Lights, camera, action! The Golden Age of Hollywood displayed some of the world’s greatest talent on the silver screen. Among these giants in the movie industry was one actress who quietly made her way to the top. Hedy Lamarr, an Austrian immigrant, became known as the most beautiful woman on Earth. In his book, Beautiful: The Life of Hedy Lamarr Stephen Shearer digs through the scandals, rumors, and murky stories surrounding the life of Hedy Lamarr. Shearer paints a picture of a complex working woman in the early twentieth century who struggles to balance the duality of a brilliant mind and a glamorous appearance.
Hedy’s life was far from traditional. She was married to an ammunition dealer in Austria who worked with the Axis Powers. She struggles finding her place as a trophy wife. She is forced to play the part of hostess to guests such as Mussolini, but eventually escapes to America. She is then discovered by a movie producer who promises her a career full of fame and fortune. She tackles the fight to be taken seriously as an actress instead of a beautiful set piece. She wanted to do more than “stand still and look stupid” (Shearer 126). Her career was rocked by a scandalous European film that she appeared in and it would haunt her for the rest of her life. Hedy was more than just a beautiful face, because behind her dark eyes there was an intelligent mind that could not stop thinking. Her intelligence was often overlooked, especially within the male-dominated movie industry, so many presumed her to be quite dumb. In reality, she helped invent the radar system vital to the use of everything from targeted torpedos to cell service. As her beauty, the only asset that Hollywood cared about, began to diminish with age Hedy fought to stay relevant, desired, and loved. She left a complex legacy behind for people like Shearer to unravel.
This book is at its best when it examines the relationship between Hedy and the various relationships in her life. It gives a keen insight into what life was like for a female actress throughout the 20th century. By providing the narrative of an independent woman, trying to provide for her children, her elderly mother, and herself without a steady income, the book can instill a powerful message into young people. Because Hedy tried her best to keep her true opinions from the tabloids, the text is lacking in Hedy’s own remarks on her reputation. However, there are several quotes from Hedy’s children and close friends that offer key insights into her character.
This book is not without its flaws as it does drag quite often. Furthermore the book indulges by giving a detailed synopsis of all thirty movies she appeared in during her career. This is often difficult to wade through and becomes dull quickly. For readers with short attention spans, be wary of this book because it often veers off the narrative and drones on about insignificant details of Hedy’s life. This dull tangent comes at the expense of creating fascinating overarching narratives and connecting themes that distill into profound conclusions. Instead, it leaves much to the interpretation to the reader which some may find enjoyable, while others will become frustrated. Regardless, for fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood this is certainly the book for you!
Even though she was born with the face of a goddess, Hedy was indeed a fallible human capable of great achievements but subject to making disappointing mistakes. This creates a compelling narrative, even if it is convoluted at points. This book’s insight into Hedy Lamarr’s character provides a unique perspective on Hollywood, female empowerment, and independence.
Lights, camera, action! The Golden Age of Hollywood displayed some of the world’s greatest talent on the silver screen. Among these giants in the movie industry was one actress who quietly made her way to the top. Hedy Lamarr, an Austrian immigrant, became known as the most beautiful woman on Earth. In his book, Beautiful: The Life of Hedy Lamarr Stephen Shearer digs through the scandals, rumors, and murky stories surrounding the life of Hedy Lamarr. Shearer paints a picture of a complex working woman in the early twentieth century who struggles to balance the duality of a brilliant mind and a glamorous appearance.
Hedy’s life was far from traditional. She was married to an ammunition dealer in Austria who worked with the Axis Powers. She struggles finding her place as a trophy wife. She is forced to play the part of hostess to guests such as Mussolini, but eventually escapes to America. She is then discovered by a movie producer who promises her a career full of fame and fortune. She tackles the fight to be taken seriously as an actress instead of a beautiful set piece. She wanted to do more than “stand still and look stupid” (Shearer 126). Her career was rocked by a scandalous European film that she appeared in and it would haunt her for the rest of her life. Hedy was more than just a beautiful face, because behind her dark eyes there was an intelligent mind that could not stop thinking. Her intelligence was often overlooked, especially within the male-dominated movie industry, so many presumed her to be quite dumb. In reality, she helped invent the radar system vital to the use of everything from targeted torpedos to cell service. As her beauty, the only asset that Hollywood cared about, began to diminish with age Hedy fought to stay relevant, desired, and loved. She left a complex legacy behind for people like Shearer to unravel.
This book is at its best when it examines the relationship between Hedy and the various relationships in her life. It gives a keen insight into what life was like for a female actress throughout the 20th century. By providing the narrative of an independent woman, trying to provide for her children, her elderly mother, and herself without a steady income, the book can instill a powerful message into young people. Because Hedy tried her best to keep her true opinions from the tabloids, the text is lacking in Hedy’s own remarks on her reputation. However, there are several quotes from Hedy’s children and close friends that offer key insights into her character.
This book is not without its flaws as it does drag quite often. Furthermore the book indulges by giving a detailed synopsis of all thirty movies she appeared in during her career. This is often difficult to wade through and becomes dull quickly. For readers with short attention spans, be wary of this book because it often veers off the narrative and drones on about insignificant details of Hedy’s life. This dull tangent comes at the expense of creating fascinating overarching narratives and connecting themes that distill into profound conclusions. Instead, it leaves much to the interpretation to the reader which some may find enjoyable, while others will become frustrated. Regardless, for fans of the Golden Age of Hollywood this is certainly the book for you!
Even though she was born with the face of a goddess, Hedy was indeed a fallible human capable of great achievements but subject to making disappointing mistakes. This creates a compelling narrative, even if it is convoluted at points. This book’s insight into Hedy Lamarr’s character provides a unique perspective on Hollywood, female empowerment, and independence.