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Silent Stars
From one of America's most renowned film scholars: a revelatory, perceptive, and highly readable look at the greatest silent film stars -- not those few who are fully appreciated and understood, like Chaplin, Keaton, Gish, and Garbo, but those who have been misperceived, unfairly dismissed, or forgotten.
Here is Valentino, "the Sheik," who was hardly the effeminate lounge lizard he's been branded as; Mary Pickford, who couldn't have been further from the adorable little creature with golden ringlets that was her film persona; Marion Davies, unfairly pilloried in Citizen Kane; the original "Phantom" and "Hunchback," Lon Chaney; the beautiful Talmadge sisters, Norma and Constance. Here are the great divas, Pola Negri and Gloria Swanson; the great flappers, Colleen Moore and Clara Bow; the great cowboys, William S. Hart and Tom Mix; and the great lover, John Gilbert. Here, too, is the quintessential slapstick comedienne, Mabel Normand, with her Keystone Kops; the quintessential all-American hero, Douglas Fairbanks; and, of course, the quintessential all-American dog, Rin-Tin-Tin.
This is the first book to anatomize the major silent players, reconstruct their careers, and give us a sense of what those films, those stars, and that Hollywood were all about. An absolutely essential text for anyone seriously interested in movies, and, with more than three hundred photographs, as much a treat to look at as it is to read.
Here is Valentino, "the Sheik," who was hardly the effeminate lounge lizard he's been branded as; Mary Pickford, who couldn't have been further from the adorable little creature with golden ringlets that was her film persona; Marion Davies, unfairly pilloried in Citizen Kane; the original "Phantom" and "Hunchback," Lon Chaney; the beautiful Talmadge sisters, Norma and Constance. Here are the great divas, Pola Negri and Gloria Swanson; the great flappers, Colleen Moore and Clara Bow; the great cowboys, William S. Hart and Tom Mix; and the great lover, John Gilbert. Here, too, is the quintessential slapstick comedienne, Mabel Normand, with her Keystone Kops; the quintessential all-American hero, Douglas Fairbanks; and, of course, the quintessential all-American dog, Rin-Tin-Tin.
This is the first book to anatomize the major silent players, reconstruct their careers, and give us a sense of what those films, those stars, and that Hollywood were all about. An absolutely essential text for anyone seriously interested in movies, and, with more than three hundred photographs, as much a treat to look at as it is to read.
512 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1999
64 people are currently reading
1416 people want to read
About the author
Jeanine Basinger
19 books128 followersJeanine Basinger holds a BS and MS from South Dakota State University. She is a film historian, professor of Film Studies at Wesleyan University and curator and founder of The Cinema Archives at Wesleyan University. In addition, she is a trustee emeritus of the American Film Institute, a member of the Steering Committee of the National Center for Film and Video Preservation, and one of the Board of Advisors for the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers.
She has appeared in several movie-related documentaries and completed audio commentaries on about a dozen classic films.
She has appeared in several movie-related documentaries and completed audio commentaries on about a dozen classic films.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 16, 2018
The author states that the purpose of this book is to feature silent film stars that are forgotten, misunderstood, or underappreciated. It is a good premise but I couldn't relate to how some of these actors fit into those categories. And in only a couple of instances did one of those categories apply. A perfect example is John Gilbert.....a man who will forever be known for his downfall because his voice was too high for talking films. That is a legend without any basis at all. If you have seen his talking films, there is nothing unusual about the tone/pitch of his voice and his fall from stardom was based on other issues.
The author writes 13 chapters, each dedicated to a star, none of whom are forgotten by silent film fans......Mary Pickford? Douglas Fairbanks? Gloria Swanson? Lon Chaney? Clara Bow? Why are they in this book? Probably the only two actors who may be forgotten are the Talmadge sisters, Norma and Constance, who invested their money well and got out of the movie business when talkies came along. I can think of many actors, famous in the day, who are not included.....Mae Murray, Mary Miles Minter, Bobby Harron, William Haines.........all forgotten today. They are the ones that I expected to find within these pages.
The second gripe I have about the book is that the author gave more space to the plots of the films than the personalities of the actors starring in them. It had me skimming through those sections. Don't get me wrong, there are some interesting facts about the stars and the silent movie business which kept me reading but I think I was looking for something a little different.
