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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
An intelligent, fascinating woman who chose not to reveal that much about herself.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Rape, Suicide
Minor: Abortion
So short! I wish she had been even more thorough; it felt like a very selective description of both her life and Hollywood at the time. Still, she gets points for covering ground that not many have bothered with, that I've read so far.
Late in her life, screen star Louise Brooks began writing film pieces. Some of them are gossipy, some of them are autobiographical, and some of them are brilliant insights into filming and acting. Oh, and some of them are just plain bitchy - as in sharing the photo of Marion Davies, not looking her best, early in her career!
A great story from mostly the Silent Film Era, you might have to look up some of the names she includes.
I loved her life story, but it is her critique of certain films, actors and directors that make this collection truly worthwhile.
"Humphrey and Bogey" is a must read for any Bogart fan. It is how he went from being a near failure on Broadway, and in Hollywood, to a major film star. It took his accepting a major change in the way he presented himself, the way he acted.
The same goes for her piece on Pabst. A wonderful mixture of stories of her time in Europe, and the directing style and brilliance, of G. W. Pabst.
Or the essay on Gish and Garbo - and the economics of Hollywood.
First published by Knopf in 1982, 3 years before her death, it is now the property of the U of MN Press. The slighly oversized paperback includes a 40 pp Intro by Kenneth Tynan, a piece he wrote for The NY'er in 1979. It also includes over 50 B&W photos. 111 pp of her own content, and a useful Filmography (many of her films, since she was moslty a Silent Era star, have been lost). While this "Expanded Edition" includes 8 of the essays she wrote late in her life, it seems she wrote more. Why those were not chosen by her to be included here, and the addition of them in a new edition of this volume, would, I am sure, be a publication of interest to many.
For fans of Brooks, the Silent Era, Hollywood, and particular stars and directors she writes about throughout this collection.
No wonder Ebert called it, ".....one of the few film books that can be called indispensable."
A great story from mostly the Silent Film Era, you might have to look up some of the names she includes.
I loved her life story, but it is her critique of certain films, actors and directors that make this collection truly worthwhile.
"Humphrey and Bogey" is a must read for any Bogart fan. It is how he went from being a near failure on Broadway, and in Hollywood, to a major film star. It took his accepting a major change in the way he presented himself, the way he acted.
The same goes for her piece on Pabst. A wonderful mixture of stories of her time in Europe, and the directing style and brilliance, of G. W. Pabst.
Or the essay on Gish and Garbo - and the economics of Hollywood.
First published by Knopf in 1982, 3 years before her death, it is now the property of the U of MN Press. The slighly oversized paperback includes a 40 pp Intro by Kenneth Tynan, a piece he wrote for The NY'er in 1979. It also includes over 50 B&W photos. 111 pp of her own content, and a useful Filmography (many of her films, since she was moslty a Silent Era star, have been lost). While this "Expanded Edition" includes 8 of the essays she wrote late in her life, it seems she wrote more. Why those were not chosen by her to be included here, and the addition of them in a new edition of this volume, would, I am sure, be a publication of interest to many.
For fans of Brooks, the Silent Era, Hollywood, and particular stars and directors she writes about throughout this collection.
No wonder Ebert called it, ".....one of the few film books that can be called indispensable."
3.5 stars
Even nearly 100 years after her career, Louise Brooks manages to mesmerize.
Why I practically had to beat up librarian to get my hands on this book
Even nearly 100 years after her career, Louise Brooks manages to mesmerize.
Why I practically had to beat up librarian to get my hands on this book
informative
slow-paced
a fun and realistic look at the creation of hollywood from one of its original stars (who really should be more well-known! She inspired Liza Minnelli's signature hairstyle! Hello!). I give it 4.5/5 stars only because it was so short, mostly filled by pictures (wonderful pictures tho!)
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Bits about her actual life were interesting, but most chapters were about all the famous people she met while in Hollywood.