Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Film Centric Book Chat: What Have You Been Reading?

Please forgive my photos. I used my iPhone instead of my digital camera.

Hello everyone! Have you recovered from Award season?

I know there's been a lot of TCM Parties going on with my blog readers and fellow classic film fans but I haven't watched that many lately to comment on or review. Of course if something airs with the Gish sisters or the Talmadge sisters I make it a priority to watch.

What is the reason for that? Why those silent screen dolls? Well, since you've asked. I want to see as many of their films as possible and read as much on them as possible before writing about them right here as well as sharing my Gish and Talmadge memorabilia.

Not only have I been on a search of their early work on celluloid, I've purchased several books about them through Amazon. I think I've mentioned in the past how much I adore David Niven and he's one of my favorite authors. I have all of his memoirs and he really was at the top of his game when it came to writing about his colleagues, friendships in Hollywood throughout his career and beyond. Well, I'm starting to feel that way about Anita Loos. (If you've read any of her books on her time in Hollywood you'll know what I mean.)

There just aren't many good books out there on the Talmage sisters or the Gish sisters that I'm aware of. But I did manage to find The Talmage Girls by Anita Loos. Written in 1979. Loos had been a fixture around Hollywood from its early days, writing many scripts for Biograph beginning in 1915 then appearing in a few pictures, thanks to a chance meeting with D.W. Griffith. She knew all of the movers and shakers, deal makers and the starlets who landed in Tinseltown looking for their big break. She developed lifelong friendships with a lucky few then went on to write several books about these friends and her ups and downs in Hollywood.

A little banged up but a must have book if you're a fan of Norma or Constance. (Like how I managed to fit my Oscar nail in there?) 

Her book on the Talmage sisters doesn't cover their entire lives nor does it go into that much detail about their careers in Hollywood other than a list of their films with Anita's thoughts towards the end of the book. I wish she had used this opportunity to give us a full bio on their lives. With that said, I'll take what I can get. Anita writes with humor and she's honest about her subjects so that alone is worth purchasing this book. 

On to the next book I'm reading. Cast of Thousands by Anita Loos. Published in 1977. This is a thick, coffee table book. 

The dust cover is pretty banged up but for $1.99 it was well worth the money.

The description of the contents reads "A pictorial memoir of the most glittering stars of Hollywood and the most dazzling of the world's literary and social lights"  Another humorous and honest look back at her time in Hollywood. This one has a lot of great photos of not only Loos but many of the early stars of the silver screen. Loos also includes a lot of her memorabilia from her time working in Hollywood. I would recommend this book for any classic film fan. 

One of the many photos in Cast of Thousands. This one of Anita Loos and her sister, Gladys.

Pages and pages of candid classic star photos with telegrams, art, personal letters of Anita's. 

The third book that I'm reading is Dorothy and Lillian Gish by Lillian Gish. Published in 1973. This is another oversized coffee table book and it is page after page of  photos, letters and other memorabilia belonging to the Gish sisters. Beautiful photos from Lillian's collection. Although I was looking for info on their lives and careers I'm quite happy with the book. It's a great book to have for any fan of the Gish sisters or early Hollywood. 

 Page after page of photo collages of the Gish beauties.


Again, while this is a book of photos, I'm thrilled to have it and most grateful that Lillian Gish left us with such a wonderful tribute to her sister, Dorothy.

Now that you know how I've been spending my free time. What have you been reading? Do you own any of these books? Please tell us all about it in the comments section and thanks for stopping by.
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17 comments:

  1. Have you read Kiss Hollywood Goodbye, by Anita Loos? That's another good one. I need to get to those other two you mentioned. I also love her sense of humor. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is my favorite book. I'm reading a bunch of stuff to review lately. I keep telling myself I need to do less of that and focus on other writing, but reading new books is addictive!

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    1. Hi, KC!
      I've been buying so many books on Amazon lately that I had to check to see if Kiss Hollywood Goodbye was among them. I don't have that one. I'll see if I can find it. Another author I'm really into right now is Gore Vidal. His books are much more risqué than Loos but he certainly liked to dish.

      I'm trying to read more. I used to read constantly and felt awful if I didn't get one book a week in. The internet has ruined me. After reading Kindle books, reading a paperback with small font is brutal.
      Good to see you again. I hope all is well your way.
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  2. Looks like a lot of fascinating reading is going on in your house. Of course, reading (or watching a classic film) is one of the best ways to get through these long, cold winters, isn't it? I know your books will give you hours of pleasure.

    I'm reading "Majestic Hollywood, The Greatest Films of 1939." It highlights 50 films from that greatest of Hollywood years. I'm making it a goal to watch (or re-watch as the case may be) all 50 films the book showcases. I'm also reading (for like the dozenth time) one of my all-time favorite stories ever...Frances Hodgson Burnett's "A Little Princess."

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    1. Hi, Patti,
      Boy, I thought I had taken on a task (a fun one) with reading all I can then watching the films of the Gish and Talmage sisters. WOW! You are on a mission with 50 films.

