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Diane Franklin:The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French-Exchange Babe of the 80s
This book follows the excellent acting career of 80s teen star Diane Franklin, revealing how she became the most "excellent babe" of the 80s!
- GenresBiography
134 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 2012
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65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 25, 2021
What a wonderful person! I had the privilege of interviewing her for a PVD Horror podcast. She is legitimate one of the nicest people on the planet and it really shows in this book. She didn't have a bad thing to say about anybody. Even when she got turned down. I love her enthusiasm! She also shows that if you work your a** off, and chase your dreams, things will happen. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I just wish the pictures were in color. I was a little disappointed about that. Other than that.. Thank You Diane Franklin
January 22, 2020
Hahahah. The worst book ever. I HAD to read it after someone else posted about it because I realized this woman was in the 80s film The Last American Virgin... not something most people have seen or remember (it was rather forgettable). But my mom used to watch it every time it was replayed on TBS (seemingly every weekend), hoping it would end differently. (It didn't.)
This book is not well-written, is a bit like a "what I did this summer" essay in a 10th grade English class, with "deep-seated" written as "deep-seeded" and "gentle" as "gentile" (which is especially funny because Diane Franklin writes in this book about her father being Jewish; surely she'd know the difference between the two words...).
Then again I did not expect the book to be well-written. I just had to know what this woman would write about her experience on TLAV. So, so bad.
This book is not well-written, is a bit like a "what I did this summer" essay in a 10th grade English class, with "deep-seated" written as "deep-seeded" and "gentle" as "gentile" (which is especially funny because Diane Franklin writes in this book about her father being Jewish; surely she'd know the difference between the two words...).
Then again I did not expect the book to be well-written. I just had to know what this woman would write about her experience on TLAV. So, so bad.
July 8, 2019
It feels a bit odd to give this four stars - it's not, by any standard, a polished, in-depth memoir; more like someone asked Diane Franklin for stories about her career, tape-recorded the responses, and transcribed them.
BUT - after many years working in the entertainment industry, it's one of the more honest and useful accounts I've heard. In and among the various accounts of sundry commericals, tv gust stars, and movies, Franklin recounts a number of truisms that people often don't think about the biz: that making it is about working your butt off, not out-of-the-blue lucky breaks; that there are no overnight successes; and that sometimes it's the look people think you have, rather than what you think you have, that makes the difference. In addition, she notes without malice an ugly truism of certain eras of American moviemaking, if not culture in general - that in movies of the early 80s, it became a thing to show young, pretty girls as objects of sexual desire, and she was a young, pretty girl in that era, so people cast her in projects.
The account is well-intentioned, there are not axes ground or bitter feuds settled; in fact, she goes out of the way to note how nice it was to work with people in general, even those cast as her enemies.
A short, but pleasant addition to the Hollywood autobiography genre.
BUT - after many years working in the entertainment industry, it's one of the more honest and useful accounts I've heard. In and among the various accounts of sundry commericals, tv gust stars, and movies, Franklin recounts a number of truisms that people often don't think about the biz: that making it is about working your butt off, not out-of-the-blue lucky breaks; that there are no overnight successes; and that sometimes it's the look people think you have, rather than what you think you have, that makes the difference. In addition, she notes without malice an ugly truism of certain eras of American moviemaking, if not culture in general - that in movies of the early 80s, it became a thing to show young, pretty girls as objects of sexual desire, and she was a young, pretty girl in that era, so people cast her in projects.
The account is well-intentioned, there are not axes ground or bitter feuds settled; in fact, she goes out of the way to note how nice it was to work with people in general, even those cast as her enemies.
A short, but pleasant addition to the Hollywood autobiography genre.
August 15, 2017
Diane Franklin is probably one of my favorite 80's actresses, so I had to get and read this! I really enjoyed getting to know her and learn more behind the scenes of the movies she was in.... especially The Last American Virgin... but my favorite movie she was in is Better Off Dead. All in all this was a great Bio!
July 17, 2021
Wow! Incredible Story and outlook on life!
Let me start by saying that this should be required reading for parents and kids. The journey being as important or more important than the destination is a thought that would help so many of our current crop of disaffected youths.
In the 70s and 80s, we did not demand that kid gloves were required. There were, and still are, tremendous workplace abuses occurring today but in most cases, it is the quirk of who you were working for. You can lament the way you were handled or you can excel in that environment. I am truly happy that we are calling out true abusers and predators but not all people with abrasive personalities are bad people.
Diane takes you on the journey of her life and her will-do attitude shines through! I found the story after following her on Instagram and immediately got it on Amazon. It is one of the best books I have read in the past few years!
Let me start by saying that this should be required reading for parents and kids. The journey being as important or more important than the destination is a thought that would help so many of our current crop of disaffected youths.
In the 70s and 80s, we did not demand that kid gloves were required. There were, and still are, tremendous workplace abuses occurring today but in most cases, it is the quirk of who you were working for. You can lament the way you were handled or you can excel in that environment. I am truly happy that we are calling out true abusers and predators but not all people with abrasive personalities are bad people.
Diane takes you on the journey of her life and her will-do attitude shines through! I found the story after following her on Instagram and immediately got it on Amazon. It is one of the best books I have read in the past few years!
January 21, 2020
After watching Better Off Dead with my kids, they wanted to know about the actress who played Monique, as her French had a weird accent and they wanted to know where she was from. That led to this book. While the writing isn't stunning from a technical standpoint, it was really astonishing to learn just how hard she had worked from a very young age. It also seems rare these days to hear from anyone who has nothing but praise for everyone they mention.
October 29, 2018
Interesting for fans.
As I kid of the 80s, I have always been a fan of her work. I really enjoyed reading her reflections on her career.
As I kid of the 80s, I have always been a fan of her work. I really enjoyed reading her reflections on her career.
January 17, 2024
The book is very brief. Some interesting reminisces.
October 2, 2018
A fun trip into the 70’s and 80’s with someone who has done far more than I ever realized! I had a blast going down memory lane with her stories and look forward to future in-depth books of her movies!
February 19, 2017
Lots of good info, but reads like a 4th grade young adult book.
January 3, 2014
Diane Franklin was my 80's babe. Last American Virgin had a deeply profound effect on me and maybe the first movie since The Lou Gherig story that made me feel truly sad. Better off Dead is probably my favorite 80s Comedy and surely up there with Breakfast club, Bill and Ted's Excellent adventure (also co-staring Diane Franklin as my 1-2-3 punch combination. As Monet she stole my heart after she broke it in L.A. Virgin. And Franklin's work in Amityville 2 definitely left me feeling...something even if it was emotionally confused (if you saw the movie and remember it you may understand). So Diane was one of my 80's crushes for sure.
The Biography though entertaining and enjoyable just felt like it wasn't enough...deep enough or something. I'm glad I read it and got insight into Diane and her roles and was very worth the read I think it just left me wanting more like she did when she left the big screen.
The Biography though entertaining and enjoyable just felt like it wasn't enough...deep enough or something. I'm glad I read it and got insight into Diane and her roles and was very worth the read I think it just left me wanting more like she did when she left the big screen.
June 24, 2015
Easy book to read from an actress I practically worshipped in the 80's. Nice to read her recollections and that she managed to put a positive spin on all of her experiences. Sorry folks no gossip. Though it was nice to know some behind the scenes stories. Happy for her. I only wish it was longer and more detailed. Especially considering BETTER OFF DEAD and THE LAST AMERICAN VIRGIN will always be hallmark movies of the 80's
September 8, 2023
I am entering some books that I read and that I reviewed on Amazon some years ago.
This is what I said on my Amazon review.
A great presentation of a great girl from the eighties. She was great in movies like Second Time Lucky and The Last American Virgin. That latter movie's title refers to emotional virginity and is a really good movie.
This is what I said on my Amazon review.
A great presentation of a great girl from the eighties. She was great in movies like Second Time Lucky and The Last American Virgin. That latter movie's title refers to emotional virginity and is a really good movie.
February 23, 2022
An entertaining and easy to read account of the career and post career life of one of my favorite 80s actresses.
May 8, 2013
A fun behind the scenes look at some of the classic movies of the 80's. Ms. Franklin is just as much of a "babe" now as she was then.
March 5, 2020
Interesting book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews