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Casting Couch
Paperback
First published February 8, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 4, 2022
Selwyn Ford is really Alan Selwyn (Hollywood agent) and Derek Ford (movie director and writer) and together they leave no stones unturned in their decade by decade detailed look at the 'casting couch' when usually young women and girls are encouraged (sometimes expected) to sleep with mainly movie moguls, but also producers, directors, agents etc. to get into Hollywood. The book focuses on the 'Golden Age' of Hollywood but covers Hollywood's origins to the 1950s. Pretty much every starlet had to go through this process, the vast majority of them knowingly. I can imagine this is what starlet Ava Gardner belatedly thought of it:
With multiple sourced stories, quotes and court/police records as the foundation for the information and detailed shared this book does not hold back on the rampant misogyny, statutory rape, fragile male egos and overall abuse of power exerted by some of the biggest names behind the scenes in Hollywood over five decades and absolutely does not hold back names or police complicity. It maybe shock too many readers (it was to me) of the list of Hollywood actresses that underwent this process and/or had most of their careers dependent on whom they slept with. The clear reality is that many men abused their power to live this lifestyle which in turn for many led them to disrespect and disregard women even more than they did already. The book also doesn't hideaway the economic realities of the situation and of just how many women and indeed their own families' were complicit.
The HUGE takeout from this book is the final chapter which was reserved for Marilyn Monroe which puts forth a rationale and evidenced reason why she no longer wanted to live... a reason that has since this book's publication been validated! Marilyn Monroe was the perfect starlet for the casting couch system and Hollywood and other privileged men took maximum advantage, of that few can deny. All in all a book that frames Hollywood and it's obsession with young woman and girls in the reality that it was driven my the needs of the men in power. A extremely sad read that shatters the illusion Hollywood even now tries to portray and essentially in the 21st century underlines the importance of #MeToo. 9 out of 12.
2022 read
With multiple sourced stories, quotes and court/police records as the foundation for the information and detailed shared this book does not hold back on the rampant misogyny, statutory rape, fragile male egos and overall abuse of power exerted by some of the biggest names behind the scenes in Hollywood over five decades and absolutely does not hold back names or police complicity. It maybe shock too many readers (it was to me) of the list of Hollywood actresses that underwent this process and/or had most of their careers dependent on whom they slept with. The clear reality is that many men abused their power to live this lifestyle which in turn for many led them to disrespect and disregard women even more than they did already. The book also doesn't hideaway the economic realities of the situation and of just how many women and indeed their own families' were complicit.
The HUGE takeout from this book is the final chapter which was reserved for Marilyn Monroe which puts forth a rationale and evidenced reason why she no longer wanted to live... a reason that has since this book's publication been validated! Marilyn Monroe was the perfect starlet for the casting couch system and Hollywood and other privileged men took maximum advantage, of that few can deny. All in all a book that frames Hollywood and it's obsession with young woman and girls in the reality that it was driven my the needs of the men in power. A extremely sad read that shatters the illusion Hollywood even now tries to portray and essentially in the 21st century underlines the importance of #MeToo. 9 out of 12.
2022 read
April 1, 2022
Looking up the writer, Selwyn Ford, on IMDB, I was immediately provided with the names of Derek Ford (Director and Writer) and Alan Selwyn (Actor, Writer and Producer). Yes, they were involved in the motion picture industry, but primarily did exploitive films including (in Ford's case) hardcore scenes. Naturally. this could call their veracity of the facts provided in THE CASTING COUCH into question. After all, they were well acquainted with how to sensationalize and titillate the public.
While I was reading this, I was reminded of Kenneth Anger's exploitive tome, HOLLYWOOD BABYLON. That was a book filled with salacious stories and photographs, many of which were shown to be retellings of gossip and fraudulent manipulation. Anger's "research" seemed practically non-existent.
In THE CASTING COUCH, the Reader is asked to take a lot of what is being said on faith. "Selwyn Ford" claims to own a copy of a pornographic loop made by a very young Joan Crawford. Whether or not such a film exists relies on the belief that the truth is being told. (Also, it is admitted that people in Hollywood who saw the loop didn't recognize the "chubby" Joan Crawford. So, was it her?)
There was also information provided that was frankly wrong. Two instances that immediately come to mind involve Clara Bow and Louise Brooks. Regarding Bow, I would recommend the curious to David Stenn's biography of her, RUNNIN' WILD. And as for Brooks, she was certainly no saint by any means! Yet, there are many books out there about her life, including revealing articles written by Brooks herself who felt no reason to hide anything. The rumor mill assertions without any citing of resources are highly questionable.
It is the lack of verifiable sources that troubled me the most. There were court records (in the cases of Mary Astor and Lionel Atwill), and Charlie Chaplin's peccadillos have become legendary. Yet, much of what is provided here is of the "somebody heard this from someone else who knew of a source" variety.
So, is THE CASTING COUCH a waste of time? No, not at all. Even without "proof," the book does "connect the dots" several times to explain what had been behind the public stories. These ranged from the suicide of Paul Bern (Jean Harlow's husband) for which corroboratory evidence has been found, to what ultimately happened to Olive Thomas. THE CASTING COUCH provides an explanation that makes all kinds of sense, as it does for the death of Marilyn Monroe.
On shakier ground are the deaths of Directors Thomas H. Ince and William Desmond Taylor, and the Virginia Rappe death that sunk the career of "Fatty" Arbuckle. Is there any merit to the speculations contained here? Could be, but there are instances (especially with Ince) that fly in the face of the official findings. Also, the activities of Director D. W. Griffith seem at odds with views expressed by the people who knew him. (There are also assertions made about Director Peter Bogdanovich and the murder of Dorothy Stratten that are quite disturbing.)
One of the major achievements of THE CASTING COUCH is dispelling the argument that it was the one-sided way that powerful men dominated unwilling women. Certainly, that had to be the case in many instances. However, it was also an aspect of power. Yes, the men held the loftier studio positions in the Hollywood hierarchy. At the same time, there were women who realized the emotional weaknesses of some of them and found a way to exercise their influence.
The bottom line in reading THE CASTING COUCH is to absorb it as yet another perspective. "Selwyn Ford" likely had an agenda in writing this. That doesn't mean that everything here is based on rumor ... but, a lot of it could be. It is a much better book than HOLLYWOOD BABYLON. Just be sure to ask yourself if what you are reading always makes sense.
While I was reading this, I was reminded of Kenneth Anger's exploitive tome, HOLLYWOOD BABYLON. That was a book filled with salacious stories and photographs, many of which were shown to be retellings of gossip and fraudulent manipulation. Anger's "research" seemed practically non-existent.
In THE CASTING COUCH, the Reader is asked to take a lot of what is being said on faith. "Selwyn Ford" claims to own a copy of a pornographic loop made by a very young Joan Crawford. Whether or not such a film exists relies on the belief that the truth is being told. (Also, it is admitted that people in Hollywood who saw the loop didn't recognize the "chubby" Joan Crawford. So, was it her?)
There was also information provided that was frankly wrong. Two instances that immediately come to mind involve Clara Bow and Louise Brooks. Regarding Bow, I would recommend the curious to David Stenn's biography of her, RUNNIN' WILD. And as for Brooks, she was certainly no saint by any means! Yet, there are many books out there about her life, including revealing articles written by Brooks herself who felt no reason to hide anything. The rumor mill assertions without any citing of resources are highly questionable.
It is the lack of verifiable sources that troubled me the most. There were court records (in the cases of Mary Astor and Lionel Atwill), and Charlie Chaplin's peccadillos have become legendary. Yet, much of what is provided here is of the "somebody heard this from someone else who knew of a source" variety.
So, is THE CASTING COUCH a waste of time? No, not at all. Even without "proof," the book does "connect the dots" several times to explain what had been behind the public stories. These ranged from the suicide of Paul Bern (Jean Harlow's husband) for which corroboratory evidence has been found, to what ultimately happened to Olive Thomas. THE CASTING COUCH provides an explanation that makes all kinds of sense, as it does for the death of Marilyn Monroe.
On shakier ground are the deaths of Directors Thomas H. Ince and William Desmond Taylor, and the Virginia Rappe death that sunk the career of "Fatty" Arbuckle. Is there any merit to the speculations contained here? Could be, but there are instances (especially with Ince) that fly in the face of the official findings. Also, the activities of Director D. W. Griffith seem at odds with views expressed by the people who knew him. (There are also assertions made about Director Peter Bogdanovich and the murder of Dorothy Stratten that are quite disturbing.)
One of the major achievements of THE CASTING COUCH is dispelling the argument that it was the one-sided way that powerful men dominated unwilling women. Certainly, that had to be the case in many instances. However, it was also an aspect of power. Yes, the men held the loftier studio positions in the Hollywood hierarchy. At the same time, there were women who realized the emotional weaknesses of some of them and found a way to exercise their influence.
The bottom line in reading THE CASTING COUCH is to absorb it as yet another perspective. "Selwyn Ford" likely had an agenda in writing this. That doesn't mean that everything here is based on rumor ... but, a lot of it could be. It is a much better book than HOLLYWOOD BABYLON. Just be sure to ask yourself if what you are reading always makes sense.
August 4, 2024
3.5 Stars.
I know parts of this may be based on rumour, and some of it I know is not true, but it's got a great through line history of the studio system in Hollywood. Plus, I'm going to be honest, I love a bit of gossip!
I know a lot of the major stories in this, and that the truth is up for interpretation, but it's an interesting look at the first 50 years of Hollywood and how the idea of women and femininity developed. What was expected of women? How were they treated? Of course, as this was written by men, and written many years ago, the stories aren't framed as sympathetic all the time, but from a modern perspective we can see so much sadness around these lost women who were signed on as contract players but simply used as sex dolls by the moguls.
I wasn't a huge fan of the odd chapter at the end about Monroe, and another theory of her tragic death, but I think this book is a good jumping off point if you want to know more about this era of Hollywood. The timeline of films, silents, talkies, colour etc is very interesting, and I think this is a good jumping off point for some further reading.
I know parts of this may be based on rumour, and some of it I know is not true, but it's got a great through line history of the studio system in Hollywood. Plus, I'm going to be honest, I love a bit of gossip!
I know a lot of the major stories in this, and that the truth is up for interpretation, but it's an interesting look at the first 50 years of Hollywood and how the idea of women and femininity developed. What was expected of women? How were they treated? Of course, as this was written by men, and written many years ago, the stories aren't framed as sympathetic all the time, but from a modern perspective we can see so much sadness around these lost women who were signed on as contract players but simply used as sex dolls by the moguls.
I wasn't a huge fan of the odd chapter at the end about Monroe, and another theory of her tragic death, but I think this book is a good jumping off point if you want to know more about this era of Hollywood. The timeline of films, silents, talkies, colour etc is very interesting, and I think this is a good jumping off point for some further reading.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews