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.

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.

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn, The Charge of the Light Brigade

Hitchcock and the Censors by John Bellheimer (Review of a Fascinating Book!)

February 21, 2022 By Joi

Hitchcock and the Censors

Though I have never taken Film History college courses, I do consider myself somewhat of a film historian. I mean, I’ve probably read as many books about Hollywood (primarily old Hollywood) as any film historian with a degree to show for their efforts! The main differences are that I never have to pass difficult tests, write essays, finance the great education, and (admittedly) my self studies are confined to old Hollywood, whereas those with college educations study a far greater number of films and different eras.

I have built up (and continue to do so regularly) a wonderful library of books that provide a wealth of information. Books about Alfred Hitchcock, not surprisingly, provide a great deal of information and insight into making films during that particular period of time.

Description of Hitchcock and the Censors From Amazon:

Edgar Award Winner: This lively account of the director’s battles with the Code Office is “an essential addition to any Hitchcock shelf” (Mystery Scene Magazine).

From 1934 to 1968, the Motion Picture Production Code Office controlled the content and final cut on all films made and distributed in the United States. Code officials protected sensitive ears from standard four-letter words, as well as a few five-letter words like tramp and six-letter words like cripes. They also scrubbed “excessively lustful” kissing from the screen and ensured that no criminal went unpunished. Thus, throughout his career, Alfred Hitchcock had to deal with a wide variety of censors attuned to the slightest suggestion of sexual innuendo, undue violence, toilet humor, religious disrespect, and all forms of indecency, real or imagined.

During their review of Hitchcock’s films, the censors demanded an average of 22.5 changes, ranging from the mundane to the mind-boggling, on each of his American films. Code reviewers dictated the ending of Rebecca, absolved Cary Grant of guilt in Suspicion, edited Cole Porter’s lyrics in Stage Fright, decided which shades should be drawn in Rear Window, and shortened the shower scene in Psycho.

In Hitchcock and the Censors, John Billheimer traces the forces that led to the Production Code and describes Hitchcock’s interactions with code officials on a film-by-film basis as he fought to protect his creations, bargaining with code reviewers and sidestepping censorship to produce a lifetime of memorable films. Despite the often-arbitrary decisions of the code board, Hitchcock still managed to push the boundaries of sex and violence permitted in films by charming—and occasionally tricking—the censors and by swapping off bits of dialogue, plot points, and individual shots (some of which had been deliberately inserted as trading chips) to protect cherished scenes and images. By examining Hitchcock’s priorities in dealing with the censors, this work highlights the director’s theories of suspense as well as his magician-like touch when negotiating with code officials. Read more on Amazon (Amazon link).

Alfred Hitchcock on the Set of Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock is a favorite director of many film lovers (including mine). The man was a genius. After reading Hitchcock and the Censors by John Billheimer, I’ve realized that he was even more of a genius than I ever gave him credit for!

From the Back Cover

Throughout his career, Alfred Hitchcock had to contend with a wide variety of censors attuned to the slightest suggestion of sexual innuendo, undue violence, toilet humor, religious disrespect, and all forms of indecency, real or imagined. From 1934 to 1968, the Motion Picture Production Code Office controlled the content and final cut on all films made and distributed in the United States. During their review of Hitchcock’s films, the censors demanded an average of 22.5 changes, ranging from the mundane to the mind-boggling, on each of his American films.

In his award-winning Hitchcock and the Censors, author John Billheimer traces the forces that led to the Production Code and describes Hitchcock’s interactions with code officials on a film-by-film basis as he fought to protect his creations, bargaining with code reviewers and sidestepping censorship to produce a lifetime of memorable films. Despite the often-arbitrary decisions of the code board, Hitchcock still managed to push the boundaries of sex and violence permitted in films by charming—and occasionally tricking—the censors, and by swapping off bits of dialogue, plot points, and individual shots (some of which had been deliberately inserted as trading chips) to protect cherished scenes and images. By examining Hitchcock’s priorities in dealing with the censors, this work highlights the director’s theories of suspense as well as his magician-like touch when negotiating with code officials.

