The Girls in the Picture

The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin    448  pages

I love books about Old Hollywood. Just love them. Bestselling author, and one of my favorites, Melanie Benjamin, takes on America’s Sweetheart, Mary Pickford, and her best friend, actress/writer Frances Marion in what is sure to be another big hit. The new novel won’t be released until January 16, 2018, but I was lucky enough to get my hands on an Advanced Reader’s Copy (yeah).

The story is framed by what appears to be Mary and Frances’ last meeting that ends, again what appears to be, a long-standing feud between the two women. Then the story moves back in time to 1914 and their first meeting.

So sit back and enjoy a look about the early movie industry and two of its most famous pioneers.  Funny, that one of the things that is predominant in this work is that women had a much (much) more active role in the industry than they seem to today. Female directors back then were more prevalent than they seem to be today. For her scripts, Frances was the first woman to win an Academy and the first writer to win two Oscars.

We see how the two women shared a duplex, how Frances helped ease the stress of being Mary Pickford. Not only did America feel that they owned the child-like women, but that Mary, whose real name was Gladys Smith, was the sole support of her mother and her sister and brother for most of the rest of their lives.

Mary and Frances had complicated lives. Several marriages between them, drive, ambition, determination and perfection. Benjamin had to gloss over most of the marriages and only concentrate on the ones that were the most meaningful and significant. Heck, they even had a double honeymoon with the loves of their live. The chronological story ends with their estrangement in 1932.

I enjoyed watching them grow in their craft and their friendship. Mary and her hubby, Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., and Frances and hubby (the almost forgotten cowboy star), Fred Thompson’s war bond (WWI) trip was eye-awakening for me. I didn’t realize how the crowds went bananas for the couples, more so than anything like it I’ve seem today. They were the first true movies stars.

They built mansions unlike anything seen today. Most movie buffs are familiar with Mary and Doug’s over-the-top palace, Pickfair. Fran and Fred also had an elegant home, The Enchanted Hill.

The book alternates between Mary and Frances’ point of view. I did find it strange that Frances’ sections are in first person, but Mary’s are told in third person.

I felt like I had been transported back in time and was witnessing these events as they happened. Benjamin’s novels do that to me.  The Girls in the Picture  receives 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Nevertheless: A Memoir

Nevertheless: A Memoir by Alec Baldwin        Audio Book: 8 hours, 30 minutes     Hardback: 288 pages                    

There is a story told in the U.K. that has a few variations I have heard that goes like this,  a speaker is giving a talk and regales the virtues of a particular woman whereas someone in the audience, congregation, bar, etc. yells, “(The lady’s name) is a  (we’ll say) floozy!”   To which the speaker says, “Nevertheless…” and goes on talking.     That tongue in cheek humor is richly sprinkled throughout this memoir with witty repartee that Alec Baldwin is a true master at.   You can picture in your mind that twinkle in his eyes when he is keeping a straight face but saying something so hilarious you wonder how he does it.   He pulls no punches, names names and lets the chips fall where they may in this honest straight forward telling of his life up to this point.    He shows his dark side, he is honest about humiliating circumstances in his life and he shares both the good and the bad without any hesitation.    He tells a lot of things one might not want to offer up to the masses about the real person behind the celebrity.    He owns up to his wrongs and he takes pride in his good works.   He tells the story of the true Alexander “Xander” Baldwin who grew up in a Catholic family of 6 kids on Long Island, NY.    He doesn’t try to play off any of the bad press he has received he confronts his demons (anger, addiction, etc.) toe to toe, and he makes no excuses.   He shares some of his political experiences and is very vocal about his political views and why he feels the way he does.   He talks about family, love and loss and love again, his career from beginning to end, many of his famous friends and what they have taught him about acting and the causes he fights deligently for and his vehemence for making the world a better place.    I have enjoyed Alec Baldwin’s acting skills since I first saw him years ago on the primetime soap opera, “Knot’s Landing,” to his stint on the t.v. series, “30 Rock” and his many film roles.   He is a great actor and I enjoyed this book very much.   Aspiring actors will learn a lot about the craft from this man and vicariously through the lessons he learned from many other actors.   Well done.

A Touch of Stardust

A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott               304 pages

Alcott has made a career out of writing book whose backstories are near an anniversary day. Her second novel, The Dressmaker (a fabulous read BTW), was published during the 100^th anniversary year of the Titanic’s sinking. Her new novel, A Touch of Stardust, comes out on the heels of the 75^th anniversary of the movie Gone With The Wind release.

Protagonist Julie Crawford wants nothing more than to become a Hollywood. After graduating from Smith College, she leaves her hometown of Fort Wayne behind and heads west. We first meet Julie in 1938. She has a menial job with David O. Selznick Studios. She is making her way to one of the backlots with an important message for Selznick. Julie founds herself on the set of GWTW’s burning of Atlanta set.

When she finally finds the director, he’s atop a tower, watching the action. After climbing to deliver her message, Julie gets to meet a lovely young woman, Vivien Leigh; the King of Hollywood, actor Clark Gable; and screwball comedy sensation, actress Carole Lombard. That night she also meets Andy Weinstein, Selznick’s right-hand man.

Alcott’s novel has many layers. First there is the Old Hollywood connection before WWII.  Second is the love story of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara. Third is the love story between Gable and Carole. Fourth, the one between Julie and Andy. Five, the story the Jews and WWII.

I wouldn’t call this a romance novel, not by any means. I felt as if I was at Selznick Studios watching the filming of that remarkable movie. I felt as if I was a witness to the great love Gable and Lombard shared.

I give A Touch of Stardust 5 out of 5 stars.