Hello and thank you for being a DL contributor. We are changing the login scheme for contributors for simpler login and to better support using multiple devices. Please click here to update your account with a username and password.

Hello. Some features on this site require registration. Please click here to register for free.

Hello and thank you for registering. Please complete the process by verifying your email address. If you can't find the email you can resend it here.

Hello. Some features on this site require a subscription. Please click here to get full access and no ads for $1.99 or less per month.

Book Recommendations: Old Hollywood Memoirs or Biographies?

Looking for something to read that is factual & interesting that sheds light on a famous person’s life, etc. I’ve already finished various Crawford and Davis books. What else is out there?

by Anonymousreply 8June 20, 2018 7:32 AM

The Marlene Dietrich bio by her daughter Maria Riva is the best celebrity bio I have ever read. Could not put it down.

by Anonymousreply 1June 20, 2018 4:07 AM

"Montgomery Clift" by Patricia Bosworth

"Vivien Leigh" by Anne Edwards

"Tallulah" by Brendan Gill

"Too Much Too Soon" by Diana Barrymore

by Anonymousreply 2June 20, 2018 4:25 AM

I really love and highly recommend the Montgomery Clift and Tallulah Bankhead biographies mentioned above! But I was going to name a Joan Blondell book--Center Door Fancy-- a 'thinly veiled autobiography' I picked up second hand. It was so fascinating and likeable, this wise-cracking chorine in early show and movie biz. The best part is where she dishes the dirt about fake ingenue June Allyson ( who she said was well paid for the ingenue act in private before she broke into movies!) and how she stole by All About Eve-ing her husband, Dick Powell. I never could stand Allyson, so this was both satisfying and scandalous! It set me off on a chain of then reading June Allyson's autobiography/counterpoint, and others; all fascinating!

by Anonymousreply 3June 20, 2018 4:43 AM

Another great, but very dark, one is "Get Happy"-- Judy Garland bio.

by Anonymousreply 4June 20, 2018 4:46 AM

West of Eden by Jean Stein

by Anonymousreply 5June 20, 2018 5:07 AM

Todd Fisher’s “My Girls: A Lifetime with Carrie and Debbie” came out recently (June 5), about life with his mother Debbie Reynolds and sister Carrie Fisher.

by Anonymousreply 6June 20, 2018 5:20 AM

Agree R1! Learned to never waste days of my life with that biography. Also realized the power of German beef broth.

by Anonymousreply 7June 20, 2018 6:31 AM

Lauren Bacall's memoir. Ava Gardner with Peter something or other. And also Anjelica Huston (the one all about Jack basically, incredible read).

by Anonymousreply 8June 20, 2018 7:32 AM
Loading
Need more help? Click Here.

Yes indeed, we too use "cookies." Take a look at our privacy/terms or if you just want to see the damn site without all this bureaucratic nonsense, click ACCEPT. Otherwise, you'll just have to find some other site for your pointless bitchery needs.

×

Become a contributor - post when you want with no ads!