A Star is Born

October 1, 2016

Whether it's virginal silent film star Lillian Gish, wisecracking Jean Harlow, or sultry Forties pinup stars Rita Hayworth or Ava Gardner, the audiences of each era elevate certain actresses to iconic status, no matter how briefly, finding fantasy wish fulfillment in their screen images.

Few actors are as well qualified to appreciate these stars as I Loved Her in the Movies author Wagner, who has enjoyed a 65-year Hollywood career. Here, with film scholar Eyman, he describes actresses he married (Natalie Wood, twice; Jill St. John), those with whom he worked or socialized, others he simply met or heard about. In Wagner's view, female actors are usually more self-aware than their male counterparts, and they have a greater struggle, aging out of good roles earlier than men, fighting male-controlled studio systems and negative stereotypes about being overly assertive (Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland had to go to court to break studio contracts). Wagner keeps gossip to a minimum, writing with honesty, wit, and candor about great female stars. He says the most successful are able to balance professional drive while maintaining their identity and sense of self-worth, carving a life for themselves outside of show business.

A Star Is Born, by Tiffin (All the Best Lines), covers some of the same territory but without Wagner's insider knowledge and perception, providing brief profiles on diverse figures ranging from Gish to Jennifer Lawrence. The volume includes long and unnecessary excerpts from the films of each actress and too many profiles that tread familiar ground and present little new information. VERDICT Wagner's wonderfully readable book of wise love letters to the great actresses is like enjoying an intimate chat with an old friend and highly recommended; Star is strictly a browsing item.--Stephen Rees, formerly with Levittown Lib., PA

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.