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Golden Images: 41 Essays on Silent Film Stars
This work contains 41 engaging essays on players of the silent screen, from superstars like Rudolph Valentino and Clara Bow to fascinating figures like Clarine Seymour and Arthur Johnson. These stories range from the tragic (early deaths, drug problems, talkie-related career failures) to the triumphant (a surprising number of silent stars enjoyed long, happy lives). Many of these personalities have never before been covered in depth, and their careers highlight the entire silent era, from its beginnings in the 1890s to its demise in the late 1920s. These essays, earlier versions of which were published in Classic Images, have been completely reedited and rewritten, reflecting information later made available to the author.
239 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2000
158 people want to read
About the author
Eve Golden
17 books57 followersEve Golden is a biographer whose work focuses on American silent film, theater and early twentieth century actresses.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 14, 2021
Here are 41 bios of actors from the silent film era.
I bought this book quite a few years ago during one of my regular periods of delving into the world of silent film. I remember feeling disappointed when I started reading the introduction as it stated many periodicals of the time had been consulted. Well, these are infamously known for their unreliability, and such books often resort to cut and paste. However, on eventually getting down to reading it, it was soon clear that these were not the sole sources of information as there are also more modern references. But even better is the fact that they are all well written in an easy-to-read breezy style.
Careers are covered in 4-6 pages, but it embodies the salient and most interesting points, and brings attention to their key films. The choice of subjects is very eclectic, so you have big stars like Rudolph Valentino and Clara Bow, a few that I had never heard of, and omissions of some huge names like Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd, Lillian Gish, Chaney, Fairbanks, Pickford, Garbo, Langdon and Brooks. But of all those included, I found something of interest in every essay.
There are also two to three photographs of each person.
With the advent of the internet this is one of those books that may appear superfluous now; but after a lot of searching I doubt I’d find anything as entertainingly written and succinct as these bio’s. A nice prose style.
I bought this book quite a few years ago during one of my regular periods of delving into the world of silent film. I remember feeling disappointed when I started reading the introduction as it stated many periodicals of the time had been consulted. Well, these are infamously known for their unreliability, and such books often resort to cut and paste. However, on eventually getting down to reading it, it was soon clear that these were not the sole sources of information as there are also more modern references. But even better is the fact that they are all well written in an easy-to-read breezy style.
Careers are covered in 4-6 pages, but it embodies the salient and most interesting points, and brings attention to their key films. The choice of subjects is very eclectic, so you have big stars like Rudolph Valentino and Clara Bow, a few that I had never heard of, and omissions of some huge names like Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd, Lillian Gish, Chaney, Fairbanks, Pickford, Garbo, Langdon and Brooks. But of all those included, I found something of interest in every essay.
There are also two to three photographs of each person.
With the advent of the internet this is one of those books that may appear superfluous now; but after a lot of searching I doubt I’d find anything as entertainingly written and succinct as these bio’s. A nice prose style.
August 23, 2008
Golden Images is a compilation of 41 articles by Eve Golden previously published in film magazines such as Classic Images and Films of The Golden Age. These articles profile many noteworthy stars from the silent era. Some well known, others very obscure.
Eve Golden is always an enjoyable writer. She is authoritative in her knowledge of the period as these well-researched essays show. Yet, Golden has a wonderfully light and often witty conversational writing style. We get the feeling we are not reading the words of an impeccable film scholar, but rather a warm friend who is enthusiatically recounting an eventful and enjoyable trip to the movies. Too many film books are bogged down with pretentious, overly-analytical pomposity that they lose sight of why the movies were made in the first place: Entertainment. Ms. Golden is always a most refreshing and welcome change.
Eve Golden is always an enjoyable writer. She is authoritative in her knowledge of the period as these well-researched essays show. Yet, Golden has a wonderfully light and often witty conversational writing style. We get the feeling we are not reading the words of an impeccable film scholar, but rather a warm friend who is enthusiatically recounting an eventful and enjoyable trip to the movies. Too many film books are bogged down with pretentious, overly-analytical pomposity that they lose sight of why the movies were made in the first place: Entertainment. Ms. Golden is always a most refreshing and welcome change.
November 9, 2024
A great book, frankly I wouldn't have wanted it to be filled with bios on the
more established stars like Swanson, Pickford etc although there were some of
those - Clara Bow, Valentino. As the introduction said there is so much written
about them already - I would probably question the inclusion of Lilyan
Tashman - she's a star to me for sure but of the talkies where her acidic wit
could be heard, not of the silents.
Terrific selection - players I had seen in films but didn't know anything about.
Harrison Ford, a very private man whom Golden compared to David Manners - a
star who complimented the big female stars of the day who clamoured to have
him as their co-star. He hit his own goldmine when he appeared in "The Nervous
Wreck". Other favourites - Clara Kimball Young, I knew she had been a big star
early on but had only heard of the downside of her marriages and later life, it was nice
to read that her very optimistic nature cancelled out all negativity. Mae Marsh, again
nice to learn that in spite of her marriage ups and downs it was a long and enduring
one. Also nice to read about Dorothy Gish and not the usual Lillian Gish pieces.
Among others - Robert Harron, the tragic Clarine Seymour, Olive Thomas and Mary
Nolan. Also Antonio Moreno, Anita Page (who had her definite likes and dislikes but
was very upbeat), Kathlyn Williams and Pearl White.
more established stars like Swanson, Pickford etc although there were some of
those - Clara Bow, Valentino. As the introduction said there is so much written
about them already - I would probably question the inclusion of Lilyan
Tashman - she's a star to me for sure but of the talkies where her acidic wit
could be heard, not of the silents.
Terrific selection - players I had seen in films but didn't know anything about.
Harrison Ford, a very private man whom Golden compared to David Manners - a
star who complimented the big female stars of the day who clamoured to have
him as their co-star. He hit his own goldmine when he appeared in "The Nervous
Wreck". Other favourites - Clara Kimball Young, I knew she had been a big star
early on but had only heard of the downside of her marriages and later life, it was nice
to read that her very optimistic nature cancelled out all negativity. Mae Marsh, again
nice to learn that in spite of her marriage ups and downs it was a long and enduring
one. Also nice to read about Dorothy Gish and not the usual Lillian Gish pieces.
Among others - Robert Harron, the tragic Clarine Seymour, Olive Thomas and Mary
Nolan. Also Antonio Moreno, Anita Page (who had her definite likes and dislikes but
was very upbeat), Kathlyn Williams and Pearl White.
September 15, 2018
“Not a stunner like Norma, Constance looked rather like an egg with a face painted on it: cute and pert, just short of real beauty.”
April 23, 2013
Eve Golden did a marvelous, professional job of compiling these essays. She interviewed stars who were still alive at the time, and utilized the vast original resources of the Billy Rose Theater Collection at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Eve remains questioning, yet objective, painting an honest portrait of the lives of these silent film stars. Her approach makes Golden Images a satisfying read as you sympathize, empathize, and celebrate the souls behind the Faces - a welcome and necessary juxtaposition to Hollywood Babylon, which , as entertaining as it is, presents schlock and exploitation over truth. Her filmography/bibliography references are naturally contained within the flow of the text, leaving the reader with a clear timeline and plenty of material to keep watching/reading for months! Highly recommended whether you are a fan of Golden Age films or not, as the human interest stories make for interesting reading.
November 29, 2007
These essays on silent film stars take the people who might never receive their own biographies and shed light on their lives for those of us who love silent film. Originally written for Classic Images, these are the perfect length to give flavor and life to people who might otherwise have been overlooked.
January 14, 2015
An insightful collection of essays on silent movie actors, some of them famous (Rudolph Valentino, Clara Bow), some of them a bit more obscure (Gladys Brockwell, Arthur Johnson). A great 'grab bag' of profiles to learn more about some of the silents' greats!
May 18, 2008
Wonderful short biographies of famous and not-so-famous early film stars. Very interesting stuff!
August 24, 2008
Excellent book, great nuggets of information about virtually forgotten people who made show business what it is today.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews