Dorothy Dandridge

Rating:
Summary: A Satisfying Biography
Review: Dorothy Dandrige's friends hated this book and I can't understand why. Earl Mills, knew her as well, if not better, than anyone else and his book does a fine job in telling the reader why DD was so tragic. The humiliations, the anger, the stupidity that she had to put up with from Hollywood and America are all spelled out without going into hundreds of pages. The story of DD's ghastly marriages and her retarded daughter were quite moving. This book is respectful of DDs memory and is clearly written by a man who loved her and was able to see the real woman behind the star. Frankly, I enjoyed this far more than I did the huge minutiae laden book by Donald Bogle.

Rating:
Summary: Less Is More. . .
Review: Having read Donald Bogle's version, where you get endless details, Earl does a concise, though captivating, story. You get the relevant facts from someone who was a manager, friend, and ultimately, lover. Earl's version captures the essence of Dorothy Dandridge beautifully. You get to know her, see her, (he has some photographs that I've not seen in other books) and get a feel of what she was about. In your minds eye you can visualize her just as Earl does. He depicts her eloquently and gives a good, factual description of her career and all the trials and tribulations that she endured. His story (Dorothy's story) is about many things. Love, rascism, what being a 'colored' woman really meant during her time and he also gives a notable account of how things really haven't changed. Because Dorothy was gorgeous, talented and because she never found the love that she was searching for, even though she had the man who truly loved her right by her side, is what makes this story a tragic one. The side story about her retarded daughter is also extremely heart-wrenching.

Rating:
Summary: This excellent book is the one the movie is based on
Review: I enjoyed this excellent, easy to read book of Dorothy Dandridge's careet. The pages of information about the movie stars who played Dorothy Dandridge, Otto Preminger and Earl Mills were outstanding. I could have kept reading forever.

Rating:
Summary: A little girl lost -- one of Hollywoods brightest stars
Review: I highly recommend this book because it written by someone who cared for Dorothy deeply. He was there during most of the events surrounding her stardom and can give an account of these events. It is much like Marilyn Monroe's tragic life, except Dorothy had so much talent and had to deal with all of the discrimination. I think anyone interested in learning about her life and rise to stardom would enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: A little girl lost -- one of Hollywoods brightest stars
Review: I highly recommend this book because it written by someone who cared for Dorothy deeply. He was there during most of the events surrounding her stardom and can give an account of these events. It is much like Marilyn Monroe's tragic life, except Dorothy had so much talent and had to deal with all of the discrimination. I think anyone interested in learning about her life and rise to stardom would enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: a confused man
Review: i read this book and being a relative of dotty's i found this book to be a fairy tale of the authors own imagination, he wrote about things in this book that he couldn't have possibly known, like about her wedding night and her alleged rape, was he under the bed how, did he know that she had bruises smarting? and all these carefree stories of dotty playing and riding bikes, this woman worked since she was three she didn't have time to be a kid and ride bikes, and futhermore dotty was a professional, she would not have gotten involved with this man whom she viewed to be just a little to solicitous, and struck her as wimpy, this book is no better than her ghost written memoir which she wrote when she was depressed and made up a lot of things that didn't happen and the co author also added things that weren't true either i am tired of dotty being exploited, the best bio is by donald bogle but he falls short too because he is obviously too much in love with his subject to be objective

Rating:
Summary: Dorothy Dandrige - a Hollywood starlet
Review: I really enjoyed the book my Mr. Mills. You can see very clearly that he cared for her deeply. The pictures contained in the book show she was beautiful. Her life story was very tragic, much like Marilyn Mornroe. I think book is very well wriiten and makes reference to her career and feelings. I am sure Earl Mills knew her better than any other person in Hollywood.

Rating:
Summary: Dorothy Dandrige - a Hollywood starlet
Review: I really enjoyed the book my Mr. Mills. You can see very clearly that he cared for her deeply. The pictures contained in the book show she was beautiful. Her life story was very tragic, much like Marilyn Mornroe. I think book is very well wriiten and makes reference to her career and feelings. I am sure Earl Mills knew her better than any other person in Hollywood.

Rating:
Summary: Haphazard
Review: I thought the book was poorly organized and had factual errors. Okay, I'll give the guy a break because he's not a pro writer. Its haphazard arrangement is confusing, and he seems to have had only one source, the subject. He believed anything she said without checking it out with anyone else. The coda of the paperback edition, which has details about the movie, is written in an extremely annoying, fawning style with lots of out-of-place, phony enthusiasm. I'm surprised the movie turned out so good, being made from this book. The only good part is if you're a fan of one of the movie's stars, as I am, it has quotes from some of them.

Rating:
Summary: A must read for all of us who want more of Dorothy Dandridge
Review: I want to thank Earl Mills for writing this heartwarming book, Dorothy Dandridge. After watching the HBO special starring Halle Berry, I wanted to read more about the life of Dorothy Dandridge. I was so impressed with her, it moved me in ways inexplicable to others! I recommend this book to all. The book even goes in detail about the making of the HBO Movie. Halle Berry and Brent Spiner (who portrayed the author) comment on their experiences as well. You will not be disappointed.