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Ginger: My Story
She was born Virginia Katherine McMath, but the world would come to know her—and love her—as Ginger Rogers: Broadway star, Academy Award-winning actress, and the ultimate on-screen dancing partner of the inimitable Fred Astaire. In Ginger: My Story, the legendary entertainer shares the triumphs of a remarkable career that began when she won a Texas dancing contest at age fourteen; the joys and heartbreaks of her five marriages; her relationships with some of Hollywood's major leading men, including Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and damaged daredevil billionaire Howard Hughes; and the strength of her religious convictions that got her through thick and thin.
Lavishly illustrated with rare photographs from the author's personal collection, Ginger is an enthralling, behind-the-scenes tour of Hollywood life during the Golden Age of movies by one of its most enduring stars.
Lavishly illustrated with rare photographs from the author's personal collection, Ginger is an enthralling, behind-the-scenes tour of Hollywood life during the Golden Age of movies by one of its most enduring stars.
532 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
34 people are currently reading
1511 people want to read
About the author
Ginger Rogers
40 books14 followersParticularly noted American dancer and actress Ginger Rogers, originally Virginia McMath partnered with Fred Astaire in several motion pictures, including
Swing Time
(1936) and won an academy award for her performance in
Kitty Foyle
(1940).
Fred Astaire partnered with Ginger Rogers in such films as Top Hat (1935).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_...
Fred Astaire partnered with Ginger Rogers in such films as Top Hat (1935).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
November 22, 2023
Despite the overall upbeat and cheerful tone of this autobiography, I can't help feeling like it was fairly depressing book.
Like Fred Astaire or Dick Van Dyke's memoirs, Rogers clearly loved her life in showbiz. She's incredibly positive about everything, praising her fans and male co-stars indiscriminately and name-dropping her 'beaus' every other sentence. She is a tad less generous with some of her female co-stars (though she always plays surprised at their dislike.) Women in general don't always get a kind shake from her, with snide comments directed at a range of women ranging from Fred Astaire's wife to some of her understudies. Her five failed marriages all get lightly referenced with only few sentences about how things fell apart. Perhaps because this was published roughly 30 years after Astaire's autobiography, she seems to have a better grasp of which celebrities stayed household names and who people would want to hear about. (She seems to particularly relish her dates with Astaire and Cary Grant, hinting that if she had allowed it, more might have happened.)
At the same time, she's not afraid to name-drop people she didn't like or felt treated her poorly. This is especially true with the studios and managers who gave her lousy contracts, no choice in her movies, and paid her less than half of her male co-workers. Her name had star power (she was the more experienced actor when she began working with Astaire) but Hollywood did not care. I quoted it in a status update but you get a sense of it with quotes like:
“Although Harry Cohn…paid for the screen test, he didn’t sign me. He said my smile was too big. However, he liked me enough to make passes at me and give me a little chase around his desk. Harry Cohn’s reputation as a ladies’ man was well deserved. I stood up fearlessly to his advances by reminding him I knew his wife.”
Yet just as I would begin to catch a glimpse of what she overcame, she would go off about her feathery dress or how much she loved pink or how she passed on It's A Wonderful Life (and how Donna Reed ought to be grateful to her for that!)
Despite an interesting life, I can't say Rogers is that interesting of a writer. In fact, it is a bit like sifting through dirt to get to the occasional gold nuggets. She throws in everything, ranging from advice from her mother about where to buy a house (which she ignored) to movie scripts she passed on to famous names who she almost married but didn't.
Christian Scientism runs throughout this book too as her faith played an integral role in her life.
It isn't a bad book. I'm going to hold on to my copy. There is something...weighty about it despite its persistent and intentional desire to keep things lighthearted. Perhaps it is that very lightheartedness while hinting at something more serious and darker that makes the whole thing feel so tragic. All I know is that I walk away feeling more the loneliness of an old woman than I do the glamorousness of a Hollywood starlet.
