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True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders
A tantalizing mixture of classic Hollywood nostalgia and true crime, True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, featuring 100 rare photographs, is suspenseful, entertaining, and eminently readable. While viewers were captivated by the drama playing out on the silver screen, the lives of the stars of these film noir classics were often far more exciting. The film plots of these stylish black and white masterpieces pale in comparison to what was going on behind the scenes. Uncover the true stories in a dozen different chapters featuring William Desmond Taylor, Thomas Ince, Jean Harlow, Thelma Todd, Joan Bennett, Lana Turner, George Reeves, Gig Young, Bob Crane, Natalie Wood, Robert Blake, and Mickey Cohen. Included in the cast of characters of the Thomas Ince chapter are William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies, and Charlie Chaplin. And in the Mickey Cohen chapter, find never before told stories about Ben "Bugsy" Siegel, Virginia Hill, and a host of notorious underworld figures.
From 1922 until 2001, explore some of the most fascinating scandals, mysteries and murders in Filmland history—true Hollywood noir lived by the players behind the scenes. Each chapter dissects the various theories in each case, but it is up to you to make up your own mind. From the West Coast mob and city corruption intertwining with Hollywood mysteries on and off the screen, to the plots of noir films pulled from actual happenings in the underworld, get the stories behind the stories, the darker images playing out in living color behind the silver screen.
From 1922 until 2001, explore some of the most fascinating scandals, mysteries and murders in Filmland history—true Hollywood noir lived by the players behind the scenes. Each chapter dissects the various theories in each case, but it is up to you to make up your own mind. From the West Coast mob and city corruption intertwining with Hollywood mysteries on and off the screen, to the plots of noir films pulled from actual happenings in the underworld, get the stories behind the stories, the darker images playing out in living color behind the silver screen.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2013
40 people are currently reading
1069 people want to read
About the author
Dina Di Mambro
1 book5 followersI like to think of my new book True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders as “Turner Classic Movies (TCM)” meets the “Investigation Discovery Channel”. This book combines my two main passions classic movies and mysteries.
My love of reading started early. I still think it is the world’s healthiest escape. I’ve spent heavenly hours reading about Ginger Rogers, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Grace Kelly and others. My earliest memory of this was in the sixth grade when I’d take movie star biographies out of the library during the summer. I also bought “Nancy Drew” books so there you have the combination of mysteries and movie stars. It seems I’ve been training for True Hollywood Noir my entire life. I remember reading a book about George Burns at 11 years old. I have no idea why now. I was a very strange child. All of my life, I’ve watched classic movies and television shows preferring them to more recent fare.
Just out of high school, I started writing magazine articles for Hollywood Studio Magazine, a movie nostalgia magazine. I was a lot more interested in Carole Lombard than Madonna. My first book, written in my twenties, is a collection of interviews with TV stars of the fifties and sixties.
Both of my books consist of stand-alone chapters about different actors. It’s easy to skip around to whom you are most interested in. Usually, the writing process for me starts by transcribing tapes and getting together all of my interview quotes. I then “marathon” watch the actor’s films to get a sense of that individual and take some notes. That part I love. Then comes the most painful part, being faced with my nemesis…the blank page. I pace around; play with my beautiful cat, anything to procrastinate the most difficult part…the first sentence. This can go on for hours and usually takes place in the middle of the night when the house is quiet. However, once the first sentence comes…. I’m on my way. Sometimes relaxing helps. Both of my book introductions came to me in the bathtub where I had pen and paper nearby. Aspiring writers, I definitely advise pen and paper. Tape recorders and IPADs can be very dangerous when in the tub!
Book Synopsis
True Hollywood Noir uncovers true stories of Hollywood’s most fascinating mysteries, scandals and murders in a dozen different chapters featuring William Desmond Taylor, Thomas Ince, Jean Harlow, Thelma Todd, Joan Bennett, Lana Turner, George Reeves, Gig Young, Bob Crane, Natalie Wood, Robert Blake, and Mickey Cohen. Included in the cast of characters of this book are Johnny Stompanato, William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies, and Charlie Chaplin. And there are never before told mob stories about Ben "Bugsy" Siegel, Virginia Hill, and a host of notorious underworld figures. Each chapter dissects the various theories in each case, but it is up to you to make up your own mind. From the West Coast mob and city corruption intertwining with Hollywood mysteries on and off the screen, to the plots of noir films pulled from actual happenings in the underworld, get the stories behind the stories, the darker images playing out in living color behind the silver screen.
Author Biography
Dina Di Mambro is a film historian and award winningentertainment writer who has worked as a research consultant for A&E Biography and "E!" Entertainment Television. As a journalist, she has interviewed such luminaries as Glenn Ford and Shirley MacLaine. As Dina-Marie Kulzer, she authored Television Series Regulars of the Fifties and Sixties in Interview, consisting of twenty-two interviews with classic television stars.
My love of reading started early. I still think it is the world’s healthiest escape. I’ve spent heavenly hours reading about Ginger Rogers, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Grace Kelly and others. My earliest memory of this was in the sixth grade when I’d take movie star biographies out of the library during the summer. I also bought “Nancy Drew” books so there you have the combination of mysteries and movie stars. It seems I’ve been training for True Hollywood Noir my entire life. I remember reading a book about George Burns at 11 years old. I have no idea why now. I was a very strange child. All of my life, I’ve watched classic movies and television shows preferring them to more recent fare.
Just out of high school, I started writing magazine articles for Hollywood Studio Magazine, a movie nostalgia magazine. I was a lot more interested in Carole Lombard than Madonna. My first book, written in my twenties, is a collection of interviews with TV stars of the fifties and sixties.
Both of my books consist of stand-alone chapters about different actors. It’s easy to skip around to whom you are most interested in. Usually, the writing process for me starts by transcribing tapes and getting together all of my interview quotes. I then “marathon” watch the actor’s films to get a sense of that individual and take some notes. That part I love. Then comes the most painful part, being faced with my nemesis…the blank page. I pace around; play with my beautiful cat, anything to procrastinate the most difficult part…the first sentence. This can go on for hours and usually takes place in the middle of the night when the house is quiet. However, once the first sentence comes…. I’m on my way. Sometimes relaxing helps. Both of my book introductions came to me in the bathtub where I had pen and paper nearby. Aspiring writers, I definitely advise pen and paper. Tape recorders and IPADs can be very dangerous when in the tub!
Book Synopsis
True Hollywood Noir uncovers true stories of Hollywood’s most fascinating mysteries, scandals and murders in a dozen different chapters featuring William Desmond Taylor, Thomas Ince, Jean Harlow, Thelma Todd, Joan Bennett, Lana Turner, George Reeves, Gig Young, Bob Crane, Natalie Wood, Robert Blake, and Mickey Cohen. Included in the cast of characters of this book are Johnny Stompanato, William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies, and Charlie Chaplin. And there are never before told mob stories about Ben "Bugsy" Siegel, Virginia Hill, and a host of notorious underworld figures. Each chapter dissects the various theories in each case, but it is up to you to make up your own mind. From the West Coast mob and city corruption intertwining with Hollywood mysteries on and off the screen, to the plots of noir films pulled from actual happenings in the underworld, get the stories behind the stories, the darker images playing out in living color behind the silver screen.
Author Biography
Dina Di Mambro is a film historian and award winningentertainment writer who has worked as a research consultant for A&E Biography and "E!" Entertainment Television. As a journalist, she has interviewed such luminaries as Glenn Ford and Shirley MacLaine. As Dina-Marie Kulzer, she authored Television Series Regulars of the Fifties and Sixties in Interview, consisting of twenty-two interviews with classic television stars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
July 18, 2019
This was really interesting. I am not always one for conspiracy theories but some of these stories made me wonder.
Holly wood Noir takes real cases of celebrities who have had questions surrounding what happened to them.
I did enjoy reading these stories. Each chapter is about a different celebrity. I have always wondered about Natalie Wood and George Reeves in particular.
Highly recommended to true crime readers, mystery readers and Noir readers.
Holly wood Noir takes real cases of celebrities who have had questions surrounding what happened to them.
I did enjoy reading these stories. Each chapter is about a different celebrity. I have always wondered about Natalie Wood and George Reeves in particular.
Highly recommended to true crime readers, mystery readers and Noir readers.
December 9, 2013
This book contains just 12 chapters, the accounts of 12 Hollywood people who were involved in criminal activity, their names may or may not be familiar to you. William Desmond Taylor, Thomas Ince, Jean Harlow, Thelma Todd, Joan Bennett, Lana Turner, George Reeves, Gig Young, Bob Crane, Natalie Wood, Robert Blake, and Mickey Cohen. Some of these people I knew their work, some I knew their name, some were completely unknown to me. A few (Bob Crane, Natalie Wood, Robert Blake) I knew the crime associated with them but not the details.
In this book we get the details. The accounts are not heavily detailed, but in some cases it is because there are not a lot of details known. The chapters follow a pattern of the crime is stated, then the history of the people involved is told, then there are examinations of the ‘suspects’. Ms. Di Mambro doesn’t give her opinion, she states the facts or lists quotes from people who were there or knew the people involved.
A very interesting book with a lot of pictures. I enjoyed this book and recommend it.
