The Stud (Book)

The Stud was the second novel by novelist Jackie Collins published in 1969 by W.H. Allen.

Plot Synoposis

Fontaine Khaled is the wife of a wealthy but boring Arab businessman Benjamin Khaled. She spends his money on her nightclub, Hobo and partying, shopping and her lovers. She hires a manager, Tony Blake (the Stud), to run her club, but it is understood that his job security is dependent on him satisfying her sexual demands. Tony loses interest in Fontaine and turns his attention to her young step- daughter, who uses him to make her best friend Madelaine's older brother Michael jealous as she has a crush on him. Tony, oblivious to this fact pursues Alexandra while at the same time double crosses Fontaine by making a deal with businessman Ian Thaine to buy his own club -saying that Fontaine's in on the deal. Meanwhile Benjamin's attentions stray to model Dolores after he finds out about Fontaine's various affairs. When Fontaine is faced with Benjamin divorcing her and Tony double-crossing and leaving her to set up his own club she puts the wheel's in motion to turn the tables.

Public Reaction

"Filthy, disgusting and unnecessary", was Barbara Cartlands reaction to the book, while The Sunday Times quipped "Sexual athletics among the in-crowd". It soon made the bestseller lists just like its forbearer. The public was again scandalised at Collins racy new novel, but the book sold well and at one stage it was planned for Tony Curtis to star in the film version.

Film Version

Plans for a film version of The Stud fell through early on in the seventies and it was not until many years later in 1978 that the wheels were set in motion. Collins' sister, actress Joan Collins, had fallen on hard times and was finding it harder and harder to secure roles for her fledgling career. She persuaded sister Jackie to sell her the film rights to the book and found herself an investor - a casual acquaintance she had met at the Cannes Film Festival. Forty-five year old Joan Collins herself starred as Fontaine Khaled and Swiss actor Oliver Tobias and English actress Emma Jacobs were cast in the roles of Tony Blake and Alexandra Khaled. The film was a big hit and revived the career of Joan Collins. The success of the film led Jackie Collins to write a sequel, The Bitch, which was published the following year in 1979 and was also made into a film which became an even bigger box office hit than its predecessor.