Like Fred Astaire or Dick Van Dyke's memoirs, Rogers clearly loved her life in showbiz. She's incredibly positive about everything, praising her fans and male co-stars indiscriminately and name-dropping her 'beaus' every other sentence. She is a tad less generous with some of her female co-stars (though she always plays surprised at their dislike.) Women in general don't always get a kind shake from her, with snide comments directed at a range of women ranging from Fred Astaire's wife to some of her understudies. Her five failed marriages all get lightly referenced with only few sentences about how things fell apart. Perhaps because this was published roughly 30 years after Astaire's autobiography, she seems to have a better grasp of which celebrities stayed household names and who people would want to hear about. (She seems to particularly relish her dates with Astaire and Cary Grant, hinting that if she had allowed it, more might have happened.)
At the same time, she's not afraid to name-drop people she didn't like or felt treated her poorly. This is especially true with the studios and managers who gave her lousy contracts, no choice in her movies, and paid her less than half of her male co-workers. Her name had star power (she was the more experienced actor when she began working with Astaire) but Hollywood did not care. I quoted it in a status update but you get a sense of it with quotes like:
“Although Harry Cohn…paid for the screen test, he didn’t sign me. He said my smile was too big. However, he liked me enough to make passes at me and give me a little chase around his desk. Harry Cohn’s reputation as a ladies’ man was well deserved. I stood up fearlessly to his advances by reminding him I knew his wife.”
Yet just as I would begin to catch a glimpse of what she overcame, she would go off about her feathery dress or how much she loved pink or how she passed on It's A Wonderful Life (and how Donna Reed ought to be grateful to her for that!)
Despite an interesting life, I can't say Rogers is that interesting of a writer. In fact, it is a bit like sifting through dirt to get to the occasional gold nuggets. She throws in everything, ranging from advice from her mother about where to buy a house (which she ignored) to movie scripts she passed on to famous names who she almost married but didn't.
Christian Scientism runs throughout this book too as her faith played an integral role in her life.
It isn't a bad book. I'm going to hold on to my copy. There is something...weighty about it despite its persistent and intentional desire to keep things lighthearted. Perhaps it is that very lightheartedness while hinting at something more serious and darker that makes the whole thing feel so tragic. All I know is that I walk away feeling more the loneliness of an old woman than I do the glamorousness of a Hollywood starlet.
June 1, 2015
I feel sort of odd giving a review of someone's autobiography. It was this woman's life, so how could I possibly critique what happened? I can, however, critique the actual writing, since Ginger wrote this book herself (no ghost writer, no "as told to" credits).
I've always loved Ginger Rogers in her most famous role as Fred Astaire's dance partner, but I wanted to know more about the woman behind the dances. She was a hard-working woman (73 movies made) and thoroughly enjoyed her life. Her writing tone is light and conversational, and in every incident she talks about, she always has something positive to say. She states at the beginning of the book that she has no interest in being gossipy or bad-mouthing anyone in show business, and so even when she writes about negative experiences or difficulties she had with actors or directors or spouses, she does not go into gritty detail, and always gives the person the benefit of the doubt. This way of writing makes the book at first seem kind of shallow, as she glosses over the negative details and gushes happily about gowns and parties and dates. But actually, she is completely honest, because she maintains her stance as "non gossipy" that she puts forth at the beginning of the book. She considered herself an honest, value-driven, likable person, and that's the way she writes the book. Of course her life was not as perfect as the overall tone of the book (no one's is), and she was probably not always the perfect well-behaved girl - but again, she chooses to focus on the positive side of things in this book. It's an attitude choice I can really appreciate.
But because of this, I found myself wanting some more details about certain incidents or major turning points in her life. Not situational details, but emotional details about her thoughts and feelings at different times of her life. I can understand that she wanted to maintain a certain level of privacy (and again, protecting the privacy of others): for example, in all of her failed marriages, there is little detail (emotional or otherwise) as to what went wrong or what she was feeling at the time. This lack of emotional insight gives the book a sort of "overview" kind of feel, as if one were reading a Wikipedia article that just happened to written in the first person. It's because of this emotional distance that I had to rate this book with four stars instead of five.
Despite the shallow details and lack of deep emotional insight, I truly enjoyed this book. My respect for this Hollywood legend has gone way up. She was an honest, hard-working person who kept her faith at the center of her life, always chose to find the good in any situation or person, and looked back on her life with very few regrets. May everyone aspire to live such a life, and be able to write about it (whether they are good writers or not) with equal grace.
