Leslie Zemeckis's Blog - Posts Tagged "hollywood"

A well-researched book on Barbara Payton. I initially considered her for a documentary, but ultimately she is such an unlikeable character despite the author's intent in the opposite direction. A fast easy good read. I recommend it, but it won't leave you feeling happy. And far too much blame on "hollywood" for her ills.

Donald Spoto once again combines fact and gossip to make for a quick easy read - yet filled with enough depth to give substance to this engaging tale of Hitchcock's leading ladies. I was infinitely satisfied with Spoto's retelling of life on a Hitchcock set - if you were a woman, not always enjoyable, if you were a man, usually ignored. He doesn't leave off there, but finishes each actresses' biographies with what became of them. Who knew Madeline Carroll was such a great star and gave it up to care for orphans during the war? Or that Hitchcock had it in for a young Vera Miles? Oh naughty naughty genius of a man. Of course Tippi was his downfall. Pour a nice full Brunello and enjoy.

Well, better make that a double dirty martini: 3 oz good vodka (you'll need it good) chilled, 1 oz dry vermouth, just slightly more than 1/2 ox olive brine, stirred, strain sip and forgive this ultimately disappointing read. Ava Gardner, notorious drinker, man-eater, beauty. I was already to hear from her own lips tales about her affairs with Howard Hughes and marriages to Artie Shaw, Mickey Rooney (that needed explaining) and Sinatra. What this book is instead is mainly an ongoing page after page argument with Ava and her ghostwriter Peter Evans. Okay after the fourth or fifth argument "are you sure we should write that honey?" I wanted Mr. Evans to step out of the way, stop interrupting her late night rambling conversations where he could have gleaned more, possibly finished the book (before she quit) but he insisted she keep to a chronological order which she did not want to do. A mess of a book, as much of a mess as the woman herself, a sad, fierce woman who cannot sleep because of her guilt and her regrets. Someone needs to pick up her story and complete it, martinis, hangovers and one-night stands all.

Either reach for a champagne cocktail or meringue cookie - for this frothy meaningless "biography." Filled with quotes - some from 40-50 years ago, all without sources which always makes me suspicious.
After awhile all the affairs, the multiple marriages, the affairs more affairs even I got bored. And I love the Gabors. This book ultimately wasn't worth the size. How an author writes such intimate detail and again dialogue and note cite the source is a mystery to me.
Hopefully someone will take on the Hungarian bombshells and do them more justice. And if you want read my post in the Huffington Post on them. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/staar/s...