      I'm glad I did this post as I know my other blogger friends have their nose in a book too. Yes, this weather has helped get me motivated in reading.
      Thanks for sharing with us.
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  3. Funny you should mention books; I went shopping this past weekend in a used bookstore. They had a sale!

    I watched ELMER GANTRY recently (liked it a lot) and when I saw it was based on a Sinclair Lewis book (just like DODSWORTH), I decided I needed to read his books. They didn't have GANTRY or DODSWORTH, but they did have one called MAIN STREET which I bought. Haven't started it yet, though; I'm still reading Dennis Lehane's A DRINk BEFORE THE WAR, which I also got on Saturday. And I have a book about the Scopes trial, which, I imagine, will be nothing like INHERIT THE WIND.

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    1. Hey, Rich!
      Interesting selection and a good one. We have a large used book store in Edmond but I don't get over there often. They are a bit overpriced when you walk in then save their sales for Ebay purchases. Kind of a bummer. Why would I drive to a store when I can get the same book shipped to me from across town with free shipping? ha ha

      Funny story about that store though. I had a ton of nice books and I decided to clean out some and sale/trade them so I hauled them to that used book store. There was a book on Bushisms in there then two on the Kennedy's, one written by Caroline Kennedy then a nice book on Princess Di. The old fart at the counter told me they didn't have a need for the political books. They wouldn't sell. I walked around a bit and there were Sarah Palin books on every other shelf. Proudly displayed. You can only imagine the mini fit I had over that! I guess I should have expected it, being smack dab in a red state bookstore.

      Thanks for sharing your reading list with us.
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  4. Hi, dear Page!
    Great book recommendations. Unfortunately, I can look for them only in old bookstores, and not always I'm able to find them. Sometimes, when we buy books from abroad, the ship fee is twice the price of the book!
    I just finished "Opposite Attraction: the lives of Erich Maria Remarque and Paulette Goddard", and wrote a reviw in my blog. Soon I plan to start Frank Capra's autobiography.
    Kisses!

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    1. Hi, Le!
      Opposite Attraction sounds interesting. I have The Adventurous Life of Paulette Goddard by Joe Morella but I haven't started reading it yet. Another reminder that I'm so far behind on reading. I haven't seen the bio on Capra. You'll have to do a review and let us know how it was.
      Another friend with great taste in books! : )
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  5. This is a bit strange, but I just finished reading what Rich is preparing to read, MAIN STREET by Sinclair Lewis. I'm hoping to post about the clumsily titled 1936 adaptation of it, I MARRIED A DOCTOR, over the weekend. Before that it was Christina Rice's biography of Ann Dvorak and I'm hoping to soon work my way up to the massive Stanwyck biography, which was a Christmas gift. That said, I enjoyed MAIN STREET quite a bit, so Sinclair Lewis may interrupt again before I get to Stanwyck.

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    1. Hi, Cliff!
      I knew you had been reading the Dvorak bio. I need to buy it. I don't have the new Stanwyck bio either. Hopefully Rich will see your comment and go over and read your review this weekend of I Married a Doctor. Can't wait to read it.
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  6. Hi Page. I read slowly as I'm always distracted by other books, magazines DVDs, blogs and you name it. But, I've been reading a great book by David Thomson "The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood." It's a fascinating read that seems to fit everything about films, stars, and the movie business in one book. I recommend it.

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    1. Christian,
      So many great books out there on the history of film making. I'll see if I can find it. Not familiar with David Thomson.
      Glad you stopped by to share this one with me and my readers. : )
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  7. I've been re-reading "Inherited Risk" about Errol Flynn (of course) and his son Sean ... it's very good. I've never read any of David Niven's books, I don't know why, and I have to rectify that soon. Wonderful post, Page.

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    1. Hiya, Becks! : )
      I have two books on Errol but I haven't heard of this one. (adding to list) I hope you can find some of Niven's books. He wrote several on his time in Hollywood, dishing on his fellow stars who he grew very close to over the years. Some more than others like Gable, Oberon, Cooper. The list goes on. One of his most famous books is Bring On the Empty Horses then Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly. I would start with those two. Brilliant writer!

      Hoping we can catch up soon. So glad you're back blogging and in the CMBA. You've been greatly missed.
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  8. I am very jealous of these books. They look fab!

    I've recently picked up a book on filmmaking to learn more about the technical aspects of film. I want to know more about lighting, editing and direction so I can appreciate these things more. It might be a bit of a dull read, but worth it in the end!

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    1. Hey,SS
      I don't find that boring at all. I have a few books that cover that side of film making. Just so many to read. My mom used to tease me that she never saw me without a book in my hand. A few years ago she bought me this sweatshirt that says "So many books, so little time!" Boy, isn't that the truth! Trying to get back to reading more.
      Thanks to Amazon used books, getting your hands on some of these older books like I've mentioned here is just a click away. : )
      See ya soon!
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  9. Reading HAIL, HAIL, EUPHORIA! : Presenting the Marx Brothers in "Duck Soup", the Greatest War Movie Ever Made by Roy Blount, Jr.
    It's my favorite Marx Bros flick, and I've always enjoyed Blount's writing.

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