In this book we get the details. The accounts are not heavily detailed, but in some cases it is because there are not a lot of details known. The chapters follow a pattern of the crime is stated, then the history of the people involved is told, then there are examinations of the ‘suspects’. Ms. Di Mambro doesn’t give her opinion, she states the facts or lists quotes from people who were there or knew the people involved.
A very interesting book with a lot of pictures. I enjoyed this book and recommend it.
July 19, 2015
Vaguely interesting, but not a lot of new material and what is there tends to be poorly organized. For example, in the first chapter (William Desmond Taylor), she talks about several people without having introduced them first, and then she introduces them later in the chapter. It's as though she shifted paragraphs and sections around and didn't bother to re-read or edit.
The final (long...oh, man, so very very LONG) chapter about Mickey Cohen is almost entirely based on anecdotes from the author's interviews with Jim Smith, a former mob hanger-on whose narrative reads more like braggadocio than anything, and is—after all this time—both boring and irrelevant.
The final (long...oh, man, so very very LONG) chapter about Mickey Cohen is almost entirely based on anecdotes from the author's interviews with Jim Smith, a former mob hanger-on whose narrative reads more like braggadocio than anything, and is—after all this time—both boring and irrelevant.
May 9, 2016
Mysteries, scandals, and murders of Hollywood, particularly the Golden Age ones, are always interesting, but they can easily be turned into embarrassingly smutty books. All the warning bells should be ringing when an author has added Wikipedia articles, TMZ stories, and E! programs to the bibliography section. Di Mambro's decided to dig herself into a hole by also having a minimum amount of criticism about the statements of her sources. It's commendable that she's managed to made the effort to interview some of the people involved (and it shows that she's wanted to try something different than Kenneth Anger with his
Hollywood Babylon
[1959]), but there's no sign that she doesn't take their stories at anything but face value.
The description "[a] tantalizing mixture of classic Hollywood nostalgia and true crime" is spot on. Di Mambro presents the basic facts of each case and doesn't take sides, which might seem like her purpose of letting the reader to make conclusions about the events has been successful, but in reality it takes more to make a good work of true crime. "Tantalizing" is not the way to go, especially if it means the chapters begin with "the sun glistening off the Pacific Ocean, which sparkled like limitless diamonds" or some equally awkward statement about the weather that in the middle of neutral text feels like a splinter in the eye. Add to that several cases of repetition and you start to miss a good editor.
True Hollywood Noir isn't entirely without its merits, though. In a few instances Di Mambro manages to correct a few rumours and is overall respectful towards the people. The corruption of the police force and how the studio executives were involved with tampering evidence are discussed very candidly. Protecting actors and actresses was important to the studios, but there's no question that protecting the studios' image the big bosses wanted to maintain in the eyes of the public to get more money was also a good motivator.
It's just unfortunate that the impression I got from the book overall wasn't polished or professional, even though Di Mambro avoids a voyeuristic and sleazy voice. Furthermore, I'd be curious to know where she found the information that Joan Bennett claimed to have begun the affair with Jennings Lang when she was ill, despite the fact that she has always denied having an affair with him.
Other illogicalities and choices that Di Mambro doesn't explain occur throughout, like referencing Bill Wellman's It's Made to Sell - Not to Drink (2006) (there's no reason to presume that Wellman is telling the truth, especially this day and age when there are plenty of people who'd like to cash in on celebrities), saying that shooting Lang helped Wanger's career despite stating earlier that his life was never the same again, and claiming that the reader supposely has never heard the story that Lana Turner was the real killer of Johnny Stompanato when in fact it's been speculated for years and is a well-known theory.
On another level of feeling uncomfortable was the stench of admiration that emanated from the Mickey Cohen chapter. He may have known movie stars and other celebrities, but there's no valid reason for an overly long chapter about him, and certainly no reason why Cohen's associate Jim Smith would deserve so much space, especially because all he does is explain away Cohen's crimes and make him seem like some charismatic gentleman who just happened to kill people for a living. Doesn't matter if the people deserved their fate in the world of organized crime, it's still murder.
Di Mambro seems to be supporting Smith, though, and even calls Smith's voice as "smooth, baritone [and] suitable for broadcasting". I'm not even going to begin talking about the picture of Smith's son holding a toy machine gun, and him having it framed in his house and showing it proudly to mobsters. There's just a whole lot of irrelevancy going on in the Cohen chapter, and it was the last straw.
All in all, short and quick to breeze through, but I wouldn't expect anything revelationary, nor the film noir theme being tied into the cases in any relevant way.
The description "[a] tantalizing mixture of classic Hollywood nostalgia and true crime" is spot on. Di Mambro presents the basic facts of each case and doesn't take sides, which might seem like her purpose of letting the reader to make conclusions about the events has been successful, but in reality it takes more to make a good work of true crime. "Tantalizing" is not the way to go, especially if it means the chapters begin with "the sun glistening off the Pacific Ocean, which sparkled like limitless diamonds" or some equally awkward statement about the weather that in the middle of neutral text feels like a splinter in the eye. Add to that several cases of repetition and you start to miss a good editor.
