Arts and Entertainment Books

'Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies' is a great resource on the career of 'the boys'. The making of each film is covered in detail and there is quite a bit of biographical information sprinkled throughout. This was one of those books that I found hard to put down once I got started. Kudos to the author for providing a very informative and entertaining book!

Randy Skretvedt produced a highly entertaining and thought provoking work with the release of this work on two of the cinema's greatest comedy legends,Laurel and Hardy.
Most volumes up until this point had approached their careers in similar styles by focusing first on their backgrounds,early entries into showbusiness,their early careers,then into their most popular times and from there into their declining years.All filled with andecdotes either from friends,colleagues or the comedians themselves.
This book though giving a brief overview of the Boys careers examines each of their films starting with their silent shorts right through to their last film.What makes it different is that Randy examines each film from more of a production angle than any other book before has done.He explains in many cases how and why a particular film came into being and compares the original idea or storyline/script with the end product.It's a fascinating departure from the usual and gives a more detailed and informative look into the men behind the comedy,up front and behind the scenes.
I highly recommend this book to all students of film but especially to all fans of Laurel and Hardy.This is one book along with all of John McCabes' books,William K.Eversons' "Laurel and Hardy",Glenn Mitchells' "The Laurel and Hardy Encyclopedia" and Wes Gehrings' "Laurel and Hardy-A Bio-Bibliography" that should form the basis of your collection on the Boys.

Almost to good to be true. If you want to know anything or everything about Laurel & Hardy and all their movies and films, you can find it here in this wonderfully written book.

For years.Many film history books have tried to give some insight into the creation,development and the successful appeal of Laurel & Hardy's film work.With the exception of Leonard Maltin's"Movie Comedy Teams"and"The Great Movie Comedians!".No book seemed to show the readers how these classic comedies came about.Until now.Film historian,radio interviewer and musical entertainer:Randy Skrevedt's book"Laurel & Hardy:The Magic Behind The Movies!"finally gives us all a chance to see how these two great performers created and presented their cinematic clowning on screen and onstage.With the use of extensive research,interviews with the boys colleages,family members,friends and with staffers from The Hal Roach,MGM,Fox Studios and With Mr.Hal Roach Himself.The book shows us the creation of the team's films from their first effort:"Lucky Dog"to their earliest films at Roach to their glory days at:"The Lot Of Fun!".The book also tells us the true story of what finally lead to the duo's departure from Roach and the unsuccessful efforts to give the boys creative freedom at MGM & Fox.Where they made alot of forgetable films.And additionial info.L&H were slated to make ten features at Fox.Not six as many film history books have stated over the years.There is also some insight into the boys stage performances overseas in Music halls and cabrets during the late 1940's and into the early to mid 1950's.And a large collections of Photos from private collections.Plus in the updated second paperback edition.Info about the recently discovered spanish verison of"Chickens Come Home".Which features some never before seen footage(The newly found footage has little or bearing on the film's storyline.But it's interesting to read about it).These features plus some insight into the boys lives(Which does not get ugly)makes this a fun and informative manuscript and one that's long overdue.Bravo Randy! Kevin S.Butler.

To me, the Laurel and Hardy (L&H) team was easily the best comedy team of the first half of the 20th century. I realize others may have other favorites (Three Stooges, Our Gang, W.C. Fields (another of my personal favorites), Abbott and Costello (not one of my favorites), Marx Brothers, etc.) But the L&H team was beyond these other comedy teams. Randy Skretvet did these men proud with this book that traces them from the very beginning to their eventual demise. If one appreciates L&H and the comedy of the early 1900s they should appreciate this book.

Peter O'Toole's early years, growing up in Ireland, are a remarkable beginning for one of our grandest theatre artists. This story fascinating story is set against the back drop of the chaos of the 1930s, the rise of Hitler, and the lead up to World War II.

As enthralling as this story is, the writing in this book are every syllable as deliscious and enjoyable as the life in these stories. The biggest surprise is that the subject of these pages, Peter O'Toole, is also the author! As it turns out, Mr O'Toole is as superlative a writer as he is gifted on the stage and screen as an actor. Who knew?

The best news of all: this is volume one. Read it and then rush out and grab volume II, "Lotering With Intent: The Apprentice."

THE images PETER O'TOOLE creates in our mind reading the book are curiously picturesque; they are quite alike with the air of the Italian neorealism in CINEMA, as we can make a connection with it. A tone quie calm, epic,for the memories of his childhood, yet which becomes a bit agressive when he recalls that Adolf Hitler existed. A puzzle of thoughts narrative and expressionist at the same time, and surprisingly modern.

If you are remotely interested in Peter O'Toole, this is a great account of his childhood (most interestingly the three major influences in his life including Hitler) and how he first broke into acting (his jokes regarding Bernard Shaw are hilarious). There are some interesting annecdotes regarding the filming of `Rogue Male', his first film.

His narrative style can a times be a bit disjointed, but the overall picture is wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

This is a wacked memoir. O'Toole basically writes two parallel biographies, one of his childhood AND ONE OF ADOLPH HITLER'S adult life!!! Has this ever been done before? So you get to read about what O'Toole did and what Hitler was doing about the same time. It's amusing, and interesting. I did have trouble with some English slang. A weird book, I think. But I liked it. Peter O'Toole is my favorite actor. But I still think you'd enjoy it if you're not a big fan.

A charming book; somehow surprising, as the critics say too:'a new face of O'TOOLE': indeed, the tone of the story is a very warm one, with romantic overtones in the first part, without any trace of cynism or sophistication; therfore, it is contrary to his style maybe, or, a better word is to his type of characters he plays as an actor-usually being in a delicate psychological or emotional status. PETER is creating his book like a sort of collage of memories, keeping coherently the time which gives it a sense, a direction, yet somehow not enough as he needs a second link: Hitler's image(...). In the second part, still, a change of tone: more aggressive when it is about the war; a genuine atmosphere of the 40s, now in flashbacks in the 90s.Classic and modern at the same time as approaching, quite poetic.

I gave my granddaughter who is an avid "Lucy fan" this book for Christmas and she loved it because it focused on Lucy's movie career.

I'm a classic movie fan and read many biographies. This is the way biographies should be made! The author and publisher went all out for this wonderful book. The book is a real treasure for Lucy fans. It is beautifully packaged with wonderful cover and pages that are extremely well designed with text, pictures, bio and film notes. The dazzling color schemes and quality of the pages and pictures are first rate --there's nothing like this out there so kudos to the author! This is a first rate book all the way and look forward to more from the author -- how about a Rita Hayworth book -- no one else can do it like you!

This book is very well written and has wonderful pictures. The write up about Lucy gives even the biggest fans new insight into her life. It is a great way to find all the movies she was in.

To start off this is a great book and not being much of a reader myself I really love this one. It has great large pictures, hard to find pictures and the words are fairly large in this one also. Not being overly large like a kids reader but being the perfect size! But not only this, it has a lot of informative info aobut all of Lucy's movies that she has appeared in and also a despription of each movie. This is great because if you have never seen any of Lucille Ball's films you will get a thrill out of reading about all of the movies as well as jotting them down and looking online to buy them on DVD. This book has so much more also as well as the biography of Lucille Ball and a whole lot more! This is not a boring book but a nice fun book to read and to also make you want to read as well as some great info about the bright and talented star. The book itself is very large and very well made, as well as being thick. It looks like it costs about $50 it is so big and thick but I bought this through a book store in my local town for $29.99 which on the back of the book is the retail value so Amazon has a GREAT price!

"Lucy at the Movies" by Cindy De La Hoz is a coffee table sized visual treat displaying the varied movie career of America's beloved red headed comedienne. It spans Lucy's 5 decade career in movies. The text is easy to read and gives the full cast and credits of all her movies. It includes the synopis,notes and comments, and even the reviews of each movie. There are many pictures from her movies dispersed throughout the book. Also, to the delight of her many fans, there are numerous behind the scenes and other personal pictures of Lucy and her castmates.
This book is worth every penny and if you're a Lucy fan it belongs in your collection. Buy it. You'll treasure it always.

This book is the best Xena book I have read, maybe even better than the official one. It contains their biographies and a complete script of one of Lucy and Renee's conventions. It also lists the most websites and groups. The episode guide was very informative. It contained some mistakes that the author found with the show. This book is worth every cent!

I was one of the people Nikki Stafford interviewed for this book. Sadly, the fan survey she conducted had to be cut from the final version, but a great deal of information was still included. Nikki's research into the show, its stars, and the fans who built an international community around Xena: Warrior Princess in the early years is unsurpassed.

Some other books have since come out which seemed to me to be nothing more than blatant attempts to capitalize on the success of one of the most popular syndicated television shows in history. This book always struck me as something different. But maybe that's just because the author took the time to see what the fans thought and cared about.

One thing in this book that stands out from the others is that Nikki bothered to comment on the different episodes. This is better than the official book!! I like the way that there is a personal voice in the comments, and the way that the author dared to criticse it, and add some suggestions as well. Brilliant work!!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was very informative and by most accountants accurate. I would suggest this book to any Xenite! :) BATTLE ON!!

this book is great.it has every thing you need to know about xena.it has a chapter on the broodway production of grease that lucy was in.what lucy and renee were like as kids.it also has two or three pages of comics.if you love xena you'll live this book.

This is an awesome book for any Marilyn Monroe fan - hundreds of amazing art images, most rarely seen. There was a time in the 20s and 30s when movie stars were not photographed for magazine covers but drawn by artists. MM missed that period during her life but she is now probably the subject of the work of more artists than any movie star before or since - many of these art works are to be found in this lavishly illustrated volume. Highly recommended!

Anyone who loves the image of Marylin Monroe will enjoy its rendition by various artists in this book.

I am an artist in this book and recommend it to the fullest! Check out page 164.

Marilyn Monroe was an icon of our time. It is hard to believe that if she had lived she would have just had her eightieth birthday. And it's hard to believe that she has been dead for forty four years. She was only 36 when she died.

This book, MARILYN IN ART is a beautiful collection of drawings made of her by a wide variety of artists. In some cases she is cartoon like, others more like classical photographs. Each seems to manage to capture some essense of the woman. The art is combined with short quotes from a wide range of people who knew her, worked with her, photographed her or had some kind of relationship with her.

The book doesn't attempt to answer any of the questions about her death, it doesn't go into a psychological analysis of the likelihood of suicide. Instead it is a tribute to her, to her work, to the times she helped to create. And in this it is a great book. Perhaps the art shows more of the inside of Marilyn than photographs could. It's a book hard to put down, even after you've been through it once.

The book has finally reached me and waiting for it was well worth it. What a great feeling to see some of my art work in it! A lot of the art works published in it is truly beautiful and there is everything to fit all tastes! What a pleasure it is to see some friends' paintings: William Davies, Albert Leonard, Mary Belzunce, Frederic Cabanas... Thank you to Roger Taylor for compiling such a superb book.A must for all fans!
Marc Gélis

I have not read the book yet but I have a question about one of their movies that I hope someone can answer. I cannot remember
the movie this skit was in but it was the skit where Groucho, Harpo and Chico are sharing basically a tiny room on board a ship. First the cleaning ladies come in to clean, then the steward delivers food, then the mechanics come in to adjust a pipe valve and finally the room is packed head to toe with all
of these people and they all pop out of the cabin door and spill out onto the ships floor. It is hilarious! Please, someone, which movie is this scene from. It's making me crazy that I can't recall the movie title. HELP!!!

The answer to your question is A Night At the Opera and is considered one of their most famous scenes.

Wonderful book full of trivia for even the most expert Marx fanatic. Revised edition is well worth the investment for info such as the butchering of "Night at the Opera"...which is the film with the stateroom scene asked about previously.

This is the most detailed book on the Marx Brothers I've ever seen.I highly recommend it.Every single movie they ever made,together and alone,is so fully detailed.Plus every actor and actress the brothers ever worked with(including the legendary Margeret Dumont of course)is also fully reviewed.

This book is a must for any Marx fan!

Actually, I think I saw the sink somewhere in the book too! ;)

It's everything you could possibly want to know about the Marxes. I like the A to Z format, it's very easy to navigate your way through the book. I use it all the time for reference. A well-researched, well-written book. Get this one.

In this book, the hypochondriac genius of movies, radio, television, and the concert stage delivers all the neurotic humor expected. But the author, a talented writer as well as one of the great pianists of the 20th century, also succeeds at conveying the ambience of the artistic world of the 1920s through 1950s. His insights about his contemporaries, including celebrated conductors, musicians, composers, and actors, are fascinating.

Luckily found this among my mother's books, the title caught my eye. When asked about it, my mother laughed softly. I thought, if it can make her laugh it must be funny; well it's the best humor, and I turned to a page and busted out laughing. It's more than that. I read the one I bought from time to time, and there is always a point of feeling I'm in the belly of a beast. Such integrity I'd never known, and never felt I could fit in this world 'til reading "Memoirs of an Amnesiac".

