Lana Turner Books

This is that rarity, a film book that is at once a labor of love, a valuable piece of reportage and a beautiful example of design work. Its author, Lou Valentino, was for years an associate art director of LIFE Magazine. He is also the world's foremost collector of Turner photos and memorabilia. His knowledge and love of his subject -- perhaps the ultimate studio movie star -- is apparent on every page. Extremely hard to find today, it is well worth searching for.

credit is due to author lou valentino for writing and designing this superlative addition to the popular citadel "films of..." series of books which includes illustrated editions on hollywood stars as diverse as greta garbo and tyrone power, laurence olivier and alan ladd. this is one of the very best of the lot - thanks to its authors wealth of knowledge not just about turner, but also the movie factories which nurtured her shimmering star, with their corps of still photographers, costume designers, fan writers et al. beautifully produced with rare and amusing stills including several previously unpublished candids and behind the scenes glimpses of the "great" turner, and anchored to a text that is both affectionate, witty and insightful. a lovely job, and a veritable "holy grail" for fans of lana. thanks, lou!

"The Films of Lana Turner," by Lou Valentino, is the handsomest, most knowledgeable book of its type that I have ever read or seen. Valentino, the most recognized authority on and collector of Turner memorabilia, has written what amounts to a mini-biography of this beautiful, underrated film actress, inluding film-by-film descriptions and backstage glimpses of each film that are accurate and fascinating. He has opened his treasure trove of stills to provide the most lavishly illustrated pages. If Turner fans can lay hands on this book, snap it up. It is a "must" for the Lana admirer/collector.

Okay, it's this simple: If my house was on fire, this is THE book I'd save (and I own several hundred) from destruction! When I first saw the film noir masterpiece "The Postman Always Rings Twice" several years ago, I instantly became a life-long Lana Turner fan. Honestly, I think she's the most beautiful woman that ever lived! Unfortunately, books about Lana Turner are few and far between, but I'd say this is easily the cream of the crop. There's nearly 300 pages of glorious b & w photos that cover her entire life. However, don't expect to find out anything new about her many marriages, affairs, and of course the murder of Johnny Stompanato, as this book focuses mainly on her many films. I recommend her autobiography for those wanting to learn more about her personal life. This awesome book is packed with hundreds of great photos of Lana, and it examines each and every role she ever had in Hollywood. I don't know why such a fabulous book would go out-of-print, but you can still get a used copy on Amazon from a seller. If you wanna be captivated by the amazing beauty of Lana Turner then this book is an absolute must-have!

Since I cannot review my own work, I want to impart some knowledge about the publication of this saga. It was written without the consent of Lana Turner after our ten year personal and professional relationship ended badly. Bantam Books was extremely cautious in making sure that every detail of the story could be authenticated. They made me prove every word I wrote through both their 'in-house' attorneys as well as my own attorney's at Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, the largest entertainment law firm in the world. Many thanks to Don Biederman, who was my personal counsel. Jeff Rovin pointed out to me upon publication that 80% of this book was printed exactly as it came off my typewriter, which gave me the impetus to continue learning the craft. Lana Turner was the only person who did not like what I wrote (because it was all true). It was to take the spotlight off of "Always, Lana" that she conspired to dictate her 'Autobiography', which many found lacking in truth and detail. With much respect to Miss Turner, I understand how difficult it is to 'tell all' when you've spent a lifetime putting it behind you and trying to sweep it under the rug. In my case, I had nothing to lose and decided to tell it as I saw it and divulged things about myself which hurt to admit, but this book is the result of a ten year, 24/7 relationship with not only Lana Turner, but her mother, daughter, career, social life, professional triumphs and failures. In short,it's the true story of a motion picture screen queen and a man nineteen years her junior who comes into her life at the twilight of her screen career and helps her triumph in a completely new medium -- live theater! In the process, we both fell in love with the same person -- it was "Always, Lana".

i bought this book awhile ago and just recently got around to reading it! i loved it! i could tell that taylor really did care a great deal about lana, and there was no venom in his pen, although you could tell he was alittle hurt about the bad things that went on between them, he doesn't let his book mire in it! a must read for any lana fans

great work taylor!

This book is a must for Lana Turner fans and even for people like me who like her but have many others who are bigger favorites. This is a lavishly illustrated paperback that critiques Turner's career up to 1976. Basinger is clearly a fan of Turner's and is never really harsh on any of Turner's performances or even films (with a couple of exceptions from late in her career like THE BIG CUBE); Lana was obviously pleased as she referred to Basinger's comments once or twice in her 1982 autobiography!! It's nice to read something so upbeat on a lady who had often had such turmoil in her life.

My mom and I have been reading one chapter of this book each night. Now that I'm on vacation from school we watch a movie from the actress we read about the night before the following day. My mom has always talked about these actresses and I've enjoyed knowing more about their personal lives. It gives me a better understanding of their acting when I know who they were in real life.



All the famous ones are covered in "Hollywood Blondes" - My favorites are Marilyn Monroe, Judy Holliday, Betty Grable and Jean Harlow. The detailed filmographies have helped us track down which movies we want to see too. It's a real bonus to have the filmographies of each actress after their chapter.



Not all of the movies are available anymore but old movies are being found and restored all the time so hopefully some of the lost films will become available in the future. If you're a fan of the blonde actresses from many years ago, whatever your age, this is a really fun and enjoyable book to read :) :)



If you think famous people of today like Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Nicole Ritchie have their problems, after reading this book, it seems that old Hollywood celebs had the same pressures, addictions and problems. Many of the women in this book were addicted to drugs and alcohol. They had so many marriages and men in their lives, I found it hard to keep up and there were even some murders! I also found it interesting that as beautiful as they all were, their self esteem was very low. Probably the reason why they used drugs and alcohol to feel better about themselves.



Well, that's it. I just really liked this book and wanted to let you all know about it. Thanks!!!!!

I was beyond thrilled when someone told me there was a chapter about Marie McDonald in this book. I have been a huge Marie fan ever since I saw her in Promises Promises but there is not a lot of information about her out there. Thank goodness for Hollywood Blondes! This has to be the most detailed and accurate look at Marie's turbulent life. I thought they picked some stunning photos of Marie too. I wasn't surprised when I learned the authors started MarieMcDonald.org

I also like the other chapters in Hollywood Blondes. It was a good mix of bombshells from the 30s, 40s, and 50s.

I didn't like this book - I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!! If you think the stars today live crazy lives you should see the messes these classic stars got themselves into. I like to consider myself a classic film expert and I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I learned. There is a lot of information packed into this book. There are tons of quotes sprinkled throughout the book which made you feel like you were hearing the actresses tell their own story. Adding a detailed filmography at the end of every chapter was a great idea too. Also most books like this give you one or two pictures of each actress but this one is filled with dozens of great photos (some were a little dark). The best part for me was discovering actresses like Carole Landis and Barbara Payton who I didn't think much about before.

You can tell the authors have a lot of respect for these actresses because they are all written about in a mostly positive way. I hate books that treat the stars like they were saints but Hollywood Blondes doesn't do that. It gives you all the real dirt about their bad marriages, their drug problems, and their sad endings. Fanatics probably won't like seeing their idols exposed but you have to face the fact that celebrities are human beings. These blondes may have been gorgeous and talented but they were also very flawed women. After reading it you really feel sorry for them yet you still want to run out and rent their films.

I did find some factual errors but that is true with every book. There are definitely not as many errors as some of these other reviewers claim. The Jayne Mansfield and Jean Harlow chapters were actually two of my favorites. I am looking forward to Michelle Vogel and Liz Nocera's next book!

Hollywood Blondes is the title of a new but highly superficial and unoriginal book on the flaxen actresses of the silver screen by Michelle Vogel and Liz Nocera. Weaving the reader in from silly hair color commercial catchphrases, to the history of how blonde hair was revered throughout the ages, (throughout the centuries women have use horse dung, horse urine, and saffron to lighten their hair) to the introduction, these two self-proclaimed "film historians" do themselves in and let the reader know what they are in for....which certainly is NOT knowledge of famous blonde actresses.

