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Oasis: Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends
Highlighting legends such as Mary Astor, John Wayne, Alfred Hitchcock, Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, Gary Cooper, Patricia Neal, Betty Hutton, and Bob Hope, Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends uncovers stories of recovery and conversion intimate portraits that often contrast with the more common profiles of these all-too-human stars. Many were touched by infidelity, alcoholism, unbridled ambition, or other moral failings that often seem to characterize life in Hollywood. Some had deathbed conversions, others underwent a gradual process of conversion; each found solace in embracing the Catholic faith.While taking nothing from their fame, Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends shows that even those who seem to have it all need the hope, strength, and fortitude provided by faith.
253 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 17, 2019
I came across Oasis: Conversion Stories of Hollywood Legends by way of the EWTN program Bookmark with Doug Keck, a kind of Catholic version of Brian Lamb’s Booknotes and Q&A on C-SPAN. The book discussion delved into the Catholic conversion and reversion stories of Hollywood celebrities of the Golden Age of cinema. I was hooked.
Detailing the intimate lives of Hollywood celebrities: Alfred Hitchcock, Gary Cooper, Bob Hope, Mary Astor, John Wayne, Anne Southern, Jane Wyman, Susan Hayward, Lana Turner, Betty Hutton, Ann Miller and Patricia Neal, Author Mary Claire Kendall does a superb and well researched job at giving readers an in-depth summary of her subject’s early lives. And for the most part, their early lives were anything but golden. Often poor, neglected or abused or having some kind of hardscrabble component in their early childhood development, these aforementioned celebrities worked like dogs to make it to the top, especially under a studio system that could be quite unforgiving and brutal. Traversing from the stage to the screen and vice versa, there always seemed to be an interior need for affirmation, for validation and attention, a deep-seated hunger that, despite their success, could never be quelled. Be it through despondency, curiosity or emptiness, these celebrities found grace. Rather, grace came to them, and they were able to recognize it. God and the transformative power of grace seemed to be the real star of this book.
To pick out one celebrity conversion story is difficult, because each individual experience offered an insight that was exceptional: Patricia Neal and the grace of forgiveness, Alfred Hitchcock and the grace of soul growth or Lana Turner’s grace of finding peace and security in stability. For me, I loved the image of Academy Award nominee (for the Whales of August) Ann Southern surrounded by her religious nicknacks and living a life of simplicity, not boggled down by stuff and with her sense of humor firmly intact, despite her crosses. But truly, each chapter offers something beautiful and inspiring without being religiously over-the-top or annoyingly saccharine with piety. These were real people who suffered with heavy burdens and even bigger questions. The authenticity of their personalities and characters really do come through. And Mary Claire Kendall did a superb job in covering their conversion experiences. I would also recommend Karen Edmisten’s Deathbed Conversions: Finding Faith at the Finish Line, for they are similar.
Detailing the intimate lives of Hollywood celebrities: Alfred Hitchcock, Gary Cooper, Bob Hope, Mary Astor, John Wayne, Anne Southern, Jane Wyman, Susan Hayward, Lana Turner, Betty Hutton, Ann Miller and Patricia Neal, Author Mary Claire Kendall does a superb and well researched job at giving readers an in-depth summary of her subject’s early lives. And for the most part, their early lives were anything but golden. Often poor, neglected or abused or having some kind of hardscrabble component in their early childhood development, these aforementioned celebrities worked like dogs to make it to the top, especially under a studio system that could be quite unforgiving and brutal. Traversing from the stage to the screen and vice versa, there always seemed to be an interior need for affirmation, for validation and attention, a deep-seated hunger that, despite their success, could never be quelled. Be it through despondency, curiosity or emptiness, these celebrities found grace. Rather, grace came to them, and they were able to recognize it. God and the transformative power of grace seemed to be the real star of this book.
To pick out one celebrity conversion story is difficult, because each individual experience offered an insight that was exceptional: Patricia Neal and the grace of forgiveness, Alfred Hitchcock and the grace of soul growth or Lana Turner’s grace of finding peace and security in stability. For me, I loved the image of Academy Award nominee (for the Whales of August) Ann Southern surrounded by her religious nicknacks and living a life of simplicity, not boggled down by stuff and with her sense of humor firmly intact, despite her crosses. But truly, each chapter offers something beautiful and inspiring without being religiously over-the-top or annoyingly saccharine with piety. These were real people who suffered with heavy burdens and even bigger questions. The authenticity of their personalities and characters really do come through. And Mary Claire Kendall did a superb job in covering their conversion experiences. I would also recommend Karen Edmisten’s Deathbed Conversions: Finding Faith at the Finish Line, for they are similar.
January 21, 2018
This book may be well-meaning but it's deceptive. There is almost nothing in it on conversions. Instead the author does a Wikipedia-like overview of each celebrity and then at the end of each chapter uses a paragraph or two to tell how they became Catholic. In 4 or 5 cases it was done literally on their death beds. Many of the female stars had abortions earlier in life. And all led wild, immoral lives.
