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angela_amman's review against another edition
5.0
Melanie Benjamin’s novel tells the story of the relationship between Mary Pickford and Frances Marion, two powerful women in the early days of film. I loved the introduction to Mary Pickford, one of the earliest “stars” of the silent film industry. We see her in her dressing room, editing film from a day of filming, a stark contrast to the glamour and glitz surrounding the movie industry.
The camera loved Mary Pickford, and she savvily conveyed that box office success into more money and more power until she truly became a version of royalty, working to create a studio owned by and ran by the actors in the films (Pickford, her future husband Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, and D.W. Griffith). Frances Marion preferred to be on the other side of the camera, working as Mary’s “scenarist” (writer) until she became one of the most sought-after screenwriters in film.
Pickford and Marion’s friendship sprang to life quickly, two women more interested in the power of movies than the power of marriage—until they met men who would change that. Though they vow not to let men ever come between their personal or professional relationship, they find themselves divided by both men—though not in a love triangle kind of way—and their own jealousy and insecurities over their place in the burgeoning Hollywood social scene.
I loved the way Melanie Benjamin invokes the struggle of the women struggling against a system unable to truly accept women as equals, even as they continue to push an industry to unprecedented heights. Over a hundred years later, their struggles still feel relatable and timely, and I believe this book offers a lot to think about long after the reader closes it.
The camera loved Mary Pickford, and she savvily conveyed that box office success into more money and more power until she truly became a version of royalty, working to create a studio owned by and ran by the actors in the films (Pickford, her future husband Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, and D.W. Griffith). Frances Marion preferred to be on the other side of the camera, working as Mary’s “scenarist” (writer) until she became one of the most sought-after screenwriters in film.
Pickford and Marion’s friendship sprang to life quickly, two women more interested in the power of movies than the power of marriage—until they met men who would change that. Though they vow not to let men ever come between their personal or professional relationship, they find themselves divided by both men—though not in a love triangle kind of way—and their own jealousy and insecurities over their place in the burgeoning Hollywood social scene.
I loved the way Melanie Benjamin invokes the struggle of the women struggling against a system unable to truly accept women as equals, even as they continue to push an industry to unprecedented heights. Over a hundred years later, their struggles still feel relatable and timely, and I believe this book offers a lot to think about long after the reader closes it.
nygator58's review against another edition
2.0
boring book about the beginning of Hollywood and Mary Pickford
jbarr5's review against another edition
4.0
The girls in the picture by Benjamin_ Melanie
This story follows the life of Mary Pickford and her screen writer, Frances = Lady Marion. Love how it starts when they are young when the movies are just starting out.
Love affairs and journey to the war to cover it and keep the morale of the troops high.
Like the women's connection and how they stick to their guns.
Alternating chapters between the two women.
Like behind the scenes whether it's about the movies or the war.
Have read other books by this author, very detailed and she does her homework!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
This story follows the life of Mary Pickford and her screen writer, Frances = Lady Marion. Love how it starts when they are young when the movies are just starting out.
Love affairs and journey to the war to cover it and keep the morale of the troops high.
Like the women's connection and how they stick to their guns.
Alternating chapters between the two women.
Like behind the scenes whether it's about the movies or the war.
Have read other books by this author, very detailed and she does her homework!
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
schray32's review against another edition
3.0
It is amazing how relevant this book is with current Me too movement. I loved hearing about these two pioneers in film.
I just felt this needed some editing and left unfinished. Maybe it should have ended sooner? Not sure but I can’t say I loved all 450 pages...despite the great truth about these women I’m not sure this did them justice.
booklovingmom_'s review against another edition
5.0
I received The Girls in the Picture in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest review.
Let me start by saying that I knew nothing more than the names of Mary Pickford and Frances Marion when I picked up this book. I'd heard of them, but that was all. After reading the novel, I have to say that I was pulled in from the first pages and found it very entertaining to follow along as these two women lived their lives. I really got into the story when the war broke out and things started to change for everyone, Mary and Frances going their own ways for some time.