From telling the readers about the psychological effects that blondes are supposed to be lovelier, and that only a few percentage of the world's population are naturally blonde, one gets the idea that they are over-wording just to use up more space in the book.

I will limit myself discuss the Jean Harlow chapter and add a couple of notes here on other actresses I am familiar with, so others can write their reviews on other stars they know more about.

While Jean Harlow's hair did become damage from over-bleaching, it wasn't true that, "She had no other choice but to wear a platinum blonde wig in her last seven films." In fact, Harlow was not a platinum blonde since 1935. She opted for a platinum colored wig in 1935's China Seas, as she was letting her own hair grow in. The only two films that she wore wigs after that were in Riffraff----the movie that introduced Harlow to the world as a "brownette"in 1936, and in Wife vs. Secretary. Harlow wore her own natural hair color of honey blonde hair in her other films from 1935 on, including Saratoga, her last film in 1937.
Here are some mistakes about Jean Harlow that were written on this book.

--Jean Harlow was not born in St. Louis, Missouri. It was Kansas City Missouri. Betty Grable was the one born in St. Louis.

--Harlow's mother was never referred to as "Mama Jean"; she was known as "Mother Jean."

--Jean's grandfather, Skip Harlow, was not an architect; he was a real estate broker.

--Clara Bow did not make a film called The Love Parade with Harlow. It was The Saturday Night Kid, in which Jean had a minor part.

--Charles McGrew did want Jean to have their child at the time she was pregnant.

--Howard Hughes was never "infatuated" with Jean; he was never interested and neither was she. There was no romance between the two.

--Canine star Rin Tin Tin did not die "cradled in her (Jean''s) arms." That is just a myth added to the Harlow legend.

--MGM Mogul Louis B. Mayer was not "obsessed" with Harlow; he never offered her a mink coat to have sex with her. That is a tall tale fabricated by novelist, Irving Shulman, who wrote an unaccountable, undocumented, un-researched, and false account on her life.

--Paul Bern, Jean Harlow's second husband, did not buy Jean "a mansion on Easton Dr, in Benedict Canyon." after they got married. That house was already his.

--Jean was never suspected of "being the killer" in Paul Bern's death; that is a plot from one of Jean''s movies.

--Jean did not "witnessed" Dorothy Millete killing Paul Bern. Jean was at her mother's house where she had spent the night.

--It was not "one of the biggest mistakes" for Jean to turn down King Kong, as we know it Fay Wray did nothing but scream and scream in it since the star of the picture was and will ever be: Kong!

--The character of Lola Burns in Bombshell is not patented after Jean Harlow, as the writers claim, but after Clara Bow. However, this was Jean's favorite role.

--While John Barrymore was in Dinner at Eight where Harlow was featured, Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford were not. The authors were thinking of Grand Hotel, in which Jean never appeared.

--Jean did not buy" a big mansion." She purchased the lot and her mother build it. It was called the ``White Palace," not "the big white house."

--MGM never tried to "destroy all copies" of Harlow's novel Today is Tonight. Mother Jean sold MGM the book after Jean''s death. MGM bought it help out Mother Jean economically.

--Reckless was not "loosely based on Jean and Paul Bern's real story." It was a script patented after Broadway star Libby Holman, whose husband, Zachary Smith Reynolds, had killed himself the same year that Bern did.

--Jean and her mother did not move in "a modest bungalow on North Palm Drive." It was a beautiful, Spanish styled, two-storied large home in Beverly Hills.

--Jean did not "collapsed into his (Clark Gable''s) arms" on May 24. The time was May 29 and the actor was Walter Pidgeon.

--Gable did not call "William Powell who took Jean home." She was driven in a limo back to her house by herself.

--William Powell died in 1984 not "1980."