So what is the point of the book? That one can live a sinful life, go through multiple marriages (even after becoming Catholic) and somehow a few hours before you die you can have it all wiped away before you enter the afterlife? That grace can always be counted on so a person can live however they want then suddenly use the Church as a good luck charm right before death? Certainly the Catholic Church teaches that such behavior and death-bed conversions are acceptable, and there are some New Testament passages where Christ says that if you commit your life to Him your sins will be wiped away--no matter when that conversion takes place (think thief on the cross). But to see these 12 stories together in print makes the conversion process look glib and the Catholic Church shallow.
The book isn't well written, even though the author repeatedly praises her writing abilities in the opening section saying that many told her how great she was and how she needed to write this book. Most of it is taken from other books or articles or TV interviews with little original reporting. She has a tendency to make assumptions about how a star was feeling when something happened to them or how an event "must have" impacted them without any evidence to support the conclusions. It's like a fan-book for Catholics that want to justify a woman married 8 times as a member of a church that outlaws divorce or that it's okay for the Church to treat rich celebrities better than others.
The smoking, drinking, sex, lying, and multiple divorces are all treated like they are no big deal. The author even calls some of them "devout Catholics" while doing those things! Most of the book focuses on almost celebrating those vices. I just don't get why the book isn't about the conversion stories. Truly people can change and suddenly come into spiritual enlightenment as they come close to death. And God's grace is great so that He will welcome all no matter what they've done in the past. We just don't see enough heavenly details here to get beyond the Hollywood glitz.
So what is the point of the book? That one can live a sinful life, go through multiple marriages (even after becoming Catholic) and somehow a few hours before you die you can have it all wiped away before you enter the afterlife? That grace can always be counted on so a person can live however they want then suddenly use the Church as a good luck charm right before death? Certainly the Catholic Church teaches that such behavior and death-bed conversions are acceptable, and there are some New Testament passages where Christ says that if you commit your life to Him your sins will be wiped away--no matter when that conversion takes place (think thief on the cross). But to see these 12 stories together in print makes the conversion process look glib and the Catholic Church shallow.
The book isn't well written, even though the author repeatedly praises her writing abilities in the opening section saying that many told her how great she was and how she needed to write this book. Most of it is taken from other books or articles or TV interviews with little original reporting. She has a tendency to make assumptions about how a star was feeling when something happened to them or how an event "must have" impacted them without any evidence to support the conclusions. It's like a fan-book for Catholics that want to justify a woman married 8 times as a member of a church that outlaws divorce or that it's okay for the Church to treat rich celebrities better than others.
The smoking, drinking, sex, lying, and multiple divorces are all treated like they are no big deal. The author even calls some of them "devout Catholics" while doing those things! Most of the book focuses on almost celebrating those vices. I just don't get why the book isn't about the conversion stories. Truly people can change and suddenly come into spiritual enlightenment as they come close to death. And God's grace is great so that He will welcome all no matter what they've done in the past. We just don't see enough heavenly details here to get beyond the Hollywood glitz.
April 22, 2015
As a non-Catholic person, the stories of conversion had less impact on me than had I been of a similar persuasion. I think there would have been additional resonance had that been the case.
It did not impede my enjoyment of the stories. We all have heard those tragic stories of those who burned brightly and then imploded under the glare of stardom. Each of these stories to a greater or lesser degree could so easily been another one.
What each story told was how that celebrity, often in the twilight of their lives, found peace and acceptance through a return to faith. They are all told with compassion but without hiding the personal flaws and tragedies that led the celebrities to the brink. Whether you are a religious person or not, you can appreciate the impact a caring heart and sympathetic ear can mean to a person who feels lost and abandoned. It makes the book accessible and enjoyable for all who choose to read it.
It did not impede my enjoyment of the stories. We all have heard those tragic stories of those who burned brightly and then imploded under the glare of stardom. Each of these stories to a greater or lesser degree could so easily been another one.
What each story told was how that celebrity, often in the twilight of their lives, found peace and acceptance through a return to faith. They are all told with compassion but without hiding the personal flaws and tragedies that led the celebrities to the brink. Whether you are a religious person or not, you can appreciate the impact a caring heart and sympathetic ear can mean to a person who feels lost and abandoned. It makes the book accessible and enjoyable for all who choose to read it.
April 1, 2019
Easy read and interesting to an extent. Amazing to find that from its first moments, Hollywood was decadent and corrupt. Most of these folks came from broken divorced families—long before that was common. Abortion, affairs, multiple marriages and substance abuse abound. My take away: God is boundless mercy AND the priests who worked with most of these folks were truly saintly to continue to work for their souls through countless relapses of all of the aforementioned.
April 28, 2019
A Different Take On Hollywood Legends.