I found this novel to be a great historical read, that kept me interested the whole time through. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends!
Let me start by saying that I knew nothing more than the names of Mary Pickford and Frances Marion when I picked up this book. I'd heard of them, but that was all. After reading the novel, I have to say that I was pulled in from the first pages and found it very entertaining to follow along as these two women lived their lives. I really got into the story when the war broke out and things started to change for everyone, Mary and Frances going their own ways for some time.
I found this novel to be a great historical read, that kept me interested the whole time through. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends!
lduran39's review against another edition
5.0
I give this book five stars because of the way the novel is written for the first 3/4 of the book. After Fred dies, it loses some of its spark, just as the main characters seem to. Still, one of my favorites.
cristiana_criss's review against another edition
5.0
Două portrete - o scenaristă și o actriță - care îmbină inteligența, curajul, ambiția și pasiunea pentru carieră cu frumusețea și feminitatea la care nu își doresc să renunțe doar pentru că, în ochii bărbaților, acestea nu pot coexista. Despre imaginea femeii pe ecran și cea din oglindă, după trecerea anilor, despre prietenie, popularitate și succes, dar și despre dezamăgiri, singurătate și eșec. Despre nașterea și evoluția unei noi forme de artă, cinematografia, privită nu doar din exterior, de către publicul inițial neîncrezător, cât și din interior, de către cei care i-au pus bazele și au experimentat de-a lungul anilor.
"- S-ar zice că bărbaților ăstora nu le pică bine succesul meu, faptul că vreau să fiu stăpână pe cariera mea, că fac atâția bani; nu mă pot înghiți. Mi-ar lua-o în nume de rău și dacă aș fi bărbat? (...)
- Nu, asta e sigur. Știi cum îmi spune domnul Brady, de la World? Pete. Parcă nu se poate obișnui cu ideea că șeful departamentului de scenografie e femeie. Așa că mi-a dat nume de băiat. (...) De-aia mă îmbrac așa, a zis arătând spre rochia pe care o purta. Mi-or zice ei Pete, dar n-am de gând să îi las să uite că sunt femeie. Nu ar trebui să fim nevoite să renunțăm la feminitatea noastră; de mintea noastră au nevoie, de creierul nostru. Atunci de ce naiba contează că mintea asta e acoperită de o pălărie cu boruri largi sau de un melon?"
pg. 113
"Lucrurile stăteau cu totul altfel pentru Douglas, de fapt pentru orice bărbat. El putea divorța de soția lui, fiindcă pe ecran era un bărbat atrăgător, cu succes la femei. Divorțul l-ar fi făcut încă și mai atrăgător. Pe când ea stătea pe un fel de altar în ochii publicului. Mulți dintre fanii ei probabil o mai credeau fecioară, chiar dacă era măritată. Femeile, în afară de cazul în care erau vampe pe ecran, nu aveau voie să fie pasionale în viața reală. Existau cuvinte anume pentru femeile care se dedau plăcerilor carnale, cuvinte dezgustătoare, sordide. Pe când un bărbat care se purta la fel era numit "crai" sau "fante"."
pg. 223
"Louis B. Mayer nu era nici pe departe singurul bărbat care mă ciupise de fund, deși, ca scenaristă, eram tratată cu mai mult respect decât actrițele, și mă bucuram că e așa. Însă, la fel ca prietenele mele, eram nevoită să suport ciupiturile, rânjetele cu subînțeles, jignirile. Era prețul pe care îl aveam de plătit, un preț nou, de care nu știam cu ani în urmă, când eram cu toții nou-veniți și nu exista ierarhie. (...) Peste noapte ne-am trezit că rolurile erau atribuite în schimbul unor favoruri sexuale. Câte tinere actrițe nu mi-au plâns pe umăr rușinate, când, deși își făcuseră "datoria", nu se văzuseră distribuite..."
pg. 289
"- S-ar zice că bărbaților ăstora nu le pică bine succesul meu, faptul că vreau să fiu stăpână pe cariera mea, că fac atâția bani; nu mă pot înghiți. Mi-ar lua-o în nume de rău și dacă aș fi bărbat? (...)