--Mary Dees was not Jean's "long-time stand-in." Dees was hired to complete Saratoga. She never met Jean Harlow.

--Mother Jean did not die in "the same room at Good Samaritan Hospital," and she did not die on June 7th either; Mother Jean died of a massive heart attack on June 11, 1958.

As for Marilyn Monroe, the authors inform us that, "Without a doubt, Marilyn Monroe's persona was a creation of men, for men." That's part of the Monroe legend but it isn't true. By taking on Harlow's favorite color of white dresses to Lana Turner's hair styles, and Betty Grable's make up, Monroe presented her own version of the dumb blonde in the 1950's.

The misquote attributed to director Billy Wilder, where Marilyn said she was the only blonde in the films, didn't happen in Some Like It Hot (1959). The incident to what the writers are recalling was from Something's Got To Give (1962), Monroe's last and uncompleted film, and the director was George Cukor. If people watch Some Like It Hot, they can see that Monroe was in an all-blonde-girls-band. Another misquote attributed to Colombia Pictures' mogul Harry Cohn; he never said "Get me another blonde!," when he heard that Monroe had died in 1962. Monroe made only one film at Columbia when she was a starlet in 1948. She was never a contract player at Columbia; they had their own bombshell in Kim Novak. Any Monroe fan knows that she attained stardom at 20th Century Fox Films with the release Niagara in 1953, and had been that studio's contract player from 1951 till 1962.

According to the authors, Jayne Mansfield was "the poor man's Marilyn Monroe." In all my years of researching the library's microchips newspapers on Mansfield I never read that she was referred to that way. Mansfield was a Broadway star, given a highly-paid contract by Fox. Mansfield was that studio's premiere blonde star of the late 1950's. The only two films Monroe made at Fox, after her departure, were Bus Stop in 1956, and her last, Something''s Got To Give. Jayne''s market value at 20th Century Fox was twenty million dollars in late 1950's and early 60's money, which is about one hundred million in today''s money.

In a grave error the authors state that Lana Turner's Cheryl Crane "...shot and killed her (Turner's) gangster boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato..." and then telling us that "Cheryl stabbed him with the knife" in the Lana Turner chapter. At this rate one wonders, who did this book's editing? I found most of the chapters that I read to be careless, rehashed stuff from similar and equally badly written books. The authors use unverified websites as reference, quote sensationalist books, and worse, misquote a lot and resort to tabloid-trash writing. I would advise any reader to skip this book at all costs, not even for the photographs, which are studio-standard photos that any fan is probably familiar with. The writers just didn't care or know about reporting fresh, insightful, and true accounts of these stars' lives.

This book is sensational. From the gorgeous cover to the well written text. Vogel andher co-author, I do not know but am now a fan of, have really been great in their work. This book went into why Hollywood Blondes lived such tortured lives. Sure there are things in here, that some reviewers can and will disagree with. But it's unfair and tasteless to claim facts are wrong and you (the reviewer) knows more about a star like Jean Harlowe than the writer. Maybe the writer got information from someone other than you. Maybe if you are such a Jean Harlowe nut, you should write a book yourself. I found this book to be more than 99% accurate, sometimes writers have their own way of doing things and finding research and you shouldn't assume they didn't do their homework. These authors most certainly DID do their homework and the book is written brilliantly! I enjoyed the Lana Turner chapter most of all. The way Vogel writes it, gives you the feeling of almost being in the room as an observer in many dramatic and shattering scenes played out in this blonde beauty's life. Great job, Ms. Michelle Vogel. Looking forward to your next book.

"Maybe I am the wrong person to ask since Lana Turner is my all time favorite hollywood star but her daughter's book "Detour" is the best hollywood book I have ever read. She tells what it was like to be a Hollywood Princess, back when the word really ment something. The tells what it was like to be pampered and spoiled."

You're kidding, right?