I have a peculiar habit when meeting a new book that I have probably confessed on the old Hollywood blog before… I go straight to the index and search for names of my favorite stars… then I read what is said about each one on the pages listed. I know, I know, it goes against every rule of reading a book from front to back, but I find that I simply MUST read about my favorites before actually beginning at the first.

When I first sat down with this fascinating book, I found SO MANY of my favorites listed in the index that I grabbed a tall glass of raspberry tea and settled in my favorite den chair and got comfortable. Maureen O’Hara, Henry Fonda, James Stewart, Lucille Ball, Barbara Bel Geddes, Ingrid Bergman, Robert Montgomery, Ethel Barrymore, Anne Baxter, Joan Fontaine, Grace Kelly, Janet Leigh, Cary Grant… I found a wealth of information for each star and, in spite of reading about each one regularly, learning new things about many of them along the way.

Make no mistake about it, however, Alfred Hitchcock is the star of this show and rightfully so. I have more profound respect for him, his talent, his PATIENCE, his willpower, and his lasting fingerprints on moviemaking and film as we know it.

There were about 20 times, in the course of reading this book that I LITERALLY closed the book, sat it down, and took a moment to process what I had read… to absorb, if you will, the boldness of of the man and the magic of the legend.

I was fascinated beyond belief the number of battles he had to wage over somewhat expected things such as kissing to a fairly unexpected wink that, in my opinion, brilliantly and poetically closed his career. Whether you love film history, Hitchcock, and/or MANY of old Hollywood’s greatest stars, this is absolutely the next book you need to add to your library.

You can find this wonderful book on University Press of Kentucky or Amazon (Amazon link).

Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise by Scott Eyman (Book Review of a Fascinating Biography)

January 24, 2022 By Joi

The Garner Files and Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise

Before I get to my review of the extraordinary Cary Grant biography by Scott Eyman, I’ll remind anyone who reads my Old Hollywood and Classic TV Book Reviews that I go to great lengths to keep from giving anything away (including not showing any of the pictures inside the book).

I want the reader to experience the book as I did – with the luxury of making their own lovely discoveries along the way! It’s what’s best for the reader and what’s best for the author. An author, after all, devotes years to writing about their subject, carefully planning everything from the title of the book to the photos used inside. For anyone to give away or over-share what they’ve worked so hard to put together is, in my opinion, about as wrong as wrong gets.

I love watching old movies and classic television with an unmeasured passion and I love reading biographies and autobiographies of the stars with an equal passion. I am ALWAYS in the middle of at least two “new to me books,” while carrying around at least 4 additional books for cross-referencing the new books and researching for posts or Tweets.

I take this commitment to keeping these wonderful stars’ legacies alive and well very seriously!

Fortunately there are authors such as Scott Eyman who feel just as strongly. If I had been a star from the Golden days of Hollywood, he’s one of the first authors that comes to mind when I think of the one I’d want to write about me. He’s thorough, fair-minded, and never writes with even an ounce of salaciousness or judgment. He doesn’t try to sensationalize the star’s life and seems to always remember that the star was, first and foremost, a human being.

When I’m reading an old Hollywood biography, there is one word that comes to the forefront of my mind when I begin reading and it stays there until the end. The word is respect. If I ever detect that the author does not respect the individual they’re writing about, I throw the book out, simple as that. It has happened before and I’m, unfortunately, sure it’ll happen again.

Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise

Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise (Amazon link)

Scott Eyman’s biography, Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise (Amazon link), is… understandably.. a must have for Cary Grant fans but it’s also a must have for anyone who loves old Hollywood. Through the fascinating exploration of Cary Grant’s life, you bump into a whole world of other stars – something that always intrigues me. You often get to see a whole other side of a star when you bump into them this way. For example, a June Allyson autobiography gave me more beautiful insight into Judy Garland than any Judy Garland biography I’d ever read.

