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Betty Grable: The Reluctant Movie Queen
Betty Grable: The Reluctant Movie Queen is a fascinating and intimate account of the famous star who was for many years the highest-paid woman in America and a favorite pin-up all over the world.
Filled with fascinating and intimate accounts from many who knew her well, this publication is a well-documented and eminently readable biography of the sparkling, complex personality of one of the best-loved stars in Hollywood's history.
This is the digital edition of the original 1982 print publication.
Filled with fascinating and intimate accounts from many who knew her well, this publication is a well-documented and eminently readable biography of the sparkling, complex personality of one of the best-loved stars in Hollywood's history.
This is the digital edition of the original 1982 print publication.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 5, 2022
The Reluctant Movie Queen, the Girl With The Million Dollar Legs, The Pin Up Girl but in reality an enormous star of the 40's, Betty became the highest-paid star in Hollywood. After the war, her star continued to rise. In 1947, the United States Treasury Department noted that she was the highest paid star in America, earning about $300,000 a year - a phenomenal sum even by today's standards.
Born Elizabeth Grable at the start of her career she signed with Sam Goldwyn and changed her name to Francis Dean and made Palmy Days in 1931. She left Goldwyn and signed with RKO and reverted to her real name. Of the 27 films she made only two were dramatic ones -A Yank in the RAF and T Wake up Screaming, Her first star role was Down Argentine Way which she got after Alice Faye was forced to drop out with appendicitis.
It follows Grable's life from her childhood to her premature death in 1973. It's not a bad read, but I couldn't in all honesty say that Grable led a particularly fascinating life for a movie star, a home lover rather than a party queen. Sure, there's all the usual elements - pushy mother, doomed marriages, financial woes, career ups and downs, making millions to playing in small cities for a few thousand dollars in the 60's.
Really an actress that did not like the crowds, Suffered from "demophobia" (fear of crowds) and was a somnambulist (sleepwalker),but loved her fans, did not really like fame, but enjoyed playing golf ,gambling and a collection of horses she owned.
Lost millions to her husbands, her gambling and keeping the horses, but to me the saddest part of the book was the very sad early death from lung cancer, her tough battle, her shock of finding out she was dying.
Was offered the Anne Baxter role in The Razor's Edge (1946) but turned it down. Baxter ultimately won an Oscar as Sophie MacDonald, this could have made her future career so different.
When Shelley Winters bowed out of Pickup on South Street (1953), a pregnant Grable turned down the offer of starring in the film noir, and the role went to Jean Peters.
Her whole career could have been different, could have been a busy supporting dramatic actress.
Okay book and overall a sad story.
Born Elizabeth Grable at the start of her career she signed with Sam Goldwyn and changed her name to Francis Dean and made Palmy Days in 1931. She left Goldwyn and signed with RKO and reverted to her real name. Of the 27 films she made only two were dramatic ones -A Yank in the RAF and T Wake up Screaming, Her first star role was Down Argentine Way which she got after Alice Faye was forced to drop out with appendicitis.
It follows Grable's life from her childhood to her premature death in 1973. It's not a bad read, but I couldn't in all honesty say that Grable led a particularly fascinating life for a movie star, a home lover rather than a party queen. Sure, there's all the usual elements - pushy mother, doomed marriages, financial woes, career ups and downs, making millions to playing in small cities for a few thousand dollars in the 60's.
Really an actress that did not like the crowds, Suffered from "demophobia" (fear of crowds) and was a somnambulist (sleepwalker),but loved her fans, did not really like fame, but enjoyed playing golf ,gambling and a collection of horses she owned.
Lost millions to her husbands, her gambling and keeping the horses, but to me the saddest part of the book was the very sad early death from lung cancer, her tough battle, her shock of finding out she was dying.
Was offered the Anne Baxter role in The Razor's Edge (1946) but turned it down. Baxter ultimately won an Oscar as Sophie MacDonald, this could have made her future career so different.
When Shelley Winters bowed out of Pickup on South Street (1953), a pregnant Grable turned down the offer of starring in the film noir, and the role went to Jean Peters.
Her whole career could have been different, could have been a busy supporting dramatic actress.
Okay book and overall a sad story.
January 14, 2024
This was good. I never knew much about Betty Grable so this was educational for me. I never knew she was such good friends with Lucille Ball, whom I am a fan of. I wish I knew more of the people referenced in the book that either Betty was friends with or worked with. I knew some names, but the majority I didn't, though I am sure I would recognize them.
The narration was well done and suited the story perfectly.
For lovers of biographies. 3 stars
The narration was well done and suited the story perfectly.
For lovers of biographies. 3 stars
November 2, 2016
Learned more about her than I'd known before, which was pretty much nothing. But the title is misleading: she was definitely not reluctant. Interesting how her apparent lack of confidence in doing anything but pretty lousy movies ended up cutting her career short. And I didn't realize she died so young. Worth a read if you're interesting in learning more about her, but didn't feel I "knew" her by the end -- maybe that's because she herself was rather an enigma.
December 2, 2020
Pros :: Good overall history of Betty. Seemed fair — reporting the nice/kindness parts of her yet not shying away from her cruelness, or controlling aspect of her personality. Liked how her own quotes from newspapers used and letters were reproduced that she wrote friends. And quotes from her daughter, Jessica. “Betty, it would seem, was under a constant bombardment of contradictory impulses. Her problem was gaining a firm grip on her real identity.” Page 171. Friends always forgave her and loved her for her kindness. Maybe because her mother was so dominant in her life, it altered/stunted Bettys personality.
Cons :: Not enough pictures
Cover art :: 5 out of 5. My cover had the famous pin-up pose of Betty looking over her shoulder.
Cons :: Not enough pictures
Cover art :: 5 out of 5. My cover had the famous pin-up pose of Betty looking over her shoulder.
June 12, 2020
Enjoy the audio and to remember her and her movies, this was a good recap of her life, some one didn’t know. Well written and good narration .
Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
December 19, 2022
Not Bad
I have to say I don't think I have ever seen a Betty Grable movie ..I saw this and put it on my TBR File . It was a good read and interesting to learn about somebody who was a movie legend almost 20 years before I was born
I have to say I don't think I have ever seen a Betty Grable movie ..I saw this and put it on my TBR File . It was a good read and interesting to learn about somebody who was a movie legend almost 20 years before I was born
June 1, 2020
The book was pretty good. I learned a lot about her life. I didn’t know much about her. Interesting!
July 8, 2021
Unfortunately most of the pictures were torn from my 2nd hand copy. Light bio of a very talented star.
June 1, 2017
Betty Grable....
This book is a well written fast read. It contains many details and also humor from this wonderful performer....we would have enjoyed appropriate photographs.....Jim and Pollee Gough
This book is a well written fast read. It contains many details and also humor from this wonderful performer....we would have enjoyed appropriate photographs.....Jim and Pollee Gough
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews