Customer Reviews (10)

Engrossing, Fast Read
This autobiography of screen legend Gloria Swanson is over 500 pages long (hardcover), but it's a surprisingly fast read. It's well-written (with the help of Ms. Swanson's last husband, author William Dufty), interesting, honest, and a window to an era and lifestyle many of us would never peer into otherwise. Not only did I learn a lot about the movie industry in its early days, but I learned a lot of background stories about silver-screen legends - what fun! I've never read an autobiography before (nor do I have much of an interest to), but this was a great recommendation and a wonderful read on one of the most stellar of stars. I'd highly recommend it to friends (already have) and enjoyed every minute of it.

Powerful and compelling
It may seem strange to call a autobiography by a former actress as 'powerful' but this book is.She has a strong and unique voice and she is able to convey that successfully in this intriguing book.

I was completely captivated by this book and couldn't put it down. This is one of those books that stays with you a long time after you finish it.It is too bad that there are no other books on her, I'd love to read more about her life.

One of the best books I have ever read!
After reading previous reviews on this book, I just had to get it for myself and I thought that the book was wonderful! It is a bit large at about 520 pages, but the story goes by fast since it is so entertaining! Gloria doesn't sugarcoat anything and she tells it like it is. My favorite part was reading about the 1920's and the silent films she made at the peak of her popularity. She describes what it was like to work with various directors and co-stars and she also gives some fascinating behind-the-scenes information regarding her movies (such as the lion scene in her 1919 film, Male and Female). She had 6 husbands throughout her life and describes what each man was like and what contributed to the downfall of her marriages. I think this is the definitive book about any movie star of that era, because Gloria gives such a thorough account of her life that it makes the reader feel as if they personally know her by the time the book is finished.

Great autobiography about a great lady
I love this book as since i ever saw her on sunset blvd i fell in love with her even when she was on beverly hillbillies getting all of her things sold at auction. i wanted to meet and greet her and have her personalized autography. but i was born in 1981 and she passed away on 4/4/1983. so i have her book now and it's autographed by her in 1980 yahoooo so happy to have something that she signed even though she died when i was only 1 year old. she is missed by many. wonder what Cecil B. De Mille has her starring in now. Angel on Earth, gone but not forgotten.

I delivered groceries to Gloria as a teenager
I delivered groceries to Gloria as a kid around 1981-1982.She lived on 73rd and 5th (2 east 73rd if I remember correctly).She was just like Norma Desmond then (at least it seemed to me)...she always had a yam boiling in a clear pyrex pot that I could see from the entrance and had this strange younger assistant (I guess) who was bald believe it or not!

She never said a word to me and never tipped me until she married her last husband (must have put her in a better mood) when she would tip me $1.Once I forgot some blueberries on my way to my delivery and the one and only time she ever spoke to me she opened the door, looked at me and said "Shame, shame, shame...isn't that a shame." - I'll never forget it.No explanation, no nothing.Didn't even realize what was going on until I got back to the store.

So long Gloria.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not Quite What I Expected
This book was interesting and well-written, but only about 1/3 of the text dealt with the actual relationship between Swanson and Kennedy.There was MUCH background information on Swanson's life, as well as Joe Kennedy's - which was nothing new to me.All in all, I don't regret buying this book, but I was a little disappointed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very nice photo-bio of Gloria Swanson
This oldie-but-goodie book focuses on Swanson's films, and presents hundreds of stills (all in black-and-white) from the entire range of her career.One of the highlights from me is an extensive sets of stills from her famous "lost" silent film "Madame Sans-Gene".In conjunction with the Citadel Press book _The Films of Gloria Swanson_, this book will give the reader a comprehensive photographic history of one of the great film divas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Enchanting . . .
What a broad, what a book!GS wrote her memoirs when she was well a senior, and what a story she has to tell. At 81, into her sixth marriage, this gal lets all of the ghosts out of her closet.Her first two husbands were pigs, number one being Wallace Beery who raped her on her virginal wedding night as a teenager, but number three was an honorable Frenchman (decorated in both world wars), the best of her husbands as far as I could tell, whom she deceived with the now infamous affair she had with Joseph Kennedy (JFK's papa).She blew through the silent screen into talkies, championed a group of Jewish inventors so that they could escape the Nazis, was an artist in bronze and canvas, an early fan of whole foods, and also became the most amazing businesswoman--while never forgetting that there are "sharks among the bubbles [of champagne]."Living from 1899 to 1983, she speaks little of her last three husbands and less than I would have expected of her role of Norma Desmond, the fading star of Sunset Boulevard that made her infamous. But every page is quite the tale, and you long in your imagination to see the many gorgeous dresses she wore during her career as the fabled beauty with the blue eyes.Such a long and distinguished career, but never an Academy Award . . .

... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Best review of Gloria Swanson's movies out there
I'm a big fan of Citadel Books' "The Films of..." series, and as my reviewing colleague says, this is one of the best in the group. It's written by the estimable Lawrence Quirk, who has penned numerous other fine books on classic movies and those who performed in them, and he's done one of his best jobs here.Of particular value is his discussion of Swanson's silent films (those who know her only through "Sunset Boulevard" should be reminded that she was one of THE superstars of the silent era), including many - such as "Madame Sans-Gene" - that have apparently been lost forever. (Hard to believe, but up until a few decades ago, film was considered a disposable medium and a lot of items that today would be considered priceless collector's items or historic documents were casually destroyed.) No color photos - the only problem I have with the "Films of..." series - but the B&W photos are uniformly excellent. A must-have, especially in combination with Swanson's autobiography _Swanson on Swanson_!

One of the finest FILMS OF entries
Fantastic! Hard to believe the author could find so many super-rare photos of these early Gloria Swanson films - a large number of these films are sadly lost forever - and he is obviously a Swanson partisan (Cheers - tired of reading books by jealous writers belittling their subject's accomplishments.) Swanson was famous for saying in SUNSET BLVD - "In my day, we have faces."This book shows over and over how true that statement was. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A great book from my past
I have the hardcopy version of this book.It was a birthday or Christmas present many years ago.I remember it was $40, which was a lot for a book back in the early 1970's.I poured over that book, especially the section on Garbo to see how she did her eyes.I glance at this book every now and then to remember my teenage years.

When glamour was glamour
As an adolescent, I must have spent hours studying my mom's copy of this book.On page after page of photos (from films, promotional shoots and other sources) I noted and compared the curve of eyebrows and shape oflips, the placement of beauty marks, the lines of hairstyles and figures,etc.Those images have stayed with me -- the very definition of womanlyclass and style.This book is full of beautifully done photographs of fourstrong, sexy women from a time when glamour was glamour.I highlyrecommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
A biography of Frederick McKinley Jones, the black engineer and inventor who is credited with many inventions, including refrigeration units for trucks and railroad cars, portable x-ray unit, and ticket dispenser. ... Read more

Product Description
A biography of the black engineer and inventor credited with many inventions, including refrigeration units for trucks and railroad cars, portable X-ray units, and the ticket dispenser. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Gorgeous.
I love this book. I just got it down from the top shelf of one of my many bookcases and blew the dust off. I bought it used when I was in my early teens. I loved looking at those old pictures, and drinking in the dramatic, black and white, bygone beauty.

Oh, what a difference an eyebrow makes!
Like the first reviewer, I've loved this book for years.You can faithfully read fashion magazine for years and not learn what is in this book.Study it carefully and see what a subtle change here and there makes.It's really fun. ... Read more

Product Description
Gloria Swanson was an American actress. She was most prominent during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille. She was also one of the first stars to challenge the Hays Code by producing the banned Sadie Thompson in 1928. In 1929, Swanson successfully transitioned to talkies with The Trespasser. However, personal problems and changing tastes saw her popularity wane during the 1930s. Today she is best known for her role as Norma Desmond in the film Sunset Boulevard (1950). ... Read more

Product Description
Word count: 981. ... Read more

Product Description
Illustrated with black and white photographs from the Gloria Swanson film. ... Read more