The same is true with this compelling book. Seeing Cary Grant’s co-stars through his experience is an eye-opener and I find myself EVEN bigger fans of two in particular: Grace Kelly and Ingrid Bergman. I already adored Katharine Hepburn to distraction or she’d be right there with them.

One of the things I love most about this biography is the fact that, while I knew a great deal about “Cary Grant who was once known as Archie Leach,” I knew next to nothing about “Archie Leach who would one day be known as Cary Grant.”

In fact, something occurred to me about half way through the book. You know the incredible performance Hayley Mills gave in The Parent Trap (1961)? The way she convinced you there really WERE two actresses playing the roles?! I am fascinated by the way author Scott Eyman presented what often seemed to be two personas (Archie and Cary) yet, at the same time, blends them together to give us the legend we only thought we knew.

We see early on things that shaped Archie Leach‘s life that HAD to have lasting effects on the man who he’d become, Cary Grant.

I’ll be honest with you, this Archie guy was every bit as interesting! The way his mind worked and the level of confidence stopped me in my tracks a few times. His audaciousness will always stick with me – and I do not mean that in a bad way, whatsoever.

Was Cary Grant perfect? Did he always make the best decisions, say the right things, and do only reputable things? Heck no! And frankly, I’m glad of it – what a boring book that would have made! I’m sure a great author like Scott Eyman could have made it interesting, of course, but I’m relieved Cary Grant didn’t make that necessary as there was no part of his life that was ordinary or even remotely boring.

This amazing, hard to put down biography is nearly 500 pages in length and is the definitive biography on Cary Grant. There are 56 photos which are truly remarkable – many I’d never seen, in spite of spending a GREAT deal of my life’s waking hours in Old Hollywood. Well, non-waking hours too, if we’re being completely honest.

I truly hope you’ll grab a copy of Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise (Amazon link) as soon as possible. I’m very anxious for more people to see just how complex and interesting Cary Grant was. There was so much more to him than most of us realize and I am forever grateful that author Scott Eyman brought it to light.

While this book would be a wonderful addition to your own library, it would also make an excellent gift for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or Valentine’s Day.

Thanks so much for reading my review. You’re going to absolutely love this book! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise (Back Cover)

The New Year Brings a Few Changes to Hollywood Yesterday!

December 31, 2021 By Joi

Olivia de Havilland, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

First of all, I will be adding a lot more content on the old Hollywood and classic television blog in the coming year.

More reviews of movies and classic tv shows.
More book reviews (biographies, autobiographies, reference books, memoirs..)
More biographical information about the stars and directors we love so much.
More quotes from these stars and directors.
More quotes from movies, radio shows, and classic television shows.
More collectibles for those of us who adore them.
More classic cartoons and animated movies – two personal obsessions that I don’t talk nearly enough about!

More content is a better way to keep the stars’ shining brightly and to encourage old Hollywood friends like you to see their films and read their biographies.

At first I considered stopping the Picture of the Day but, after thinking about it, I’m going to keep it going and simply add more content as well.

Also, about the comments. Blogs have “plugins,” little beauties that help the blogger run their blog more efficiently. One such plugin I used for years helped keep “spam” out of the comments. Unfortunately this plugin simply stopped working and I have been flooded with spam comments – so many that I can’t even see the quality ones half the time! For this reason, I have disabled comments until I can find a new plugin that actually comes to work each day!

In the meantime, if you have something you’d like to tell me, my e-mail address is to the right and on my About page and Contact Page. Also, I am always on my Hollywood Yesterday Twitter Page – if you want to discuss any film or star, I’d love to hear from you! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Olivia De Havilland 1946 Photo Print (Amazon link)

Jayne Mansfield: The Girl Couldn’t Help It by Eve Golden (Book Review)

November 30, 2021 By Joi

Jayne Mansfield Biography by Eve Golden

I’ve often wished for a really well-written, extensively-researched biography about Jayne Mansfield and my wish has been granted! Jayne Mansfield: The Girl Couldn’t Help It (Amazon link), by Eve Golden, is exactly the book I’ve always wanted in my personal library. The author treats the mysterious and complex Jayne Mansfield with respect and admiration – as a woman and not simply an iconic figure WITH an iconic figure.

