Silver Screen Book Club discussion

Hello all, and welcome to the Silver Screen Book Club.

I am Samantha from Ohio. I am an enthusiastic film fan who loves to meet other people interested in the Golden Age of Hollywood, although my interests are not limited to American films. I especially love movies made during the 1920s and 30s, both for their artistic achievements and the styles of the period. My favorites include the Little Rascals movies, Mary Pickford, Clara Bow, Joan Crawford (especially in the 30s), Marlene Dietrich, Dick Powell, Van Johnson, the Andy Hardy series, Henry Aldrich, Michael Shayne, etc. I greatly admire Kevin Brownlow and would love to meet him; the same with Leonard Maltin. You might have seen me around at various film conventions, especially Cinevent which I have attended annually since 2007.

Hi, I'm Graceann from London, UK (originally Milwaukee, WI). Thanks to older parents and the noon movie during my summer holidays, I've always loved old movies. My favorites are Buster Keaton, Colleen Moore, William Haines and many, many others. I'm also a big fan of pre-code cinema, especially the movies of Ann Harding and Kay Francis.

What's up! I'm Richard from Los Angeles, CA, USA, but originally from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. I'm a cinematographer in the film industry and a big classic movie fan. Some of my favorites off the top of my head are Casablanca, Sunset Blvd, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Sweet Smell of Success (more people should see that one), 12 Angry Men, Double Indemnity, Rashomon, One The Waterfront, Passion of Joan of Arc.

I'm a big fan of film noir, and of Jack Lemmon, Bogart, Rita Hayworth, Charles Chaplin, Toshiro Mifune, Brando, Gloria Grahame...

Hello, My name is Karl, I live in Phoenix Az. Imported from Niederhausen Germany- A big fan of film NOIR and perhaps the first ten minutes of "The Wizard of OZ" , thank goodness for Turner Classic Television.

Hi, My name is Lauren. I currently live in London, ON but grew up in Plainfield, ON. I became a fan of classic films after discovering TCM during a summer vacation in my home town about 6 years ago. A few of my favorite films include - You Can't Take It With You; Five Graves to Cairo; the Philadelphia Story; Singin' in the Rain - just to name a few. I very much enjoy the work of Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Franchot Tone, Myrna Loy, Irene Dunne, Cary Grant - again, just to name a few. I also enjoy reading the biographies / autobiographies published about Silver Screen Stars. It's nice to understand where and what their art and talent was born from.

Hello, folks! I'm Autumn from NC. I love Buster Keaton, Louise Brooks, 70s and 80s horror, John Waters and Mary Pickford. I hate Thomas Edison for being such a jerk. I am way too invested in 100 year old show business gossip.

Hi, I'm Bryan and I live in southern California. I love L.A. history, classic Hollywood, and movies in general.

Hello, I'm Peter from The Hague in The Netherlands and I am especially interested in the influence on American cinema by European emigrees during the 1930s and 1940s: directors, composers, cameramen and DP's, scriptwriters, designers. From Murnau, Billy Wilder to Siodmak and Fritz Lang.

Hi, I am Julie from Canberra, Australia. I grew up on musicals from early Fred & Ginger to the 70's. Love screwball comedy, like Bringing Up Baby, The Awful Truth, Arsenic & Old Lace etc. I am a big fan of Kate Hepburn, Doris Day & Judy Garland. I have since expanded my interests, many thru reading bios of people like Clara Bow, Jean Arthur, Marie Dressler, Clinton Webb, Jean Harlow to name just a few. I have recently became interested in how Gay & Lesbian characters have been portrayed over the years. I also have a collection of original movie posters, but nothing worth much, just what interests me. Many thanks for the offer to join this group Samantha & yes Kari, I too loved Runnin' Wild!

Hi, Christie here! [KURIZTEE is a play on the pronunciation]

I can't exactly type too much, I'm at work, but I'm so glad this group exists! Thank you Samantha for inviting me!

Hi all! Thanks for the invite to join the group. My name is Tricia and I am currently living in South Dakota. I love classic film and learning more about the stars of the 30s and 40s and the behind-the-scenes stories of my favorite movies. I love the screwball comedies, the musicals, and film noir. My favorite actors include Irene Dunne, Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Claude Rains, Rosalind Russell, Gene Kelly and more. Have a great day!

I'm Drew from Dayton, Ohio. I love film from every era, but my passion is for '60s American and British Wave. Can't wait to hear what everyone has to contribute!