- Nu, asta e sigur. Știi cum îmi spune domnul Brady, de la World? Pete. Parcă nu se poate obișnui cu ideea că șeful departamentului de scenografie e femeie. Așa că mi-a dat nume de băiat. (...) De-aia mă îmbrac așa, a zis arătând spre rochia pe care o purta. Mi-or zice ei Pete, dar n-am de gând să îi las să uite că sunt femeie. Nu ar trebui să fim nevoite să renunțăm la feminitatea noastră; de mintea noastră au nevoie, de creierul nostru. Atunci de ce naiba contează că mintea asta e acoperită de o pălărie cu boruri largi sau de un melon?"
pg. 113
"Lucrurile stăteau cu totul altfel pentru Douglas, de fapt pentru orice bărbat. El putea divorța de soția lui, fiindcă pe ecran era un bărbat atrăgător, cu succes la femei. Divorțul l-ar fi făcut încă și mai atrăgător. Pe când ea stătea pe un fel de altar în ochii publicului. Mulți dintre fanii ei probabil o mai credeau fecioară, chiar dacă era măritată. Femeile, în afară de cazul în care erau vampe pe ecran, nu aveau voie să fie pasionale în viața reală. Existau cuvinte anume pentru femeile care se dedau plăcerilor carnale, cuvinte dezgustătoare, sordide. Pe când un bărbat care se purta la fel era numit "crai" sau "fante"."
pg. 223
"Louis B. Mayer nu era nici pe departe singurul bărbat care mă ciupise de fund, deși, ca scenaristă, eram tratată cu mai mult respect decât actrițele, și mă bucuram că e așa. Însă, la fel ca prietenele mele, eram nevoită să suport ciupiturile, rânjetele cu subînțeles, jignirile. Era prețul pe care îl aveam de plătit, un preț nou, de care nu știam cu ani în urmă, când eram cu toții nou-veniți și nu exista ierarhie. (...) Peste noapte ne-am trezit că rolurile erau atribuite în schimbul unor favoruri sexuale. Câte tinere actrițe nu mi-au plâns pe umăr rușinate, când, deși își făcuseră "datoria", nu se văzuseră distribuite..."
pg. 289
linesuponapage's review against another edition
4.0
The Girls in the Picture
Melanie Benjamin
Delecorte Press (PRH)
Publication Date: January 16, 2018
Mary Pickford, America’s Sweetheart and Screenwriter Frances Marion were two of the biggest names in the early age of Hollywood. Queens of the Silent Film Era and Best friends. The Girls in the Picture is a Historical Fiction book about Mary and Fran’s friendship. As with all friendships there are ebbs and flows, people fall in love, grow apart; life goes on and scandals occur. This book is their story.
Author Melanie Benjamin creates a world that exudes early Hollywood, when it was Hollywoodland and the scandal you created by becoming a “Flicker Film” star was as looked down upon in those days as if you were a dirty poor person or Jewish. Film was a filthy matter; theater people just didn’t do it. “Little Mary” Pickford broke that view point.
What we think of modern Hollywood and the lack of female respect resided back in the early days too. Men thought women should be home raising their families, didn’t listen to women’s opinions on their own ways of creating their characters portrayals, then along came Mary Pickford and Frances Marion and that started to change. This book shows the smarts of the two main characters, the progressive steps they were willing to take, although unflinching from their rights to be woman and not be sexual objects. Neither went to the “casting couch” so to say, they did things their way.
I appreciate the relationship that Mary and Frances had with each other and grew frustrated sometimes knowing that Mary would always envision Fran as someone who catered to her, the Queen of Hollywood. However, that is how friendships are, there is a give and take, an understanding that someone might always be the one that is “more” than the other and this book doesn’t shirk that reality.