Many old Hollywood actresses are treated as one dimensional by writers… so much so that it’s always very refreshing to see one treated as a person first and Hollywood legend second.`

Jayne Mansfield (19331967) was driven not just to be an actress but to be a star. One of the most influential sex symbols of her time, she was known for her platinum blonde hair, hourglass figure, outrageously low necklines, and flamboyant lifestyle. Hardworking and ambitious, Mansfield proved early in her career that she was adept in both comic and dramatic roles, but her tenacious search for the spotlight and her risqué promotional stunts caused her to be increasingly snubbed in Hollywood.

In the first definitive biography of Mansfield, Eve Golden offers a joyful account of the star Andy Warhol called “the poet of publicity,” revealing the smart, determined woman behind the persona. While she always had her sights set on the silver screen, Mansfield got her start as Rita Marlowe in the Broadway show Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?. She made her film debut in the low-budget drama Female Jungle (1955) before landing the starring role in The Girl Can’t Help It (1956). Mansfield followed this success with a dramatic role in The Wayward Bus (1957), winning a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year, and starred alongside Cary Grant in Kiss Them for Me (1957). Despite her popularity, her appearance as the first celebrity in Playboy and her nude scene in Promises! Promises! (1963) cemented her reputation as an outsider.

By the 1960s, Mansfield’s film career had declined, but she remained very popular with the public. She capitalized on that popularity through in-person and TV appearances, nightclub appearances, and stage productions. Her larger-than-life life ended sadly when she passed away at age thirty-four in a car accident.

Golden looks beyond Mansfield’s flashy public image and tragic death to fully explore her life and legacy. She discusses Mansfield’s childhood, her many loves―including her famous on-again, off-again relationship with Miklós “Mickey” Hargitay―her struggles with alcohol, and her sometimes tumultuous family relationships. She also considers Mansfield’s enduring contributions to American popular culture and celebrity culture. This funny, engaging biography offers a nuanced portrait of a fascinating woman who loved every minute of life and lived each one to the fullest.

Jayne Mansfield: The Girl Couldn’t Help It (Amazon link) isn’t just a fast-reading, highly enjoyable biography, it’s a beautiful coffee table book as well and one that guest would very much enjoy looking through. There are many wonderful photos in the center of the book, many of which I’d never seen (and I live in old Hollywood 24/7!).

Something else that stands out to me is the humor. This feels like an enriching film history text book but without the dryness that comes with a lot of such books. There’s wonderful humor and a colorful personality emanating from each page.

A few of the raving reviews this wonderful book has received:

“There have been other Jayne Mansfield books―but none like this one. Eve Golden’s even-handed, clear-eyed approach to Jayne’s often convoluted life pegs Jayne Mansfield: The Girl Couldn’t Help It as one of the best star bios ever.”―Laura Wagner, book reviewer for Classic Images and author of Hollywood’s Hard-Luck Ladies

“Eve Golden has given us an impeccably researched, fast-paced, unvarnished but loving tribute to one of Hollywood’s great 1950s blonde bombshells.”―Robert Dance, author of Glamour of the Gods and Hollywood Icons

“Pop the pink champagne for Eve Golden’s breezily written tribute to the phenomenon known as Jayne Mansfield, which quite notably includes an appreciation of her undervalued talent and sadly unfulfilled potential. Immersed in the giddy pleasures of mid-century pop culture, this book is consistently entertaining while always respectful. Even when it’s funny, it never treats Mansfield as a joke.”―John DiLeo, author of Ten Movies at a Time: A 350-Film Journey Through Hollywood and America 1930-1970

“Eve Golden brings impeccable research and stylish writing to this mid-century American icon. Jayne Mansfield: The Girl Couldn’t Help It dispels the myths about Jayne Mansfield and examines her continuing popularity.”―Larry Harnisch, retired L.A. Times editor, writer, columnist and blogger

“As Eve Golden reveals in this ferociously readable biography, there were always two Jayne Mansfields: a dramatic actress who dressed like a stripper, an avowed Christian and serial adulteress, an animal-lover swathed in mink. Ms. Golden takes on the daunting task of reconciling these contradictions and succeeds admirably, giving us a vivid, well-rounded (no pun intended) account of a unique life.”―Stage and Cinema

“Exemplary in its research and detail, Golden’s book may well become the definitive word―if not the last word―on the Mansfield story.”―Library Journal

“An engrossing picture of a woman who was both a throwback to classic Hollywood glamour and a harbinger of modern, “famous for being famous” reality stars.”―Foreword Reviews

“Golden treats Mansfield with respect and sympathy. [Golden] delves deep into her life, past the gossip and (increasingly desperate) publicity stunts that so dominated her career, to reveal the insecurities that truly dominated, and eventually decimated, her life.”―YES! Weekly

“In this eye-opening, intriguing and oft-times laugh-out-loud biography of the busty blonde bombshell, Eve Golden has managed to bring to three dimensional life the facts and fantasies surrounding the ubiquitous sex symbol of the 50’s and 60’s.”―oscaremoore.com

“In Jayne Mansfield: The Girl Couldn’t Help It, Golden tells the story of a 1960’s American icon who made a name for herself in the entertainment industry and also in pop culture – and this was before the evolution of social media and more modern-day methods of self-promotion. She was a reality show unto herself. Golden’s book delves into the world of that self-promotion and also how relevant it is today.”―Newsnotes Dance Blog

“In Golden’s capable hands, Mansfield becomes a multi-dimensional person―never just a joke with a big bosom. The research is scrupulous and meticulous, showing us Jayne’s complex nature in startling detail. She’s not perfect, of course, and Golden describes her affairs and mistakes, while also making her sympathetic. . . . This is a definitive, stylish biography, separating fact from fiction, presenting the good with the bad. There has been quite a lot of fiction attached to Mansfield, and Jayne Mansfield: The Girl Couldn’t Help It is here to sort it all out.”―Laura Wagner, Classic Images

“As with any person we encounter on screen or in the pages of a magazine, Jayne Mansfield was more than just what the media portrayed. These other facets of her life as well as what the public saw is what author Eve Golden has chronicled in her new biography, Jayne Mansfield: The Girl Couldn’t Help It. Golden takes her reader through a very detailed account of Mansfield’s entire life bringing forth a more holistic picture of the Hollywood legend as a celebrity, actress, mother, woman, and person.”―Cinema Sentries

Final Thoughts…

After reading a book, I often ask myself, “If I were to write a book about this particular subject, would I do so after reading this particular book?” Often I answer, “Yes, because I’d like to know more about ____ or I wish the individual had been fleshed out in more detail…” but after reading Eve Golden’s Jayne Mansfield: The Girl Couldn’t Help It (Amazon link), not only is my answer, “No, there’d be absolutely no need to!,” I have no idea why anyone else would even bother as well.

The definitive (and highly, highly enjoyable) book has been written.

About the Author

Eve Golden is the author of numerous theater and film biographies, including Anna Held and the Birth of Ziegfeld’s Broadway, The Brief, Madcap Life of Kay Kendall, and John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars.

This is just one of the many, many wonderful books from The University Press of Kentucky. They have SO MANY books dealing with Old Hollywood, it’s one of the first places I send people who are looking for such books.

Thank you so much for reading! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Mean…Moody…Magnificent! by Christina Rice (Fascinating Book about Jane Russell)

November 15, 2021 By Joi

Mean…Moody…Magnificent! by Christina Rice

Before I go any further…. about the eye-catching title: This is not an assessment of Jane Russell by the author or publisher! When you see, early in the wonderful book, where the title comes from, you’ll get a kick out of it.

It may seem unusual for someone like me (completely immersed in all things old Hollywood) to say, but Jane Russell is a star I’ve never been particularly familiar with. Naturally, I’ve always known who she was and certainly knew she was very beautiful and very talented. We simply haven’t crossed paths often as I have not seen many of her films.

After reading Christina Rice‘s (link to the author’s Amazon profile) fascinating biography, however, I plan to see each and every one.

Description

By the early 1950s, Jane Russell (1921–2011) should have been forgotten. Her career was launched on what is arguably the most notorious advertising campaign in cinema history, which invited filmgoers to see Howard Hughes’s The Outlaw (1943) and to “tussle with Russell.” Throughout the 1940s, she was nicknamed the “motionless picture actress” and had only three films in theaters. With such a slow, inauspicious start, most aspiring actresses would have given up or faded away. Instead, Russell carved out a place for herself in Hollywood and became a memorable and enduring star.

Christina Rice offers the first biography of the actress and activist perhaps most well-known for her role in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). Despite the fact that her movie career was stalled for nearly a decade, Russell’s filmography is respectable. She worked with some of Hollywood’s most talented directors—including Howard Hawks, Raoul Walsh, Nicholas Ray, and Josef von Sternberg—and held her own alongside costars such as Marilyn Monroe, Robert Mitchum, Clark Gable, Vincent Price, and Bob Hope. She also learned how to fight back against Howard Hughes, her boss for more than thirty-five years, and his marketing campaigns that exploited her physical appearance.

Beyond the screen, Rice reveals Russell as a complex and confident woman. She explores the star’s years as a spokeswoman for Playtex as well as her deep faith and work as a Christian vocalist. Rice also discusses Russell’s leadership and patronage of the WAIF foundation, which for many years served as the fundraising arm of the International Social Service (ISS) agency. WAIF raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, successfully lobbied Congress to change laws, and resulted in the adoption of tens of thousands of orphaned children. For Russell, the work she did to help unite families overshadowed any of her onscreen achievements.

On the surface, Jane Russell seemed to live a charmed life, but Rice illuminates her darker moments and her personal struggles, including her empowered reactions to the controversies surrounding her films and her feelings about being portrayed as a sex symbol. This stunning first biography offers a fresh perspective on a star whose legacy endures not simply because she forged a notable film career, but also because she effectively used her celebrity to benefit others.

Mean…Moody…Magnificent! by Christina Rice

As you can tell from the three photos in this post, Christina Rice and Jane Russell spent this past summer with me. We tended to flower beds, herb beds, vegetables, and then we’d crash and escape into the world old Hollywood. It was glorious and they were excellent company.

While I never like to swim in controversial waters… heck, I don’t even like to wade into them… I feel I must get something out of the way. When one Christian (as Jane Russell was and as I am) takes a stance or voices their opinion, that opinion casts a large blanket over all of Christianity and the words tend to stick to all Christians…. as though we had said them ourselves (when, many times, we are as taken aback by the words as anyone). Why is this? I have no idea. It doesn’t happen with… say… Leos, Texans, brunettes, Democrats, Republicans, Australians, Vegetarians, Tree huggers (raises hand), the Keto crowd (guys, how can you live without potatoes?!?) or other groups of people. It seems pretty exclusive to religious groups. I often read something along the lines of, “all Catholics believe….” or “when Christians say…”

Basically, if you want to know what an individual (who happens to live within a particular group of people) believes, you need to get that from them. Not someone else. That’s all.

I want to thank Christina Rice for realizing this. Many authors take what one person believes or says and tattoos everyone else with it. This simply isn’t reality. The author, as any mature individual would do, treats her subject with respect, whether she agrees with everything the legendary star said or not.

That’s class. That’s decency. That’s appreciated.

As someone who wasn’t very familiar with this fascinating star, I was very anxious to meet her and boy did she exceeded my expectations?! The lady was an absolute joy and what a study in contrasts! If I had had a thought bubble over my head as I read this book, you’d have seen the word “Fascinating!” a million times.