The author writes 13 chapters, each dedicated to a star, none of whom are forgotten by silent film fans......Mary Pickford? Douglas Fairbanks? Gloria Swanson? Lon Chaney? Clara Bow? Why are they in this book? Probably the only two actors who may be forgotten are the Talmadge sisters, Norma and Constance, who invested their money well and got out of the movie business when talkies came along. I can think of many actors, famous in the day, who are not included.....Mae Murray, Mary Miles Minter, Bobby Harron, William Haines.........all forgotten today. They are the ones that I expected to find within these pages.
The second gripe I have about the book is that the author gave more space to the plots of the films than the personalities of the actors starring in them. It had me skimming through those sections. Don't get me wrong, there are some interesting facts about the stars and the silent movie business which kept me reading but I think I was looking for something a little different.
February 12, 2013
Basinger is a lively writer, whose other books on film history I like, but this book is a disappointment, primarily because it does not deliver what it says it will. From the jacket blurb: "...a look at the greatest silent film stars - not those few who are fully appreciated and understood ... but those who have been misperceived, unfairly dismissed, or forgotten." Into the category of the 'forgotten', Basinger places the Talmadge sisters. Who is she kidding? I've known about these sisters for decades, and have in my collection a multitude of magazine photos and articles on both of them, and for 25 years I've wanted to see their feature films. Over the years, including after 1999, other writers have said their films were lost, but they're not, and a couple years ago Kino issued pristine dvds of 2 films for each of them, which I heartily recommend to all newbies and oldies.
Basinger's selection of stars will be of interest only to those who are new to silent films and know nothing about this era - for all of these stars, except Valentino, whose name is known, are obscure - and for this group, the book is highly recommended. However, for the rest of us, why write about Pickford, Fairbanks, Swanson, Bow, Valentino, Gilbert, Normand, and Chaney when there is already a mountain of published material on them? I would welcome reading about other major stars of this period such as Richard Barthelmess, Francis X. Bushman, Barbara LaMarr, Wallace Reid, Bebe Daniels, Conrad Nagel, Florence Vidor, Thomas Meighan, Alice Terry, Vilma Banky, Mae Murray etc, but doing so would require original research in primary sources, which Basinger is perhaps too busy to do. What research she has done, which seems to be entirely from histories and auto/bios published over the preceding 40 years, does not turn up any new information or insights about these stars of the silent era. Of course, she also watched the films, where she discovered new 'insights', which are actually just her opinions colored by a 1990s outlook. But I'm not interested in Basinger's assessment of a film made in 1922 and viewed by her 75 years later. What does interest me is what contemporary audiences thought of a given film, information which can be found in contemporary reviews in Variety, NYT, trade papers, and the fan mags, but not in 'Silent Stars'. Is Basinger unaware that the general public has no access to many of these films, either to purchase or view them, unless you live in L.A. or N.Y., where they're shown, rarely, in special revival screenings. So why, if a film has been lost or is locked up in an archive, write extensively about the film, especially the plot, its least interesting element, as Basinger, and to be fair, many other authors, do.
And what's Marion Davies doing in this book? Davies successfully transitioned into the sound era and is more well-known for the films she made in the 30s than in the 20s. Yes, I know she had a long career in silents - and her 2 comedies at the very end of the silent era are brilliant - but to include her in this group of the 'greatest of silent film stars' is strange.
Final squawk. To state, as Basinger does, that Olive Thomas was a drug addict is irresponsible. Thomas' biographer does not make this claim and she has examined this rumor more closely than Basinger. It is annoying that highly respected scholars make statements such as this without documentation and thereby perpetuate the rumors.
But enough complaining. Basinger's concluding chapter on Rin Tin Tin, a bonafide star new to me, was fascinating. Now I'm hellbent on watching all the films available of this stalwart canine. And Knopf has done a first-class job of printing. The cover is perfection. The b/w photos, nice size and print quality, are excellent. And the endcovers, photos of 8 stars and their dogs, are superb.
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March 14, 2011Strangely I wasn't enthralled and decided to wait and try this some other time. I mean, I did read a good deal of it. I adored Basinger's book about the studio system and I love love love silent movie lore, but . . . I guess this book, consisting of mini biographies and filmographies just didn't grip me.
September 1, 2018
I look to many film historians including folks like Jeanine Basinger and Donald Bogle to inform me and introduce me to new (old) actors and films from the era I love, so I’m thankful for any information I can get. But in this book, Basinger is going over the same actors as a hundred other books have done. There is nothing new or worthwhile here unless you are just discovering Silent films and want a brief biosketch. There are much more great actors of the era that one doesn’t read about, that I wish she would have covered. Instead, she dedicates the book to those she didn’t have room to include – big deal. I’m giving three stars simply for her effort in mentioning very briefly those I’m interested in and the wonderful pictures.
April 4, 2013
I was extremely curious to pick up this book as it is one of the few that Nita Naldi’s name comes up in. When I got it I was sorely disappointed. Its probably the best researched book on the don’t list but that’s not saying much. She uses out of date biographies for her research despite newer and better technology being available (the book was printed in 99 or 00 depending who you ask) and the prose is extremely dry and too self important. Her chapter on Keystone, Mack, and Mabel was useless as was her assessment that Valentino couldn’t act. Meanwhile Nita was barely mentioned (and of course the info was the standard wrong stuff). I don’t know why people recommend this book…definitely not worth your time with the vast amount of individual silent biographies out there that are much better. Ironically she teaches film studies apparently.
October 29, 2012
3 1/2 stars...
Primarily critiques on the films and the impact they (and the actors) had on the public. There is much less information of the actor’s lives, themselves. Likewise, there are plenty of "opinions” by the author, but few that I agree with. Yet, it is a good source if you are interested in the work of the performers that she covers.
Primarily critiques on the films and the impact they (and the actors) had on the public. There is much less information of the actor’s lives, themselves. Likewise, there are plenty of "opinions” by the author, but few that I agree with. Yet, it is a good source if you are interested in the work of the performers that she covers.
April 19, 2013
Reading Silent Stars was like taking a college course with the perfect professor lecturing. I learned a lot, and although Basinger is an academic, she has a straightforward, declarative style that is charming and engaging.
August 4, 2007
I'll read anything about Hollywood by Jeane Basinger and this is one of her best (but she did mess up a bit on Marion Davies). Still, a fabulous book on the silent era.
November 29, 2007
Jeanine Basinger spends time with several of the silent greats - some are better remembered today than others, but all of their stories are interesting. I'd love a sequel!
March 31, 2019
This book is a veritable tome and I worked through it gradually over the course of a book. It includes biographies on various stars of the silent era, going into good detail on their entrances into movies, career highlights and lowlights, and what came of them in the talking era and beyond. The author says at the start that their intent was to elaborate on forgotten stars, which made many of the choices rather strange--Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Marion Davies, Rudolph Valentino...? They and several others have been covered in detail by many other books. That repetition made the book drag for me, though it wasn't poorly written. I especially enjoyed learning about the genuine mostly-forgottens like William S. Hart (I have his autobiography in my to-read pile and now I really look forward to it) and the original Rin-Tin-Tin.
In all, a good read that was helpful for my research purposes, but I imagine this is usually an unread coffee table book unless the reader is very dedicated or using it in a class.
In all, a good read that was helpful for my research purposes, but I imagine this is usually an unread coffee table book unless the reader is very dedicated or using it in a class.
January 1, 2024
I have found many of the biographies (and rare autobiographies) of the silent stars to be really hard to come by, so this is a solid look at some of the greats if you cannot find the specific ones.
I loved that she had a whole chapter for Rin Tin Tin, including a family photo of him with his dog wife and puppies!
Basinger gives us a run through of each star's personal life and their film careers, as well as how/ if they transitioned to sound. This book will give you a great "To Watch" list for sure, and the photos throughout are brilliant to see. There are obviously many, many names mentioned, but I liked that the book is broken down into chapters so we can get a real feel for each of the stars talked about.
I liked that Basinger discusses why most of the silent stars ended their career with the advent of sound, and how she gives us a run through of the character types from films before 1930.
A great starter book for anyone interested in the silent era of film.
I loved that she had a whole chapter for Rin Tin Tin, including a family photo of him with his dog wife and puppies!
Basinger gives us a run through of each star's personal life and their film careers, as well as how/ if they transitioned to sound. This book will give you a great "To Watch" list for sure, and the photos throughout are brilliant to see. There are obviously many, many names mentioned, but I liked that the book is broken down into chapters so we can get a real feel for each of the stars talked about.
I liked that Basinger discusses why most of the silent stars ended their career with the advent of sound, and how she gives us a run through of the character types from films before 1930.
A great starter book for anyone interested in the silent era of film.
October 2, 2014
Jeanine Basinger spent many, many hours watching silent films in preparation for this book, and she clearly had a wonderful time. The pleasure she took in these films, many of them forgotten and unwatched, is evident in every page of this book. It's billed as focussing on stars who've been "misrepresented, unfairly dismissed, or forgotten." That's a bit misleading, as it's hard to imagine those adjectives applying to some of her choices; Mary Pickford and Rudolph Valentino, for example, are still names even people who've never seen a silent film are likely to have heard (although she argues that their images do no justice to what they actually did). What this really is is an overview of the types of stars that dominated silent film and the ways in which their stardom reflected the time and set the patterns for later. So we have the stars who invented the category of stardom (Pickford and Fairbanks), slapstick comedy stars (Mabel Normand), sister acts (Constance and Norma Talmadge), glamorous exotics (Gloria Swanson and Pola Negri), cowboy heroes (William S Hart and Tom Mix), Latin lovers (Valentino), romantic leads (John Gilbert), sophisticated comediennes (Marion Davies), the special effects/horror monster star (Lon Chaney), flappers (Colleen Moore and Clara Bow), even animal stars (Rin Tin Tin). Through them Basinger describes what being a star meant in the period that invented the category and how the film industry took shape around and through them.
September 17, 2023
Valentino, John Gilbert, Gloria Swanson, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks these names forgotten? You don't need to be a fan of silent films to know these names, or to have heard of at least one of their films. This book was published in 1998, and silent films were being revived. Film historian Kevin Brownlow released his book "Hollywood: The Pioneers" in 1979 about early cinema that had a successful documentary based on the book in 1980 which introduced many to the silent film period and its workings, featuring a list of silent actors and actresses, directors and crew that worked on the some of the biggest and well known silent films. This book is more like an introduction into the most well known and loved silent film stars, not forgotten. I feel like the author only chose the actors by what films are available for viewing. Stars like Theda Bara and Nita Naldi (the vamps), Mae Busch, Agnes Ayers, Richard Barthelmess, Francis X. Bushman, Annette Kellerman, Barbara La Marr, Max Linder, Sessue Hayakawa and Maurice Costello are more likely names a vast majority of the public have never heard of.
August 17, 2010
Fascinating history of stars of the silent era. I read it once straight through and am reading it again. A few interesting pieces of info:
1. Films offered a way for women to earn their own living during that time. Many of the industry's most famous actresses of the time - specifically, Mary Pickford - were in charge of their careers and contracts in ways later actresses were not. (And, of note, Mary Pickford was one of the founders of United Artists).
2. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks were the most famous couple in the world at that time and probably surpass the attention even Brad/Angelina receive today.
3. After reading this book, I am more curious about silent films and even rented Through the Backdoor (Pickford) from Netflix. Although silent films haven't been an interest of mine in the past, I'm definitely making them a part of my classic film history going forward.
Absolutely fascinating book.
1. Films offered a way for women to earn their own living during that time. Many of the industry's most famous actresses of the time - specifically, Mary Pickford - were in charge of their careers and contracts in ways later actresses were not. (And, of note, Mary Pickford was one of the founders of United Artists).
2. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks were the most famous couple in the world at that time and probably surpass the attention even Brad/Angelina receive today.
3. After reading this book, I am more curious about silent films and even rented Through the Backdoor (Pickford) from Netflix. Although silent films haven't been an interest of mine in the past, I'm definitely making them a part of my classic film history going forward.
Absolutely fascinating book.
September 28, 2015
In this fantastic book, Jeanine Basinger investigates the lifes and careers of underappreciated, forgotten or misunderstood silent stars. Debunking any myths connected to their careers (especially their failures), Basinger astutely sheds light on big stars such as Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, John Gilbert or Clara Bow. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Hollywood and silent film history.
October 25, 2016
I found this book fascinating but tedious at times due to the content. The author spent too much time on some of the darker stories about these first film stars. I did appreciate the color that it added but for a scholarly book, it had a lot of personal stories in it. Overall, one gets an insight into the culture in which these pioneering movie stars appeared and thrived.
April 11, 2007
I very rarely read criticism that I think is well done, and Basinger's dissection of the careers of people like Valentino and the Talmadge sisters is both entertaining ---she can really write as a learned enthusiast --- and insightful.
October 12, 2012
Very good. Not scholarly history but Basinger's own opinions and reactions. I don't agree with everything, but few other film books would even mention the Talmadge sisters, let alone give them a full chapter.
May 11, 2016
Wow. There was a whole different world around during the silent era of motion pictures. I had to look up Colleen Moore after I read about the amazing doll house she donated to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. There is so much yet to learn about people!
June 9, 2008
Very entertaining collection of essays on stars of the silent film days. I especially enjoyed the chapter about the dogs Stronghart and Rin Tin Tin.
November 24, 2010
"Take me away from here. Take me to Detroit and teach me to make shoes." - The Goldfish, with Zasu Pitts
"We didn't need dialogue. We had faces!" - Sunset Boulevard with Norma Desmond
"We didn't need dialogue. We had faces!" - Sunset Boulevard with Norma Desmond
March 29, 2014
A great book on forgotten, misunderstood, underrated early movie stars. Really well written, easy to understand and enjoyable.
August 16, 2018
“The astonishing thing about watching Rin-Tin-Tin is that you begin to agree that this dog could act. He could listen at keyholes, hide under bed and inside grandfather clocks, tug open bolted doors and sneak up on villains. He could operate simple machines, put on little shoes and take them off, and he could run and jump on cue. This is already more than some human stars could accomplish, but Rinty could also stir up emotions by looking happy or sad or worried or hurt.”
May 25, 2024
Wonderfully lively look at a handful of stars of the silent era who are either completely forgotten (Constance Talmadge, Coleen Moore) or misremembered (John Gilbert, Marion Davies) and under appreciated (Rin Tin Tin, that dog could act!). Some of the plots for these movies are so over the top and crazy I had to laugh, and Basinger has a wry way of commentary. For example, Marion Davies is "immobilized by yard goods." Not nearly enough, but some of these movies are available for streaming.
February 22, 2021
A bunch of potted biographies and film synopses in search of a unifying theme beyond the backward justification of the author’s selection. There’s the occasional Basinger penetrating insight, but a lot of this is well plumbed material. This is way too much the fangirl and not nearly enough the academic.
May 7, 2020
I am a Jeanine Basinger fan. Some books about Silent Film actors concentrate on their private lives, some concentrate on their films. She covers both. This one satisfies your curiosity about what drove their ambitions, satisfied their wants while also giving an in depth look at their films ,directors, writers. Her profiles of the Talmadge sisters were especially informative, explaining why these women were hugely successful in early film and relatively unheralded now. She is correct in her opinion that some actors who were hot stuff in their day are unappreciated today were simply too much “of their time”, too dated to appeal to later viewers? Another explanation is that,in many instances we literally CANNOT see their work ,due to the loss and deteriorating of many early films. Frankly, I appreciate reading of most silent actors. . Many fascinating details have come to light since the older bios and studies., so new ones are worthy of a look. I never get tired of reading about Marion Davies, Norma Shearer, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, John Barrymore, Blanche Sweet, Mary Astor, so many . Forb some reason Garbo never interested me.
In any case, I learned much in Silent Stars. Basinger is right up there with the wonderful Kevin Brownlaw.
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In any case, I learned much in Silent Stars. Basinger is right up there with the wonderful Kevin Brownlaw.
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November 22, 2025
This was supposed to be a book on "forgotten" stars...but any Old Hollywood/Silent Film buff would laugh at the chosen stars to highlight.
In what world is Lon Chaney forgotten? Mary Pickford? Rudolph Valentino? These are some of the biggest names you could've chosen.
Unfortunately, a miss.
