Florence Lawrence, the Biograph Girl: America's First Movie Star

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Summary: A Fine Tribute to Filmdom's Most Unsung Actress
Review: A nicely researched and insightful biography of Florence Lawrence, one of the most shadowy yet important figures of early cinema. Many things about Florence's life and career will perhaps always remain vague, but Kelly Brown gives a worthy account of America's "first movie star." It is refreshing to know that Flo is finally getting the recognition she deserves. This book is a must for the true film buff.

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Summary: Very well researched and written biography.
Review: Author Brown has given film buffs a highly readable biography of filmdom's first star, Florence Lawrence. Both her personal life and career are well covered.In response to the first review of this book, it appears that the reviewer is unaware of most film related magazines, for McFarland does a thorough job of advertising their titles, including sending catalogs to 60,000 libraries across the country. They also have an outlet in Great Britain. True, they don't use glossy paper, but I would hardly say their photos are "poorly reproduced."

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Summary: Great research on the very first movie star
Review: Florence Lawrence was "big" before there were movie stars. She was the original "Biograph Girl" before Mary Pickford was given that name by movie fans. After losing her job at Biograph, she was hired by Carl Laemmle's IMP company (later Universal). As a publicity stunt, Laemmle started a rumor that she was dead. Then she made a personal appearance in St. Louis and was mobbed by fans.

Unfortunately she was pretty much out of work in five years. Poor managemet by her husband Harry, as well as a painful injury forced her into bit parts. She was still acting in very small parts into 1938, when she gave up on life and committed suicide.

Kelly Brown has done an incredible research job. Using Florence's surviving correspondence, as well as trade magazine artices and advertisements, she has reconstructed Florence's life. The book has many footnotes noting sources, and there is a very detailed filmography. Instead of a book full of dry facts, Ms. Brown keeps Florence's story interesting. If you are interested in early cinema, or even important women actresses, you should definitely read this book.

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Summary: Magnificent, painstakingly researched work
Review: Florence Lawrence was an enigma I had always wanted to know about, having been interested in silent films for many years. Information on her was scarce, save for some still photographs in silent movie history books. Kelly Brown really did her homework, in what must have been a difficult task, digging up information about a star whose heyday was almost 90 years ago! Congratulations, Kelly, on a job well done! I can't recommend this book highly enough!

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent, painstakingly researched work
Review: Florence Lawrence was an enigma I had always wanted to know about, having been interested in silent films for many years. Information on her was scarce, save for some still photographs in silent movie history books. Kelly Brown really did her homework, in what must have been a difficult task, digging up information about a star whose heyday was almost 90 years ago! Congratulations, Kelly, on a job well done! I can't recommend this book highly enough!

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Summary: First-ever biography of actress Florence Lawrence
Review: FLORENCE LAWRENCE, THE BIOGRAPH GIRL is a book that should appeal not only to fans of the silent cinema; Florence Lawrence's story covers a fascinating cross-section of history that touches on women's studies, American history, Hollywood magic, and general movie history. This biography places Florence Lawrence in her element, viewing the growing world of moving pictures through her eyes and placing this medium into the context of the changing culture. Contemporary accounts of her infamous Laemmle-inspired publicity stunt in St. Louis are fully explored for the first time, as is her volatile marriage to pioneer director Harry Solter. This book, aside from the thorough biographical study, also contains the first complete filmography of Lawrence's career. Each of the 250+ films is detailed with production company information, director, release date, length, co-stars, and plot summary. There are also extensive endnotes, bibliographical data and an index. I have spent almost five years working on this book and am extremely pleased with how it turned out. I feel privileged to be an author with McFarland & Company Inc. This publishing firm has been an outstanding organization to be associated with from every aspect of conceiving, writing, editing and publishing my book. I thank everyone there for their help in getting this fascinating story into print. I hope YOU enjoy the story of Florence Lawrence.

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Summary: Lovely Lovely
Review: I adored the book for finally telling me the whole true story of Florence Lawrence, a mystery lady for so long... Excellent research! I understand there will be soon be a novel based on her life, imagining that she survives the ant poison and lives til today under an assumed name.

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Summary: Good, well illustrated biography.
Review: I always enjoy a good biography, especially those of the nearly forgotten silent screen stars. This biography of Florence Lawrence was well researched and had many wonderful photos. The author did a good job with the resources available. Most of the films and people involved in silents are gone now, so the job is doubly difficult. Although pricey, this biography is well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Good, well illustrated biography.
Review: I always enjoy a good biography, especially those of the nearly forgotten silent screen stars. This biography of Florence Lawrence was well researched and had many wonderful photos. The author did a good job with the resources available. Most of the films and people involved in silents are gone now, so the job is doubly difficult. Although pricey, this biography is well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, scholarly bio of a nearly-forgotten star
Review: I first noticed Florence lawrence when I bought a copy of Daniel Blum's "Pictorial History of the Silent Screen". So many of the pictures in that book were of Florence that my curiosity was piqued. Who was this woman? Thank goodness Kelly Brown wrote such an entertaining and scholarly biography. I wish there were more bios out there on early and perhaps forgotten stars. Bravo, Kelly Brown! And thank you for all your hard work!