I've always loved Ginger Rogers in her most famous role as Fred Astaire's dance partner, but I wanted to know more about the woman behind the dances. She was a hard-working woman (73 movies made) and thoroughly enjoyed her life. Her writing tone is light and conversational, and in every incident she talks about, she always has something positive to say. She states at the beginning of the book that she has no interest in being gossipy or bad-mouthing anyone in show business, and so even when she writes about negative experiences or difficulties she had with actors or directors or spouses, she does not go into gritty detail, and always gives the person the benefit of the doubt. This way of writing makes the book at first seem kind of shallow, as she glosses over the negative details and gushes happily about gowns and parties and dates. But actually, she is completely honest, because she maintains her stance as "non gossipy" that she puts forth at the beginning of the book. She considered herself an honest, value-driven, likable person, and that's the way she writes the book. Of course her life was not as perfect as the overall tone of the book (no one's is), and she was probably not always the perfect well-behaved girl - but again, she chooses to focus on the positive side of things in this book. It's an attitude choice I can really appreciate.
But because of this, I found myself wanting some more details about certain incidents or major turning points in her life. Not situational details, but emotional details about her thoughts and feelings at different times of her life. I can understand that she wanted to maintain a certain level of privacy (and again, protecting the privacy of others): for example, in all of her failed marriages, there is little detail (emotional or otherwise) as to what went wrong or what she was feeling at the time. This lack of emotional insight gives the book a sort of "overview" kind of feel, as if one were reading a Wikipedia article that just happened to written in the first person. It's because of this emotional distance that I had to rate this book with four stars instead of five.
Despite the shallow details and lack of deep emotional insight, I truly enjoyed this book. My respect for this Hollywood legend has gone way up. She was an honest, hard-working person who kept her faith at the center of her life, always chose to find the good in any situation or person, and looked back on her life with very few regrets. May everyone aspire to live such a life, and be able to write about it (whether they are good writers or not) with equal grace.
December 24, 2012
This book combines two things I've long been fascinated with - biographies and movie stars. One of my favorite things as a youth was to randomly wander the biography aisle at the library looking for new and interesting people to read about. Even today I often gravitate towards the biography sections in the bookstores. I found a sad thing though as I grew up. Biographies were no longer guaranteed to be wholesome and compelling. I started to realize that many people's lives weren't as "clean" as children's literature made them seem. After taking home books only to give them up in disgust a little ways into them, I started scanning books while still in the library. That led to even more disgust (particularly with movie stars!) and a decision to put away that genre for awhile.
Why this long intro? Well, as you know (and if you don't, you should! ;) ) Ginger Rogers is a movie (and Broadway) star. When I picked the book up at a library sale, I noticed that Ginger specifically stated in the sleeve that this was not a "tell-all" dirty secrets book. Since the book was very cheap and it's a subject I love, I took a chance and bought it. And I'm glad I did! She truly meant what she said and I found it to be, overall, a relatively clean book. Coming from a woman who was married 5 times and had numerous other romances, that's something! Her marriages and romances are covered in the book, but tend to be handled very delicately - never too explicit. She also never mentions how far her romances went leaving you room to imagine them as innocent as you please.
One of the best parts of the book is the "behind-the-scenes" look you get into the movies. She has at least one paragraph talking about every single movie she was apart of. It may be something as simple as a short comment regarding who directed it and the plot line, or as expansive as giving insight into other actors and funny happenings on the set. She also handles it with grace. You won't find her ratting on other actors or difficult directors - she loved working with just about everyone. And those who did rub her wrong - you're really not going to find an expose on all their supposed sins. She comes across as a fun, energetic person with a bubbly personality and an occasional sense of the prankster. The book is filled with interesting and funny memories about actors, sets, and pranks.
The one thing I didn't enjoy as much was the sometimes heavy handed way she talked about her religion - Christian Science. Most of the references to her religion come when someone gets sick (and they're healed through a certain kind of prayer) or when she needs wisdom with a major decision. There are about half a dozen or so in depth explanations of healings attributed to her religion. While she never put out a call or plea, it felt like she was advocating and promoting her religion throughout her story.