In what world is Lon Chaney forgotten? Mary Pickford? Rudolph Valentino? These are some of the biggest names you could've chosen.
Unfortunately, a miss.
September 24, 2015
Some time ago, I took a Film Studies course on Coursera. I didn’t really expect much from the experience because I’ve been a film collector for many years and have spent a lot of time studying film history. I mostly wanted to experience what it would be like to take a college course online.
Imagine my amazement when I became absorbed in the material. I not only learned things that I hadn’t known before, but I thoroughly enjoyed having my opinions challenged by new perspectives. Best of all, I couldn’t wait to bring my new-found knowledge to re-viewings of shows that I’d either loved or dismissed.
I had a very similar experience with this book. My initial approach was one of skepticism as a stated purpose of the writer was to explore the work of silent film stars who were vastly underrated or whose contributions have been misunderstood in the passing years. Being a fan of silent films for many years, I expected a brisk overview of the performers’ lives with a filmography provided…oh, and maybe a few saucy tales now and then to spice things up. (And while we’re at it, Mary Pickford, Lon Chaney and Douglas Fairbanks were underrated and misunderstood? Aw, c’mon…)
What I experienced was a refreshingly different perspective on what was happening in these films. Yes, there were some explorations into the lives of the stars, but the bulk of the information centered on culture, methodology, and how personal choices influenced performance styles and roles created. And, yes, there were a few saucy tales interwoven to spice things up.
The result was that I not only looked forward to each upcoming chapter, not unlike attending a beloved class, but I was motivated to seek out the films described and look for the nuances detailed by the writer. An excellent example would be the films of actor turned director, Mack Sennett. Frankly, the raucous, frenzied comedic style (perfectly illustrated by his Keystone Kops) grew old very quickly for me. I recalled struggling to stay involved with his famous feature film, TILLIE’S PUNCTURED ROMANCE. Well, after learning about the purpose of this style…altering my perception, if you will…I could go back and appreciate what was being attempted and how it succeeded (or didn’t).
There are some errors, which I assume to be typos rather than misinterpretation of fact. For instance, one silent film is described as costing an unusually high amount of $5,000 to make…which is also stated as being the amount paid to the film’s star. Production costs were truly of little interest to me, so this did not decrease my enjoyment.
The writer’s style is never pedantic, and seemed quite conversational. Many times, I could imagine myself being in her class and watching her point out some key factor on the screen. That was a great deal of fun.
I recommend the book to anyone who would enjoy learning more about silent films…and why they were created as they were.
Imagine my amazement when I became absorbed in the material. I not only learned things that I hadn’t known before, but I thoroughly enjoyed having my opinions challenged by new perspectives. Best of all, I couldn’t wait to bring my new-found knowledge to re-viewings of shows that I’d either loved or dismissed.
I had a very similar experience with this book. My initial approach was one of skepticism as a stated purpose of the writer was to explore the work of silent film stars who were vastly underrated or whose contributions have been misunderstood in the passing years. Being a fan of silent films for many years, I expected a brisk overview of the performers’ lives with a filmography provided…oh, and maybe a few saucy tales now and then to spice things up. (And while we’re at it, Mary Pickford, Lon Chaney and Douglas Fairbanks were underrated and misunderstood? Aw, c’mon…)
What I experienced was a refreshingly different perspective on what was happening in these films. Yes, there were some explorations into the lives of the stars, but the bulk of the information centered on culture, methodology, and how personal choices influenced performance styles and roles created. And, yes, there were a few saucy tales interwoven to spice things up.
The result was that I not only looked forward to each upcoming chapter, not unlike attending a beloved class, but I was motivated to seek out the films described and look for the nuances detailed by the writer. An excellent example would be the films of actor turned director, Mack Sennett. Frankly, the raucous, frenzied comedic style (perfectly illustrated by his Keystone Kops) grew old very quickly for me. I recalled struggling to stay involved with his famous feature film, TILLIE’S PUNCTURED ROMANCE. Well, after learning about the purpose of this style…altering my perception, if you will…I could go back and appreciate what was being attempted and how it succeeded (or didn’t).