Not only did Jane Russell, herself, leave me gobsmacked, so did the gorgeous photos, the author’s enthusiasm, and the stroll through old Hollywood.

You meet the most wonderful people along the way.

Christina Russell gives more than just a glimpse into Jane Russell’s life and experiences, you also get to know others better through the process.

After reading a book – whether it’s an old Hollywood biography, historical non-fiction, or Agatha Christie mystery – something always, always, always stays with me from the book. If it’s a biography or autobiography, facets from the star’s life or words from their lips stick with me. Often, however, something from the author will also become a lifelong companion. In this case, Jane Russell’s boldness and contrasts will permanently reside in my mind and heart. She truly was a remarkable woman and did a LOT of good that transcends Hollywood.

Something else from Mean…Moody…Magnificent will stick with me and that’s the manner in which the wonderful author, Christina Rice, handled her star – with great, great respect mixed with an understandable level of amusement and enjoyment! She did what any great author should do – she fully told the story of her subject, holding nothing back. A great author is like a great journalist – they give the facts and keep themselves out of the story…. rather, allowing the reader to make up their own minds about events, quotes, and choices.

That’s class. That’s decency. That’s appreciated.

You can find Mean… Moody…. Magnificent by Christina Rice on University Press of Kentucky’s website (if you’re fast, you can take advantage of their great Holiday Sale!). This would be a gorgeous gift idea for any film lover in your life.

You can also find Mean…Moody…Magnificent (Amazon link) on Amazon… where I just saw that Christina Rice has an Ann Dvorak biography?! (I told Ann I would be right back, and that’s where I’m headed!)

~ Thanks so very much for reading! Joi (“Joy”)

Mean…Moody…Magnificent! by Christina Rice

Wonderful James Garner Memoir: The Garner Files (Review)

November 14, 2021 By Joi

The Garner Files, A Memoir by James Garner

If you’ve ever seen one of my “top 10” favorite actor lists, you already know that James Garner is one of my absolute favorites. Like Lucille Ball (another absolute), James Garner wasn’t just phenomenal on the small screen, he left his mark on the big screen as well. He was masterful at drama, comedy, westerns, romantic films… there simply wasn’t a role this talented actor couldn’t play.

Like a handful of stars from “Hollywood Yesterday,” he has another distinction I believe would make him very, very happy: He’s one of those actors everyone seems to like! Does he make everyone’s list of top 10 favorite movie actors? No… not everyone’s, but that’s only because they’ve yet to see…

Murphy’s Romance
Support Your Local Sheriff!
Victor Victoria
Support Your Local Gunfighter
The Notebook
Marlowe
How Sweet it Is
Duel at Diablo
Etc!

However, everyone LIKES James Garner. He had a wonderful personality, wasn’t involved in embarrassing scandals, and tried to make the world a better place for everyone… not just himself.

Anyone who has seen any of this wonderful actor’s films knows what I’m talking about when I say he had something extra special – a once in a lifetime charisma and likability that came through every scene. Debbie Reynolds, Eve Arden, Jimmy Stewart, Ann-Margret, Jack Lemmon, and James Garner are six stars I think of immediately when I think of this extra special quality.

(Continued below one of my cats, Delilah, clearly a James Garner fan as well…)

James Garner and One of His Adoring Fans, Delilah

As I’ve often said, I read A LOT about stars from old Hollywood, classic television, old music, and old radio shows. Call it a passion… or call it an obsession – either shoe fits. I’ve read about far too many men and women to even begin to count but there are a few who always, always, always stand out as having been almost too good to be true.

James Garner is one of these “too good to be true” stars. He was incredibly talented, outrageously colorful, charismatic, a very GOOD person, a loving family man, and genuinely cared for other people and animals. Civil rights and animals were particularly important to him.

Let’s just go ahead and state the obvious… he was one in a million.

The wonderful book pictured here is The Garner Files: A Memoir (Amazon link) by James Garner and Jon Winokur and it’s one of my all-time favorites. Ever seen an episode of The Rockford Files or one of the best romantic comedies (and a movie I am in love with!) Murphy’s Romance? The book reads as though Jim Rockford or Murphy Jones is visiting with you. Come on… how are you going to beat that?!