Overall, it was a very good book with a fascinating look into old Hollywood and the old movie stars - while at the same time maintaining a gracious tone and mostly clean stories. I would definitely recommend this book if you'd like a peek into Hollywood in the 30's and 40's and Ginger Roger's life in particular.
Why this long intro? Well, as you know (and if you don't, you should! ;) ) Ginger Rogers is a movie (and Broadway) star. When I picked the book up at a library sale, I noticed that Ginger specifically stated in the sleeve that this was not a "tell-all" dirty secrets book. Since the book was very cheap and it's a subject I love, I took a chance and bought it. And I'm glad I did! She truly meant what she said and I found it to be, overall, a relatively clean book. Coming from a woman who was married 5 times and had numerous other romances, that's something! Her marriages and romances are covered in the book, but tend to be handled very delicately - never too explicit. She also never mentions how far her romances went leaving you room to imagine them as innocent as you please.
One of the best parts of the book is the "behind-the-scenes" look you get into the movies. She has at least one paragraph talking about every single movie she was apart of. It may be something as simple as a short comment regarding who directed it and the plot line, or as expansive as giving insight into other actors and funny happenings on the set. She also handles it with grace. You won't find her ratting on other actors or difficult directors - she loved working with just about everyone. And those who did rub her wrong - you're really not going to find an expose on all their supposed sins. She comes across as a fun, energetic person with a bubbly personality and an occasional sense of the prankster. The book is filled with interesting and funny memories about actors, sets, and pranks.
The one thing I didn't enjoy as much was the sometimes heavy handed way she talked about her religion - Christian Science. Most of the references to her religion come when someone gets sick (and they're healed through a certain kind of prayer) or when she needs wisdom with a major decision. There are about half a dozen or so in depth explanations of healings attributed to her religion. While she never put out a call or plea, it felt like she was advocating and promoting her religion throughout her story.
Overall, it was a very good book with a fascinating look into old Hollywood and the old movie stars - while at the same time maintaining a gracious tone and mostly clean stories. I would definitely recommend this book if you'd like a peek into Hollywood in the 30's and 40's and Ginger Roger's life in particular.
September 27, 2022
Wildly disappointing. At one point she states if Marilyn Monroe had found God (Rogers was a Christian scientist) then her life wouldn't have ended the way it did. ::blink:: So just imagine 400+ pages written with that type of attitude and that's this book.
March 7, 2022
What an amazing woman, an amazing life.
July 5, 2018
If you're a Ginger fan, you'll enjoy this book. She covers literally from the day she was born up until the writing of the book, published in '91. I enjoyed reading about her rise to fame and she covered every play, film, radio broadcast, tv show she did. She talked about her leading men (Fred Astaire, of course!), relationships with other actresses, her travels, her marriages, her close relationship with her mother. I did not know this, but she was a very devout Christian Scientist and details how this faith helped her and her friends throughout her life.
If you're looking for a deep, detailed story into her personal life, you won't really find that here. I've read many other autobiographies that delve into small personal details of relationships, etc, but Ginger's book isn't like that. She touches the surface of her personal life, while giving more details of her professional life instead. She would mention dating a man, getting married, then pretty soon the next chapter she said they were getting divorced and move on with her story. I'd say this is more a 30% personal and 70% professional story. I found it interesting, but just slightly different than most other old Hollywood autobiographies. It wasn't an edge of your seat type of book , but I did read it through steadily and wasn't bored with it. She does dish a little on how Astaire's wife wasn't friendly, and how Kate Hepburn snubbed her a few times, so there is a little bit of gossipy fun to be had here.
Overall, it was an informative book and I enjoyed it. I have seen many, many of her films, but didn't know much about her personally (maybe because she lived a pretty quiet life and didn't share many details?), so now I do and I can shelve this one.
If you're looking for a deep, detailed story into her personal life, you won't really find that here. I've read many other autobiographies that delve into small personal details of relationships, etc, but Ginger's book isn't like that. She touches the surface of her personal life, while giving more details of her professional life instead. She would mention dating a man, getting married, then pretty soon the next chapter she said they were getting divorced and move on with her story. I'd say this is more a 30% personal and 70% professional story. I found it interesting, but just slightly different than most other old Hollywood autobiographies. It wasn't an edge of your seat type of book , but I did read it through steadily and wasn't bored with it. She does dish a little on how Astaire's wife wasn't friendly, and how Kate Hepburn snubbed her a few times, so there is a little bit of gossipy fun to be had here.
Overall, it was an informative book and I enjoyed it. I have seen many, many of her films, but didn't know much about her personally (maybe because she lived a pretty quiet life and didn't share many details?), so now I do and I can shelve this one.
August 24, 2012
I love her upbeat spirit. Of course I had to go and get the four movie pack from Target of Ginger and Fred :D
July 24, 2025
I feel that this book was well written and had minimal jumping around in the history of the facts. I enjoyed it very much.
October 30, 2011
The book is an easy read, and of course Miss Rogers tale as told by herself is of course fascinating enough.
SHe was there at the beginning of the speaking movies and became a star because of her skill and not because she was simply a part of the Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers film. She is quite sure about mentioning this in the book that she made 73 movies of which the 14 with Astaire are part.
She leaves the image that while she was looking for love she was quite aware of what she wanted and was she didn't want. She talks about the role her mother played in her live and her diverse men. But it all stays quite on the surface. And that is perhaps the problem with this autobiography it covers a lot of ground, there is rarely a real depth. Miss Rogers comes of as a faultless person. She never really takes a real stand on things that happen, she remains positive.
Another thing that pops up in the book is her religious background in Christian science, and how it guides her life and her choices.
Miss Rogers is an absolute star, and a gorgeous one too but I guess I'll have to search for another book on her life to get some perspective.
Well worth the read.
SHe was there at the beginning of the speaking movies and became a star because of her skill and not because she was simply a part of the Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers film. She is quite sure about mentioning this in the book that she made 73 movies of which the 14 with Astaire are part.
She leaves the image that while she was looking for love she was quite aware of what she wanted and was she didn't want. She talks about the role her mother played in her live and her diverse men. But it all stays quite on the surface. And that is perhaps the problem with this autobiography it covers a lot of ground, there is rarely a real depth. Miss Rogers comes of as a faultless person. She never really takes a real stand on things that happen, she remains positive.
Another thing that pops up in the book is her religious background in Christian science, and how it guides her life and her choices.
Miss Rogers is an absolute star, and a gorgeous one too but I guess I'll have to search for another book on her life to get some perspective.
Well worth the read.
August 7, 2010
Ginger Rogers is one of the greatest screen legends. her autobiography was one of the best books i have ever read. she tells each story of how she became the actress she was with such care and love. of course the best parts of the book are when Ginger talks about her movies with Fred Astaire (there's a reason the cover picture is her from the "Pick Yourself Up" dance from "Swing Time"). it is refreshing to read about a woman who's only really craziness (if you want to call it that) was marrying five times. Ginger should be a roll model to actresses today she was nice to the people she worked with, she didn't drink and did not like to smoke at all, and was never controversial. her movie career was plentiful and Ginger tells details about every one of her 73!!! films.
July 3, 2012
Like so many others, I adore the Rogers/ Astaire films and the era of the musical. I enjoyed this book, but was left wishing she had been a little more in-depth about the films and actors, with more detail about her career. Rogers comes across as an intelligent woman, but a lot of the book is fluff, and far too much detail and feelings about what dress she wore for each picture rather than the actual filming and legacy she created.
I would recommend this book, but it left me wishing for more. She hardly mentions WWII, even though she was married to a GI. And the McCarthy era is similarly glossed over.
She was hard-working, talented, kind,and energetic. Her stories of her rise and the people she worked with such as the Gershwins are fascinating. I just wanted more.
I would recommend this book, but it left me wishing for more. She hardly mentions WWII, even though she was married to a GI. And the McCarthy era is similarly glossed over.
She was hard-working, talented, kind,and energetic. Her stories of her rise and the people she worked with such as the Gershwins are fascinating. I just wanted more.