There are some errors, which I assume to be typos rather than misinterpretation of fact. For instance, one silent film is described as costing an unusually high amount of $5,000 to make…which is also stated as being the amount paid to the film’s star. Production costs were truly of little interest to me, so this did not decrease my enjoyment.
The writer’s style is never pedantic, and seemed quite conversational. Many times, I could imagine myself being in her class and watching her point out some key factor on the screen. That was a great deal of fun.
I recommend the book to anyone who would enjoy learning more about silent films…and why they were created as they were.
April 15, 2015
I'll be honest: I didn't read every chapter of this book because, honestly, I didn't need to. For example, having a chapter about Mary Pickford seemed to be somewhat useless. Sure, she's a legend and is, perhaps, somewhat misunderstood, but one could very easily research her and discover that she was, in fact, a strong businesswoman and not simply a cute little Pollyanna-type in real life. The same would go for Valentino and Chaney, one of my favorites. Yes, they may have screen personas that differed greatly from their real-life personalities, but that fact wouldn't be hard to find anywhere else. I also had trouble getting through Marion Davies' chapter. It essentially consisted of Basinger trying to convince us that, yes, Davies DID have talent! It got very old very quickly.
That said, I enjoyed two chapters in particular. The chapter on Mabel Normand was definitely enjoyable, and since I can only compare it to Fussell's sad attempt at a Mabel biography, it was nice to read. The chapter on the Talmadge sisters was also fun. Again, the only biography about them was written by Anita Loos who can be a less-than reliable source, so it was nice to have this chapter to fall back on.
Basinger is a very well-researched writer, and she definitely enjoys this subject, and it shines through. I'd would like to read this book again, just to maybe read the chapters that I skipped, but the parts that I read were more or less satisfying. Still, the author often inserts herself into the narrative, breaking the tone. This isn't a horrible book, and it certainly seems reliable, as it contains an exhaustive bibliography, but it's also not a groundbreaking work in silent film literature.
That said, I enjoyed two chapters in particular. The chapter on Mabel Normand was definitely enjoyable, and since I can only compare it to Fussell's sad attempt at a Mabel biography, it was nice to read. The chapter on the Talmadge sisters was also fun. Again, the only biography about them was written by Anita Loos who can be a less-than reliable source, so it was nice to have this chapter to fall back on.
Basinger is a very well-researched writer, and she definitely enjoys this subject, and it shines through. I'd would like to read this book again, just to maybe read the chapters that I skipped, but the parts that I read were more or less satisfying. Still, the author often inserts herself into the narrative, breaking the tone. This isn't a horrible book, and it certainly seems reliable, as it contains an exhaustive bibliography, but it's also not a groundbreaking work in silent film literature.
January 30, 2015
I had high hopes for this book, but was disappointed. There are two main issues. The first is that it reads as a love letter to Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, especially Pickford. She receives by far the largest section in the book, nearly sixty percent larger than many of the other sections, and she gets it completely to herself. She then appears as a comparison to every other actress in the book whom tend to share sections with other actors or actresses. The same is true for Fairbanks. While he doesn't have as large a section as his better half, it is still greater than the other actors who end up in constant comparison to him. The only actor who escapes this treatment is Rin-Tin-Tin, and he's not only compared to the other animal actors of his time and since but is also compared to Joan Crawford, not once but twice.
The second issue is the stories spend little time on the actors themselves and much more time bogged down by the minutiae of each and every one of the films they ever made, the costumes, the make-up, the actions, the lines, the reviews, the publicity...This reads more as an in depth comparative filmography than a book about the stars themselves. It simply becomes incredibly weighted down and redundant. If you want an in-depth review of every movie Norma Talmadge ever made or enjoy fifty pages concerning Mary Pickford's curls, feel free to read this book. Otherwise, there are much better choices out there.
The second issue is the stories spend little time on the actors themselves and much more time bogged down by the minutiae of each and every one of the films they ever made, the costumes, the make-up, the actions, the lines, the reviews, the publicity...This reads more as an in depth comparative filmography than a book about the stars themselves. It simply becomes incredibly weighted down and redundant. If you want an in-depth review of every movie Norma Talmadge ever made or enjoy fifty pages concerning Mary Pickford's curls, feel free to read this book. Otherwise, there are much better choices out there.
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