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bargainsleuth's review
4.0
For this and all my other reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
I received a complimentary copy of Hitchcock’s Blondes from NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s and Sons ahead of publication. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Alfred Hitchcock was a lot of things, including a great director of some of my favorite films like North by Northwest, the trio of Grace Kelly films, and Psycho, to name a few. But in recent years, given the #MeToo movement, one has to reexamine the director’s works and see if they are worthy of our adoration. This is not even the first book to concentrate on Hitchcock’s blonde leading ladies, but it is the first I’ve read in a few years, so I was curious if there was anything new.
For the most part, Leamer’s book rehashes some stories, while some are fresh and new, like the focus on two of Hitch’s early blonde actors, June Howard-Tripp and Madeleine Carroll. I had not read anything in-depth about these fine actresses and what they had to put up with under Hitchcock’s watch. I knew everything about Ingrid Bergman and Grace Kelly’s time with the director, as I’ve done extensive reading on both actresses, and knew some of the stories from Kim Novak, Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint, and Janet Leigh. So if you’ve already read a Hitchcock biography or two, you might have come across some of these stories before.
It seems, given the tales, that Alfred Hitchcock started out as just a guy with a little fetish for blonde actresses, and over time, the reverence turned into something else, as was the case with his later actresses like Tippi Hedren. She’s been very outspoken over the years about the abuse she suffered while working with Hitchcock, and Kim Novak had a terrible working experience with him, too. Hitchcock was a great director, but he definitely was a little pervy, too, and as he got older, he took advantage of his women actors.
I really liked this new look at Hitchcock’s Blondes, I just wish the author would have concentrated on some other female actors or gone into greater discussion of how Hitchcock could not survive in today’s climate. There was a bit too much padding with an overview of their lives pre-and post-Hitchcock films, which is fine for those who haven’t read a lot about them, but I suspect people picking up this book want new stories, of which there are a few. Four stars!
I received a complimentary copy of Hitchcock’s Blondes from NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s and Sons ahead of publication. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Alfred Hitchcock was a lot of things, including a great director of some of my favorite films like North by Northwest, the trio of Grace Kelly films, and Psycho, to name a few. But in recent years, given the #MeToo movement, one has to reexamine the director’s works and see if they are worthy of our adoration. This is not even the first book to concentrate on Hitchcock’s blonde leading ladies, but it is the first I’ve read in a few years, so I was curious if there was anything new.
For the most part, Leamer’s book rehashes some stories, while some are fresh and new, like the focus on two of Hitch’s early blonde actors, June Howard-Tripp and Madeleine Carroll. I had not read anything in-depth about these fine actresses and what they had to put up with under Hitchcock’s watch. I knew everything about Ingrid Bergman and Grace Kelly’s time with the director, as I’ve done extensive reading on both actresses, and knew some of the stories from Kim Novak, Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint, and Janet Leigh. So if you’ve already read a Hitchcock biography or two, you might have come across some of these stories before.
It seems, given the tales, that Alfred Hitchcock started out as just a guy with a little fetish for blonde actresses, and over time, the reverence turned into something else, as was the case with his later actresses like Tippi Hedren. She’s been very outspoken over the years about the abuse she suffered while working with Hitchcock, and Kim Novak had a terrible working experience with him, too. Hitchcock was a great director, but he definitely was a little pervy, too, and as he got older, he took advantage of his women actors.
I really liked this new look at Hitchcock’s Blondes, I just wish the author would have concentrated on some other female actors or gone into greater discussion of how Hitchcock could not survive in today’s climate. There was a bit too much padding with an overview of their lives pre-and post-Hitchcock films, which is fine for those who haven’t read a lot about them, but I suspect people picking up this book want new stories, of which there are a few. Four stars!
priceliketag's review
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Really informative and gave each eponymous Blonde their time to shine.
caidyn's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Such an interesting book! While Hitchcock was always in the background of the book, it was mainly about the women he chose as leading actresses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
enc3336's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This book was an interesting look into the women I some of most iconic films in movie history as well as a look at the man who created these films and mold these women into what he wanted for his films.
eluparello's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
I found this book so interesting, it never really felt like nonfiction. You learn a little about Hitchock’s life but it’s mostly about the women who starred in his movies and about the making of these famous movies. If you like classic movies and classic Hollywood then I definitely recommend!
However, I didn’t love the way the author talks about Tippi Hedren’s allegations against Hitchcock. It felt a little tone-deaf in the wake of the Me Too movement (even after mentioning the Me Too movement at one point). And made me range from uncomfy to straight up mad.
However, I didn’t love the way the author talks about Tippi Hedren’s allegations against Hitchcock. It felt a little tone-deaf in the wake of the Me Too movement (even after mentioning the Me Too movement at one point). And made me range from uncomfy to straight up mad.
shelby92's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
1.5
Lurid drivel. I give a half star as a nod to the women this book claimed to be about but let down profoundly.