My son had to explain (to my wife) the joke behind the title. An amnesiac can't remember and a memoir is a written record of memories. Hence, a contradiction, but still a great title and an emblematic preview of what's to come when you read this book. And you do want to read this book because Oscar Levant is unique, funny, honest, interesting, and weird. He is the kind of person that you want to read about because he seemed to know everyone who was anyone in American music or in American film and of course he has the inside scoop on those people including Harpo Marx, Louis Mayer, Irving Berlin, Fanny Brice, Aaron Copland, Arnold Schoenberg, Dorothy Parker, Paul Whiteman, Judy Garland, Arturo Toscanini, and Harry Truman. Oscar Levant, as SN Behrman said, is the kind of person that if he had not existed, could not be imagined. Yes, he's that bad. Because he is brutally honest about his life, his loves, his obsessions and compulsions, his drug addictions and his music and friends, we have here a real-life true quill biography that takes no prisoners and lacks the usual apology or gloss or pastiche so common these days. Brutal honesty - that's the ticket. Oscar has to tap eight times to get water from the faucet. He has to tap eight times to shut the water off. He needs to name each street his limo passes and if he misses the name, his driver has to circle back to get the name. He will throw away a pack of cigarettes if someone talks while he is opening the pack. His wife, June, (her title should be Saint June) who picked up the pieces after each nervous breakdown, still must have a separate waste paper pail in each room so that she doesn't contaminate the waste paper in his pail. When Oscar had his heart attack, he had to go through all his night time rituals before he could get into bed for the doctor to check him. In short - a real nut case. And yet, and yet, a world-class pianist, composer, television and film personality who led a life well lived. You wouldn't want him in your home for dinner unless, of course, he kept his mouth shut and just played his marvelous interpretations of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, which, incidentally, I am listening to right now. Ah, genius, - it has its problems and it has its pleasures.

This has always been one of my favorite books. I recall reading it for the first time as a pre-teen, and chuckling at his OUTRAGEOUS stories. I'm probably among the last generation that remembers this brilliant man, which is a shame. In the days of the great "talk shows", like Jack Paar, etc.., Oscar Levant was always one of the most coveted, and controversial, guests. I remember seeing him on t.v., as a kid, & being fascinated by this odd looking man who, though I quite honestly didn't get 90% of what he was saying, was obviously someone truly unique. This book has all his irreverent humor, the humor even evident in his telling of his long battle with mental illness, and his extreme, then un-named "obsessive-compulsive" disorder. His brutal honesty about his ordeal was unheard of at that time, and was long before the trend of todays celebrities, who do everything but hawk their x-rays on informercials. There's many names in this book that you will recognize, and his telling of his encounters with various celebrities is not always in their favor, and will have you rolling on the floor. He was literally thrown off the air in the 1950's, for a remark he made on a live talk show, pertaining to Marilyn Monroe and her conversion to Judaism, which is recounted in this book, but can't be repeated here. But at the time, the staid 1950's, it must have had the audience awestruck in utter shock at his outrageous (and incredibly humorous) statement. This is just a fabulous book about one of the greatest wits of this century, the man who started out as an incredibly accomplished and respected pianist, he was most known for his rendition of good friend Gershwins "Rhapsody In Blue", and became something more than just a clown. Totally touching, hysterical, and honest, this book will have you falling in love with dear, lost, brilliant Oscar. In todays, for the most part, [dissapointing] "celebrity" climate, we sure could use the likes of him again.

This book was a disappointment although it covers the scope of Oscar Levant's life from Tin Pan Alley to Carnegie Hall to Hollywood to mental hospitals.

A major problem with the writing is that it consists of endless name dropping without context. If you aren't familiar with the names (which I wasn't for the most part) then a good deal of the story is lost.

Another feature of the writing is a constant stream of one-liners from Oscar and others. These were undoubtably funny when they were first said, but in the book they seem forced. For example, "I once said cynically of a politician, "He'll double-cross that bridge when he comes to it."" If you enjoy one-liners then this book showcases them throughout.

As a fan of Oscar Levant from movies like Rhythm on the River and An American In Paris, I was pleased that he was up front about many aspects of his life. However, the famous line, "Beneath this flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character" had a lot more truth to it than I had assumed. Oscar really does exhibit rude behavior, selfishness, cheating and drug addiction. And of course neurosis. He is honest to his faults.

A better (but far briefer) description of Oscar Levant is in Harpo Marx's book "Harpo Speaks". That book also has a lot of name dropping, but the literary style is rich so that it's fascinating even if you are not familiar with the Algonquin Round Table.

With Oscar's book, I was satisfied about the scope of the writing, but disappointed in the terse style although it's an easy read.

I used to read Ray Richmond's columns every day in the Los Angeles "Daily News" and now see him writing a television column in that show business necessity "Daily Variety"-- so I was not disappointed to find the same sort of insightful reportage and great sense of humor displayed in his new book: My Greatest Day in Show Business: Screen Legends Share Their Fondest Memories. Hey, I confess to wanting to know about these celebrities, and Richmond is a fellow who's been around them for a long time, and knows his business, and it shows in this book. A satisfying read.

"Entertaining, Candid, Sincere,and Unique" is how I describe this book. The stories in "My Greatest Day in Showbusiness" are remarkable. The "information" one reads in gossip columns (or books sold for shock value) doesn't even come close to giving a glimpse of who famous people really are. This did. Here we have integrity and entertaining reading at once. Refreshing.

Great stories about the famous! Fun reading! It's great to know genuine truth about who we "invite into our living-rooms" instead of superficial publicity hype. We hope Ray Richmond introduces us around Hollywood again, soon. Well written!

"My Greatest Day in Show Business" gave me a feeling of really understanding the seventy-five stars that were interviewed. Their frank answers made them "knowable" and "real". Also, this book gave me an understanding of the kind of work, thought and care they pour into their careers. I've never really understood Hollywood before, but now I'm really starting to appreciate the show-biz work environment. I was inspired, delighted, taken aback, touched, and moved, as these celebrities revealed personal thoughts, opinions and stories. The stars have come down to Earth. I'll never look at them the same, again. A very good book!

I was at a seriously stuffy dinner party last week, and most of us did not know one another. It seemed no one could break the ice. Someone mentioned Jerry Springer for some reason, and after "normal opinions" were voiced, I related some of the highlights of his interview that are in this book. What a conversation we had because of what I'd read! Everyone ended up talking (sometimes over one another) and we forgot we were strangers. I just had to say thank you. I'm very glad I had read this book. It was most enlightening to be audience to legends we know by face and name, baring their souls about who they really are, and what has shaped them

Leslie Jordan's book is absolutely hilarious and so very affirming for the glbt community. A great read!

If you read My Trip Down the Pink Carpet searching for great literature, you will be disappointed. It falls into the category of light summer reading. But it is a really fun frolic through the mind of Leslie Jordan. You can quite literally hear his voice throughout the book. He also touches deeply on themes that touch the gay community, especially as we boomers age. He does so with compassion and humor which make this a delightful light read.

I have had the pleasure to meet Leslie and see him live. The laughs have always come quite easily from Leslie and I certainly expected some when I bought this book. As I was riding the bus into work this morning I was sure that everyone else thought I was crazy because I would just burst out laughing. I could hardly contain myself. Thank you Leslie - what a perfect way to start my day.

I met Mr. Jordan several years ago when he was in town performing his one man show, Like a Dog on Linoleum. I was coming down the street and noticed his small frame immediately as 'Beverly Leslie' from Will & Grace, among other appearances. I walked up to him, absolutely thrilled to see him right there in the flesh. I hadn't got but a few words out when he hugged me like an old friend...not too difficult to do, since I'm honestly not much taller than him myself. I've been a fan ever since and have eagerly looked forward to reading this book. No long analysis here, folks, suffice to see that this delightful little read is like a drink of cool water on a hot day! Thoughtful, funny and totally capitivating, I found myself laughing out on the bus on my way to work as I read this! I can say my only criticism of the book is that is wasn't longer, as I was left very pleased with my read, but greedily wanting more. Well done, Leslie, well done!

Jordan, Leslie. "My Trip Down the Pink Carpet", Simon and Schuster, 2008.

Not a Sordid Life at All

Amos Lassen

With thunderstorm warnings in Little Rock today and the thought of summer school starting tomorrow, I was sitting here feeling quite down. Then I noticed a package I had not opened and in it was Leslie Jordan's "My Trip Down the Pink Carpet" and it was just what I needed to lift my spirits. Most of us know who Leslie Jordan is but I am not sure all of us know "Brother Boy's" real name. Now that we have established who he is let's get a look at him physically. He is small but he can steal a scene from the best of them. How many of us cannot forget his entrance to his mother's funeral in "Sordid Lives" or his guest appearances on "Will and Grace". "Murphy Brown" and "Ally McBeal" or the night he won the Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
Jordan was raised in the South in a conservative family in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He went to Hollywood and his life changed forever. And he tells it all to us. His life is like the man, jumpy and inconsistent. He shows us his Southern Baptist upbringing and how it affected him and he deals with his homosexuality with some very funny stories (I am sure that he has more stories that did not make it into the book). He fought the demons that preached against homosexuality and he fought his own sexual bent. He lapsed into drugs and alcohol and still managed to keep his career on track.
Memoirs are quite difficult to write because the author has difficulty being subjective about himself. We have seen memoirs in which the author's conceit or self-hatred seem to show on every page. Jordan manages to avoid both traps and he comes across as very real, very honest and sincere
Jordan also does not hold back mentioning names. The divas like Faye Dunaway, Tammy Faye Baker and Beverly D'Angelo are here as are the men he has had crushes on or acted with, Boy George, George Clooney, Luke Perry, Dean Cain and Robert Downey, Jr. He takes us on a journey from Tennessee, through the AIDS epidemic, to the 90's and "Sordid Lives" to the present and he keeps us laughing. I, personally, loved the chapter, "The Tears of the Israelites" and how he explains how he learned that the word "Jew" was not a verb and how his he relates Del Shores' story of a Jewish woman in Texas was asked by a friend to participate in a local church's "Pack the pew with a Jew".
Jordan certainly had a lot to tell us and he did not tell all. This is my one complaint. When I closed the book, I wanted more. It's a quick read and one that will keep you laughing for quite a long time.

Would the person who identified themself as a grandaughter of Allah please contact me? I am also supposedly related to Alla, a cousin doing a family search. My grandmother Hannah, was the sister to Allah's (Marion's) mother in Ukraine. Also, I may actually know the decendents of Allah's mother Sonja, through her later marriage, one who would be her younger half-brother! He is still alive at 92! DR drifkin@msn.com

Alla Nazimova was my Godmother and I have heard many stories about her over the years so I was delighted to see a book written about her by Gavin Lambert. I found the book to be fastanating and learned so much about this woman who brought Ibsen and Chekhov among others to the theaters in America. She appears to be a very private yet complicated indivdual who knew exactly what she wanted and went after it with her whole being. She accomplished so much on the stage and in films that it is a shame so few people today remember her. Perhaps Lambert's book will rekindle that interest again in such a great lady of the theater.

Most people only know the Alla Nazimova through her connection with Rudolph Valentino and her "gay" silent film "Salome." She is nearly always reviled as a domineering, spiteful lesbian queen of Hollywood whose own ego led to her fall.
This book provides a completely different picture of the woman behind the name. Her horrendous treatment as a child definitely molded her personality. An extremely talented actress, she earned her stardom on stage, screen and then stage again, inspiring many of the greatest playwrites of the early 20th century to write plays, many for her.
The author reveals much of Nazimova's sadness and disappointment in her personal life and career, her gullibility when it came to trusting friends with her money, and the vast number of women and the few men with whom she had love affairs.
Through exhaustive research of Nazimova's voluminous but unfinished (and unpublished) autobiography, interveiws with the few living persons who met her, and the letters and memoirs of a vast number of acquaintances and co-workers, the author has constructed a fascinating portrayal of a fragile, brilliant, yet tempermental child-woman who may well have been the greatest actress of at least the first half of the twentieth century.
Readers will be surprised to read the rave accounts of Nazimova's unparalleled talent her from Truman Capote, Ibsen, Shaw and Katherine Hepburn, as well as the doting love and companionship showered on the elderly Nazimova by her godaughter Nancy Davis, later Nancy Reagan.
I highly recommend this book to those who love silent films and bizzare, talented personalities.

Gavin Lambert is a mesmerizing writer. He chronicles Nazimova's hellish childhood (which shaped all that followed, I believe), her dramatic rise on the stage (where she did her best work) her Hollywood years and beyond. I find it sad that her stage performances exist only in the memories of those who were lucky enough to see her back in the day, and those people are leaving us very quickly. Nazimova strikes me as a woman who could be infuriating, frustrating, difficult, kind, generous, funny, certainly her own worst enemy at times, and sometimes all of the above in the same moment. The fun she would have during performances made me laugh out loud, and the stupid choices she made for film made me say "no, don't DO that" to the pages of this meticulously researched book. About her sister and niece, I have no kind words whatsoever, and I can thoroughly understand why Lambert dismissed anything the niece had to say. I can't wait to read the other film-related books that Gavin Lambert has written - I'm so glad I started with this one.

an absolute beauty of a boo