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Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild
Hollywood's first sex symbol, the 'It' girl, Clara Bow was born in the slums of Brooklyn in a family plagued with alcoholism and insanity. She catapulted to fame after winning Motion Picture magazine's 1921 "Fame and Fortune" contest. The greatest box-office draw of her day she once received 45,000 fan letters in a single month, Clara Bow's on screen vitality and allure that beguiled thousands, however, would be her undoing off-camera. David Stenn captures her legendary rise to stardom and fall from grace, her success marred by studio exploitation and sexual scandals.
400 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
December 11, 2017
I haven’t watched any silent films, but I’m definitely going to change that. Despite having never watched any silent films, I’ve heard of so many silent film stars, which is remarkable to me - Greta Garbo, Mary Pickford, Buster Keaton, Lillian Gish, Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chaplin. But I had never heard of Clara Bow - possibly the most famous of them all. At least at the time. But she didn’t transition well to “talkies” (arguably entirely the fault of the studio for throwing her at the wolves and continuing to give her formulaic roles unbefitting of her talent) and she left Hollywood at 26 years old. Her story is tragic for so many reasons. She grew up in the slums of Brooklyn at the turn of the century, emotionally, physically, and sexually abused by both her parents. When she caught a fairytale break and moved to Hollywood, she became the biggest star of any studio and lowest paid actress at Paramount. She was treated like a commodity by the studio heads, but particularly Ben Schulman who was a real asshole, excuse my language. All that was missing from every description of him was a finger twirling mustache, and it was fully deserved. Clara quickly became a sex symbol - embodying the free spirited, sexually unrestrained flapper of the 20s - the first “IT girl” (that phrase didn’t exist before her). She was a natural actress, amazingly talented, but was put into formula roles; roles that exemplified her as the It girl and nothing more. And her schedule was grueling. There are blood-boiling memos from the studio talking about her like she’s chattel and ordering that she be used hard and squeezed dry until they could discard her once her star power dimmed. But it only dimmed because they refused to give her better roles. Granted, scandal did follow her and over time seemed to get worse. But the studio did nothing to help her, ever. She was kind and trusting, but also had many lovers; whereas other actresses were able to keep their private lives private, Clara couldn’t seem to, or didn’t see the point. She was “slut shamed” before “slut shaming” was something we talked about. And there were also plenty of rumors and libel that went around as well. Her fans turned on her, her studio eventually released her from her contract (through trickery), and she left Hollywood. After Hollywood things didn’t get easier for her, she was haunted by mental illness for the rest of her life.
She was a full of life character, vivacious, free spirited, generous, and kind. But wracked with insecurity. And she was basically used and abused her whole life.
I know this all sounds like a dreadfully depressing read, but actually while it was definitely sad and Clara was such a tragic sympathetic woman, I loved reading about her. She was beautiful (on the outside and inside) and led a fascinating life. Can’t stand Hollywood though. What a bunch of tools. Ugh. Seems like not much has changed in 100 years.
She was a full of life character, vivacious, free spirited, generous, and kind. But wracked with insecurity. And she was basically used and abused her whole life.
I know this all sounds like a dreadfully depressing read, but actually while it was definitely sad and Clara was such a tragic sympathetic woman, I loved reading about her. She was beautiful (on the outside and inside) and led a fascinating life. Can’t stand Hollywood though. What a bunch of tools. Ugh. Seems like not much has changed in 100 years.
January 2, 2008
This is an honest, heart-breaking portrayal of 1920s film star Clara Bow (and yes, that is her real name). Not only does the author do a fabulous job of writing about her filmography, other Hollywood types, and general motion picture history, but he also clears up many a rumor that have been floating around about Clara's life for the past 80 years. The author's style is easy to grasp, not because it is written in a dumbed down way, but because it makes you feel as if you are talking to an old friend, who just happens to be an expert on old Hollywood. Highly recommended.
September 2, 2015
The "It" Girl, Clara Bow was one of the cutest gals in silent film, totally unfettered and a natural actress. She was on top for four years and then the horror of the talkies came. It finished her career almost immediately. She had the worst case of "mike fright" than any of the silent actors and could not keep from looking up at the microphone during filming. Additionally, her harsh Brooklyn accent, kept her from doing anything but comedy. The studio saw the writing on the wall and dropped her like a hot potato, and not in a kindly manner. She had made them loads of money but they paid her poorly and took advantage of her lack of education to exploit her as badly as any actor has been exploited.
She married and retired gracefully but then the problems started. It was discovered that she was schizophrenic and she spent years in and out of mental institutions. She became a recluse in her later year and although she still had plenty of money, she let her home deteriorate and began looking like a street person. She seldom went outside and lived with her illness the best she could with the help of a live-on companion. Hers may be one of the saddest stories of early Hollywood.....her fans adored her and she had a great future if she had been handled correctly and had good legal advice. But she was a carefree, loose living person who lived in the moment and she suffered for it. Many of her early silents have been lost, but it is worth finding the restored version of "It" which shows her to advantage. A good biography of a tragic star.