May 17, 2014
One of my guilty pleasures is reading the memoirs and biographies of old Hollywood stars - yes TCM is my favorite tv station. I looked forward to reading this, as I love the old Fred & Ginger movies and I think Ginger Rogers was a brilliant dancer. But really there is no need to read this book. I can't remember who said "an unexamined life isn't worth living" but whoever did say it, Ginger Rogers clearly did not believe it. The book is a light overview of her life, no regrets, no difficult examinations of ones choices, no interesting observations of her peers and coworkers. It's breezy, breathless and boring. And its too bad.
August 17, 2020
Five stars because love is blind. I’m in love with this book and Ginger. It’s heaven-sent perfection.
October 31, 2021
Ginger Rogers has been my favorite movie star for a long time. I love her films, with Astaire and without. This was a good book looking into her life but it also was too much about her costumes.
August 3, 2025
ginger rogers life was truly amazing. i thoroughly enjoyed hearing her tell her story especially how much of a role her faith played in her life 🤍
November 11, 2015
Ginger Rogers was an Academy-Award winning actress best known for dancing through the Great Depression with Fred Astaire on the big screen. However, there is a lot more to this glamorous Hollywood star than just the roles she played in movies. Virginia Katherine McMath had an exciting childhood from the day she was born.
Because this book is an autobiography, it is important to point out that this is Ginger's story, so from the introduction she makes it clear how this journey is going to go. First, she acknowledges that scandal and gossip sell books, but she wanted to be above that. So you won't find any tawdry details about love affairs, no hints of catty actress wars or anything that cannot be substantiated by Rogers herself. Second, she is devoted to her faith in Christian Science, so the book does occasionally contain affirmations and scriptures that were dear to Rogers, as well as what parts of her life, health and happiness she owes to her religion.
Ginger's story starts out with some of the most dramatic stories of her life, including the time that she was kidnapped by her own father as a baby. Lela Owens (Rogers) also plays a huge role in ninety percent of the book, becoming the only person that Ginger really needed in her life for support, encouragement and advice. Rogers sets the record straight about Lela—although Lela was an ambitious person with a strong personality, she wasn't the pushy stage mother that some people believe. Rogers makes it clear that any time Lela stepped in to support her daughter when it came to wardrobe, contract negotiations and even buying real estate, it was Ginger that had asked her to step in.
The book also contains a behind-the-scenes look at all of the movies Ginger completed from her early days at Paramount's New York studios through her time at RKO and finally her freelance work outside of the dying studio system. These stories and glimpses into how each movie was filmed are all too short, with some movies not getting more than a cheery paragraph about how Rogers loved working on it.
She also talks a lot about her personal life, from living in a small hotel room while she completed her first Broadway run in the 1930s to buying a peaceful ranch in the Oregon wilderness. Rogers was married five times, so her husbands are also talked about, though in the grand scheme of things, they don't get much mention. However, when it comes to her religion, Rogers does make some interesting claims. Her mother Lela is the one that introduced her to Christian Science, and Rogers' beliefs went deep because she saw her stepfather John Rogers saved from certain death, she rarely had a sick day in her life, and she recounts a couple of episodes with husbands and friends. One husband had terrible warts on his feet, and with a day of prayer and work with a Christian Science practitioner, he was cured. Another husband had painful boils, and the same routine was used to cure him as well. Rogers also helped a friend in the hospital hours from death with a burst appendix, saving her at her most critical hour. Whether true or not, it does show that Rogers had an unshakable faith that helped her through her life.
The book is really interesting up until Rogers stops making movies in the early 1960s. It's not that her life stopped there, but when she moved on from screen back to stage work, it's harder for readers to get a picture in their heads when it comes to performances. While readers can go back and check out the movies, the stage performances are lost to time and the memories of those who were able to see her in person. However, if you love classic Hollywood and the feisty determination of Ginger Rogers, you won't want to miss this book.
Because this book is an autobiography, it is important to point out that this is Ginger's story, so from the introduction she makes it clear how this journey is going to go. First, she acknowledges that scandal and gossip sell books, but she wanted to be above that. So you won't find any tawdry details about love affairs, no hints of catty actress wars or anything that cannot be substantiated by Rogers herself. Second, she is devoted to her faith in Christian Science, so the book does occasionally contain affirmations and scriptures that were dear to Rogers, as well as what parts of her life, health and happiness she owes to her religion.