Directly from Lana's obituary: "District Attorney William B. McKesson declined to charge Cheryl for the crime, noting that she had never had a true home "either with her mother or father." Although Lana retained legal custody, a court ordered Cheryl to live with her grandmother Mildred. But Cheryl continued to have emotional problems, and at 17 she began a 10-month stay at a mental hospital in Hartford, Connecticut."

Yep, that's the life of a Hollywood Princess. Pampered and spoiled by neglectful parents - raped by her stepfather - yep, Lana Turner fans will turn a blind eye to the neglect suffered by Cheryl.

Great book, but Lana's no Hollywood Star - she was a vain, self-absorbed woman who cared more about men and her career than she did her own child.

"Detour: A Hollywood Story" is the deeply personal account of Cheryl Crane's life as a 'star baby'. She is the daughter of Lana Turner. Her life was privileged, sheltered, and yet emotionally chaotic. She grew up playing only with other 'star babies'(that is, when she got to play at all). Her mother's best friend was Judy Garland, she called Frank Sinatra, 'Uncle Frank'. Cared for mostly by Nannies, and her 'Gran", Lana Turner's daughter did not even realize what a huge celebrity her mother was, and wasnt even allowed to view her films(or any films) for most of her childhood. She viewed her mother as two separate people...Mommy and "that Lana Turner person", the latter of which could make people appear or disappear on a whim.

Cheryl Crane saw a steady stream of step parents and "uncles". Lana's love life, kept her as busy as her career, and spending time with her mother, was a real treat for Cheryl. She digs down deep as she describes her longing for her mother's affections, a young girl's admiration of her father, the sexual abuse she(Cheryl) suffered at the hands of Lex Barker(from the Tarzan movies),and the stormy relationship of Lana and Johnny Stompanato, who she would kill by her own hands(she was only 14 at the time), in defense of her mother.

Her life goes on a downward spiral afterwards, being sent to Juvenile Hall, schools for troubled girls, and even a santitarium, where she is kept heavily sedated for most of her incarceration there. And this all before she even turned 18.

Lana is not painted as Joan Crawford was, in "Mommy Dearest", but it seemed to be more about the lifestyle of the rich and famous in the 1940's and 50's that goes on trial here. Cheryl Crane must have had to summon up quite a bit of courage to tell this story. It could not have been easy reliving many of the events. She describes in remarkable details, her life as a child, her "detour" through life, and how she finally found peace with herself.

It is a compelling and inspiring story that evoked quite a bit of emotion throughout the read, as she sets the record straight for us and for herself.

Thank you and enjoy the read....Laurie

Another example of the rich and miserable. Although the story is captivating, Ms. Crane seems more interested in explaining away her preference for girls than in getting to the real reasons why she murdered her stepfather. I found the book fascinating, however I would have enjoyed a bit less self pity from one who led a very priviledged life.

We like to think that movie stars and their families have perfect lives - that because fame, riches and power is at their disposal, that nothing can ever go wrong. Cheryl Crane bravely rips down this glossy facade and tells what it was really like growing up as the daughter of Lana Turner, a "star baby" who appeared to have it all. But in reality, her childhood years were full of confusion, longing for love and acceptance, and unspeakable horrors. From her yearning for her mother's love and affection, her father's distance, the horrific sexual abuse by one of her stepfathers, actor Lex Barker, to the fatal Good Friday when she stabbed mobster Johnny Stompanato to protect her mother, Crane tells it all in candid detail. Here too is her struggle to find an identity away from her mother's fame, her own noteriety and the glare of Hollywood. Through it all, Cheryl has made peace with her past, her parents, and found an unconditional love that she always sought. And her touching comments on how children should always be heard, that abused kids should not have to be silent, accused of dishonesty, or continue to suffer the pangs for years because what happened to them was not acknowledged. She also gives some interesting ancedotes of quite a few Tinsletown personalities. A moving and
inspiring book, and above all, a darn good read.

Lana Turner (1920-1995) came from the mining camps of Idaho to win fame as the inimitable sweater girl of the golden era of
Hollywood. She wed seven times; engaged in numerous affairs and
was a party animal who loved men, clothes, glamour and movie-
making.
Her only child was Cheryl Crane the daughter of Turner and her
her Hoosier entrepeneur husband Stephen Crane. Cheryl grew up in
a strict household being forced to dress like a little girl into her teens. Cheryl was sent to several boarding schools; had a
complex relationship with her wild mama and her devoted grandmother. She saw many unsavory events in the life of her
mother. The most notablle incident in her life was being charged with murder in a Good Friday 1958 stabbing of mobster Johnny
Stampanato her mother's infamous lover. Crane was aquitted but spent years in juvenile detention and tough Catholic school
environments. She also spent nine months in a Connecticut mental institution fo the rich.
Cheryl Crane reveals that she was cruelly raped countless times by the loathsome Lex Barker (Tarzan) who had wed her mother.
Crane details Lana's fastlane life in Europe and the states
as the wife of such notables as Bob Topping and Mr. Crane.
Lana Turner was an immature woman who loved the high life.
She was not innately cruel but her mothering skills were nil.
Crane's book was published in 1988. She has grown in maturity and has had a longterm lesbian relationship with a
talented woman.
If you want a quick read that is fascinating on the Hollywood life of the rich and famous then this well written
autobiography is worth your time.

Perhaps that would have been a better title, as Lana Turner, otherwise known as "The Sweater Girl" (a moniker she detested), certainly glosses over the truth of her life, as well as scandals and her upbringing of her daughter, Cheryl Crane. It was for the sake of the latter that Turner was very discreet and careful in the way she discusses Cheryl and the Stompanato case. But at the same time, Lana presents herself as an emotionally immature, if likeably gullible woman who lived in the moment with little thought of the consequences. She fails to take responsibility for her actions, never mentioning when she talks about Cheryl's "deep-rooted emotional difficulties" that she herself was cause of the majority of the damaging problems that her only child suffered. Also, her claims that she and Frank Sinatra were never more than friends was disputed in later years by her close friend, Evie Wynn Johnson, who knew full well that Lana and Old Blue Eyes were romantically involved for some time. And she doesn't give her mother Mildred the credit that she deserved, as Millie without a doubt raised Cheryl (along with the hired help that came and went), while her movie queen daughter was off partying, making films, travelling and carousing.
However, I cannot bring myself to dislike Lana, for she seems to have had the best of intentions, searched for love several times without satisfactory results, and had a true survivor instinct the enabled her to endure in both her career and private life. As a little girl, from when her con man father was found murdered, to all the men that would figure in her life, she was only looking for true love, albeit in mostly the wrong places. The one man she loved above all others she never got to the altar with. But she was able to re-establish a relationship with her daughter in adulthood, and achieved solace in her faith and the simple joys and pleasures of life. The photos in the book are also a plus. It is a enjoyable, if fluffy read, but if you want something a little closer to the truth, read Cheryl Crane's book "Detour: A Hollywood Story".

That, in my opinion, is a good summary of Lana Turner's rise to fame. Lana Turner was one of the most beautiful and talented actresses of her time, with unforgettable performances in classics like "The Postman Always Rings Twice", "Homecoming", "Johnny Eager", and "The Bad and the Beautiful". This autobiography is very gripping and provides a very entertaining look at Hollywood as experienced by Lana during her long and impressive career. There are three sections of great photos which show how timeless her beauty was. I agree with the previous reviewers' comments about Lana's descriptions of her failed marriages and not-so-perfect relationship with her daughter, but after all, a Hollywood legend like Lana had to defend and preserve her character. She's very candid about many events and scandals, and her writing style makes the book impossible to put down. For a "no-spin" account of Lana Turner I recommend searching for a biography, but unfortunately there are not many. This book is a definite must for all Lana Turner fans!

Although this book is jam-packed with lots of behind the scenes movie star action and photographs of this physically beautiful woman, this story is definitely a one-sided view of Lana's excuse for her often lurid life. It seems everyone in Hollywood was "out to get" Lana, and she desperately needed to marry (over and over) to rise above it all. She speaks glowingly of every husband, until they, too, turn out to be less than wonderful. It's a bit of a hoot that she becomes disenchanted with these fellows who she spent all of a week dating before saying "I do." Regarding her career, she often talks about how professional and hardworking she was on the set, but I think about 90% of her hard work went into perfecting her nearly flawless appearance. It is no wonder that her make-up man played such a big role in her life. She explains that she was "horrified" at herself on the screen in her debut performance as a "sweater girl", as if she was unaware of her attributes as she flounced across the screen. Although Hollywood back in the 40's and 50's did contain alot of despicable characters, Lana did few selfless acts herself. She professes to loving her only child, but continuously leaves her in the care of her long-suffering mother while she jetsets around the globe with new lovers or new husbands. The reader can only assume that she's (1) incredibly naive or (2) incredibly stupid. She sums it all up to "love" or a "what's a girl to do?" attitude. I don't doubt that given her physical beauty such a lifestyle would be very easy to fall prey to in Hollywood. It's a shame she felt it necessary to drag a child through it with her with disastrous adults. When her daughter begins to act out, (you know, like stabbing Lana's mobster boyfriend) Lana wonders if maybe it's due to her many marriages, houses and lifestyle. Duh! But in the end, she takes credit when her stunning daughter turns out to be a "brillant businesswoman". And, just when you think all hope for redemption is lost, she devotes her last chapter to her devotion to God. Afterall, what's a girl to do?

For quite some time, I didn't know what I thought about this book. It baffled me because it alternates between excruciating details about clothes, shoes, and hairstyles, and Lana's heartbreaking stories of love and betryal. Lana Turner was married seven times. The reasons she gives for marrying each of her husbands are about as trivial as the reasons she gives for divrcing them. For instance, she was dating someone, and then Joan Crawdford called her up and said he was HER man. So what does Lana do? She bumps into bandleader Artie Shaw at a party one night, and MARRIES the guy. THEN, even though she had never even met him before, she writes with genuine puzzlement that she didn't know he had been married twice before, or that he was abusive. She leaves him, finds out she is pregnant, and aborts the baby. Exit marriage one. Enter husband #2, Stephen Crane. She marries him on an impulse, finds out that he's still legally married to his first wife, and leaves him, angry and pregnant. She goes back, has the baby, and divorces him. Exit marriage number two. Enter husband #3. Millionare Bob Topping became her third husband, and she writes that she accepted his proposal because- get this- although she did not love him, and he was still married to someone else, "there's something awfully compelling about a big, diamond ring". And on and on. The faces change, but the story's almost exactly the same with each successive husband. The only thing she writes about with poignancy is her various failed attempts at motherhood and her countless miscarriages. She writes about how badly she wanted each pregnancy, yet when she became pregnant by movie idol Tyrone Power (who was still legally married to HIS first wife- surprise, surprise), she aborts that baby because she didn't want to ruin her career. I think Lana Turner wrote this book to prove that she wasn't as shallow as people thought she was. It was apparently lost on her that this book underlined that theory indefinitely.

I read this when I was 13 and I found it very well written and good

I found a paperback copy of this book at a second-hand store, and I have read it several times since. Written while Lana was still living, it does give many juicy details of her life and career. The Stompanato incident is detailed quite well, but Cheryl Crane's sexual molestation by Lex Barker isn't mentioned (perhaps it came out later). Alas, there are no photos included (save for the one on the cover). It's a pretty good read, but probably not as detailed as some of Miss Turner's later biographies. Recommended for fans of Lana.

This textbook was required for my History 10a class at Harvard (Steven Ozment is the professor for the course). In addition to the scholarly explanations and descriptions of early European history, the book comes with a CD with plenty of primary source documents. If that is not enough, there also many excerpts of primary sources scattered throughout each chapter.

i have read the book and i keep wondering if any of this really true. it is just pure specualtion. idle gossip. but it was fun reading it. why was so much attention given to grace kelly when she only made a couple pictures with MGM. katharine hepburn was a much bigger star and the author gave her a couple of pages. just not enough.

Miss Wayne clearly did not investigate the rumors that fills this book. Many of her facts are not validated and that many more are known to be just rumor. The typographical errors abound, i.e. Wiltshire Boulevard in Los Angeles - it is Wilshire Boulevard. Her dates are deplorable - i.e. Esther Williams and Fernando Lamas were married for 22 years from 1969 until his death in 1982 - that's 13 years, Miss Wayne!

As an avid collector of classic movies and the literature of the Golden Age of Hollywood, this book has no value to this or any other collector!

I always have a great time reading Jane Ellen Wayne's books. Once I started reading this one I could not put it down. Every chapter is filled with terrific stories about Hollywood's greatest actresses. You will learn all about Jeanette MacDonald's love affair with Nelson Eddy and Norma Shearer's marriage to Irving Thalberg. None of the ladies are portrayed as saints but if you can handle the truth you won't be disappointed.

While we all know that these celebrity histories relate many falacies, some shocking tid-bits are true. For instance, it has been well known that Mickey Rooney, as baby-faced and non-sexual as he may seem, was quite the ladies' man. As a 16 year old he had an affair with a much older Norma Shearer (quickly broken up by Louis B. Mayer to avoid scandal). As for Hedy Lamarr, read about the admitted bi-sexuality and orgies in her own words... "Ecstacy and Me," her autobiography, does not hide that she acutally is an arrogant nymphomaniac, and she seems to be rather quite proud of it! We all agree that there are false rumors that are attributed to these actors and actresses, but let's not forget that a lot of them brought sensationalism and scandal on their own. That is what makes their stories so fascinating, and that is why we read them.

Jane Ellen Wayne's book "The Golden Girls of M-G-M" will not be everyone's cup of tea. The author seems to take serious advantage of the fact that most of these women are no longer around to protect their reputations, and thus this book is full of vulgar details more at home in the National Enquirer than a deceptively-stylish biography tribute book (which this purports to be). Though to be fair, Ms Wayne is somewhat sympathetic to each of the ladies she features here, but the book is riddled with typographical errors, misspelled names and wrong information. This book will probably never help Miss Wayne ascend the upper-echelon of biographers.

Covering as much dirt as possible, each actress gets a chapter (Jeanette MacDonald, Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Joan Crawford, Lana Turner, Judy Garland, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor). There is also a `Naughty-But-Nice' section in the back, comprising of mini-chapters devoted to Hedy Lamarr, Katharine Hepburn, Esther Williams, Debbie Reynolds and June Allyson.

There are so many wonderful biographies available on these ladies, but I'm afraid this isn't one of them.

Lana Turner, gorgeous platinum blonde bombshell from Hollywood's glory days, had a daughter with her second husband, a girl she named Cheryl Christina Crane, who is the author of this book. Interestingly enough, Cheryl wrote it while her mother was still alive, a rarity with the child-of-a-star-tell-all- books. I don't know how she had the nerve to do that, since she paints a rather unflattering portrait of Ms. Turner. Cheryl writes from (in my mind) the perspective of a baffled, hurt child, who can't understand how to get close to her beautiful Mommy. She maintains that Lana was so busy climbing the Hollywood ladder and pursuing a whirl-wind social/romantic life, that she left her only child in harm's way quite often, and as a result Cheryl suffered various forms of abuse, the most serious charge being that Lana's fourth or fifth husband, Tarzan portrayer Lex Barker, forced himself on Cheryl, numerous times for more than two years. I personally think the pain of that experience has shaped the author of this book into who she is today. Happily, Cheryl and her mother reconciled and had years of unequaled tranquility and friendship, and were able to slay all their dragons. Today, Cheryl writes that she is a successful business woman in a loving relationship with her female partner of more than a quarter century, Josh Leroy. You have to admire her honesty. And, oh yes! "The BIG Event" concerning the fatal stabbing of Lana's gangster boyfriend is chronicled here with unflinching honesty and in vivid detail.