Marion Davies A Biography, Fred Lawrence Guiles
Marion Davies A Biography, Fred Lawrence Guiles
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Marion Davies: A Biography
Fred Lawrence Guiles Hollywood Collection

Author: Fred Lawrence Guiles

Narrator: Romy Nordlinger

Unabridged: 16 hr 20 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/05/2020

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included

Synopsis

Marion Davies was, in so many ways, created by and for William Randolph Hearsttheir symbiotic relationship spanned from 1915 when W.R. first ogled her chorus-girl charms until his death in 1951. But she was much more quickly superannuated, cinema-historically speaking, by the Orson Welles-Herman Mankiewicz dumb-blonde caricature in Citizen Kane, paradoxically the most important film in her life. Fred Lawrence Guiles presents the life story of one of the most deft comedians in silent picturestouching on Brooklyn, show biz, the engaging stammer, private-then-public Hearst inamorata, Hollywood, the Chaplin liaison, encounters with the famous, San Simeon, W.R.'s demise, the constant drinking (she hid her gin from Hearst in the water tank of the toilet), her quick marriage to Captain Horace Brown, and, finally, her death from cancer in 1961. A supplemental PDF is included with this audiobook.

About Fred Lawrence Guiles

Fred Lawrence Guiles is best known for his biography of Marilyn Monroe. This was followed by Marion Davies, Hanging on in Paradise, Tyrone Power: The Last Idol, and Stan: The Life of Stan Laurel. An educator as well, he taught film history at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Kathleen on December 26, 2018

"Perhaps all of the earlier critical misjudgments in our day cannot be ascribed to the impact of Citizen Kane but at least partially to the paradoxes in the lady herself. She spent most of her life surrounded by servants; her social appearances saw her bedecked with jewels; her wealth was sufficient......more

Goodreads review by Greta on June 16, 2010

A rather disappointing book. Even though Davies was apparently full of charm and good spirits, she (and Hearst) come off in the book as dull and childish. At least he doesn't gloss over their faults. He's actually better with her later years, and he was able to interview many people who knew her, th......more

Goodreads review by Granny on March 07, 2013

Well, as a history it is thorough and well-researched. But there is a sadness about both Davies and Hearst which makes it a difficult read. It seems as though there was no time in either of their lives which was unclouded. Do you want to force yourself through 419 pages of unhappiness, alchoholism, u......more

Goodreads review by Amanda on February 28, 2008

Bought with my last $30 when I found it in a bookshop in Brisvegas. And it was so worth it. <3......more

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