Old Hollywood Books and Book Reviews

Reviews of books and biographies about Old Hollywood or the Golden Age of Hollywood and its magical actors and actresses.

An Accidental Pirate by Brooks Almy (Exciting Novel Due in Spring 2023!)

November 26, 2022 By Joi

An Accidental Pirate by Brooks Almy

While the focus of Hollywood Yesterday is old Hollywood and Classic TV, when an especially exciting book or film comes along, I will absolutely tell you about it. In the case of this particular novel, An Accidental Pirate, I want to bring it to your attention for three reasons…

As Maureen O’Hara’s biggest fan on the planet, I’m drawn to the title and main heroine – when you read about her, below, I’m certain that you’ll agree with me… she sounds JUST like a colorful, spirited character Maureen would have deliciously brought to life!
I am a book fanatic and always jump at the opportunity to tell others about new books
The author, Brooks Almy, is an actress and, let’s face it… I am completely drawn to Hollywood stars past and present!

You may know Brooks Almy from The Closer, George Lopez, Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, Hawaii Five-O, Ally McBeal … she has done a LOT of work in television.

Book Description:

An Accidental Pirate is a rollicking female empowerment story with a fiery heroine, disguises and secrets, sea battles, pirates, both elegant and rowdy, hurricanes, and true love. This Young Adult novel is a swashbuckling tale complete with well-developed main characters including a heroine you won’t forget and will surely admire. Brooks’ compelling storytelling, descriptive settings, and historical detailing is all woven within a true adventurous love story.

A writer and storyteller through film and stage all her life, Brooks’ debut novel all started when she had a chance encounter with a brilliant writing teacher named Claudette Sutherland who re-ignited her love of writing with her workshops and week-long intensives in Ireland and Joshua Tree. Brooks subsequently wrote, but did not publish two children’s books, a horror story and a cookbook for people who hate to cook called Cooking: when you are on a budget, don’t know how and don’t want to learn.

But then one night she had a dream about a historical book she had encountered in a museum bookshop while she was on tour in San Francisco 30 years before. It was about all the famous women pirates, but one short paragraph stayed in her mind. A girl named ‘Fanny Campbell’ disguised herself as a man and went to sea to find her lost husband. This was the story Brooks began to write in Claudette’s workshop. About a third of the way there, life intervened. She re-encountered her Italian soulmate after 30 years apart, got married, recovered from cancer, went through cancer with her husband, traveled extensively for work, and began a new life in Italy. When Covid hit, ‘Fanny’ came roaring back into Brooks’ life. She now had the time and ‘Fanny’ demanded to be written, so Brooks put her on the page for her adventure to be shared.

The book will be out in spring of next year. You can follow its progress by visiting Brooks Almy’s website. I will return to this post after the release to add the Amazon link.

For anyone who loves great fiction, this one sounds especially exciting!

Errol Flynn and Maureen O’Hara (Against All Flags, 1951) are pictured below to further put you in the swashbuckling mood….

Errol Flynn and Maureen O’Hara Against All Flags

The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood

November 20, 2022 By Joi

The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood (Amazon link)

Every now and then, kismet happens and I revel in its glow for months. A while back, after watching Maria Montez in two back to back movies, I became enthralled by her. I read up on her and became even more enthralled.

I read all I could get my hands on about her – which, sadly, wasn’t much – and wished desperately she had a biography I could devour.

Literally two days later, I read about the gorgeous biography you see pictured here, The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood by Tom Zimmerman.

Kismet, you beautiful thing, you.

From the Inside Cover:

Best known for her appearances in the six Technicolor “Neverland” movies, Maria Montez is a film icon. Growing up as one of ten children in the Dominican Republic, her rise as a film star in the United States seemed unlikely. In 1939, Montez set off on her own to New York City to fulfill her aspirations of movie stardom. Despite having no substantial acting experience, Montez managed to sign with major agent Louis Schurr who helped her secure a contract with Universal Studios before she moved out to Hollywood.

Following her arrival in Los Angeles, Montez began cultivating the larger-than-life persona for which she is known. Her beauty, personality, and series of publicity antics, including dramatic restaurant entrances, endeared her to the press. She even created her own fan club―The Montez for Stardom Club. Her ambitious self-promotion bolstered the success she found with her first big lead in Arabian Nights, released in 1943. From then on, the studio referred to her as “The Queen of Technicolor.”

Author Tom Zimmerman puts Montez’s life in historical context, including her role as a cultural icon and a living representation of the United States’ Good Neighbor Policy with Latin American countries. With her thick Dominican accent, Montez struggled to make herself intelligible to an American audience. However, unlike some of her Latin contemporaries, she did not present a caricature of her culture or use her accent for comedic purposes, giving her credibility with a Latin American audience. Zimmerman skillfully recounts the story of Montez’s fiery ambition and her ascent to Hollywood fame, giving her the opportunity to live on in public memory.

What I LOVE About this Maria Montez Biography:

It’s a wish come true and gives Maria Montez more of a voice among other stars of her time. As I said above, there simply isn’t a lot of information available on beautiful Maria, her life, her films, or her place in film history. She was a trailblazer and should be given the respect other trailblazers receive.
It is written by a fan of the actress. When I read biographies (whether they’re historical or old Hollywood biographies), I can always tell if the author is a long-time fan of his or her subject or if they’re using them simply to get a book published. Maybe it’s because biographies have been a HUGE obsession of mine, literally since I learned to read, but I’ve read enough to be able to immediately distinguish a “labor of love and respect” from a “cash grab.”
The book is a very interesting read! Let’s face it, if a book is boring company, we aren’t going to read it no matter how much the subject intrigues us. Tom Zimmerman provides great details about Maria’s life, insight into her career and into an area she dazzled in, self-promotion.
Maria was deliciously aware of how to “market” herself and knew how to get her name and image right in front of the public’s eye. While I pretty much suspected this PRIOR to reading this enlightening book, I had no idea just how brilliant she was at it! Her career was mostly in the forties – to truly appreciate her great need to “stand out,” it helps to remember other actresses she had to compete against for attention during this time: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Ann Sheridan, Maureen O’Hara, Claudette Colbert, Ingrid Bergman, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Gene Tierney, Veronica Lake, Natalie Wood, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner – to name but a few! Can you imagine trying to stand OUT in that group? While I mean ZERO disrespect to lovely Maria (I adore her and all she meant/means to classic films), she did not have the talent to compete with many of these other actresses. Let’s face it, she wasn’t going to beat out Bette Davis for any roles (neither, for that matter, would Marilyn or Lana!). She had to do what all great trailblazers and pathfinders do… they use THEIR strengths and, to a great extent, do what needs to be done to stand out. Fortunately for Maria, she had more personality, color, humor, and charisma than most. In other words, her arsenal was full, you needn’t worry about that!
The book is visually stunning. When this book came in the mail, as soon as I opened the package, I gasped. Pictures simply don’t do it justice – it’s an absolute beauty. This book would make such a gorgeous gift for any book lover in your life – especially someone who is a fan of old Hollywood. It’s a very substantial book (around 400 pages), packed with all of the information you could ever want about this colorful actress (as well as a lot of other stars you encounter along the way).
The photos are beautiful and very unique. The photos in this beautiful book aren’t photos you’ve likely seen anywhere else. They’re absolutely wonderful and I love studying them!

Finally, I love that this biography, like all the other extra special old Hollywood biographies I’ve read, serves as a glorious piece of a puzzle… the “Old Hollywood” puzzle. The more biographies, memoirs, and autobiographies you read, the more pieces you have of this puzzle. You read certain names (stars, directors, executives, etc) over and over again and, in doing so, you get a truly accurate picture of them. Each time this happens, you get another piece of the puzzle.

That’s why I don’t just read biographies about my favorites (Maureen O’Hara, Lena Horne, Henry Fonda, James Stewart, Maria Montez, Ann Dvorak…), I also read biographies of those who really aren’t on my radar. One of two magical things ALWAYS happen when I do this…

The star jumps onto my radar!
I learn more about others who are already there.

Most importantly, each book serves as part of a puzzle to one of the most fascinating, glamorous, mysterious, and intriguing places on earth: Old Hollywood.

About the Author

Tom Zimmerman is a photographer who has permanent collections in the United States Library of Congress, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Motion Picture and Television Photo Archive, and Fortress of Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg, Russia, among others.

He is the author of Paradise Promoted: The Booster Campaign that Created Los Angeles 1870-1930, Downtown in Detail, and Spectacular Illumination.

You can find the absolutely gorgeous biography The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood (Amazon link) on Amazon.

The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood is from The University Press of Kentucky.

Maria Montez, Arabian Nights

Destined to Fly: The Story of Pilot Ron Strauss From Iowa to Elvis by Sally A Hoedel (Review of a Wonderful Biography)

November 17, 2022 By Joi

Destined to Fly by Sally A. Hoedel

One of my all-time favorite actors/singers/entertainers extraordinaire is Elvis Presley. He’s also one of the first stars I “collected” – in fact, and Audrey Hepburn began my old Hollywood collections long ago. I can’t remember which beloved star came first, but they kicked off a lifetime habit of scouring bookstores, eBay, yard sales, and antique stores.

One of my favorite items to collect for any old Hollywood star is books, because that’s the best possible way to get to know them.

I just finished the book you see here, Destined to Fly: The Story of Pilot Ron Strauss – From Iowa to Elvis (Amazon link) – a book that not only satisfied my inner history buff, but was like a joy ride for my inner Elvis fangirl. Author Sally A. Hoedel tells the fascinating story of Ron Strauss, an extremely likable and admirable pilot with 12 years of military service under his belt, a loving family, an exciting career.. oh, and two years in Elvis Presley’s inner circle.

You know, the average life of a boy from Iowa.

Elvis Presley

While I completely expected to hang onto every single word of every single story about Elvis that Ron Stauss shared, I didn’t expect to hang on just as tightly to every word about his own life, military experiences, and family – whether the King happened to be in the room or not.

Yet that’s exactly what happened. Whether it was stories from Ron’s childhood, his experience of joining the military (and almost not making it!), meeting his wife, or the ones involving one of the most iconic figures in the world… every single word of this book is extraordinary and I reread many passages more than once.

The author has not only written a thoroughly enjoyable book, it’s one that reads very “fast.” There are no wasted pages, no wasted “filler” paragraphs.. it’s all perfectly wonderful and as entertaining as watchin an old movie.

If you know anything about me, you know what high praise I just heaped upon this book.

(Review continued below…)

From the Back Cover

This lovely book also has photos the family of Ron Strauss has shared and they are an absolute delight. One of my favorite things about this book and about Ron Strauss is the respect with which Elvis is treated. I am so very thankful and grateful for that and, now that I know more about the author and Mr. Strauss, I’d expect no less.

If you are an Elvis fan, you will absolutely love this book… but, here’s the thing… you wouldn’t even have to know who Elvis was to enjoy it! (not than any such person exists, but you get the gist…) Ron Strauss’ story is an extraordinary one and you will enjoy this book greatly.

Author Sally A. Hoedel has a journalism degree from Michigan State University. Like me, she is a lifelong Elvis fan and collector. I felt a connection with her immediately after reading that!

You can visit her website, www.ElvisAuthor.com for more information. While reading this book, I learned that she had also written a book about Elvis titled “Destined to Die Young.” I plan on getting my hands on that one as soon as possible.

I was sent a copy of the wonderful Destined to Fly: The Story of Pilot Ron Strauss – From Iowa to Elvis (Amazon link) in exchange for telling you about it. Books in exchange for telling others about them is a dream come true for this book lover!

Ann Dvorak: Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel by Christina Rice (Review)

August 29, 2022 By Joi

Ann Dvorak: Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel by Christina Rice

About a year ago, I watched two films back-to-back (The Secret of Convict Lake and The Long Night). The first film was next on my list as I worked my way through one of my favorite actress’ filmography (Ethel Barrymore) and The Long Night was next on my list as I worked my way through the filmography of my favorite actor (Henry Fonda).

I saw the films on the same day, as part of a double feature I decided to treat myself too. Funny thing happened by the time the movies were over, though… the name I kept thinking about and the performances I kept reliving didn’t involve either Henry Fonda OR Ethel Barrymore… I was completely infatuated with the brilliance of Ann Dvorak (a secret we’ll keep from Ethel and Henry).

As I kept mulling over her strong, yet vulnerable, screen presence, talent, and beauty, a few questions kept coming up in my mind…

How is Ann Dvorak NOT a household name? With beauty that rivals the most beautiful stars of old Hollywood and talent that rivals the most talented, how is her name not one easily recognized by even the most casual movie fans?
Why did Hollywood not use her in more films? Where are her many blockbusters… the films where she is the leading lady and Hollywood’s most sought-after actors are clamoring for her attention?
Why was The Secret of Convict Lake her last film? She was so wonderful in the role and had so many great movies and performances left in the tank. Why were there not more films?

I mean, this is someone who didn’t just stand toe to toe with the likes of Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney, Ethel Barrymore, and Glenn Ford.. she stole scenes right out from under them!

I immediately gave Ann Dvorak the greatest compliment I, personally, can give a star – I took out my “Old Hollywood” notebook and began a list of her films… as eager to explore through her filmography as I’ve ever been about any star.

Again, mums the word to Ethel and Henry.

After my third Ann Dvorak film (Scarface), I began searching for books, articles, magazines, photos… anything and everything I could get my hands on! Another huge compliment for a star is when I begin to “collect them.”

Basically I was throwing every compliment I could at Ann Dvorak.

Many times, as an old Hollywood fan, you set yourself up for great disappointment when you begin to look for a biography of an actor or actress. I can’t tell you the number of stars I desperately want a biography about (Ann Sheridan and Ethel Barrymore, I’m looking at you ladies). While I love a great autobiography, there is SO MUCH to be said for the balanced facts a biography provides. You get the whole picture… the good and the not so good… and I was desperate to learn all I could about Ann Dvorak and see if I could find answers to the questions bouncing around in my brain.

I was ECSTATIC to find that, not only does a biography exist, but it was written by one of my favorite authors, Christina Rice (I read her wonderful Jane Russell biography just this past summer).

An Ann Dvorak Biography + a Gluten-Free Muffin… Heaven!

This wonderful biography was all but impossible to put down. One day, while I was in the middle of chapter one, I decided to take a “break” and eat a gluten-free muffin one of my daughters and brought to me and maybe watch an episode of I Love Lucy.

By the time the delicious muffin was gone, Lucy Ricardo had not been invited into the den and I was beginning chapter three.

When doing old Hollywood book reviews, I never want to give anything away. I want readers to enjoy each page, each surprise, and each “Holy cats!” moment just as I did… with or without muffin crumbs on their chin. It’s always a difficult balance to strike… telling you, my friends, WHY you should read the book without giving anything in particular away. It’s 100 times more challenging when it’s a book I’m all but dying for you to read!

However, I never divulge too much information (or share snippets of a book currently in print) because…

I don’t want to rob readers of the thrill of uncovering the gold nuggets for themselves.
It wouldn’t be fair to an author who had poured so much of their heart and life into their book.

What I try to convey is WHY I know you’ll love the book and WHAT separates the book from other books… what makes it special. That’s where this book is an absolute breeze!

Top Three Reasons You Will Love “Ann Dvorak Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel” by Christina Rice

If you’re like me, you’re desperate for answers to questions about Ann Dvorak’s career and life. She’s a mysterious star and one very little is known about. This fascinating book puts a magnifying glass in the reader’s hand and walks them through Ann Dvorak’s life, helping them find the answers. And these answers are not as simple as you’d think.
One of the most fascinating things with any old Hollywood biography or autobiography is, as I always say, the people you meet along the way. From Ann’s co-stars, family, and friends, there are plenty of interesting people who jump off the page at you – some you already know such as Joan Crawford, Paul Muni, and Bette Davis. Ann’s mother is also a pretty fascinating character and one who, I believe, would make an interesting biography in and of herself!
Ann Dvorak wasn’t just a gorgeous, glamorous, and talented actress, she was very much a human.. and a very relatable one, at that. She made a couple of errors in judgment and let her romantic heart lead her astray more than once. Like so many stars, she got in her own way a few times. Come on, what’s more relatable than that?! I have a special love for people that, while I’m reading about them, pull me so into their story that I want to ask them, “What are you thinking?! You deserve better!” and maybe an occasional, “Dump him!” Ann Dvorak was bold, smart, savvy, strong, and beautiful but, my goodness, did she have a romantic spirit and was she ever consumed with wanderlust?! More so than just about any star I’ve read about. What’s funny is that, while she frustrates me as a fan (I want more films by gosh!), she also delights me as a fan. While she got in her own way, professionally, she lived an exciting life and did so on her terms. Frankly I wouldn’t want it any other way.

What Makes “Ann Dvorak Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel” Special? Why Does it Stand Out?

Possibly the easiest question I’ve ever posed to myself. I can answer it in one sentence: The passion of the author Christina Rice. I read voraciously – not just old Hollywood biographies but historical biographies as well. My bookshelves include Amelia Earhart, Cleopatra, Harriet Tubman, and Abraham Lincoln as well as Audrey Hepburn, Ann Dvorak, James Stewart, and so on. For as long as I can remember (well over 20 years), I have always been in either the beginning, middle of, or end of at least two biographies. I never take a breath in between them simply because they’re like oxygen to me!

I have never encountered an author more passionate about the individual they were writing about than Christina Rice is about Ann Dvorak. The respect and affection she has for Ann Dvorak is obvious on every single page and it makes the book an absolute joy to read. As an Ann Dvorak fan, I’m ecstatic that she is in such capable and loving hands when it came time for the world to hear her story.

Christina Rice’s research and work is mind-boggling. It has to be a challenge to research such an enigmatic and mysterious star, and yet she did an absolutely breathtaking job. I’ve found that it’s even a challenge to find photos of Ann Dvorak. I always tell people, I will post more about her on the blog and tweet more about her as soon as I am able to find more available photos!

I am overjoyed to have had the opportunity to “meet” Ann Dvorak through this author’s wonderful efforts and am overjoyed she has her to keep her star shining. I’m also actually very grateful that a biography wasn’t attempted before the right woman for the job came along.

Simply put, there is no other author who could have shared Ann Dvorak’s story with the world.

(Review concluded below…)

Ann Dvorak

From the Back Cover of Ann Dvorak Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel:

“Rice is a superb writer with just the right touch―not too heavy, not too light. We really get to know Ann Dvorak.”―Eve Golden, author of John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars

“This book is more than the biography of an overlooked movie star. Author Christina Rice has meticulously researched the life of Dvorak, whose strong, self-reliant characters made her an important presence in the pre-Code era. Written in a reader-friendly style, Ann Dvorak explores the highs and lows of the actress who dazzled viewers in the classics Scarface and Three on a Match.”―Susan Doll, author of Florida on Film: The Essential Guide to Sunshine State Cinema and Locations

“Ann Dvorak: Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel is a treasure trove of information about this under-mentioned star. The wealth of information is stunning, and the writing is full of passion and warmth. Without a doubt, no one but Rice could have ever written this book, which is a fabulous tribute to someone who deserves to be remembered.” – Michelle Morgan, author of Marilyn Monroe: Private and Confidential

“Ann Dvorak has always been an enigmatic figure, whether you’re looking at her electric vitality in the 1932 Scarface or her feline grace in 1947’s The Private Affairs of Bel Ami. Fifteen years separate these unique performances, and there’s no one like Ann Dvorak, yet the story of her career remains untold. In Ann Dvorak: Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel, Christina Rice corrects this oversight. We learn about the ambitious young dancer, how her unusual looks and singular intensity pulled her into acting, and how her path to stardom ended in regretful obscurity. This is a compelling story, sometimes exhilarating, sometimes sad, but Christina Rice tells it honestly and objectively. Her dedicated research makes it possible to see both Ann Dvorak and her milieu with clarity. Ann Dvorak l is a sensitive biography of a real talent.”―Mark A. Vieira, author of George Hurrell’s Hollywood Glamour Portraits, 1925-1992

Final Words

I’ve already exceeded the number of words I normally like to keep my reviews under. We live in a Twitter and Instagram society… you simply have to keep it short and sweet and let people get on with their lives! I normally follow this rule beautifully, in spite of having a gift for gab. However… every now and then there will be a star, movie, or book I’m so excited about I can’t seem to put a sock (or gluten-free muffin) in it. It’s doubly hard here, because this concerns one of my favorite stars and, now, one of my favorite books. I hope very much that you’ll grab a copy of Ann Dvorak Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel (Amazon link) by Christina Rice as soon as possible. The extraordinary book is from The University Press of Kentucky, who happen to publish some of the best biographies you’ll ever read. I’m so blessed to be able to receive books from them in exchange for telling my readers about them. During my relationship with them, this is actually the first book I requested to review!

Smartest thing I’ve done in some time.

I hope you’ll also check out Christina Rice’s beautiful website devoted to Ann Dvorak. There are so many stunning photos and wonderful information!

Ann Dvorak Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel (Amazon link)

Marlene Dietrich Photographs and Memories (Extraordinary Book!)

July 17, 2022 By Joi

Marlene Dietrich Books

While I collect and treasure many types of books, there’s a special place in my heart for biographies and autobiographies, including my old Hollywood books. I read them cover to cover and visit and revisit them again and again and again.

When an actor, actress, or other historical figure is one of my favorites, I have a particular system in place… I collect every single book and magazine I can about them. Whether it’s Harriet Tubman or Abraham Lincoln or Marlene Dietrich or Maureen O’Hara, I believe having a “library” of books on a particular individual provides you with a far better education on them than just one book, alone.

It’s far better (when possible) to have their own words as well as the words of others. In fact, I think you often arrive at the truth and the whole picture when both are at your fingertips. After all, even the most honest stars were known to exaggerate every now and again!

Marlene Dietrich Photographs and Memories

The book you see above, Marlene Dietrich Photographs and Memories is the type of book I wish was available for all of my favorite stars. It is beyond wonderful and is a genius way to pay tribute to an individual.

Simply put, this gorgeous book is like having a Marlene Dietrich museum at your beck and call. One that’s never closed, you have entirely to yourself, and doesn’t mind in the least if you browse through the collection in your pajamas with coffee in hand.

Marlene Dietrich Photographs and Memories is FILLED with photos of the beautiful legend from childhood to her days in Hollywood – many photos I had never seen and, trust me, I am more than a little familiar with Marlene Dietrich (one of my all-time favorites).

This Marlene Dietrich museum… I mean this Marlene Dietrich book.. features many of the gorgeous costumes Marlene wore in her films, jewelry, trinkets, keepsakes, and private letters in her collection. To see the costumes in living color is something particularly exciting.

From the Back Cover:

Marlene Dietrich never threw anything away. She kept her good-luck rag doll (it appeared with her in The Blue Angel and followed her to dressing tables on every movie set). She kept the letters she received from, friends, colleagues, lovers, and her husband of fifty-three years. She kept every article of clothing made for her by the great French couturiers and many from legendary Hollywood costume designers. She kept everything.

After Dietrich’s death, all of the memorabilia were cataloged—25,000 objects and 18,000 images. Marlene Dietrich: Photographs and Memories brings together her treasures as depicted in 289 photographs from her own collection and features extended captions by her daughter and sole biographer, Maria Riva. We see Dietrich across the years and roles of her life: a child, a young actress in Berlin, a newlywed, a devoted American, a mother, and of course, a glamorous Hollywood legend.

An intimate look into the life of an unforgettable star, this collection offers fans more than just photos and memorabilia—it shares perspective from Marlene herself.

Marlene Dietrich Photographs and Memories

I love that the majority of the written content in this fascinating and richly informative book accompanies photographs. It makes for a delicious “coffee table” book that even the most casual old Hollywood fan would find impossible to put down.

Naturally, there are many other stars and familiar faces you will bump into on your visit. To see them interact with Marlene and read her thoughts about them and their thoughts about her makes the experience especially juicy!

Marlene Dietrich Photographs and Memories

Marlene Dietrich was extraordinarily charismatic, engaging, complex, and colorful… so much so that it would be very difficult for an author to capture all of the facets of her on paper. This particular approach works brilliantly for this actress because it allows you to stroll through her life and allow it to speak for itself.

And does it ever.

This is an exciting book, a gorgeous book, and one that you will be honored to have in your collection. The only problem is, as I said, you’ll find yourself wishing ALL of your favorites had such a tribute.

Find this and other Marlene Dietrich biographies and books on Amazon (Amazon link) or The University Press of Kentucky.

Marlene Dietrich

Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992) was a German American actress best known for her performances in The Blue Angel (1930), Shanghai Express (1932), I Love a Soldier (1936), Manpower (1941), and Witness for the Prosecution (1957). During World War II, Dietrich toured domestically to sell war bonds and became well-known for her front-line efforts to support Allied troops. After the war, she received recognition both domestically and internationally for her efforts and was awarded the Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur (France, 3 ranks), the Medal of Valor (Israel), and the Medal of Freedom (USA) among many others.

Review: Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century by Stephen Galloway

July 12, 2022 By Joi

Truly, Madly by Stephen Galloway

First of all, before I get to the actual review of Truly, Madly by Stephen Galloway, I just have to say how breathtakingly perfect the cover photo is.

Fast-paced, unique, devil-may-care, and delightfully frantic – it says all the things it should say about Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier. As a couple, they grabbed life by the lapels and seemed to say, “Keep up if you can!” and the picture chosen for the cover of this wonderful book conveys the message SPLENDIDLY.

From the Inside Cover:
In 1934, a friend brought fledgling actress Vivien Leigh to see Theatre Royal, where she would first lay eyes on Laurence Olivier in his brilliant performance as Anthony Cavendish. That night, she confided to a friend, he was the man she was going to marry. There was just one problem: she was already married—and so was he.

TRULY, MADLY is the biography of a marriage, a love affair that still captivates millions, even decades after both actors’ deaths. Vivien and Larry were two of the first truly global celebrities – their fame fueled by the explosive growth of tabloids and television, which helped and hurt them in equal measure. They seemed to have it all and yet, in their own minds, they were doomed, blighted by her long-undiagnosed mental-illness, which transformed their relationship from the stuff of dreams into a living nightmare.

Through new research, including exclusive access to previously unpublished correspondence and interviews with their friends and family, author Stephen Galloway takes readers on a bewitching journey. He brilliantly studies their tempestuous liaison, one that took place against the backdrop of two world wars, the Golden Age of Hollywood and the upheavals of the 1960s — as they struggled with love, loss and the ultimate agony of their parting.

What I Love About Truly, Madly

Vivien Leigh and Gone with the Wind are actually two of the forces that drew me to classic movies in the first place. In school, when my friends were talking about Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta, Close Encounters, and Olivia Newton John, my eyes glazed over until I steered the conversation to Vivien Leigh, James Stewart, Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn!

It was a bit later when I discovered Laurence Olivier – and, unfortunately, I disliked him and the film so much, I went many years before giving him another chance.

Imagine that – one of the greatest actors in the history of the world and I put him in time out!

We only children don’t always make sense, you know.

When I saw him in Wuthering Heights (1939), he was completely forgiven for allowing Marilyn Monroe to completely upstage him in The Prince and the Showgirl (kind of hard to believe this was the same actor!).

The more I read about the two stars, the more fascinating I found them to be. I marveled (and marvel) at the fact that, in spite of battling Vivien’s mental illness – a battle loved ones face as surely as the victim does – they managed to maintain such wonderful careers. They faced the music, so to speak, in spite of the symphony raging in their own lives.

I am perfectly astounded by the strength this HAD to have taken. I’d say that it also took its toll on both of them – they were, after all, only human and humans have their breaking points.

The journey that took place between the time they came together and the time they could no longer stay that way is the stuff of legends and in the right hands (Stephen Galloway, to a tee), it makes for a fascinating, spellbinding story.

Probably 200 times during the book, I would close the book simply to process what I had just read. Whether it was a wonderful quote by Laurence Olivier, a compelling observation by the author, or a story that involved another star (Marlon Brando, Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland, Merle Oberon…) I kept finding myself in the position of wanting to pause and reflect on what I had just mentally experienced. To sit and chew on it for a minute, as we might say in Kentucky.

Don’t you LOVE it when an author draws you that into the story he or she is sharing? I keep a mental list of books that make me hit pause in this manner and they are, inevitably, the ones I turn to first to reread.

Something I always ask myself, after reading old Hollywood biography or autobiography, is this: Do I like the actress/actor the same, better than, ore less than I did before beginning the book? After reading Truly, Madly, I would say that I am as big a fan of Vivien Leigh’s as I was before the book (I already adored her and I still do). However, with Laurence Olivier, I really didn’t have many feelings one way or another toward him before reading this particular book.

However, I find that I like him a great, great deal now. In fact, I have never had anyone who, after reading a biography, jumped so many leaps and bounds in my mental popularity poll! Was he perfect.. well, heck no.. none of us are. But, by gosh, he was a perfect hoot (throwing a little more Kentucky flavor your way).

I find Vivien Leigh to be fascinating. I find Laurence Olivier to be fascinating. I find the two together to be blindingly fascinating and you will as well.

More Things to Love About Truly, Madly

You meet the stars as children and see events that led them to become the adults they grew into – for better or worse.
You see their flaws, yet still, somehow, feel for them. Each made monumental mistakes and hurt people who loved them, but there are often forces in life that blow us so completely off kilter that we, ourselves, don’t recognize the things we say and do. Not condoning.. simply stating facts.
The pictures are stunning. Mind you, I spend a great deal of time in Classic Hollywood – basically, I only step out of it long enough to go to the store and feed my cats, yet there are photos even I have never seen in this remarkable book.
Laurence Olivier was a brilliant, complex, infuriating, intriguing, and often very humorous man. None of his roles even come close to the “character” he was in real life and, if you’ve never met him, I TRULY hope you will allow the introductions to be made by Stephen Galloway.
Vivien Leigh was like a beautiful princess who lived in a gorgeous castle and had the world at her fingertips. Because she had so much going on for her, the princess only had ONE enemy. The problem is, when you ARE the enemy, escaping takes its own kind of fairy tale magic and, tragically, when Vivien Leigh lived such magic did not exist. Again, to see what this stunningly beautiful lady battled.. and yet somehow kept working.. is truly remarkable.
As I always say, the stars you meet “along the way” are one of my favorite things about old Hollywood biographies. Between the two of them, Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier crossed paths with a lot of household names – and many of them rivaled them when it came to charisma and stories worth repeating!
The author, Stephen Galloway is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. He draws you into each scene with the artistry of a legendary director… but, somehow does so (like all great directors) without shining the light on himself. His stars are the stars… and what stars they were.

I hope you’ll grab a copy of the excellent Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century (Amazon link) right away. I can’t think of a better book or two more colorful stars to spend summer with. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, Fire Over England

Natalie Wood, A Life by Gavin Lambert: A MUST Read for Fans of the Legendary Actress

June 27, 2022 By Joi

Natalie Wood, A Life

After reading Natalie Wood, A Life by Gavin Lambert, the first thing that came to my mind was this:

“The author has taken a larger than life legend who is remembered and discussed by FAR too many for her death rather than her life… and he has focused on what she SHOULD be remembered as… a woman. He has put her life, as she lived it, into the forefront and the way she lost her life into the background. As it should be.”

As a Natalie Wood fan, I will always feel a great deal of gratitude to Gavin Lambert for this. If you follow (or have seen) my shenanigans on Twitter, you know I tweet incessantly about the stars of old Hollywood – pictures, quotes, thoughts, film reviews, book reviews, etc. Inevitably, any time I post Natalie Wood pictures or quotes, at least one (usually more than one) comments about her death. When people hear the name, they instinctively want to talk about how she LOST her life rather than how she LIVED her life.

I hate that so much!!

I also hate that people want to blame Robert Wagner for her death – allow me to say, up front, I do not believe he had anything whatsoever to do with her death. He had so much to do with her life and with how much she enjoyed it and with the love they shared – this should be the focus and I can only hope that, one day, it will be.

This book has brought so much more information to me that I never had before. So much so that I found myself taking notes! Before beginning Natalie Wood, A Life (Amazon link), I had what I believed to be a pretty good idea who Natalie Wood was and a pretty good handle on who the woman behind the great beauty and talent was…. suffice to say, my bucket of knowledge wasn’t even half full!

She was, unquestionably, one of the most complex, mysterious (in many ways), and fascinating people I’ve ever read about. She was equal parts strong and vulnerable – a combination that leaves my head spinning. She had her share of fears and anxieties and yet fought them tooth and nail. The fact that she carved out a remarkable career as the battle raged on leaves me speechless.

In the age of social media and fast-paced living, I try to keep my book reviews brief. I’d rather my friends (that’s you!) completely read a few heart-felt words than to skim over a million of them and miss the important stuff. Some people tend to ramble (that’s me!), so they have to reign themselves in any way they can. A summarized bullet-point list helps me with my reigns!

What I Love, and More Importantly, What You’ll Love About This Biography:

The fact that Robert Wagner, one of the most important people in Natalie’s life, contributed greatly to the book. He knew her better than anyone and shared so much, so openly, with the wonderful author.
The behind-the-scenes and in depth look at Natalie’s films. You learn more about her co-stars, how she felt about many of them (I read and re-read the pages about her and James Dean!), and what the roles meant to her and her career.
Beautiful photographs – many of which I’ve never seen before. I absolutely love each one.
Gavin Lambert is an exceptional writer. He writes in a manner that feels like you’re sitting in Starbucks talking with him about a subject (old Hollywood) you’re both passionate about. He is informative, an impeccable researcher, clear, concise, and uncommonly entertaining.
Each chapter begins with one, two, or three quotes after the title that help set the tone for the chapter you’re entering. They’re brilliantly done and provide that little extra something that separates a good book from a great book.
Natalie Wood, in Gavin Lamberts’ hands, is treated with great respect and affection. The fact that she was human, like the rest of us, is clear and… quite frankly… makes me love her even more.
As I said at the start, the greatest accomplishment of this book is putting the focus on Natalie’s life rather than her death. And what a life it was!

Natalie Wood battled her personal demons but carved out a wonderful career and lasting legacy in spite of them. In the end, it may look like these demons won but look again – Natalie won. She remains in so many of our hearts and is remembered, loved, and celebrated to this day.

I hope you’ll grab a copy of Natalie Wood, A Life (Amazon link) and get to know her even better than you may know her now. She was extraordinary in every way.

The University Press of Kentucky sent me this wonderful book in exchange for telling you about it – all of the opinions and the photo are my own!

Marlene Dietrich’s ABC’s: One of the Most Delightful Books I’ve Seen in Some Time!

June 27, 2022 By Joi

Marlene Dietrich’s ABC’s

One of the most colorful, deliciously fun and original stars from old Hollywood (or any Hollywood for that matter) is Marlene Dietrich. The way she viewed the world was magic in its uniqueness and the way she, then, put it to words has long been a personal fascination.

Truth be told, I’ve had a lifelong love affair with words – whether they come out of my own mouth or the mouths of others – I love to see words in action. I began collecting quotes (in notebooks… you can imagine how many I have!) when I was in my early teens and have kept up the practice over the years. There’s something very satisfying to my soul when words are gathered together and taken on a joyride and, quite frankly, Marlene Dietrich knew how to have fun with words as well as anyone!

When I found out there was actually a book (Marlene Dietrich’s ABC’s, Amazon link) with her quotes already gathered in one place (alphabetized no less), I was over the proverbial moon.

The University Press of Kentucky sweetened the deal by sending me one simply for telling y’all about it.

Seriously – it doesn’t get any better than that! This book worm’s and book collector’s message to them would simply be this, “Send me as many books as you see fit… I’ll tell everyone all about them!”

ESPECIALLY when they’re as wonderful as the books they have always are. Marlene Dietrich’s ABC’s (Amazon link) is no exception – it is everything I’d hoped it would be and then some. While I had a few of the quotes in my Old Hollywood Actresses N-M Notebook (I’m nothing if not organized with my quote collection), the majority of the quotes were new to me and have left me smiling ear to ear.

As soon as the book arrived in the mail, I took it and a tall iced raspberry tea to my favorite den chair and didn’t get up again until the book and tea had been completely devoured.

MY kind of afternoon!

This is, without a doubt, one of the most enjoyable book companions I’ve had in a while. I love that it is packed with great humor (she was, as my grandmother would have said, a perfect hoot!), a couple of cooking ideas/recipes I can’t wait to try, and plenty of thoughts that beg to be turned over and over again in the reader’s mind. You may or may not agree with everything the legendary actress said but you cannot help but admire her boldness to say exactly what was in her mind and heart.

That’s one of the things I love most about quotes – they bring out your inner philosopher and make you think… really think… about life, about others, and about things we may tend to take for granted.

Let me tell you, spending time with Marlene Dietrich made my inner philosopher so happy she was buzzing for days.

As you’d imagine, I cannot recommend Marlene Dietrich’s ABC’s (Amazon link) highly enough. In fact, I suggest grabbing a copy for your own library and at least one to squirrel away for Christmas gift-giving. This is the type of book anyone will love.

The book is 154 pages long and reads wonderfully fast. You will find yourself returning (and using!) to her thoughts and expressions again and again. You’ll also find yourself inspired by her honesty and by the freedom which she found in expressing herself. It’s truly just a magnificent book and I hope you, yourself, are sitting down with Marlene and a tall glass of tea in your own favorite chair very soon.

You’ll find her company to be exquisite.

Marlene Dietrich’s ABC’s (Amazon link)

John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars by Eve Golden (Review)

May 16, 2022 By Joi

John Gilbert Biography by Eve Golden

I’ve often said that reading about the stars that made old Hollywood so magical is as much of a joy for me as watching their films. This particular book (John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars by Eve Golden, Amazon link) reminded me of this very truth. The book was absolutely fascinating – as in every single page – and gave me what felt like a complete college education in John Gilbert as well as Silent Films.. with a minor in Greta Garbo!

Before I get back to the wonderful and colorful John Gilbert, I want to say that Greta Garbo serves as the perfect point for another thing I love about old Hollywood biographies. When a great author (which is precisely what Eve Golden is) researches and writes about a particular star, they also shine a fresh light on other stars within their star’s galaxy. The wonderful thing is, we often get a new look (a fresh angle, if you will) at the star in question – often a different one from, say their own biographies or memoirs.

The Greta Garbo I met in this particular biography makes her even more intriguing and lovable to me. Was she perfect? No… but she was perfectly delightful in many ways and Eve Golden fleshed her out beautifully.

I only wish she’d write a Greta Garbo biography!

The relationship between the two stars is one of the most fascinating things about this book. Suffice to say, Greta Garbo turned our hero inside out!

(Review continued below….)

Greta Garbo and John Gilbert in Queen Christina

One of the things I always mention in my biography reviews is that I refuse to give too much away – it isn’t fair to the author OR you. I want you to be able to come across great information, quotes, and delicious surprises just as I was able to.

I very much want you to have the same, “Holy cats! I didn’t know that!” moment… whether or not you actually use the phrase holy cats or not.

Probably not?

John Gilbert was one of the world’s most recognizable and beloved actors during the silent era. He had a couple of famous romances with Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich and seemed to have a tendency to fall for his leading ladies!

He was a very colorful individual who, like most people, had personal demons he had to keep at bay – sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much. He was known for flareups with Louis B. Mayer (Gilbert got as deeply under Mayer’s skin as Garbo did his own, with equally unsettling results). He turned to alcohol as a means of both entertainment and escape and it wasn’t as fond of him as he was it.

Before reading John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars (Amazon link), I knew very little about John Gilbert. I knew he was a wonderful actor and meant a great deal to silent films. I knew he had been in love with Greta Garbo and had been linked to Marlene Dietrich and a few other co-stars. I also knew he had a drinking problem (which I’m sure he’d reply with, “Actually, I didn’t have any problem drinking at all!”). I also knew that, once talkies came onto the scene, John Gilbert was one of the stars who faded away, unfortunately.

I’d always believed the old tale that his voice wasn’t suitable for talkies… I am so relieved that this actually wasn’t the case. We all want our heroes to have nice voices, after all.

Author Eve Golden allows us to meet John (“Jack”) Gilbert as a youth and journey with him to Hollywood. We are allowed to meet other colorful stars along the way and, remarkably, in spite of reading so many biographies on each one – Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, Norma Shearer, Mae Murray – Even Golden somehow gives readers a fresh, wonderful look at each star.

I truly have EVEN more fondness for Greta, Norma, and Joan than I did before.

I also enjoy the behind the scenes looks at each of John Gilbert’s films – what he thought of many, how he interacted with various directors and co-stars, etc.

This is a fascinating book about a fascinating actor. Just be warned, you’ll want to see every film he made after this biography!

This is the fifth Eve Golden book I’ve read so far (all wonderful old Hollywood biographies), and it is my favorite. While I love them all, there’s something extraordinary about this book. Unless I miss my guess, John Gilbert is a star who holds a great deal of fascination for the author and it comes through on each and every page.

I was sent this excellent book from The University Press of Kentucky in exchange for telling you about it. The review, the words, and all the rest was left up to me. I hope you’ll read John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars (Amazon link) very soon – I am so anxious for more people to “meet” this colorful, complex, and deliciously entertaining actor! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars

More Old Hollywood Biography and Memoir Reviews on Hollywood Yesterday.

Olivia de Havilland: Lady Triumphant by Victoria Amador (Raving Review of the Next Book You Need to Read)

March 28, 2022 By Joi

Olivia de Havilland: Lady Triumphant

Before reading Olivia de Havilland: Lady Triumphant by Victoria Amador, I would have described Olivia de Havilland this way: “One of the most talented, beautiful, strong, and beloved stars of all time.”

AFTER reading Olivia de Havilland: Lady Triumphant by Victoria Amador, I would have described Olivia de Havilland this way: “One of the most talented, beautiful, strong, and beloved stars of all time… and quite possibly the most complex and completely fascinating one.”

For whatever reasons, it seems that many of my favorite actors and actresses were, at one time or another (in varying degrees) were capable of being…. well… hell on wheels. Henry Fonda, Ann Sheridan, Olivia de Havilland, James Cagney, Bette Davis… I dearly love each star but can’t even begin to count the time I’ve read something about each one and thought, “Holy cats, why did he/she say that?!” or “Wow… why did they act that way?!”

I mean, when they felt they were in the right, they could out-stubborn any mule in the county. Over time, I’ve decided that they said “that” and acted “that way” because they darn well felt they were in the right!

Good enough for me.

Olivia de Havilland, Dodge City

Olivia de Havilland, without question, was one of the most talented of all old Hollywood actresses. She was also, unquestionably, one of the most beautiful. Somehow her beauty was seldom the focus in the majority of her roles. In fact, we’re often (bizarre as it is) expected to view her as the “less attractive” female in a film or as the ‘invisible” one. Each time it happens, I think, “What a crock of bull!”

She was stunning, period.

Another claim that can be made for this extraordinary actress is that she was one of the all-time most loved and universally appreciated and respected stars ever. EVER. I will always be so very thankful that she lived long enough to realize this and I like to believe it meant as much to her as her films, awards, and many accolades.

From the Back Cover:

Legendary actress and two-time Academy Award winner Olivia de Havilland (1916–2020) is best known for her role as Melanie Wilkes in Gone with the Wind (1939). She often inhabited characters who were delicate, elegant, and refined. At the same time, she was a survivor with a fierce desire to direct her own destiny on and off the screen. She won a lawsuit against Warner Bros. over a contract dispute that changed the studio contract system forever, and is also noted for her long feud with her sister, actress Joan Fontaine.

Victoria Amador utilizes extensive interviews and forty years of personal correspondence with de Havilland to present an in-depth look at the life and career of this celebrated actress, from her theatrical ambitions at a young age to becoming one of the most well-known starlets in Tinseltown. Readers are given an inside look at her love affairs with iconic cinema figures such as James Stewart and John Huston, as well as her onscreen partnership with Errol Flynn. Amador also details how de Havilland became the first woman to serve as the president of the Cannes Film Festival in 1965, and showcases how, even in her later years, she remained active but selective in film and television until 1988. A new chapter covers de Havilland’s death at the age of 104 in July 2020.

Olivia de Havilland: Lady Triumphant is a tribute to one of Hollywood’s greatest legends―a lady who evolved from a gentle heroine to a strong-willed, respected, and admired artist.

About the Author: Victoria Amador has taught at a number of universities in the United Kingdom and other countries. She is the author of The Gothic Portal: An Online Resource for Academics and Aficionados of Gothic Cultural Productions from 1976 to 2008, and a number of articles on the gothic in film and literature.

At the first of the book review, I mentioned that Olivia de Havilland was “…quite possibly the most complex and completely fascinating..’ star of all time. Trust me when I say I’ve read about a lot of old Hollywood stars. A LOT. My shelves are full of biographies and autobiographies I’ve read and reread. Many actors, actresses, and directors were fascinating – many said and did wonderfully interesting things. But none top the lady we’re talking about today.

What made her so complex and fascinating? Where do I begin? For one thing her feminine, graceful… often even delicate… appearance and her refined manners were in direct contrast to the strong, fiery, and (at times) stubborn woman who resided behind them.

Think of the character of Melanie in Gone with the Wind. Arguably the strongest characters in the entire film, Mammy and Melanie, are not the ones you’d immediately equate with strength. When you see photos of Olivia de Havilland as Melanie, or say Maid Marion, you don’t necessarily see fierceness… and yet, this lady was completely fierce!

In her extraordinary biography, Victoria Amador presents all sides of Olivia de Havilland and, in doing so, she gives us a picture of an extraordinary lady – even more extraordinary than we ever dared to hope she would be!

I would imagine that there were a few times when the author (out of great affection and respect for her subject) weighed whether or not to include something in particular. I could see myself asking, “Should I point out that Olivia had somewhat of a tantrum, here?” or “Do I HAVE to mention that the cast and crew didn’t really care for her? Maybe I could just leave that out…”

However, leaving out even the smallest detail wouldn’t provide this complex look at a very complex lady.

Olivia de Havilland took on an entire studio and changed a system that had been in place in Hollywood long before she arrived. An actress did that! During a time when women simply weren’t supposed to do such things. The same Olivia de Havilland spoke of co-stars and acquaintances with great respect and never spoke out of turn or stooped to vulgar gossip or name-calling. Her upbringing and manners were almost always on display… until they didn’t serve her, that is!

I hope my great affection for this actress comes through in my words because I certainly feel it in my heart. She was one in a billion and I am fascinated by her. Was she perfect? Oh, heck no. Did she apparently behave in a way that probably made her a pain in the butt for co-stars and crews. Oh, you bet she did! But here’s the thing, I wouldn’t dare hope for her to have been any different… and, when you read this wonderful book, neither will you.

I also love that each of Olivia’s films are presented, one by one, with WONDERFUL information about the plot, cast, director, and (best of all) Olivia’s views of each. The films she made with Errol Flynn are presented in a way where you feel the emotions and the passion of the two stars. I also very much love all of the details about her relationships with James Stewart and John Huston and, as a Henry Fonda fanatic, I love how much respect Olivia had for him.

Love it a great deal.

I hope you’ll grab a copy of Victoria Amador’s extraordinary Olivia de Havilland biography right away. Olivia and all of the other (some, nearly as fascinating as the lady, herself) stars in the book will provide you with a visit you’ll never forget.

Olivia de Havilland: Lady Triumphant (Amazon link) by Victoria Amador is available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle on Amazon.