True Hollywood Noir isn't entirely without its merits, though. In a few instances Di Mambro manages to correct a few rumours and is overall respectful towards the people. The corruption of the police force and how the studio executives were involved with tampering evidence are discussed very candidly. Protecting actors and actresses was important to the studios, but there's no question that protecting the studios' image the big bosses wanted to maintain in the eyes of the public to get more money was also a good motivator.
It's just unfortunate that the impression I got from the book overall wasn't polished or professional, even though Di Mambro avoids a voyeuristic and sleazy voice. Furthermore, I'd be curious to know where she found the information that Joan Bennett claimed to have begun the affair with Jennings Lang when she was ill, despite the fact that she has always denied having an affair with him.
Other illogicalities and choices that Di Mambro doesn't explain occur throughout, like referencing Bill Wellman's It's Made to Sell - Not to Drink (2006) (there's no reason to presume that Wellman is telling the truth, especially this day and age when there are plenty of people who'd like to cash in on celebrities), saying that shooting Lang helped Wanger's career despite stating earlier that his life was never the same again, and claiming that the reader supposely has never heard the story that Lana Turner was the real killer of Johnny Stompanato when in fact it's been speculated for years and is a well-known theory.
On another level of feeling uncomfortable was the stench of admiration that emanated from the Mickey Cohen chapter. He may have known movie stars and other celebrities, but there's no valid reason for an overly long chapter about him, and certainly no reason why Cohen's associate Jim Smith would deserve so much space, especially because all he does is explain away Cohen's crimes and make him seem like some charismatic gentleman who just happened to kill people for a living. Doesn't matter if the people deserved their fate in the world of organized crime, it's still murder.
Di Mambro seems to be supporting Smith, though, and even calls Smith's voice as "smooth, baritone [and] suitable for broadcasting". I'm not even going to begin talking about the picture of Smith's son holding a toy machine gun, and him having it framed in his house and showing it proudly to mobsters. There's just a whole lot of irrelevancy going on in the Cohen chapter, and it was the last straw.
All in all, short and quick to breeze through, but I wouldn't expect anything revelationary, nor the film noir theme being tied into the cases in any relevant way.
September 26, 2015
“True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders” by Dina Di Mambro is an entertaining escape to what might be familiar and maybe not. There are some surprising jaw-dropping facts in this book that had me reading in great anticipation.
Who doesn’t want to know more about behind the scenes of Hollywood’s most famous? I was captivated all the way through and enjoyed the uncovering of details that you never see on TV. These are mysteries that have remained this way for years and years. There is a long list of A listers that we are still curious about to this day.
I enjoyed how easy it was to get into this book. Vintage Hollywood nostalgia mixed with true crime. When these actors were most famous we couldn’t find out such details like we do here. I love reading about the different scandals, as there were no shortage of them but who knew? Makes me look at the rich and famous in a different light. And the old photos only added to the book. This is a winner and I will surely recommend this to my friends who love true crime and classic Hollywood stories.
Quote from Lana Turner, and Johnny Stompanato - The Story You Haven't heard (1958) ~
"Although Turner and Stompanato dated openly at Hollywood hot-spots such a Chasen's and the Formosa, they were not seen at industry events. The trouble between the two started when Stompanato reportedly became furious that Turner did not invite him to the Academy Awards. He wanted to produce movies, and he wanted to be Lana's lover out in the open for the world, not just Hollywood insiders, to see."
Who doesn’t want to know more about behind the scenes of Hollywood’s most famous? I was captivated all the way through and enjoyed the uncovering of details that you never see on TV. These are mysteries that have remained this way for years and years. There is a long list of A listers that we are still curious about to this day.
I enjoyed how easy it was to get into this book. Vintage Hollywood nostalgia mixed with true crime. When these actors were most famous we couldn’t find out such details like we do here. I love reading about the different scandals, as there were no shortage of them but who knew? Makes me look at the rich and famous in a different light. And the old photos only added to the book. This is a winner and I will surely recommend this to my friends who love true crime and classic Hollywood stories.
Quote from Lana Turner, and Johnny Stompanato - The Story You Haven't heard (1958) ~
"Although Turner and Stompanato dated openly at Hollywood hot-spots such a Chasen's and the Formosa, they were not seen at industry events. The trouble between the two started when Stompanato reportedly became furious that Turner did not invite him to the Academy Awards. He wanted to produce movies, and he wanted to be Lana's lover out in the open for the world, not just Hollywood insiders, to see."
October 8, 2015
Secrets and New Stories about Classic Hollywood.
