00 +27h 59m DeadlineN Michael Douglas Was Third Choice For Gordon Gekko; How He Rode ‘Wall Street’s Slick Villain To Oscar Glory
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.