She married and retired gracefully but then the problems started. It was discovered that she was schizophrenic and she spent years in and out of mental institutions. She became a recluse in her later year and although she still had plenty of money, she let her home deteriorate and began looking like a street person. She seldom went outside and lived with her illness the best she could with the help of a live-on companion. Hers may be one of the saddest stories of early Hollywood.....her fans adored her and she had a great future if she had been handled correctly and had good legal advice. But she was a carefree, loose living person who lived in the moment and she suffered for it. Many of her early silents have been lost, but it is worth finding the restored version of "It" which shows her to advantage. A good biography of a tragic star.
May 30, 2020
David Stenn has done a wonderful job of researching and compiling information about Clara Bow's life. He details her parent's lives, her childhood, her break into films, her struggle to stay in them despite love affairs and financial woes, and her life after films.
This detailed account is easy to read. Unlike many books which touch on complicated subjects such as schizophrenia, Stenn's helps to understand the illness and explains how it related to Clara's behavior. The book also is peppered with sections of dialogue with accents and slang included for realism. Although many of these conversations are probably only imagined, they add an interesting flair to the reading.
There is one attribute of the book that some might consider a flaw: Stenn's opinion. Some of the information regarding Bow's successors seems backhanded. When he mentions Marilyn Monroe, he states that Bow never exploited her childhood for sympathy. This aversion seems strange considering Bow was a fan of Monroe. Also, later in the book, Stenn says that Jean Harlow's accent was worse than Bow's. Again, this is strange since Bow helped Harlow to advance in her career. However, Stenn is entitled to his opinion; perhaps he feels the way he does because he feels that the first sex symbol was the best. And although I personally believe opinion helps aid a biography because it makes it interesting, especially since the author is invested in the subject, some might say that the use of opinion throws a slant on the subject which makes it hard to form ones own opinions. As with anything, however, the reader should be educated and with this knowledge, one should be able to form personal opinions of Clara Bow without being influenced by Stenn's observations.
This book served as the basis for the documentary Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl. Many of the phrases and quotes used in the film were lifted straight from the pages of Stenn's book, proving what an excellent resource it is.
This detailed account is easy to read. Unlike many books which touch on complicated subjects such as schizophrenia, Stenn's helps to understand the illness and explains how it related to Clara's behavior. The book also is peppered with sections of dialogue with accents and slang included for realism. Although many of these conversations are probably only imagined, they add an interesting flair to the reading.
There is one attribute of the book that some might consider a flaw: Stenn's opinion. Some of the information regarding Bow's successors seems backhanded. When he mentions Marilyn Monroe, he states that Bow never exploited her childhood for sympathy. This aversion seems strange considering Bow was a fan of Monroe. Also, later in the book, Stenn says that Jean Harlow's accent was worse than Bow's. Again, this is strange since Bow helped Harlow to advance in her career. However, Stenn is entitled to his opinion; perhaps he feels the way he does because he feels that the first sex symbol was the best. And although I personally believe opinion helps aid a biography because it makes it interesting, especially since the author is invested in the subject, some might say that the use of opinion throws a slant on the subject which makes it hard to form ones own opinions. As with anything, however, the reader should be educated and with this knowledge, one should be able to form personal opinions of Clara Bow without being influenced by Stenn's observations.
This book served as the basis for the documentary Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl. Many of the phrases and quotes used in the film were lifted straight from the pages of Stenn's book, proving what an excellent resource it is.
September 28, 2017
The tumultuous life of Clara Bow
This is a fascinating story of one of the greatest stars of Hollywood. The story is beautifully narrated and the book reads effortlessly. It covers much of her career and her battles with demons, both personal and public.
During her lifetime, Bow was the subject of wild rumors regarding her sex life; most of them were untrue and the author describes the history wonderfully. The Coast Reporter, a tabloid published lurid allegations about her in 1931, accusing her of exhibitionism, incest, lesbianism, bestiality, drug addiction, alcoholism, and having contracted venereal disease. The publisher of the tabloid then tried to blackmail Bow, offering to cease printing the stories for $25,000, which led to his arrest by federal agents and later an eight-year prison sentence for the editor.
Unpretentious and unaffected as she was, Clara could not live obvious to her fame, nor did she want to. In five years she had made 37 movies and in her professional opinion, renown was simply a reward for hard work. Still Clara could not help viewing her stardom is too good to be true. The childhood fantasies that had relieved the reality of her family’s poverty, her father’s abuse and her mother’s seizers had been fulfilled beyond her wildest dreams. Though she was thrilled but she was also frightened. She was known to be a supremely confident “It” girl was in reality a slum girl devoid of self-esteem. She desperately tried to be a good mother for her children and devout wife of her husband despite the fact that her childhood was traumatic. She felt that life had played a cruel trick on her. She had pictured marriage and motherhood as an ideal, idyllic existence and in fact found it even more stressful than stardom. She was sure that she was a failure both as a Hollywood star and as a mother and that added to her depression score. Her insomnia was her greatest enemy which prevented her to relax and ease tensions and insecurities of life. Her father, cousin, and business manager were bleeding Clara dry and her house at Beverly Hills was way behind mortgage payments and the house looked shabby. The lawsuit against her secretary, Daisy DeVoe was very public scandal which broke her apart physically and mentally.
She was publicly engaged to Victor Fleming and privately promised to Gilbert Roland, nothing happened until after few months she started having an affair with Gary Cooper which became the talk of the town. Women were crazy about Cooper, and Paramount star Evelyn Brent cherished her affair with him for the rest of her life. Tallulah Bankhead was literally chasing into his dressing room. Clara increased her list of male lovers that included actors John Gilbert, Norman Kerry and Warren Burke. Her reputation started slipping and gossips whispered that Clara has more ID than “It.” In 1927, rumor linked not to one lover but the entire lineup of USC football team including John Wayne. She attended every home game in Los Angeles followed by regular entertainment at 512 Bedford Drive, Beverly Hills. Food and entertainment were provided. Her friends like Lina Basquette and Joan Crawford were always in attendance at these parties.
Clara Bow had a very tender and caring side for others. Once a young boy from Long Beach wrote to her about his parents, both ill and he was selling candied popcorn to pay their medical bills He wanted her to visit his store. She accepted his invitation immediately and replied that she was ion her way. She stood next to him and sold popcorn to her fans to help the boy raise money for the treatment of his parents’ illness.
When Clara left Paramount for the last time, discarded and disgraced, she was only 25. She said that Rex Bell was her man and she worships him. She was devoted to her husband and children and tried desperately to be an ideal mother. Her insomnia and constant ailments recurred with vengeance when her husband declared candidacy for the congressional seat from NV.
This book is a great read and watching her movies on TCM cable channel is rewarding. I recommend this book to all the fans of Clara Bow and also anyone interested the history of Hollywood.
This is a fascinating story of one of the greatest stars of Hollywood. The story is beautifully narrated and the book reads effortlessly. It covers much of her career and her battles with demons, both personal and public.
During her lifetime, Bow was the subject of wild rumors regarding her sex life; most of them were untrue and the author describes the history wonderfully. The Coast Reporter, a tabloid published lurid allegations about her in 1931, accusing her of exhibitionism, incest, lesbianism, bestiality, drug addiction, alcoholism, and having contracted venereal disease. The publisher of the tabloid then tried to blackmail Bow, offering to cease printing the stories for $25,000, which led to his arrest by federal agents and later an eight-year prison sentence for the editor.
Unpretentious and unaffected as she was, Clara could not live obvious to her fame, nor did she want to. In five years she had made 37 movies and in her professional opinion, renown was simply a reward for hard work. Still Clara could not help viewing her stardom is too good to be true. The childhood fantasies that had relieved the reality of her family’s poverty, her father’s abuse and her mother’s seizers had been fulfilled beyond her wildest dreams. Though she was thrilled but she was also frightened. She was known to be a supremely confident “It” girl was in reality a slum girl devoid of self-esteem. She desperately tried to be a good mother for her children and devout wife of her husband despite the fact that her childhood was traumatic. She felt that life had played a cruel trick on her. She had pictured marriage and motherhood as an ideal, idyllic existence and in fact found it even more stressful than stardom. She was sure that she was a failure both as a Hollywood star and as a mother and that added to her depression score. Her insomnia was her greatest enemy which prevented her to relax and ease tensions and insecurities of life. Her father, cousin, and business manager were bleeding Clara dry and her house at Beverly Hills was way behind mortgage payments and the house looked shabby. The lawsuit against her secretary, Daisy DeVoe was very public scandal which broke her apart physically and mentally.
She was publicly engaged to Victor Fleming and privately promised to Gilbert Roland, nothing happened until after few months she started having an affair with Gary Cooper which became the talk of the town. Women were crazy about Cooper, and Paramount star Evelyn Brent cherished her affair with him for the rest of her life. Tallulah Bankhead was literally chasing into his dressing room. Clara increased her list of male lovers that included actors John Gilbert, Norman Kerry and Warren Burke. Her reputation started slipping and gossips whispered that Clara has more ID than “It.” In 1927, rumor linked not to one lover but the entire lineup of USC football team including John Wayne. She attended every home game in Los Angeles followed by regular entertainment at 512 Bedford Drive, Beverly Hills. Food and entertainment were provided. Her friends like Lina Basquette and Joan Crawford were always in attendance at these parties.
Clara Bow had a very tender and caring side for others. Once a young boy from Long Beach wrote to her about his parents, both ill and he was selling candied popcorn to pay their medical bills He wanted her to visit his store. She accepted his invitation immediately and replied that she was ion her way. She stood next to him and sold popcorn to her fans to help the boy raise money for the treatment of his parents’ illness.
When Clara left Paramount for the last time, discarded and disgraced, she was only 25. She said that Rex Bell was her man and she worships him. She was devoted to her husband and children and tried desperately to be an ideal mother. Her insomnia and constant ailments recurred with vengeance when her husband declared candidacy for the congressional seat from NV.
This book is a great read and watching her movies on TCM cable channel is rewarding. I recommend this book to all the fans of Clara Bow and also anyone interested the history of Hollywood.