I’ve been reading celebrity biographies and books of this type for decades, and I’m so happy I found this one. The Lana Turner-Johnny Stompanato story has been told the same way hundreds of time but the author interviews people who knew Stompanato including his son and gives an entirely new theory of the story. The story as history recorded it is still there but there is new information putting a whole new light on this Stompanato murder as well as others. I love feeling as though you are a “fly on the wall” getting to know secrets kept for the better part of a century.
I’ve been reading celebrity biographies and books of this type for decades, and I’m so happy I found this one. The Lana Turner-Johnny Stompanato story has been told the same way hundreds of time but the author interviews people who knew Stompanato including his son and gives an entirely new theory of the story. The story as history recorded it is still there but there is new information putting a whole new light on this Stompanato murder as well as others. I love feeling as though you are a “fly on the wall” getting to know secrets kept for the better part of a century.
November 9, 2015
Superman George Reeves Murder or suicide? I grew up watching "Superman" on TV. The author presents very plausible evidence in True Hollywood Noir that he was murdered and that it wasn't suicide. Boy did that poor guy get involved with the wrong women. Unbelievable the studio cover ups in those days.
March 2, 2019
This book is so badly written that I would be shocked if it wasn’t self-published. It’s like reading a geocities fan site circa 1996.
September 27, 2013
Dina Di Mambro’s TRUE HOLLYWOOD NOIR is a detailed examination of twelve mysteries surrounding Hollywood, many of them suggesting murder. The stories, which involve a bevy of famous people (including William Randolph Hearst, Lucky Luciano, Charlie Chaplin, Jean Harlow, Lana Turner, and Natalie Wood), are as convoluted and dramatic as any film noir mystery. Was Natalie Wood’s drowning death really an accident, or did something more insidious happen? Did George Reeve (TV’s first Superman) really commit suicide, or was his shooting death a murder? Mambro doesn’t claim to have the answers to the mysteries she presents, but only plenty of inside information (including interviews from many of the people involved) to help the reader unravel the facts from the fiction. Fans of Hollywood’s golden age will delight in the stories Di Mambro tells here.
Most of the scandalous stories in TRUE HOLLYWOOD NOIR happened decades ago, and I have to admit that I was not familiar with some of them. I had never heard of film director William Desmond Taylor, whose murder in 1922 has yet to be solved. But Di Mambro’s description of Paramount’s desperation to cover up what happened to Taylor was fascinating, as was the possible involvement of a number of silent film actresses. Similarly, I knew nothing at all about director Thomas H. Ince, but his death aboard William Randolph Hearst’s yacht in 1924 makes for absorbing reading, and includes a cast of characters that are larger-than-life.
I was familiar with George Reeve’s suicide in 1959 – I was a big Superman fan back then, and his death has always carried with it a ton of rumors and speculation (including the one that he killed himself by jumping off the Empire State Building, believing he could actually fly). What I didn’t know was the evidence Di Mambro presents here suggesting that the gunshot wound that killed Reeve could not have been fired by his own hand. I also didn’t know that actor Christopher Walken was on the boat with Natalie Wood and her husband, Robert Wagner, the night of Wood’s drowning death, and that Walken’s presence may have precipitated a fateful argument between Wood and Wagner.
Di Mambro does go into the Robert Blake case, in which Blake was accused of shooting his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in 2001 (Blake was acquitted), but that’s the only story set in the 21st Century. These are mainly mysteries with their roots in the past, mysteries that have become part of legend. The final chapter in the book is on mobster Mickey Cohen, whose ties to the famed “Rat Pack” are well known. Here Di Mambro paints a portrait of a ruthless gangster with a heart of gold, something I was not at all expecting. It makes for an intriguing final chapter in a very entertaining and informative book.
My only real criticism of TRUE HOLLYWOOD NOIR (and thus the four stars, instead of five) is the poor quality of the photographs that accompany Di Mambro’s text. This is a book about Hollywood, involving people we know and recognize. The photos should be clear and sharp, but they aren’t. And it’s too bad. Otherwise, this is the kind of book film fans will want to leaf through over and over again.
I recommend TRUE HOLLYWOOD NOIR for fans of Hollywood’s golden age, lovers of mysteries, and devotees of film noir. They say truth is stranger than fiction, and Di Mambro’s book is the perfect illustration of that. Well done, and worth a read.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this book for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
Most of the scandalous stories in TRUE HOLLYWOOD NOIR happened decades ago, and I have to admit that I was not familiar with some of them. I had never heard of film director William Desmond Taylor, whose murder in 1922 has yet to be solved. But Di Mambro’s description of Paramount’s desperation to cover up what happened to Taylor was fascinating, as was the possible involvement of a number of silent film actresses. Similarly, I knew nothing at all about director Thomas H. Ince, but his death aboard William Randolph Hearst’s yacht in 1924 makes for absorbing reading, and includes a cast of characters that are larger-than-life.
I was familiar with George Reeve’s suicide in 1959 – I was a big Superman fan back then, and his death has always carried with it a ton of rumors and speculation (including the one that he killed himself by jumping off the Empire State Building, believing he could actually fly). What I didn’t know was the evidence Di Mambro presents here suggesting that the gunshot wound that killed Reeve could not have been fired by his own hand. I also didn’t know that actor Christopher Walken was on the boat with Natalie Wood and her husband, Robert Wagner, the night of Wood’s drowning death, and that Walken’s presence may have precipitated a fateful argument between Wood and Wagner.
Di Mambro does go into the Robert Blake case, in which Blake was accused of shooting his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, in 2001 (Blake was acquitted), but that’s the only story set in the 21st Century. These are mainly mysteries with their roots in the past, mysteries that have become part of legend. The final chapter in the book is on mobster Mickey Cohen, whose ties to the famed “Rat Pack” are well known. Here Di Mambro paints a portrait of a ruthless gangster with a heart of gold, something I was not at all expecting. It makes for an intriguing final chapter in a very entertaining and informative book.
My only real criticism of TRUE HOLLYWOOD NOIR (and thus the four stars, instead of five) is the poor quality of the photographs that accompany Di Mambro’s text. This is a book about Hollywood, involving people we know and recognize. The photos should be clear and sharp, but they aren’t. And it’s too bad. Otherwise, this is the kind of book film fans will want to leaf through over and over again.
I recommend TRUE HOLLYWOOD NOIR for fans of Hollywood’s golden age, lovers of mysteries, and devotees of film noir. They say truth is stranger than fiction, and Di Mambro’s book is the perfect illustration of that. Well done, and worth a read.
[Please note: I was provided a copy of this book for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]
October 17, 2013
I have never bought a gossip magazine like US or People, but like
most people when I am in a waiting room I can’t help myself and dig into
them. Our relationship with celebrity is so unique that it is hard to
explain. On the one hand we feel above the fray but then when faced with
temptation we dig right in. True Hollywood Noir is an extremely
fascinating look into some of the more notorious criminal cases of the
golden age of Hollywood (except for the Robert Blake case which is more
recent).
What was truly interesting about these cases was how the powers that be
dealt with them. When presented with a dead person (whether those present
made the dead or found them that way) the first inclination would be to
protect the movie studio above all else, including finding out who actually
killed the person. So instead of the cops they would call their lawyer and
then together they would clean up the crime scene making sure to remove any
incriminating evidence. The amazing thing was for the most part law
enforcement went along with it, or at least the people involved got away
with it.
All twelve cases are presented with what is known, and then some insight
and/or gossip about the main players involved. Generally all the chapters
will not convince you of any one’s definitive guilt but they will leave you
questioning the status quo. It will give you something to think about.
For me the weakest supposition is the death of Natalie Wood being something
more then she fell into the water and drowned.
Also the last chapter digs into the life of Mickey Cohen, the famous LA
based mob boss. Through extensive interviews with his right hand man Jimmy
Smith you get a new view of the man that isn’t generally shown. While
Cohen did do some very bad things in his life (which isn’t contended) you
do learn that like all human beings he was not completely one sided. He
was capable of loyalty and kindness and by his own contention he only
killed people who needed killing. So what you get is a portrayal of a very
complex individual much more fascinating than the typical caricature given.
True Hollywood Noir is a morbidly interesting book looking into the great
crimes of early Hollywood. Well worth the read.
most people when I am in a waiting room I can’t help myself and dig into
them. Our relationship with celebrity is so unique that it is hard to
explain. On the one hand we feel above the fray but then when faced with
temptation we dig right in. True Hollywood Noir is an extremely
fascinating look into some of the more notorious criminal cases of the
golden age of Hollywood (except for the Robert Blake case which is more
recent).
What was truly interesting about these cases was how the powers that be
dealt with them. When presented with a dead person (whether those present
made the dead or found them that way) the first inclination would be to
protect the movie studio above all else, including finding out who actually
killed the person. So instead of the cops they would call their lawyer and
then together they would clean up the crime scene making sure to remove any
incriminating evidence. The amazing thing was for the most part law
enforcement went along with it, or at least the people involved got away
with it.
All twelve cases are presented with what is known, and then some insight
and/or gossip about the main players involved. Generally all the chapters
will not convince you of any one’s definitive guilt but they will leave you
questioning the status quo. It will give you something to think about.
For me the weakest supposition is the death of Natalie Wood being something
more then she fell into the water and drowned.
Also the last chapter digs into the life of Mickey Cohen, the famous LA
based mob boss. Through extensive interviews with his right hand man Jimmy
Smith you get a new view of the man that isn’t generally shown. While
Cohen did do some very bad things in his life (which isn’t contended) you
do learn that like all human beings he was not completely one sided. He
was capable of loyalty and kindness and by his own contention he only
killed people who needed killing. So what you get is a portrayal of a very
complex individual much more fascinating than the typical caricature given.
True Hollywood Noir is a morbidly interesting book looking into the great
crimes of early Hollywood. Well worth the read.
November 14, 2013
A tantalizing mixture of classic Hollywood nostalgia and true crime, this book is suspenseful, entertaining, and compulsively readable. Featuring 100 rare photographs and a dozen different chapters, True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders by Dina Di Mambro, uncovers the true stories of mystery and murder surrounding the lives and deaths of many stars of Hollywood's golden age. The lives, potential scandals, and untimely deaths of such people as William Desmond Taylor, Thomas Ince, Jean Harlow, Thelma Todd, Joan Bennett, Lana Turner, George Reeves, Gig Young, Bob Crane, Natalie Wood, Robert Blake, and Mickey Cohen are revealed. Included in the cast of characters of this book are Johnny Stompanato, William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies, and Charlie Chaplin. And read never before told mob stories about Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel, Virginia Hill, and a host of notorious underworld figures.
From 1922 until 2001, explore some of Hollywood's most fascinating mysteries, scandals and murders - true Hollywood noir lived by the players behind the scenes. The West Coast mob and city corruption intertwining with Hollywood mysteries on and off screen, the plots of noir films pulled from actual happenings in the criminal underworld - these are the stories behind the stories, the darker images playing out in living color behind the silver screen. Although many of the actors mentioned in this book met with tragic and untimely deaths, or notorious misfortune tainted the remainder of their lives, the talent of these highly creative individuals and the legacy they left behind has given them a timeless immortality which is undeniable.
I love watching movies, and so by extension, I thoroughly enjoyed reading True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders by Dina Di Mambro. Although I knew several of these actors' names and life stories because I took a Classic Film course when I was in college, there were also many of these names that were relatively new to me. I give this book an A! and certainly look forward to reading more by Ms. Di Mambro in the future.
From 1922 until 2001, explore some of Hollywood's most fascinating mysteries, scandals and murders - true Hollywood noir lived by the players behind the scenes. The West Coast mob and city corruption intertwining with Hollywood mysteries on and off screen, the plots of noir films pulled from actual happenings in the criminal underworld - these are the stories behind the stories, the darker images playing out in living color behind the silver screen. Although many of the actors mentioned in this book met with tragic and untimely deaths, or notorious misfortune tainted the remainder of their lives, the talent of these highly creative individuals and the legacy they left behind has given them a timeless immortality which is undeniable.
I love watching movies, and so by extension, I thoroughly enjoyed reading True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders by Dina Di Mambro. Although I knew several of these actors' names and life stories because I took a Classic Film course when I was in college, there were also many of these names that were relatively new to me. I give this book an A! and certainly look forward to reading more by Ms. Di Mambro in the future.
October 10, 2013
“True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders” by Dina Di Mambro is a fun interesting read for anyone who wants to learn about some of Hollywood's most famous mysteries. Some of the stories you might know already, but maybe not everything here. Others may be new, but all are an interesting look into the darker side of the lives of some of the rich and famous from Tinseltown.
Profiles include: William Desmond Taylor, Thomas H. Ince, Jean Harlow, Thelma Todd, Joan Bennett, Lana Turner, George Reeves, Bob Crane, Gig Young, Natalie Wood, Robert Blake, and Mickey Cohen. The last, Cohen, was knows for being a gangster rather than a movie or television star, but he associated with many famous celebrities and has been portrayed in movies a number of times. (According to this book, the portrayals in the films are not accurate at all.)
It's a fun book, and light reading. At times Mambro's writing seems to be disconnected. The portrayals and stories don't always flow smoothly or chronologically, but at the same time, there are enough interesting facts and stories that the book engages the reader throughout. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of topic and who is interested in learning more about those listed above.
Profiles include: William Desmond Taylor, Thomas H. Ince, Jean Harlow, Thelma Todd, Joan Bennett, Lana Turner, George Reeves, Bob Crane, Gig Young, Natalie Wood, Robert Blake, and Mickey Cohen. The last, Cohen, was knows for being a gangster rather than a movie or television star, but he associated with many famous celebrities and has been portrayed in movies a number of times. (According to this book, the portrayals in the films are not accurate at all.)
It's a fun book, and light reading. At times Mambro's writing seems to be disconnected. The portrayals and stories don't always flow smoothly or chronologically, but at the same time, there are enough interesting facts and stories that the book engages the reader throughout. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of topic and who is interested in learning more about those listed above.
July 18, 2015
Quick and entertaining read, better than most
Very good book that, unlike similar writings, actually had some cases I had never heard of before. A few were rehashes that did not add anything new ( like Robert Blake and Natalie Wood), but the final chapter on Micky Cohen was very objective and illuminating. Overall, I really enjoyed it.
Very good book that, unlike similar writings, actually had some cases I had never heard of before. A few were rehashes that did not add anything new ( like Robert Blake and Natalie Wood), but the final chapter on Micky Cohen was very objective and illuminating. Overall, I really enjoyed it.
October 13, 2015
New take on old Hollywood Mysteries
If you follow Hollywood mysteries some of the stories in this book are familiar. However, the author has interviewed people who give an entirely new perspective on these cold cases. Some reviewers said this was a re-hash and I almost didn’t buy it. But that’s not the case. New plausible theories on old mysteries….loved it!
If you follow Hollywood mysteries some of the stories in this book are familiar. However, the author has interviewed people who give an entirely new perspective on these cold cases. Some reviewers said this was a re-hash and I almost didn’t buy it. But that’s not the case. New plausible theories on old mysteries….loved it!
October 23, 2015
Thought I knew about most of the Hollywood scandals but I never heard about this one. Joan Bennett's husband shot her agent lover in the groin and pretty much got away with it. Glad the author included this story. The rest of the chapters are actual murders or mob stuff but this scandal was fascinating. The author even got a hold of the poor guy's picture on the operating table!
November 17, 2018
Great stories and interviews regarding some of Hollywood’s great and not-so-great legends. Great photos included, some quite chilling, but they added to the intrigue and reality of the stories presented. The author left the best for last - the stories of Hollywood gangster Mickey Cohen, for whom she interviewed one of his closest friends. All in all, a great read. Wish there were more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2021
4.5 stars
I thought this was a great book, I enjoyed each section and the information presented. I didn’t feel that she was trying to make it tawdry or lean my feelings one way or another. I primarily got the book to read the Jean Harlow section, but it was so good I decided to read the whole thing. Now I’m interested in reading way too many biographies... Recommended!!
I thought this was a great book, I enjoyed each section and the information presented. I didn’t feel that she was trying to make it tawdry or lean my feelings one way or another. I primarily got the book to read the Jean Harlow section, but it was so good I decided to read the whole thing. Now I’m interested in reading way too many biographies... Recommended!!
October 11, 2015
Couldn’t put it down! Don’t read this one before bed because you won’t be able to put it down. It kept me up all night (in a good way). “ True Hollywood Noir” is a fascinating book about the rich, famous and flawed. Absolutely loved it.
April 18, 2014
I guess I've read too much on this subject, because I learned nothing new in this book. However. If you are interested in the topic, this is a very good, general starting off point.
June 27, 2015
Hollywood Noir
Grab this book and a glass of wine and settle down to an intriguing evening of plausible whodunits! Well written with more facts then fiction.
Grab this book and a glass of wine and settle down to an intriguing evening of plausible whodunits! Well written with more facts then fiction.
October 23, 2015
Ate it up!
Delicious scandals and murder mysteries. Ate this up like a 5 pound box of chocolates. Thoroughly enjoyed all the vintage movie scandals and mob tales.
November 8, 2017
Held my interest. Good mind candy.
September 21, 2018
It was ok, not as interesting as I would have liked. I didn't really learn any new information or change any of my opinions of these crimes.
January 26, 2020
Famous murders, mysteries, and scandals from Old Hollywood, served up in E! TV Style. The book essentially rehashes other works about cases ranging from William Desmond Taylor to Robert Blake, but offers little that is new or insightful. One can get the same thing by finding A. J. Benza’s “Mysteries and Scandals” on YouTube, with the added advantage of larger pictures and music. The chapter on Mickey Cohen is the only interesting thing in the book; even that, however, has been done better in the fiction of James Ellroy. It’s too bad, really; the material itself is fascinating, but the format, the lack of depth, and the pedestrian writing essentially do it in.
June 20, 2017
Quick read. Pretty interesting stories.
March 9, 2018
I enjoyed all of the stories, except for the last one, which was mob related.
September 25, 2018
Bravo, Dina! Great, easy read that had me opening Google page after Google page to find out more!
April 23, 2021
A good start for someone interested in these kinds of topics. The Mickey Cohen part is my favorite. It was well-written! And Jim Smith was an amazing storyteller!
December 27, 2021
Interesting stories, especially the one about Mickey Cohen. It was easy to understand although there were quite a few typos (spelling and grammar mistakes).
November 11, 2019
This was a good Book about Hollywood murders . I enjoyed it
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