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Rating: 
Summary: THE BEST CAREER BOOK EVER WRITTEN
Review: Ella Smith's coffee-table book on the career of Barbara Stanwyck is, bar none, the finest of its kind that this writer has ever read. Instead of being content to merely list Stanwyck's films and reprint old reviews (in the tradition of most "Films of" books), Ella Smith has gone the extra mile, and then some. This is because the idea originated with Smith (as opposed to a writer being "assigned" the project by a publisher), and it's entirely her baby. Smith designed the layout, selected the photographs and determined which of them would get the full page treatment (and her choices are absolutely breathtaking!) In addition to including original reviews of Stanwyck's stage, film, and television work (as well as highlights from Stanwyck's interviews from that period) Smith personally viewed all of Stanwyck's work, and her observations are marvelously perceptive (drawing as they do on her own experience as actress, director and teacher). I was particularly pleased that she notes the powerful impact of Stanwyck's SILENT moments (whereas too many critics remember only the explosive ones). But most of all, I value the interviews Smith conducted with Stanwyck's co-stars and directors. These anecdotes are, in turn, touching and funny --- and reveal aspects of Stanwyck's personality that add greatly to the readers' regard for the woman, as well as the actress. Of all the books written about Barbara Stanwyck, THIS is the only one worthy of her.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST CAREER BOOK EVER WRITTEN
Review: Ella Smith's coffee-table book on the career of Barbara Stanwyck is, bar none, the finest of its kind that this writer has ever read. Instead of being content to merely list Stanwyck's films and reprint old reviews (in the tradition of most "Films of" books), Ella Smith has gone the extra mile, and then some. This is because the idea originated with Smith (as opposed to a writer being "assigned" the project by a publisher), and it's entirely her baby. Smith designed the layout, selected the photographs and determined which of them would get the full page treatment (and her choices are absolutely breathtaking!) In addition to including original reviews of Stanwyck's stage, film, and television work (as well as highlights from Stanwyck's interviews from that period) Smith personally viewed all of Stanwyck's work, and her observations are marvelously perceptive (drawing as they do on her own experience as actress, director and teacher). I was particularly pleased that she notes the powerful impact of Stanwyck's SILENT moments (whereas too many critics remember only the explosive ones). But most of all, I value the interviews Smith conducted with Stanwyck's co-stars and directors. These anecdotes are, in turn, touching and funny --- and reveal aspects of Stanwyck's personality that add greatly to the readers' regard for the woman, as well as the actress. Of all the books written about Barbara Stanwyck, THIS is the only one worthy of her.
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary book - PLEASE SOMEBODY BRING IT BACK
Review: This is the most outstanding career retrospective ever published on a movie star, a flagrant labor of love done with intregity and intelligence. The end result is an example of quality ever film star biographer ought to follow. Each of Stanwyck's 80+ films are profiled in depth with exclusive commentary from scores of her coworkers - leading men, directors, screenwriters, etc. This landmark book was extremely important in reestablishing Stanwyck's reputation as one of the truly great women of the cinema. I fell in love with this book twenty years ago as a teenager in a local library - I had grown up watching reruns of Barbara in THE BIG VALLEY and had no idea of her incredible film career. I was thrilled when the author published a revised edition in the late 80's enabling me to actually own a copy of this gem and now with Miss Stanwyck's death (10 years ago - how time flies! It seems like yesterday) it is truly time for a second revised edition. If you own one book on one movie star LET THIS BE IT.
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary book - PLEASE SOMEBODY BRING IT BACK
Review: This is the most outstanding career retrospective ever published on a movie star, a flagrant labor of love done with intregity and intelligence. The end result is an example of quality ever film star biographer ought to follow. Each of Stanwyck's 80+ films are profiled in depth with exclusive commentary from scores of her coworkers - leading men, directors, screenwriters, etc. This landmark book was extremely important in reestablishing Stanwyck's reputation as one of the truly great women of the cinema. I fell in love with this book twenty years ago as a teenager in a local library - I had grown up watching reruns of Barbara in THE BIG VALLEY and had no idea of her incredible film career. I was thrilled when the author published a revised edition in the late 80's enabling me to actually own a copy of this gem and now with Miss Stanwyck's death (10 years ago - how time flies! It seems like yesterday) it is truly time for a second revised edition. If you own one book on one movie star LET THIS BE IT.
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