Whether you like to read gossip about Hollywood Stars or are interested how they searched for some spiritually in their lives you will enjoy these breezy quick read. You will leave it with satisfaction you have not wasted your time. Well researched and written. I viewed an interview wth Ms Kendall on an EWTN program and was moved to read this book.
Whether you like to read gossip about Hollywood Stars or are interested how they searched for some spiritually in their lives you will enjoy these breezy quick read. You will leave it with satisfaction you have not wasted your time. Well researched and written. I viewed an interview wth Ms Kendall on an EWTN program and was moved to read this book.
September 14, 2018
Insight into the lives of the golden age of Hollywood and how some of the people in the midst of the "glamorous life" found God before they died.
July 1, 2019
Not as engrossing as I had hoped. Since I'm in the middle of more interesting books, I gave this one away to some Sisters I thought might enjoy a light read.
Want to read
October 11, 2024SM
March 13, 2017
It's surprisingly quick read!
These are short bio-sketches of 12 Hollywood stars who converted to Catholicism at some point in their lives after experiencing some incredible setbacks and incredible darkness.
These are short bio-sketches of 12 Hollywood stars who converted to Catholicism at some point in their lives after experiencing some incredible setbacks and incredible darkness.
January 29, 2017
Twelve Hollywood stars finding God and faith.
Did you know that Alfred Hitchcock, Gary Cooper, Bob Hope, Mary Astor, John Wayne, Ann Sothern, Jane Wyman, Susan hayward, Lana Turner, Betty Hutton , Ann Miller and Patricia Neal were Catholics (or seriously considered being Catholic)? Yes, me neither.
At least they were not believers when donning the Hollywood days full of glory. But every glory fades and the heartbreak is not far from any of us. Often after a lot of pain in their personal lives (illnesses, deaths, divorces) the stars found their peace in God.
This is very inspirative to know, especially these days when the old glamour seems to be gone and the Hollywood big names are often not what one would call a role model.
While a consider this being a precious book just by the documenting the lesser known fact about the personal life of these talented people, I would love to get the more in-depth descriptions of their journey. The book documents the personal recollections of family, friends and the stars themselves, but these are just the fragments of their life and, more importantly, their coming to faith. Sure, the book is not the collection of biographies and even these fragments are gold, but I would love to walk with them with deeper understanding of their fights and wins.
But it is good to remember to say some prayers for the seemingly rich and happy! As prayers help both the one who is praying and the ones the prayer is meant for.
Did you know that Alfred Hitchcock, Gary Cooper, Bob Hope, Mary Astor, John Wayne, Ann Sothern, Jane Wyman, Susan hayward, Lana Turner, Betty Hutton , Ann Miller and Patricia Neal were Catholics (or seriously considered being Catholic)? Yes, me neither.
At least they were not believers when donning the Hollywood days full of glory. But every glory fades and the heartbreak is not far from any of us. Often after a lot of pain in their personal lives (illnesses, deaths, divorces) the stars found their peace in God.
This is very inspirative to know, especially these days when the old glamour seems to be gone and the Hollywood big names are often not what one would call a role model.
While a consider this being a precious book just by the documenting the lesser known fact about the personal life of these talented people, I would love to get the more in-depth descriptions of their journey. The book documents the personal recollections of family, friends and the stars themselves, but these are just the fragments of their life and, more importantly, their coming to faith. Sure, the book is not the collection of biographies and even these fragments are gold, but I would love to walk with them with deeper understanding of their fights and wins.
But it is good to remember to say some prayers for the seemingly rich and happy! As prayers help both the one who is praying and the ones the prayer is meant for.
February 14, 2017
Fans of Old Hollywood will enjoy this compendium of articles about how finding the faith changed the lives of some of the biggest stars, including Gary Cooper, Bob Hope, Lana Turner, Jane Wyman, Patricia Neal, and others. Many of the actors' stories share the same themes -- difficult early lives gave way to a tumultuous (and sometimes morally ambiguous) adulthood, leaving people ungrounded and unable to cope in the face of challenges, and sometimes, tragedies. In many of the stories, charismatic priests help steer the individuals back to happier spiritual paths.
I took a star off for the the writing, which is very accessible, but could have benefited from a stronger editorial hand.
I took a star off for the the writing, which is very accessible, but could have benefited from a stronger editorial hand.
September 2, 2015
I think a lot of unnecessary biographical / career information was given. The actual
Conversion aspect was usually at the very end of the chapter - many on their deathbed.
Reading the chapter on Bob Hope was mostly on how he got his start followed by his philandering - the conversion was not at all
Moving or even convincing occurring 10
Yrs prior to His death but with nothing to
Really support how he changed. I'd rather read stories of the saints
Conversion aspect was usually at the very end of the chapter - many on their deathbed.
Reading the chapter on Bob Hope was mostly on how he got his start followed by his philandering - the conversion was not at all
Moving or even convincing occurring 10
Yrs prior to His death but with nothing to
Really support how he changed. I'd rather read stories of the saints
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews