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mehitabels's review
3.0
"Take me away from here. Take me to Detroit and teach me to make shoes." - The Goldfish, with Zasu Pitts
"We didn't need dialogue. We had faces!" - Sunset Boulevard with Norma Desmond
"We didn't need dialogue. We had faces!" - Sunset Boulevard with Norma Desmond
ashesofroses's review
1.0
Basinger states this book is about 'the forgotten silent film stars, the misunderstood, or the underappreciated.'
She then proceeds to write about the likes of Lon Chaney, Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino, Mary Pickford, Louise Brooks, etc. — you get the picture. All silent stars that are household names amongst us silent film fans, or faces that would be recognizable to even one that doesn't watch films of the era.
Thus, the premise is laughable when everyone listed is exceedingly well-known. Actually write about the truly forgotten!
She then proceeds to write about the likes of Lon Chaney, Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino, Mary Pickford, Louise Brooks, etc. — you get the picture. All silent stars that are household names amongst us silent film fans, or faces that would be recognizable to even one that doesn't watch films of the era.
Thus, the premise is laughable when everyone listed is exceedingly well-known. Actually write about the truly forgotten!
makeminemonsters's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Very informative, half star bios, half film critique, the author definitely has her opinions which can occasionally make the writing feel more like a blog than an informational book, but worth reading if you’re getting into silent film and want to know more about the actors and their work.
persey's review
3.0
A bunch of potted biographies and film synopses in search of a unifying theme beyond the backward justification of the author’s selection. There’s the occasional Basinger penetrating insight, but a lot of this is well plumbed material. This is way too much the fangirl and not nearly enough the academic.
beecatbell's review
5.0
A great book on forgotten, misunderstood, underrated early movie stars. Really well written, easy to understand and enjoyable.
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