The Private Diary of My Life With Lana

Rating:
Summary: It is as it was
Review: I am currently producing a documentary on the life of Eric Root and I can tell you after interviewing dozens of Hollywood's biggest stars that those who Know Eric will vouch for his Honesty and integrity including Elizabeth Taylor. As far as Cheryl Crane wanting to sue Eric, she tried but couldn't why because her lawyers could not find any reason to. Apparently Cheryl was jealous because for a good portion her life Eric was closer to her mother than she was, but we won't go into that here. As for "Mr. Roots greedy little pen" Eric is very well off and donated most of the proceeds from this book to several charities. Eric's work with those in need is well known. What a previous reviewer detects as "bitter pages" was more frustration with Lana than anything to be bitter about. Lana wasn't the easiest person to get along with sometimes, but she definitely loved Eric. So far our research has concluded that the book is the truth. There are a few things in there that we'll never be able to prove one way or another but based upon our research and interviews it is as it was. Currently there are a number of producers that want to make a movie about the life of Eric Root of which Lana was only a part. Eric Root is one of the only living icon hairdressers left. Some of his credits include style director for I Magnum and Saks Fifth Avenue. Clients J. F. Kennedy, Rose Kennedy, Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, and on and on. Eric has had a remarkable life and I think it will make a great movie!

Rating:
Summary: Real-life Hollywood drama at its best!
Review: I found Mr. Root's book fascinating. I could just hear Lana's high heels clicking along that marble hallway on her way out the door to meet her public! Mr. Root's style is perfect to tell the tale of Hollywood's greatest glamour queen. My only suggestion is that he keep up the good work!

Rating:
Summary: A vanity piece
Review: In his foreword, and on the dust jacket flap of this amateurish mish-mash, "author" Root promises to tell the truth about the Stompanato killing. In fact, according to Mr. Root, Ms Turner begged him to do so once she was no longer among us. "Tell the whole truth, Eric," the sex goddess is supposed to have said (or words to that effect). Strangely enough, when he finally gets around to the much ballyhooed 1957 murder scandal, Lana Turner is suddenly no longer Root's primary source but instead one Fred Otash, a retired cop turned sleazy P.I. That's cheating, Mr. Root! To say that "The Private Diary ..." is a vanity piece is putting it mildly. The reader is only too pleased to have purchased this hatchet job for a measly $1.95 -- and signed and inscribed by the author, which just goes to show how much the original recipient thought of Mr. Root's "Life With Lana."

Rating:
Summary: Tabloid trash attempts to defile Turner legend
Review: It is my opinion that anytime an author publishes a "private" personal memoir of some unfortunate celebrity, the reader should expect a tabloid style tell-all work with an occassionally insightful comment. With this belief I excitedly delved into Mr. Root's book on Miss Turner, fully aware of what I was getting into. To my surprise, this read doesn't even qualify as a sinfully guilty pleasure. It seems to be Mr. Root's impression that he is solely responsible for keeping Miss Turner going in her later years, restored her beauty with his expert makeup skills, counseled her on her drinking habits, objected to her swearing, tried to bring her to God, and was ultimately cut out of her will. Anyone who is aware of the Turner legend is aware that Lana lead a particularly colorful life, so none of Mr. Root's supposed revelations is of any surprise. What does come across to the reader is that Mr. Root's greedy little pen was writing these bitter pages while trying to mask his intent beneath a mask of loving but concerned friendship. What it boils down to is this - he got cut out of the will folks, that is, if he was ever in it, so he is now attempting to cash in on a deceased movie queen. Stay away from this one, if for no other reason than to deprive Mr. Root of any proceeds. Deplorable.

Rating:
Summary: Exploitative trash. Don't bother.
Review: Lana Turner had a weakness for getting involved with chislers, louses, and other assorted lowlifes. With Root she hit rock bottom. I picked up a book version of this thing in a book store and almost immediately wanted to get some strong disinfectant for my hands. Cheryl Crane, Turner's daughter, considered suing. Mr. Root's "revelations" about Ms. Turner include the assertion that she confessed to him that she had murdered Johnny Stompanato and allowed her daughter to take the blame. He also claims that the bedroom where Stompanato died was an incredibly gory scene which resembled a hog butchering. Read the testimony of the police, medical examiners, and other assorted witnesses which appeared in contemporary newspaper accounts of the tragedy. Root's charges are garbage. When Lana Turner became ill, her daughter apparently cut off Root's access to her mother. Smart girl!

Rating:
Summary: NOT the TRUTH! A "Fairy-Tale"
Review: My name is Taylor Pero, author of "ALWAYS, LANA" 1982, Bantam Books paperback. As Miss Turner's personal manager and confidante, Eric Root was introducted to Lana Turner my myself alone. I met him through a gay personals ad shortly after beginning my job for Miss Turner. I have kept all of the love letters and half-naked Poloroid photo he sent in his own hand-writing and would be happy to make them public in order to put an end to what Lana Turner often described as "his flapping lips". I can't describe the misinformation contained here and can only say that he used me to get to her and her to climb the ladder. He is a very talented hairdresser, but the kind who gives others of his profession a bad name.

Rating:
Summary: NOT the TRUTH! A "Fairy-Tale"
Review: My name is Taylor Pero, author of "ALWAYS, LANA" 1982, Bantam Books paperback. As Miss Turner's personal manager and confidante, Eric Root was introducted to Lana Turner my myself alone. I met him through a gay personals ad shortly after beginning my job for Miss Turner. I have kept all of the love letters and half-naked Poloroid photo he sent in his own hand-writing and would be happy to make them public in order to put an end to what Lana Turner often described as "his flapping lips". I can't describe the misinformation contained here and can only say that he used me to get to her and her to climb the ladder. He is a very talented hairdresser, but the kind who gives others of his profession a bad name.

Rating:
Summary: Give Me A Break!
Review: Yeah right. I'm sooo sure Lana Turner secretley confided into her "friend" and asked him to "tell it... tell it all" AFTER her death. Only so she couldn't SUE him. This book isn't even a guilty pleasure, it's just plain stupid and a waste of time. I believe it to be a bunch of lies because he wants to be a big part of the scandal. No one cares. He's a joke.

Rating:
Summary: Give Me A Break!
Review: Yeah right. I'm sooo sure Lana Turner secretley confided into her "friend" and asked him to "tell it... tell it all" AFTER her death. Only so she couldn't SUE him. This book isn't even a guilty pleasure, it's just plain stupid and a waste of time. I believe it to be a bunch of lies because he wants to be a big part of the scandal. No one cares. He's a joke.