A box of books arrived on my doorstep from Bear Manor Media, a publishing house that is cranking out a number of great books, almost the equivalent of one a week. A few of them in the box warrant mention just in case these books slip under the radar. All four of these, in my opinion, are worthy of purchasing if the subjects are of interest to you.
By Giancarlo Stampalia
Dorothy McGuire remains one of the most beloved stars of Hollywood. An actress of sincerity, dignity and natural beauty, she graced film, radio, television and theater for nearly half a century, delivering unforgettable performances in such classic movies as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and the suspense thriller, The Spiral Staircase. Yet no biography has been written about her—until now. Adamant is intended not as a definitive biography, but rather as an attempt, which investigates, reveals and examines, with microscopic tenacity, the many facets of McGuire’s personal and professional history, drawing on a wide range of sources, including personal reminiscences of friends, colleagues and family and the author’s own frequentation of the actress.
The reasons for the author’s self-deprecating definition of Adamant as an attempt hinge on the definition of exactly what one is attempting when one writes a biography. The loose strands of philosophical, literary and spiritual Leitmotifs that are woven through the book’s exploration and culminate in its unusual conclusion make it less a biography than a moral, or alchemical, study of Dorothy McGuire. This loving tribute takes the metaphysical route and makes observations not only about its immediate subject but also about the art of acting, personal evolution and virtues, and, most importantly, the act itself of writing a biography.
By Betty Lynn and Jim Clark
Long before becoming beloved by generations of Mayberry fans for her portrayal of Thelma Lou, the ever-patient sweetheart of Barney Fife, Kansas City native Betty Lynn lived a life filled with interesting adventures and fascinating people. Her role on television’s The Andy Griffith Show was cemented as a television icon because of her numerous appearances at film festivals and conventions, including her annual return visit to the Mayberry Days festival.
In her own words, augmented by 140 rare photos, Betty Lynn shares the sometimes bittersweet, often surprising, and always inspiring story of her remarkable life. From her wartime service in India and Burma to sharing the spotlight with entertainment royalty from New York to Hollywood, Betty always remained grounded in her Midwestern values and strong faith.
Her 26 appearances on The Andy Griffith Show are not the only thing documented in this book. The actress who played roles in Sitting Pretty (1948), Cheaper by the Dozen (1950) and Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956), and performed on tour for the USO, is also remembered as Viola Slaughter on Disney’s Texas John Slaughter (1958-1962). This is her story. Fans of The Andy Griffith Show will want to have a copy of this book.
By Mary Ann Anderson
Ida Lupino did not want to be an actress; composing and writing were her major interests. The actress branched out into film directing and producing in 1949, becoming one of two women to enter the male dominated field. She was the only woman ever to direct an episode of The Twilight Zone, among other television programs. While her feature films were primarily aimed at a female audience, other films such as The Hitch-Hiker, based on the spree killer Billy Cook, written, directed and produced by Ida Lupino, has become a classic film noir. Life Magazine did a piece on the 60th Anniversary. "No one ever asked me to direct a love story!" Ida Lupino once remarked.
There is not much available on the actress and this book helps contribute to her legacy. Mary Ann Anderson has written about Lupino multiple times and this book adds to that ever-growing library.
By Scott O’Brien
I could not provide better praise for a biography than Scott O’Brien’s latest entry, a biography about Elissa Landi. If you were to ask me which Hollywood actresses needed a book documenting their personal life and screen career, Elissa Landi would have been on the top ten list. (Also on the list would be Helen Twelvetrees and Ruth Chatterton.)
Cecil B. DeMille boosted the career of Elissa Landi in The Sign of the Cross (1932). Her leading men included Laurence Olivier, Fredric March, Cary Grant, and then Robert Donat in The Count of Monte Cristo (1934). After 33 films, Landi gave up on Hollywood, to focus on her career as a novelist. Did not know she wanted to write novels? Neither did I.
Allegedly the actress was born the illegitimate granddaughter of the tragic Empress Elisabeth of Austria (a fact or fiction still in debate). She receive co-star billing in such films as The Masquerader (1933) with Ronald Colman, Enter Madame (1935) with Cary Grant, and After the Thin Man (1936) with William Powell and James Stewart. Because she was offered more trivial films than A-pictures during that decade of her career, Landi eventually abandoned Hollywood and returned to the stage where she starred in innumerable plays on Broadway, in London, and on tour. Far too young, she tragically died in 1948 from cancer.
Scott’s books have garnered positive reviews in such publications as Classic Images, Sight & Sound, and SF Gate. Three of O’Brien’s books have made the Huffington Post’s “Best Cinema Books of the Year.” And deservingly so.