Product Description:
Told in the charming and self-deprecating style that has made him one of America’s most beloved celebrities—the real story behind Hollywood legend James Garner, from his Depression-era childhood to his colorful career.

His incredible story, in his own words.

One of Hollywood’s all-time great leading men, James Garner enjoyed a remarkable career spanning six decades, and whether you know him as Bret Maverick or Jim Rockford, his appeal bridges generations. Few know the real story, now told in this intimate memoir of growing up in Depression-era Oklahoma and triumphing in Hollywood.

After physical abuse at the hands of his stepmother, Garner left home at fourteen. He was Oklahoma’s first draftee of the Korean War, receiving two Purple Hearts for combat wounds. Back in Los Angeles in need of a job, Garner reluctantly tried acting and was surprised to find his career taking off. Working with such luminaries as Julie Andrews, Marlon Brando, Steve McQueen, and Clint Eastwood, he became a star in his own right. He threw himself into his work, and despite stage fright and bouts of depression, constant physical pain and epic battles with the Hollywood establishment, he became the acting equivalent of a national monument.

Written with Jon Winokur, The Garner Files is a wry, engaging self-portrait chronicling the vagaries of a screen career along with the cast of personal and professional characters that helped shape a great American life. – From Amazon

James Garner and Sally Field, Murphy’s Romance

“[an] enjoyable memoir…there’s plenty to love in this book. Garner…has a knack for telling a story and finding the perfect quote to tie it all together…charming…[It] resembles a conversation with an old friend who loves to tell colorful stories.” –PublishersWeekly.com

James Garner has been one of my favorite stars for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, I watched him on reruns of Cheyenne and Maverick with my dad and then, when it came to The Rockford Files, it was watched and celebrated each week like a University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball game (if you’re familiar with basketball fever in Kentucky, you’ll know how huge this was!).

We also never missed one of his movies. He was my dad’s favorite actor and he quickly became one of mine as well. He still is – right up there with James Stewart, Henry Fonda, and Buster Keaton.

Being such a fan of this actor, I have read countless articles, quotes, and books. Before reading The Garner Files: A Memoir (Amazon link), I thought I knew a great deal about him and believed I had a pretty good mental picture of the actor as a person.

I was wrong. I didn’t even know half as much as I thought I knew. Not until reading about his childhood, career, and much loved family in his own words did I understand the many facets and layers to this wonderful actor and quality human being.

“Garner follows his own heroic dictum: Plenty of self-deprecating, humor, a general air of live-and-let-live, but when it comes down to it, no pulled punches. For Garner fans, ‘The Garner Files’ is catnip…it is a fine, frank and fun collection.” –LOS ANGELES TIMES

James Garner as Jim Rockford

I want desperately to give away fascinating (and often as juicy as a summer peach!) details and quotes, but (as I often say with my book reviews and movie reviews, too, for that matter), I want future readers to come across the treasure as unexpectedly as I did.

Suffice to say, you will laugh and you will cry. He was, by all accounts, as likable, honest, and funny as the many lovable characters he brought to life.

“Garner tells his life story with the same wry, self-effacing charm that characterized his classic TV characters: the laidback cowboy Bret Maverick and the down-on-his-heels gumshoe Jim Rockford…Garner comes across as likable on the page as he does on screen.” –“Kirkus Reviews”

I hope you’ll grab a copy of The Garner Files: A Memoir (Amazon link) as soon as you can and dive right in. James Garner was all class and even more entertaining and charismatic than all of his characters combined. Yes, even including Murphy and Jim!

About the Author
Jon Winokur is the author of various nonfiction books, including The Portable Curmudgeon, Zen to Go, and Advice to Writers. He lives in Los Angeles.

James Garner has starred in numerous television shows and films, from Maverick and The Rockford Files to The Great Escape with Steve McQueen and Victor Victoria with Julie Andrews.