August 18, 2009
This biography could have easily gone down the tubes into tabloid trash. Instead, it's a fascinating and engrossing story of a damaged little girl who grew up to become Paramount's biggest female box office draw of the 1920's, but continued to fight her demons all her life. Well-researched, sympathetic, respectful. It's not sanitized, but it's not sleazed up to the nth degree either. Great read.
April 28, 2019
I liked getting to know such an iconic actress as Clara Bow and also the Hollywood life of the 1920s but I really didn't like the narration style that was very focused on the amount of money she received and the huge amount of people that were connected to her. Because of that the book seemed cluttered to me and I just didn't enjoy it as much as I could've.
April 19, 2010
Does anyone write a biography quite like David Stenn? It reads like a novel but smacks of psychology and truth- in the best of ways.
March 1, 2012
I have recently fell in love with silent movies. There is something about conveying meaning and emotions using just your body that fascinates me. And according to many Clara Bow was one of the greatest.
Reading the book gave me a 3D image of this woman. It made me want to meet her, feel the energy she is famous for. Stenn doesn't only concentrate on relating what happened to or what Clara did. He also brings to life the world around her and its effect on Clara.
And what a life! She went from one of the worst childhood I ever heard of to a shinning carrier, loyal fiends and men that loved her and were willing to save her. Except that saving her would mean to save her from herself. I agree with a statement of the book. Clara was her worst enemy. Time and time again she was nearly destroyed by her use of sex to feel loved, her fears, her naivety etc ... But she lived a great life for a while and that is more than some people get.
Reading the book gave me a 3D image of this woman. It made me want to meet her, feel the energy she is famous for. Stenn doesn't only concentrate on relating what happened to or what Clara did. He also brings to life the world around her and its effect on Clara.
And what a life! She went from one of the worst childhood I ever heard of to a shinning carrier, loyal fiends and men that loved her and were willing to save her. Except that saving her would mean to save her from herself. I agree with a statement of the book. Clara was her worst enemy. Time and time again she was nearly destroyed by her use of sex to feel loved, her fears, her naivety etc ... But she lived a great life for a while and that is more than some people get.
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March 12, 2024can definitely see the comparisons between Clara Bow & Taylor Swift’s careers & the things they experienced as young women in the public eye, 39 days until ttpd wooo hooo
February 4, 2013
Ok, so I have always been intrigued by the lives of old movie stars. I've read about several, including Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Bing Crosby, Hedy Lamarr, and Esther Williams, just to name a few. However, I haven't spent enough time exploring the shining stars of the (sadly) forgotten Silent Era. I've seen a good amount of silent movies though, and my interest has grew as well since I've read Joshua Zeitz's excellent book: "Flapper". Then one night I was off of work sick with the flu and while browsing Netflix streaming I came across "It" starring Clara Bow. The only other Bow film I've seen is "Wings", and after seeing "It" I was totally in love with Clara Bow.
Literally minutes after the movie ended I was already on Kindle buying "Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild" by David Stenn. And oh, was I pleased! I was trransported into Clara's life and her history was right there before my eyes. Her tragic childhood, random and miraculous movie beginnings, mad-cap height of movie and tabloid fame, and sorrow-filled decline of fame and mental health was a vivid and addicting read.
I was thrilled with how enthralling this book is. You just want to keep reading! It was also a fun treat to go back to 1920's Hollywood. People think that Hollywood today is drama filled; but would be shocked to read about the crazy headline scandals that the silent era had. Suicides, affairs, suidden deaths, crazy parties, gambling...the jazz age comes alive in this book. Clara truly was and is the original "IT" girl and by becomming America's first sex symbol (this is my opinion, others think that title belongs to Evelyn Nesbit) she paved the way for other actresses to become sexy icons in Hollywood. I feel if it weren't for Clara many actresses including Jean Harlow, Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe and Megan Fox wouldn't have reached the fame that they have acheived today.
The only con I can think of is that is you are not interested in the lives of silent movie stars then you may become bored easily. But thanks to "The Artist" (silent movie that won Best Picture at the Academy Awards last year) there has been a renewed interest in silent film. Clara shouldn't be forgotten, so if you enjoy interesting stories of true lives, give this book a shot. You'll be hunting for "It" on Netflix instantly!!!!
Literally minutes after the movie ended I was already on Kindle buying "Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild" by David Stenn. And oh, was I pleased! I was trransported into Clara's life and her history was right there before my eyes. Her tragic childhood, random and miraculous movie beginnings, mad-cap height of movie and tabloid fame, and sorrow-filled decline of fame and mental health was a vivid and addicting read.
I was thrilled with how enthralling this book is. You just want to keep reading! It was also a fun treat to go back to 1920's Hollywood. People think that Hollywood today is drama filled; but would be shocked to read about the crazy headline scandals that the silent era had. Suicides, affairs, suidden deaths, crazy parties, gambling...the jazz age comes alive in this book. Clara truly was and is the original "IT" girl and by becomming America's first sex symbol (this is my opinion, others think that title belongs to Evelyn Nesbit) she paved the way for other actresses to become sexy icons in Hollywood. I feel if it weren't for Clara many actresses including Jean Harlow, Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe and Megan Fox wouldn't have reached the fame that they have acheived today.
The only con I can think of is that is you are not interested in the lives of silent movie stars then you may become bored easily. But thanks to "The Artist" (silent movie that won Best Picture at the Academy Awards last year) there has been a renewed interest in silent film. Clara shouldn't be forgotten, so if you enjoy interesting stories of true lives, give this book a shot. You'll be hunting for "It" on Netflix instantly!!!!
July 18, 2011
Wow.
What a life Clara Bow had. I admit, when I first saw her in 1927's "Wings" and became obsessed with her, I had no idea what her past was, but when I got David Stenn's biography of her, I was knocked out flat.
Where do I begin? From her horrific childhood (her mentally-ill mother tried to kill her and her father raped her) to her getting snubbed by Paramount (she was the most popular star in Hollywood and also one of the lowest payed), heartache and scandal seemed to have followed Clara everywhere. How she was professional and visually stunning when she was on camera despite all of her troubles is beyond me. Her Hollywood life was hell: this girl could not get a break. When I read the part where she retired and moved out to Nevada with Rex Bell on a ranch and read she was truly happy for the first time, I wanted to cry. I understand now the fellow who wrote the review that said he wanted to throw the book after he read it.
Clara was not only the greatest actress of her day, but possibly of all time, and she was not deserving of the troubles she faced. I'm so glad I found her. I'm glad that I have her pictures on my wall and me with her star. I'm glad that I have a few of her movies to watch. Dammit: this book made me love her even more. I just want to hold hold her and tell her I'm sorry.
Stenn did an amazing job in writing this review, the one she truly deserves. It did take me a little while to read, but I was captivated through every word of it. Hell, he kind of made me want to name my daughter "Clara" one day. He did a beautiful job for this beautiful (on the inside and out) star.
What a life Clara Bow had. I admit, when I first saw her in 1927's "Wings" and became obsessed with her, I had no idea what her past was, but when I got David Stenn's biography of her, I was knocked out flat.
Where do I begin? From her horrific childhood (her mentally-ill mother tried to kill her and her father raped her) to her getting snubbed by Paramount (she was the most popular star in Hollywood and also one of the lowest payed), heartache and scandal seemed to have followed Clara everywhere. How she was professional and visually stunning when she was on camera despite all of her troubles is beyond me. Her Hollywood life was hell: this girl could not get a break. When I read the part where she retired and moved out to Nevada with Rex Bell on a ranch and read she was truly happy for the first time, I wanted to cry. I understand now the fellow who wrote the review that said he wanted to throw the book after he read it.
Clara was not only the greatest actress of her day, but possibly of all time, and she was not deserving of the troubles she faced. I'm so glad I found her. I'm glad that I have her pictures on my wall and me with her star. I'm glad that I have a few of her movies to watch. Dammit: this book made me love her even more. I just want to hold hold her and tell her I'm sorry.
Stenn did an amazing job in writing this review, the one she truly deserves. It did take me a little while to read, but I was captivated through every word of it. Hell, he kind of made me want to name my daughter "Clara" one day. He did a beautiful job for this beautiful (on the inside and out) star.
July 9, 2011
This isn't exactly an uplifting read, but it is very well done. David Stenn is a good author and his portrayal of Clara Bow's life is at once objective and sympathetic. I've also read his Jean Harlow biography and he gave her the same treatment. Both Jean and Clara are controversial figures with some outrageous legends attached to their names. Stenn succeeds in either debunking the myths altogether, or digging into their backgrounds to reveal the origins of how the stories were started.
In Clara's case, she was given a bum rap by being born into poverty in a Brooklyn slum to two of the craziest human beings who ever lived. Because of her humble background and naivety, she was exploited by Paramount in formula schlock that was guaranteed to make money because of her enormous popularity. She was grossly underpaid despite being Paramount's biggest moneymaker. After she voluntarily walked away from the movie business in 1932, her family's history of mental illness caught up with her. I don't think she ever found any peace or happiness. Again, this isn't the most uplifting book to read. Did ANY silent film stars have a happy ending? Maybe I need to read about Lillian Gish next.
In Clara's case, she was given a bum rap by being born into poverty in a Brooklyn slum to two of the craziest human beings who ever lived. Because of her humble background and naivety, she was exploited by Paramount in formula schlock that was guaranteed to make money because of her enormous popularity. She was grossly underpaid despite being Paramount's biggest moneymaker. After she voluntarily walked away from the movie business in 1932, her family's history of mental illness caught up with her. I don't think she ever found any peace or happiness. Again, this isn't the most uplifting book to read. Did ANY silent film stars have a happy ending? Maybe I need to read about Lillian Gish next.
December 16, 2007
A serviceable bio of the 20s OTHER leading ingenue, the one who wasn't Lulu. This is a good antidote to a lot of the hooha put out there by folks like Kenneth Anger---including the whoppa that Clara once serviced an entire football that included one Marion Morrison, better known as John Wayne. If this bio doesn't quite capture the exuberance that was Clara's supposed personality, blame it on the type of biography written here. It would've been more interesting to go deeper into Hollywood dynamics rather than follow CB's chronology so closely, but cest la vie. When you need to know who CD was married to, what movies she made, how much chasola she earned---this is the one.