Ginger's story starts out with some of the most dramatic stories of her life, including the time that she was kidnapped by her own father as a baby. Lela Owens (Rogers) also plays a huge role in ninety percent of the book, becoming the only person that Ginger really needed in her life for support, encouragement and advice. Rogers sets the record straight about Lela—although Lela was an ambitious person with a strong personality, she wasn't the pushy stage mother that some people believe. Rogers makes it clear that any time Lela stepped in to support her daughter when it came to wardrobe, contract negotiations and even buying real estate, it was Ginger that had asked her to step in.
The book also contains a behind-the-scenes look at all of the movies Ginger completed from her early days at Paramount's New York studios through her time at RKO and finally her freelance work outside of the dying studio system. These stories and glimpses into how each movie was filmed are all too short, with some movies not getting more than a cheery paragraph about how Rogers loved working on it.
She also talks a lot about her personal life, from living in a small hotel room while she completed her first Broadway run in the 1930s to buying a peaceful ranch in the Oregon wilderness. Rogers was married five times, so her husbands are also talked about, though in the grand scheme of things, they don't get much mention. However, when it comes to her religion, Rogers does make some interesting claims. Her mother Lela is the one that introduced her to Christian Science, and Rogers' beliefs went deep because she saw her stepfather John Rogers saved from certain death, she rarely had a sick day in her life, and she recounts a couple of episodes with husbands and friends. One husband had terrible warts on his feet, and with a day of prayer and work with a Christian Science practitioner, he was cured. Another husband had painful boils, and the same routine was used to cure him as well. Rogers also helped a friend in the hospital hours from death with a burst appendix, saving her at her most critical hour. Whether true or not, it does show that Rogers had an unshakable faith that helped her through her life.
The book is really interesting up until Rogers stops making movies in the early 1960s. It's not that her life stopped there, but when she moved on from screen back to stage work, it's harder for readers to get a picture in their heads when it comes to performances. While readers can go back and check out the movies, the stage performances are lost to time and the memories of those who were able to see her in person. However, if you love classic Hollywood and the feisty determination of Ginger Rogers, you won't want to miss this book.
August 29, 2022
I enjoyed this one for the first few chapters but after that it became a bit of a slog. I was hoping it would be a more intimate look into Ginger Rogers, the PERSON behind the glamor, but actually it's kind of an extended recitation of every film and show she ever worked on and name lists of every person involved, with shallow personal anecdotes thrown in here and there. You really get the feeling that she's glossing over everything that had actual substance in her life (including incidents where she maybe didn't come off the best) and focusing on the surface glitz, the outfits, the name dropping, and keeping her personal feelings and self largely out of it. I can't speak for everyone, but that's not what I'm really interested in when I read a 400+ page biography.
Also as more of a personal gripe, I'm not religious at all so the repeated entreaties toward Christian science as the solution for most of her problems got a bit eye rolling the further into the book I got, but I suppose some people are probably into that. I also found the small diatribe about the evils of communism and her tacit (in the book) support of McCarthyism left a bad taste in my mouth.
Also as more of a personal gripe, I'm not religious at all so the repeated entreaties toward Christian science as the solution for most of her problems got a bit eye rolling the further into the book I got, but I suppose some people are probably into that. I also found the small diatribe about the evils of communism and her tacit (in the book) support of McCarthyism left a bad taste in my mouth.
August 1, 2011
Ginger Rogers is a star of the highest shelf of classic cinema, and many of her fabulous films, in & out of her legendary pairing with Fred Astaire, have stood the test of time. Unfortunately, this book demonstrates (as with many a "Hollywood bio") that with a good and careful editor, Ms. Rogers's memories of a great life lived, & long and fruitful career could have been better put in memoir form. Rather than having her come off as some sort of religious nut (Ms. Rogers was known to be a devoted Christian Scientist) who got lucky with her career, Ms. Rogers could have left behind a memoir worth reading. The add-ins, sensational-feeling dashes here and there of romantic dalliances with Cary Grant, Howard Hughes and Lew Ayres (whom she married), are irritating aspects in the overall narrative, but are glanced over with discretion. On the whole, I think Ms. Rogers's own off-screen down-to-earth, smart, sparkling, hardworking personality deserved better portrayal than this.
