Editing Warner Baxter (section)

=== Personal troubles and breakdown ===
During the mid-1930s Baxter began to have career and personal troubles. The studio system and being a top leading man with Fox made him wealthy beyond his dreams but it also let him in for some significant personal problems. Baxter said he was envious of his friend [[Ronald Colman]]. "Look at that guy. He only makes one or two pictures a year. I've got to work practically every day in the year." He seemed unable to pry himself away from his salary as a contract star.<ref>''St Louis Globe-Democrat'', Sheilah Graham, August 3, 1938, p. 21.</ref> Some of his better roles in this period were on loan out from his home studio, Fox Picture Corporation. His MGM loan out for ''Robin Hood of El Dorado'' was an example. Director [[William Wellman]]'s recollections in the 2015 biography by his son went into some detail. Baxter, according to Wellman, was aging and troubled by that, as evidenced by a major drinking problem. Baxter told Wellman he was fine during the day but as evening approached he was "gone".<ref>''Wild Bill Wellman Hollywood Rebel'', William Wellman Jr., Pantheon Books, New York, (2015) pp. 322–324.</ref> Adding to his own insecurities as a leading man, his home studio was not known for having a strong story department. They relied on the formula of having their major stars repeat the same type of stories and characters when it reverberated with an audience. In many cases, even for [[Will Rogers]], it often would decrease the value of the actor's contract.<ref>''The Fox Film Corporation 1915–1935'', Aubrey Solomon, McFarland and Company, Jefferson, North Carolina (2016) pp. 166, 168.</ref> 

By 1939, he was publicly complaining about being teamed with new bright and very young actresses as he was advancing in years. He said working with [[Loretta Young]] was fine as she had been around since the silent days and fans did not view her as a youngster, but the new crop such as [[Lynn Bari]] and [[Arleen Whelan]] made him feel very uncomfortable.<ref>Asbury Park Press, May 7, 1939, p. 14.</ref> As his 20th Century Fox contract was nearing completion, he was openly talking of retiring, a decision he was making with his wife [[Winifred Bryson]]. By 1941, columnist Jimmie Fidler was stating the retirement talk was on the level.<ref>''Los Angeles Times'', November 19, 1941, p. 13.</ref> Some time between ''[[Adam Had Four Sons]]'' and ''[[Lady in the Dark (film)|Lady in the Dark]]'' he suffered a mental breakdown. Over the subsequent years, he was fairly candid about it in interviews. He said "It's like chasing a rainbow. You never see the end of it. Each part you get has to be better than the last one and before you know it you've got a nervous breakdown."<ref name="The Valley Times, Oct 20, 1947">''The Valley Times'', October 20, 1947, p. 11.</ref>

The reported $284,000 (about $6,490,000 in 2025) Baxter earned in 1936 was the highest paid contract actor that year.<ref>''Gone Hollywood, The Movie Colony in the Golden Age'', Christopher Finch and [[Linda Rosenkrantz]], Doubleday, 1979, pp. 223, 224.</ref> By 1947, he was reduced to earning $30,000 (about $685,000 in 2025) per picture in a mere two-picture deal.<ref>Employment Agreement signed and dated July 1, 1947 between Columbia Pictures Corporation, Employer, and Warner Baxter, Artist. Private Collection.</ref> He was, however, more comfortable both with his career and his life, giving much credit to his wife. "I never take a role until we both talk it over. I have a high opinion of her judgment". He said he no longer cared about high budget films or being a star. "I don't need the money, and I work just to keep interested. I had a good part in a big picture about six years ago. There was tension in making it and I felt myself getting nervous again." They moved to their beach house in Malibu, California, soaking up the sun and gradually getting better.<ref>Springfield Leader and Press, December 19, 1948. p. 19.</ref> Baxter felt that the best role in motion pictures was being a leading man in a series. He had reached that conclusion during the production years of the various ''Crime Doctor'' films. "It's wonderful. I make two of them a year. Columbia has juggled it so I can make two in a row. That takes about eight weeks of my time. The rest of the year I relax. I travel. I enjoy life".<ref name="The Valley Times, Oct 20, 1947" />