Hollywood's Hard-Luck Ladies: 23 Actresses Who Suffered Early Deaths, Accidents, Missteps, Illnesses and Tragedies

I first became a fan of Hollywood historian Laura Wagner from reading her articles and book reviews in the magazine CLASSIC IMAGES. She is an excellent researcher and writer who has a special talent for biographies. Those skills are very evident in her book HOLLYWOOD'S HARD-LUCK LADIES. The subtitle — 23 ACTRESSES WHO SUFFERED EARLY DEATHS, ACCIDENTS, MISSTEPS, ILLNESSES AND TRAGEDIES — is apt but it only hints at how moving the tragic stories of the 23 actresses Wagner picked seem when you read them. It doesn’t really matter if the actresses are before your time and you don’t know them. It doesn’t really matter if you haven’t seen the movies and TV shows they appeared in. This is a book that portrays the essential humanity and pathos of mostly little-known actresses who were badly treated by men or the Hollywood studio system, or both — or who should have taken better care of themselves, or whose fate involved tragic accidents. Each biography is a fascinating, self-contained story. Each one is amazingly well-researched, Many clear up, correct or provide new information about the actresses. And, I love the way each one starts with a paragraph that foreshadows what’s to come. For example, here’s the first paragraph of the chapter on Suzan Ball, a gorgeous actress who had an affair with Anthony Quinn in 1953 while shooting the film EAST OF SUMATRA with him: “One of the most courageous stories in show business concerns Suzan Ball. A star in the making with leads at Universal, she seemed to have a bright future. She was 19 years old when an injury on a movie set put in motion events that would lead her to an untimely death at 21. The way she handled her illness was an inspiration and every turn for the worse was met with a positive outlook.” Did lead paragraphs like that make me want to read more? You bet. And, the biographies of many of the actresses made me want to Google more about them and look for streaming or upcoming airings of the movies and TV shows they appeared in. So, for me, it’s a book that kept on giving after I read it. It’s also lushly-illustrated with vintage publicity photos and movie stills and provides eye-opening insights into the good and bad aspects of the Hollywood studio system. I give HOLLYWOOD'S HARD-LUCK LADIES an enthusiastic 5 stars and hope Wagner writes more books like it.

What a book - and so nice to learn about stars I was unfamiliar with - like the inspirational Suzan Ball,the sadness of Helen Burgess and the tragic life of Susan Cabot who had so much talent but wastrapped by a childhood trauma.I just love Laura's style - factual with so much affection for all the actresses portrayed but with a"hey there, that wasn't such a fabulous decision you made there" style!! Sidney Fox is such a favourite ofmine and the myths and stories I had read about her were quickly dispelled in the book - an interestingtit bit, Bette Davis seemingly never got over missing out on the lead in "Strictly Dishonorable" (1931) toSidney and was still complaining about it 45 years later!! Mary Nolan, definitely the most sympathetic anddetailed bio I have ever read on her. Peggy Shannon - I never realised how much the comparisons toClara Bow really hurt her and her career. I definitely agree, the only thing they had in common was theirred hair, Peggy had her own distinct and beautiful style.Many others I was introduced to - Patricia Dane, what a feisty personality - if only she had been able toput across some of that zany zing into her roles. Dorothy Comingore was her own worst enemy - there waseven an Australian actress featured, Constance Worth who had hit the big time in her own country but hita snag when she married a Hollywood "super star".I can seem myself reading this book again, Laura has such a terrific writing style. I also thought when I hadfinished - if only the actresses in the book had had someone like Laura who could listen and advise themtheir lives may have been a bit happier!!

I was planning to just keep this by my bedside to read a chapter now and again, but the old "I can't put it down" gag holds true. These biographical essays are so addictive--interesting, well-researched, and I love how Wagner explodes urban legends and Hollywood myths about some of these ladies. She is tough on them when she needs to be (you just want to shake some sense into some of these actresses) and sympathetic as well.I especially enjoyed reading about actresses I had never heard of. I pride myself on being an old-movie buff, but learned for the first time here about Helen Burgess, Mary Castle, Marjie Millar and other obscure but fascinating people.Plus, lots of great photos--grab this one! Hope there is another about hard Luck Gentlemen on the way.

Excellent book I wish some of the lesser known actresses had more on there chapters still an all around excellent book for film lovers 5 stars!!

I've been a long-time fan of Laura Wagner, not only for pithy, entertaining book reviews, but for her own writing. "Hollywood's Hard-Luck Ladies" is a prime example of excellent writing, and her selection of who to include was on point. While a few of the names were only vaguely familiar to me, which is unusual for a film book collector like myself, but I learned about them with great enjoyment. Her style combines a great mix of the both the behind and in-front of the cameras, and it never dissolves into just a lurid peak at the misfortunes of these ladies. Read it on Kindle and ordered the hard copy for my collection.

Variety of hard luck actresses included in the book was a nice intro to many of these ladies I didn't know. The perspective was interesting but sad. Most are portrayed as fragile , sick, and alcoholics.There must have been more positive aspects of their lives. Would have liked more detail about their lives, loves and careers. This was just a short synopsis of each actresses life.

Wow, these women met with some tough times. The lessons of chance and choices weave a fine and textured thread through all the stories.

I expected a bit more from the reviews I read. Nevertheless the book includes some actresses I didn’t know much about. It was an easy read.