I'm Nancy from San Luis Obispo, California (near San Simeon). I started watching classic American film when I was in high school on the Late Show. ("The Late Show! Relax, enjoy a snack, and watch the Late Show! Channel 2 is bringing you the greatest of stars here on the late great show.”) And I read just about everything on this period.

I love silents, pre-Code, 30s, 40s and 50s movies. And I want to be Barbara Stanwyck when I grow up. Thanks for the invite!

I too was invited by Samantha, based on the list of books that I've posted here on Goodreads. I've been watching old movies since I was a little kid in the 1970s, starting with Universal monster movies, King Kong, and Sunday morning Abbott and Costello movies on New York's WPIX Channel 11. My favorite movie decade is the 1940s but I also love the 30s and I've developed a strong interest in the history of the silent era.

Hello, I’m Creolecat (Marie). I live in Orange County in southern California. My loves are silents, pre-code, and film noir. I also love old-time radio, the early days of television playwriting– particularly anthology shows like Playhouse 90 and The Alcoa Hour, etc., and Hollywood history. Thank you to Samantha for the invite. I’m looking forward to discussing films with everyone.

Hello all,
I'm James from Washington, DC, by way of Illinois, Iowa, and Germany. I'm a member of the AFI, and try to see as many films as I can at their Silver Center here. My favorites are Jack Benny, Laurel and Hardy, Marx Brothers, Lucille Ball, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and Jimmy Stewart. Classic comedies are my favorite genre, but I also love Hitchcock.

Hello! I'm Heidi from MD. My parents and grandparents have always loved old movies and fostered that interest in me when I was young. I love reading more about the stars of that era. Musicals are a particular favorite, as is Judy Garland and The Wizard of Oz. Other favorites include anything with the Hepburn/Tracy combination, Philadelphia Story, The Great Race, Inherit the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird, and an Affair to Remember.

Thanks for the invite!

Hi,
I'm KC (like Casey) from Austin, TX. Thanks for the invitation to join your group. Love old movies of almost any era, but especially 30s-40s and I love watching Bogart, Peck, Grant, Loy, Marjorie Main, Hitchcock, The Thin Man, Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone and Bruce of course!), most noir and all comedies. Looking forward to reading some good books!

Hi all!

I'm so happy I got an invite to this group. I adore old Hollywood movies and read lots of books about that period, as well as seeing lots of the movies. I'm live in Austin, Tx too. None of my friends have much of an interest in old movies so I am thrilled to read all these introductions listing actors and movies I enjoy. Some of my favorite movies are The Philadelphia Story(my son Dexter is named after this movie), The Lady Eve, The first Thin Man, 12 Angry Men, Laura, Rebecca, The Maltese Falcon, Roman Holiday, His Girl Friday, My Man Godfrey, I could go on & on. My favorite genres are film noir and screwball comedies. I just finished reading a biography of Mary Pickford which made me want to read a book about Chaplin so this group couldn't have come at a better time! Oh, my favorite memoirs I have read(not necessarily my favorite actors, but the most entertaining books) have been Hedy Lamarr, Shelley Winters, David Niven, Ava Gardener, Jane Fonda and Shirley Temple. I wish I had never read Ginger Rogers memoir - it made me hate her and I love her in the movies.

I have yet to read Ginger Rogers' book but I own it. What made you dislike her?

I found her judgmental and uptight. She wrote about disliking FDR, whom I love. All her talk about being a Christian Scientist and anti-medicine also rubbed me the wrong way.(My dad is a doctor and my mom a nurse). She supported the blacklist and actually testified against people. She supported Richard Nixon. She was someone I wouldn't like in real life.

Oh wow. I was looking forward to her biography but I think now I might have to pass.

Heidi wrote: "Oh wow. I was looking forward to her biography but I think now I might have to pass." Don't read it. I'm bummed it affected the way I view her movies. I also read a biography of Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda's memoir and both caused me to think less highly of him. He wasn't a nice man. (Katherine Hepburn came across as great in both books). Usually a bio/memoir makes me appreciate the artist more but with a few books it has lessened their appeal.

Julie wrote: "Hi all!

I'm so happy I got an invite to this group. I adore old Hollywood movies and read lots of books about that period, as well as seeing lots of the movies. I'm live in Austin, Tx too. None of..."


You know what's funny is that I'm probably going to read it because I'm going to read Fred's but how you feel about her doesn't surprise me in the least. I've seen some of her interviews and she, like Ginger Rogers in person just gives me bad vibes. Like she holds her name and herself high up on a horse. I'm probably going to read it just to have read Fred & Gingers story because of obvious reasons. But damn, now I'm like looking forward to it in a way I've never looked forward to reading anything before. lol

Which book on Fred are you planning to read? I have one in my to-do list about him and his sister Adele. Thought reading about that relationship would be interesting.

Steps In Time, which books are in your list, I'd also like to know more about his sister Adele!

The Astaires by Riley is about the Astaires siblings, Fred and Adele. The reviews look pretty good. Others on my to-do list include Tis Herself by Maureen O'Hara, Cary Grant by Eliot, A Legendary Career: Judy Garland, and Tracy and Hepburn by Garson Kanin. He was a close friend of the couple so I'm thinking there will be stories in there that aren't anywhere else. I have a book out of the library now called Baby Let's Play House, about various relationships that Elvis had over the years, Ann-Margret and the like. Hopefully it's good!!

Hello everyone! My name is Mary and I am from a small town in VA. I am a History major with minors in Public History and Film Studies. I LOVE the history of film and how it was made. I loved taking all my film classes at college. Some classes I took were Film Analysis, Film Theory and Criticisms, Women in Film. What we did was watch movies, mainly classic movies starting with silent films and working to more current. Lots of foreign and independent films. After that I love watching all type of movies and see them in a new light. I want to read and learn more about classic Hollywood. Hopefully I did not say too much lol

Heidi wrote: "The Astaires by Riley is about the Astaires siblings, Fred and Adele. The reviews look pretty good. Others on my to-do list include Tis Herself by Maureen O'Hara, Cary Grant by Eliot, A Legendary C..."


Awesome! I'll check out The Astaires!

I'm working on Frank: The Voice by James Kaplan after finishing My Fathers Daughter by Tina Sinatra and Frank Sinatra: My Father by Nancy Sinatra

Coming out of FS I'm going next to Ava: My Story by Ava Gardner (super excited) and By Myself by Lauren Bacall then one about Humphrey Bogart that I can't remember the name. LOL and etc. etc. Fred Astaire comes in after Bing Crosby who comes in after Satchmo

Thank you, Samantha, for inviting me to your book club. My name is Sal Marz and I live in Los Angeles. I have been a fan of classic films and all its varied characters as far back as I can remember. My favorites are Gary Cooper, James Gleason, Louise Brooks, William Powell, Clara Bow, Laurel & Hardy, The Marx Brothers, Myrna Loy, Charles Chaplin, Barbara Stanwyck, Humphrey Bogart, Ella Raines and many, many others.

Julie wrote: "I found her judgmental and uptight. She wrote about disliking FDR, whom I love.... "

I had that impression of her as well.

Julie wrote: "She supported the blacklist and actually testified against people..."

I always heard it was her mother Lela who influenced her in supporting the blacklist.

Now I may need to add some Astaire books to my reading list and remove the Ginger Rogers book. Really want to keep a pleasant impression of her.

Must admit it was last century, however one of the first movie bio's I read was Astaire by Tim Satchell. Loved it. Funny thing was I only read it as I could not find a bio of Gene Kelly, who I much preferred at the time.

Which other stars have you read about which left a bad taste in your mouth?

The only one that comes to mind for me is Judy Garland. I read Get Happy and it made me feel that she was a selfish, temperamental, albiet talented and conflicted woman. It doesn't make me enjoy her films any less though.

Fortunately none yet, although I felt Debbie Reynolds bragged a little too much. Loved reading Earnest Borgnine (forget title) - made me a bigger fan. Many that I've wanted to read I haven't yet because of trouble finding the books.

Samantha wrote: "Which other stars have you read about which left a bad taste in your mouth?

The only one that comes to mind for me is Judy Garland. I read Get Happy and it made me feel that she was a selfish, te..."

Wow, I mean with her history in Hollywood I could see how that's a possibility. I love Judy, she's one of my all time favorites. I have yet to read into her life but I'm really excited to. I some times wonder if she'd of been happier never getting into Hollywood.

"I always heard it was her mother Lela who influenced her in supporting the blacklist."

Yes, her mom played a significant role in Ginger's life. Influenced her religiously a lot too. I just finished reading a bio of Mary Pickford and her mom was heavily involved in her career as well. It seems fairly common for a lot of actors - to have a family member, often a mom, enmeshed in the career.

" I felt Debbie Reynolds bragged a little too much."

I read Debbie's memoir and agree with the braggy vibe at points but I thought her pretty funny too. I see where Carrie gets her humor. I read Eddie's memoir as well. He was funny at times too. Said Debbie's greatest acting role was playing the wronged wife, haha.

"The only one that comes to mind for me is Judy Garland. I read Get Happy and it made me feel that she was a selfish, temperamental, albiet talented and conflicted woman"

I also read Cheryl Crane(Lana Turner's daughter) memoir and she wrote of living next to Judy Garland as a child and her and LIza hanging out and commiserating about their wacky moms.

"Which other stars have you read about which left a bad taste in your mouth? "

I read both Joan Fontaine's and Olivia De Havilland's memoirs and I couldn't stand Olivia after reading hers. I mean, she defends Joan Crawford! I've read several other memoirs of other celebrities who said they weren't surprised at all when Mommie Dearest was published. Off hand I recall Helen Hayes writing about how horrid Joan was to Cheryl. So to read Olivia writing about what a great mom Joan was ...yikes. Also her rebuttal to things her sister wrote about also rang hollow. I didn't believe her take on their childhood.Joan's quote about her sister cracks me up -"I married first, won the Oscar before Olivia did, and if I die first, she'll undoubtedly be livid because I beat her to it!" So I was actually really pleased when Joan died first - haha.

Samantha wrote: "Which other stars have you read about which left a bad taste in your mouth?



So unfortunately, My Life With Chaplin by Lita Grey Chaplin tainted how much I loved Chaplin but let me say I spent an entire day reading it. I just couldn't put it down. Yeah it left a bad after taste but it was one hell of a good book. I still love Chaplin but shit, it's just not the same.

Living in Los Angeles I can say that many actors and actresses like to toot their own horn and tend to exaggerate and embellish stories to make themselves look better/good. I tend to stay away from autobiographies for that reason.

I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Cyndi and I live in Los Angeles. I can't remember when my fascination with old Hollywood began. Perhaps it was a book about Shirley Temple or Marilyn Monroe? I recently drove by the sanitorium where Marilyn's mother lived. It's abandoned now but you can still feel the "ghosts" around there.

Movie star biographies do have to be taken with more than a grain of salt. I usually avoid them too, but I did enjoy Lauren Bacall's and Kirk Douglas'. (Errol Flynn's was a lot of fun, but believe anything he says at your own risk.)

At the end of the day, everyone is a liar, but a good book is a good book!

Hi I'm Leslie! I'm so excited to be a part of this group. I don't know many people who enjoy old movies so very pleased to get to meet people and get some recommendations. My book finally arrived in the mail so I need to start catching up.

Hello! I am Margaret from Phoenix, AZ.
I am a huge movie lover!
I love classic films and watch them all the time.
My favorite director is Hitchcock, although there are so many movies that I love like "Sullivan's Travels". Am a fan of Peter Sellers, Charlie Chaplin, Bob Hope, Vivien Leigh, Anthony Hopkins, John Wayne, Mel Brooks, Marilyn, Billy Wilder, Maureen O'Hara, Sophia Loren and many others.
Am a TCM fan and am going to the Festival for the 4th year in a row! It is awesome and this year am going with all 3 of my sons who are movie fans! My oldest son, who I had when I was really young is in the business in LA.
Am happy to be part if this group. Mixing a live of movies and books!

Hi I just wanted to let you all know that "Tinseltown: murder, morphine, and madness at the dawn of Hollywood" by William j. Mann is today's audible daily deal for $4.95

I hope William J. Mann is better at non-fiction than he is as a novelist. His The Biograph Girl was pretty awful. It's the only thing I've ever read by him and it leaves me very reluctant to give him another try.

I loved the Biograph Girl so much that I bought myself a second copy after giving the first one to a friend. I read it after reading (and loving) his biography of William Haines.

As for books about stars that made me not like the star anymore, there was a biography of Bette Davis by Barbara Leaming that was excellently-sourced (i.e., not a hatchet job) and made me actively dislike the actress. I mean, I knew she was high-maintenance, but this was ridiculous.

Hey, good idea Leslie! I'll start a thread for book sales.

Leslie wrote: "Hi I just wanted to let you all know that "Tinseltown: murder, morphine, and madness at the dawn of Hollywood" by William j. Mann is today's audible daily deal for $4.95"

I just picked that up from the library. Can't wait to start it!

Graceann wrote: "I loved the Biograph Girl so much that I bought myself a second copy after giving the first one to a friend. I read it after reading (and loving) his biography of William Haines.

As for books a..."

Bette Davis looks like she's not a likeable person. I haven't seen many of her films but the ones I saw she always looked like she had a stick up her butt!