February 7, 2013
I could barely put this book down. For such a private woman, Ginger was remarkably candid and generous with her stories. This book is very rich in detail and perspective. The only distracting parts to me were her admittedly brief musings on her very conservative politics. Faith is mentioned quite often in this book, and even though I am not religious at all, I didn't find these recollections pushy. Her religion worked for her, and it helped her live a happy and successful life. A great book that I highly recommend for insights not only into Ginger's life, but the lives of her co-stars, family, and friends.
October 23, 2012
This is a long book filled with lots of detail and not a book I would have been drawn to if I hadn't just finished reading all three of The Hunger Games trilogy. I was feeling spent and depressed and found the bubbly parts of this book soothing. There was quite a bit of information about Christian Science, and these parts were easy to read, not dogmatic. Rogers seems to have sped up to get through the last ten years of her life -- we learned in excruciating detail about gowns and husbands during the first half of the book. The ending quote was nice: And Love is reflected in Love (quoting Mary Baker Eddy).
I don't recommend this book unless you really need cheering up.
I don't recommend this book unless you really need cheering up.
August 31, 2011
I have a weakness for autobiographies of classic American film stars. Myrna Loy's is probably the best I've read, but Ginger's is very entertaining. I got her to sign my copy in a brawl at Grauman's Chinese.
Re-read this recently and came away with the feeling that being an A-list star in Hollywood was very cruel to women. I don't get a lot of happiness in her life and of course she could never admit how in thrall she was to her mother. Sad.
Re-read this recently and came away with the feeling that being an A-list star in Hollywood was very cruel to women. I don't get a lot of happiness in her life and of course she could never admit how in thrall she was to her mother. Sad.
November 7, 2012
I had been wanting to read it for a long time and I am so glad that I finally did. I really enjoyed reading about what it was like for her in show business back then and what a hard worker she was. I've always enjoyed her movies. What makes it fun reading this book now is that with Youtube - as you are reading - you can look up each dance that she talks about and clips of the actors that she talks about it.
February 27, 2014
I liked the first half as Ginger is making her way from 14 year old Charleston contest winner through the Astaire/Rogers film cycle, but after that, reading about a star in mid-career making film after film that have mostly been forgotten -- can get a bit tedious, at least for me. So I quit - there are too many good books out there and I got what I needed.
August 25, 2013
I loved learning about Ginger Rogers in her own words. Fascinating relationship with her mother. I was pretty interested in her religion. That was surprising to me for some reason. I found her writing very humorous, and not as self- serving or narcissistic as I'd expected from such a fabulous and very famous figure. Overall, I liked her!
March 7, 2011
I enjoyed this book for the most part. There was a lot of "I am ginger rogers and i am so wonderful" and about her christian science beliefs. There was point when i lost interest, when her movie career was over it just got dull and less about her career. But an interesting read just the same.
September 28, 2014
Before I started reading Ginger Rogers' autobiography, I didn't really know much about her.
However, I am glad I decided to read this book :)
It is one of the best autobiographies I have read so far.
I am now a fan of Ginger Rogers! :D
However, I am glad I decided to read this book :)
It is one of the best autobiographies I have read so far.
I am now a fan of Ginger Rogers! :D
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April 15, 2023i love ginger rogers!
also side note: idk i always found it weird rating autobiographies, that’s probably why i’ve always just left them blank or immediate five stars no questions asked. like who am i to judge how someone wanted to tell their life story.
also side note: idk i always found it weird rating autobiographies, that’s probably why i’ve always just left them blank or immediate five stars no questions asked. like who am i to judge how someone wanted to tell their life story.
August 18, 2007
I love Ginger Rogers and I enjoyed learning bout this wonderful actress.
December 12, 2007
Very interesting read about the life of Ginger Rogers.
March 26, 2009
I can't get enough of classic Hollywood and this is an entertaining book.
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