The Characters, as they are real breathing historical people are full of depth and Ms. Benjamin doesn’t destroy their characters as I have seen in some historical based fiction does. I applause Ms. Benjamin for “keeping it real.”
I could talk about this book for days, it was such a great read. Yet, I don’t want to ruin it for you so, I won’t divulge anymore “dets” about the story premise it self.
I enjoyed getting to know Mary Pickford and Frances Marion, especially Frances Marion, whom I don’t feel we hear enough about, and her success as the first female and Academy Award winning Screenwriter. They are woman to talk about, look up to (film wise) and teach our own daughters about. Is their story tragic, absolutely, does that matter? Not at all. You want to cheer for these women ever rooting for them until the end, that to me, is what to me this story is about.
I would recommend this book to ALL readers as it is free of sex, swearing and innuendo unlike a lot of historical fiction that I have read of late. I am pleased that Ms. Benjamin didn’t take that route.
You can buy The Girls in the Picture from your local Indie bookstore, the way I get my books, or you can buy it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
I received The Girls in the Picture from Delacorte Press via Netgalley in lieu of my honest review. This is that review.
Melanie Benjamin
Delecorte Press (PRH)
Publication Date: January 16, 2018
Mary Pickford, America’s Sweetheart and Screenwriter Frances Marion were two of the biggest names in the early age of Hollywood. Queens of the Silent Film Era and Best friends. The Girls in the Picture is a Historical Fiction book about Mary and Fran’s friendship. As with all friendships there are ebbs and flows, people fall in love, grow apart; life goes on and scandals occur. This book is their story.
Author Melanie Benjamin creates a world that exudes early Hollywood, when it was Hollywoodland and the scandal you created by becoming a “Flicker Film” star was as looked down upon in those days as if you were a dirty poor person or Jewish. Film was a filthy matter; theater people just didn’t do it. “Little Mary” Pickford broke that view point.
What we think of modern Hollywood and the lack of female respect resided back in the early days too. Men thought women should be home raising their families, didn’t listen to women’s opinions on their own ways of creating their characters portrayals, then along came Mary Pickford and Frances Marion and that started to change. This book shows the smarts of the two main characters, the progressive steps they were willing to take, although unflinching from their rights to be woman and not be sexual objects. Neither went to the “casting couch” so to say, they did things their way.
I appreciate the relationship that Mary and Frances had with each other and grew frustrated sometimes knowing that Mary would always envision Fran as someone who catered to her, the Queen of Hollywood. However, that is how friendships are, there is a give and take, an understanding that someone might always be the one that is “more” than the other and this book doesn’t shirk that reality.
The Characters, as they are real breathing historical people are full of depth and Ms. Benjamin doesn’t destroy their characters as I have seen in some historical based fiction does. I applause Ms. Benjamin for “keeping it real.”
I could talk about this book for days, it was such a great read. Yet, I don’t want to ruin it for you so, I won’t divulge anymore “dets” about the story premise it self.
I enjoyed getting to know Mary Pickford and Frances Marion, especially Frances Marion, whom I don’t feel we hear enough about, and her success as the first female and Academy Award winning Screenwriter. They are woman to talk about, look up to (film wise) and teach our own daughters about. Is their story tragic, absolutely, does that matter? Not at all. You want to cheer for these women ever rooting for them until the end, that to me, is what to me this story is about.
I would recommend this book to ALL readers as it is free of sex, swearing and innuendo unlike a lot of historical fiction that I have read of late. I am pleased that Ms. Benjamin didn’t take that route.
You can buy The Girls in the Picture from your local Indie bookstore, the way I get my books, or you can buy it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
I received The Girls in the Picture from Delacorte Press via Netgalley in lieu of my honest review. This is that review.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
5.0
This sounded like just the book I was in the mood for. I wasn't disappointed at least, it was written so we'll and I completely got hooked in both the characters and plot. Definitely an writer I will look up more books from