August 12, 2019
Really glad I read this. I’ve been wanted to read biographies of the stars from Early Hollywood and this did not disappoint. I’ve read David Stenn’s other biography of Jean Harlow and I enjoyed that one as much as this one. There were so many things I didn’t know about Clara Bow of her horrific childhood and mistreated she was by the studio she was helping to make millions. After reading this, I’m definitely going to be picking up some of her films to watch.
September 7, 2012
This is the only really researched biography ever written of Clara Bow, a poignant and evocative look at an unforgettable woman who conquered a magical period in our history and blasted apart the Victorian prudishness of western society which was one of the catalysts for birthing modern culture.
The Brooklyn Bonfire, The "It" Girl, the Royal Canadian Mounted Policewoman of sex (she always got her man!), the twenties version of Marilyn and Madonna, Clara was the very first modern, studio-packaged sex symbol. The image the studios fashioned for her, that of a carefree, man-hungry flapper, became an icon for the Jazz Age. But Bow is criminally underappreciated today---this young girl had more influence on modern Hollywood than anyone gives her credit for---and this book will show you exactly why. Here is the original tragic Hollywood sex symbol, the one all others are modeled on. Softly beautiful, powerfully sensual, and an incredibly expressive actress, she had a shocking amount of raw talent, which was exploited, and then ignored, and then sacrificed by the studio system that had grown wealthy off of her.
Stenn lays bare the reasons for her unrelenting self-destruction, revealing an unloved and bewildered young girl who fought desperately to escape from her childhood prison but was wholly unprepared for life on the outside. An authoritative biography of a complex and fascinating woman, highly recommended.
The Brooklyn Bonfire, The "It" Girl, the Royal Canadian Mounted Policewoman of sex (she always got her man!), the twenties version of Marilyn and Madonna, Clara was the very first modern, studio-packaged sex symbol. The image the studios fashioned for her, that of a carefree, man-hungry flapper, became an icon for the Jazz Age. But Bow is criminally underappreciated today---this young girl had more influence on modern Hollywood than anyone gives her credit for---and this book will show you exactly why. Here is the original tragic Hollywood sex symbol, the one all others are modeled on. Softly beautiful, powerfully sensual, and an incredibly expressive actress, she had a shocking amount of raw talent, which was exploited, and then ignored, and then sacrificed by the studio system that had grown wealthy off of her.
Stenn lays bare the reasons for her unrelenting self-destruction, revealing an unloved and bewildered young girl who fought desperately to escape from her childhood prison but was wholly unprepared for life on the outside. An authoritative biography of a complex and fascinating woman, highly recommended.
September 6, 2014
Recommended for anyone who likes the 1920s. I had no idea how shockingly bad Clara Bow's tenement childhood in Brooklyn was, making her ascent to Box Office Blockbuster truly remarkable. However, unlike other Flappers like Louise Brooks, she comes off as naive and uneducated. Her habit of "tellin' it like it is" regarding her affairs with men, got her into trouble repeatedly until Paramount got tired of bailing her out.
Later, after retirement induced by severe burnout and one scandal too many, she was actually diagnosed as a schizophrenic (which seems severe). Hence, she spent the last 35 years of her life as a semi-recluse. It makes you wonder what might have happened had she been allowed to transition into more dramatic roles like she wanted? Her star status ensured that she would be placed in nothing but schlock films that cost nothing to produce. The studio viewed anything better as a waste of money because Clara Bow's name would sell tickets no matter what.
The book does make me want to watch TCM's "Pre-Code Hollywood" festival this month as they are showing one of her early talkies, "Call Her Savage," with a plot that makes Peyton Place look like a Nun's Story.
Later, after retirement induced by severe burnout and one scandal too many, she was actually diagnosed as a schizophrenic (which seems severe). Hence, she spent the last 35 years of her life as a semi-recluse. It makes you wonder what might have happened had she been allowed to transition into more dramatic roles like she wanted? Her star status ensured that she would be placed in nothing but schlock films that cost nothing to produce. The studio viewed anything better as a waste of money because Clara Bow's name would sell tickets no matter what.
The book does make me want to watch TCM's "Pre-Code Hollywood" festival this month as they are showing one of her early talkies, "Call Her Savage," with a plot that makes Peyton Place look like a Nun's Story.
August 5, 2017
I've long been fascinated by Clara Bow and have been looking for a biography of her for a while. This one doesn't disappoint. David Stenn interviewed the people who were close to her and paints a well-rounded portrait of a deeply tragic and insecure woman, despite her fame and talent. Bow had one of the most horrific childhoods I've ever read about and went on to one of the most groundbreaking careers in Hollywood. It's a shame she's largely forgotten now. Whenever I've mentioned I'm reading a book about her, everyone has the same reaction: Who was she? Sad.
David Stenn also wrote an outstanding biography of Jean Harlow. I wish he'd write more, as both his writing and his subjects are fascinating.
David Stenn also wrote an outstanding biography of Jean Harlow. I wish he'd write more, as both his writing and his subjects are fascinating.
August 21, 2008
When this book first came out, I was gaga for David Stenn's work. Now, years later, I picked it up again and have viewed it differently. Maybe it comes with age and/or research for my own project, but the nasty undertone and salacious gossipy feel leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. Clara was far from perfect and in many ways a tragic figure, but somehow I think she deserves better.
June 18, 2007
Quite simply, the best biography I've ever read, film-based or otherwise. Stenn has a knack for making his subject's personal histories come alive; many times I felt as if I were sitting next to Clara herself, hearing her pour out her story. And what a story it it! Fantastic.
November 29, 2007
David Stenn provides the best biography to date on a very misunderstood actress. Clara best parallels Marilyn Monroe in her wish to be loved and her inability to find people she could trust. Hers is a heartbreaking and infuriating story, but Stenn makes it impossible to put down.
May 9, 2025
4.5
Excellent biography
Excellent biography
February 4, 2026
“Beauty is a beast that roars, down on all fours, demanding more.” - Clara Bow by Taylor Swift
A tragic story about a tragic life, but in the midst of it she entertained so many.
A tragic story about a tragic life, but in the midst of it she entertained so many.
July 27, 2011
This book was a suggestion from a list of "Best Biographies" guest-written for "The Womens Room," a blog about all kinds of things written by two women in London. They're funny and literate, and I thought a show biz bio might be just the thing for the weekend of our family reunion. AND our library happened to have this one on the shelf.
Well. First off, Clara Bow had a devastatingly sad life. Poverty, abuse, scorn, loss, death, bad luck. . . first her mom and then she had it all. There's some line about "plucking defeat out of the jaws of victory"--that could be the subtitle for this book. Not too much fun to read about, especially as I kept waiting for that big break, but each big break was just a precursor to another chapter of naive young woman, looking for love and support; studio bosses taking advantage; bad decisions, terrible movies, stress, etc.
Secondly, the book is written oddly. Here's an example: "I'd try to pay, but Clara wouldn't let me," says Jacobson. "She'd say, 'Maxine, you pay for it. Artie don't got that kinda money.'" Since Alton's cash, like her car, came from Clara anyway, she made no objection." (38) A patient reader can figure out which "she" refers to which woman after a minute, but a good editor could have cleared that sentence up ahead of time. A more damning example concerns Gary Cooper: "Since few of his silent films survive and those that do are rarely shown, modern audiences are unfamiliar with a time when, before his face was punctuated by the middle-aged crags that made it a cinematic Mount Rushmore, Gary Cooper was a man for whom the word "handsome" seemed an outrageous understatement." (90) Whew. That sentence (and others like it) cries out for an editor! A final line I questioned claimed that of Amelia Earhart, Gertrude Ederle, Miriam Ferguson, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Isadora Duncan, Margaret Mead, Aimee Semple McPherson and Margaret Sanger, "none made as indelible an imprint as Clara." (87). Hyperbole, anyone?
So. I'd give it a C-/D+. Clara Bow was certainly a significant figure, but I certainly hope there are better-written biographies of her out there!
Well. First off, Clara Bow had a devastatingly sad life. Poverty, abuse, scorn, loss, death, bad luck. . . first her mom and then she had it all. There's some line about "plucking defeat out of the jaws of victory"--that could be the subtitle for this book. Not too much fun to read about, especially as I kept waiting for that big break, but each big break was just a precursor to another chapter of naive young woman, looking for love and support; studio bosses taking advantage; bad decisions, terrible movies, stress, etc.
Secondly, the book is written oddly. Here's an example: "I'd try to pay, but Clara wouldn't let me," says Jacobson. "She'd say, 'Maxine, you pay for it. Artie don't got that kinda money.'" Since Alton's cash, like her car, came from Clara anyway, she made no objection." (38) A patient reader can figure out which "she" refers to which woman after a minute, but a good editor could have cleared that sentence up ahead of time. A more damning example concerns Gary Cooper: "Since few of his silent films survive and those that do are rarely shown, modern audiences are unfamiliar with a time when, before his face was punctuated by the middle-aged crags that made it a cinematic Mount Rushmore, Gary Cooper was a man for whom the word "handsome" seemed an outrageous understatement." (90) Whew. That sentence (and others like it) cries out for an editor! A final line I questioned claimed that of Amelia Earhart, Gertrude Ederle, Miriam Ferguson, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Isadora Duncan, Margaret Mead, Aimee Semple McPherson and Margaret Sanger, "none made as indelible an imprint as Clara." (87). Hyperbole, anyone?
So. I'd give it a C-/D+. Clara Bow was certainly a significant figure, but I certainly hope there are better-written biographies of her out there!
February 8, 2011
This is one of my very favorite books. I'm a big Clara Bow fan and I've always loved her movies. But reading this book took her from being just a celluloid image to being a real person to me. A real person who was maligned and persecuted by the very people she made the most money for.
I defy anybody to read this book without their eyes filling up at least once for this beautiful, talented, wonderful actress. It's also a harrowing story of a life filled with abuse, fear of mental illness, and tragedy. Clara Bow's story is like one of those books where the main character faces every adversity that can possbily be thrown at them, and rises above it to victory. That was Clara Bow's *real* life. And once she got there, she had to endure abuse and scandal all over again.
This book will also dispell some of the vicious myths and rumors that followed Clara Bow throughout her career - you know the ones; all the Hollywood Babylon-type selaciousness. (Yes, I do read those Kenneth Anger books too. They're one of the things you just can't avoid if you're doing 'Hollywood' research.)
The research for this book must have been painstaking and excruciating. It is absolutely meticulous. You can feel David Stenn's passion for his subject rising off the page.
Anyone who is into the whole 'Hollywood' thing, the Silent Era, or the Golden Age in general, this is a *must* read. If you only ever read one book about a Silent Star, make it this one.
I will confidently buy everything this writer publishes.
I defy anybody to read this book without their eyes filling up at least once for this beautiful, talented, wonderful actress. It's also a harrowing story of a life filled with abuse, fear of mental illness, and tragedy. Clara Bow's story is like one of those books where the main character faces every adversity that can possbily be thrown at them, and rises above it to victory. That was Clara Bow's *real* life. And once she got there, she had to endure abuse and scandal all over again.
This book will also dispell some of the vicious myths and rumors that followed Clara Bow throughout her career - you know the ones; all the Hollywood Babylon-type selaciousness. (Yes, I do read those Kenneth Anger books too. They're one of the things you just can't avoid if you're doing 'Hollywood' research.)
The research for this book must have been painstaking and excruciating. It is absolutely meticulous. You can feel David Stenn's passion for his subject rising off the page.
Anyone who is into the whole 'Hollywood' thing, the Silent Era, or the Golden Age in general, this is a *must* read. If you only ever read one book about a Silent Star, make it this one.
I will confidently buy everything this writer publishes.
February 23, 2014
As a major Clara Bow fan, sometimes you'll pick up a book and be sickened by the lies that endure through the decades, like the Kenneth Anger trash. But this book makes all of those fade away. This is the REAL Clara Bow. She was an actual person, one who felt, and cried, and feared, and hurt – just like we all do. But we can sometimes forget that about celebrities, and imagine that their lives are perfect fairy tales. Well, they're not, especially when you're used, abused and exploited by the people you made rich, by people who she helped make legends in the movie industry.
Clara Bow came from abject poverty, an abusive home, and had a mentally ill mother and an alcoholic, sexually and physically abusive father. The mere fact she didn't end up in a gutter somewhere is astonishing in itself. But Clara had a dream – to be in the movies, to be a star, to be loved the way she loved her favorite stars on the silver screen. Clara Bow is a legend. She's 'The 'It' Girl;' the one and only. Clara's face is the one we see when we think of a Silent Movie Star.
David Stenn writes from a place of love, respect and passion for his subject and is a joy to read. I've read several books on Clara Bow and for me 'Clara Bow : Runnin' Wild' is the definitive biography, researched meticulously and written beautifully.
Essential reading for anybody who loves Silent Era movies, Golden Age Hollywood, or is just a movie buff in general. An important book about one of Hollywood's best and brightest shining stars.
Clara Bow came from abject poverty, an abusive home, and had a mentally ill mother and an alcoholic, sexually and physically abusive father. The mere fact she didn't end up in a gutter somewhere is astonishing in itself. But Clara had a dream – to be in the movies, to be a star, to be loved the way she loved her favorite stars on the silver screen. Clara Bow is a legend. She's 'The 'It' Girl;' the one and only. Clara's face is the one we see when we think of a Silent Movie Star.
David Stenn writes from a place of love, respect and passion for his subject and is a joy to read. I've read several books on Clara Bow and for me 'Clara Bow : Runnin' Wild' is the definitive biography, researched meticulously and written beautifully.
Essential reading for anybody who loves Silent Era movies, Golden Age Hollywood, or is just a movie buff in general. An important book about one of Hollywood's best and brightest shining stars.
December 7, 2014
An interesting biography of filmdom's first "it" girl. Perhaps because she was emotionally abused by both parents and physically abused by her father Clara Bow was able to dramatically change emotion responses. With both a mother and a grandmother who were mentally ill it should not be surprising that Clara also had mental problems. But the book also shows the extent to which greed caused the big shots in the movie industry to misuse actors with merit. Casting was done to make the biggest buck the quickest with no real concern for the long term. In Clara's case rather than giving her parts in major films which she had proved she could handle they gave her roles in low budget movies that exploited her "it." factor. It is no wonder her problems were exacerbated by the grueling schedule she had to keep. To add insult to injury, Paramount (and I am sure other studios as well) has allowed it's silent films to deteriorate thus depriving the public of much of film history.
June 6, 2010
i love Clara Bow, so it was good to be able to read about her. But i agree with Jane, it wasnt necessary to have her quoted in "Noo Yawk" dialect.
October 24, 2016
Continuing an old Hollywood reading trend, really enjoyed this one for being well written, well researched, and balanced in its portrayal.
January 20, 2017
This was wonderfully captivating biography of a jazz age treasure. I read Flapper by Joshua Zeitz last year and this was the perfect accompaniment to such a study of the era.
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