- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Saint Martin's Griffin,U.S.; New edition edition (26 April 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0312284314
- ISBN-13: 978-0312284312
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.5 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 802,022 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £2.90
Get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade in Complicated Women for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £2.90, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Between 1929 and 1934, women in American cinema were modern! They took lovers, had babies out of wedlock, got rid of cheating husbands, enjoyed their sexuality. led unapologetic careers and, in general, acted the way many think women only acted after 1968. Greta Garbo and Norma Shearer were at the forefront of an eruption of female talent; Ann Harding, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich and Jean Harlow all came into their own during the pre-Code era. These women pushed the limits and shaped their images along modern lines. Then, in July 1934, the draconian Production Code became the law in Hollywood and these modern women of the screen were banished, not to be seen again until the code was repealed three decades later. Mick LaSalle, film critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, takes readers on a tour of pre-Code films and how the movies of the pre-Code are still worth watching. COMPLICATED WOMEN will include 35 of celebrated photographer George Hurrell's exquisite photographs.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
At the end of the silent era, Joan Crawford was dancing the Charleston on tabletops, while Norma Shearer was wearing a hoopskirt in the costume romance, The Actress. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
At the end of the silent era, Joan Crawford was dancing the Charleston on tabletops, while Norma Shearer was wearing a hoopskirt in the costume romance, The Actress. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is not the easiest book to find on these shores. I stumbled onto it at a friend's house, who'd found it at a used book sale, and after thumbing through it I knew I could not borrow it but had to own a copy for myself -- thus, off I went to Amazon.
Amazing. What a book. It does three things, all of them extraordinary. 1) It introduced me to a whole world of art about which I knew nothing; 2) It told me about an inspiring pocket of women's social and sexual history about which I knew nothing; and 3) It entertained me with a great story, told with magnificent wit.
I recommend it without reservation and with complete enthusiasm.
Amazing. What a book. It does three things, all of them extraordinary. 1) It introduced me to a whole world of art about which I knew nothing; 2) It told me about an inspiring pocket of women's social and sexual history about which I knew nothing; and 3) It entertained me with a great story, told with magnificent wit.
I recommend it without reservation and with complete enthusiasm.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the best film book of the year, the critically acclaimed, passionate and witty history/study of the great age for women's pictures -- the five years before censorship came and wrecked the party. It's a great women's book, a great story and a great way to turn on to the pre-Code era, 1929-34. This book hasn't got enough press in the UK, but it rocks.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
48 reviews
47 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Hooray for Mick!
15 Oct 2000
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
While reading LaSalle's Complicated Women, I found myself lusting to see the movies he describes. Luckily many of them belong to Turner Classic movies. I just taped and watched four of them: Stanwyck's Baby Face; Kay Francis' Mary Stevens, MD; Tallulah Bankhead in Faithless; and Dorothy Mackaill's Safe in Hell. I couldn't believe my eyes! Stanwyck as a women prostituted by her own father who sleeps her way to the top of the corporation? Francis as a woman doctor who has an illegitimate child? Bankhead as a former rich girl who hits the street to make money for her injured husband's medical bills? And Mackaill as a call girl hiding out from the cops in Tortuga? And none of them had to die for their sins, even though they may have repented their behavior? I was born in 1932 and grew up with the movies of the late 30's and 1940's. I was familiar with some of those women stars, but I never saw such stories in post-Code films. The modernity of the pre-Code movies is astounding; the strong women who are their protagonists were lost for 30 years. I can't help feeling cheated by what the post-Code movies taught me about women and men and their "proper" relationships. Hooray for Mick!
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Superb writing, detailed research, long-overdue...
20 Jan 2002
Format:Hardcover
I must admit I bought this book first because of the fact that Norma Shearer was on the cover. I am a big fan of hers and always felt extremely frustrated that she is practically forgotten today even though she had such an impact on our movie culture from the silent days until her retirement in 1942.
When I saw that book on the shelves, I didn't even hesitate and bought it right away, not knowing anything about it or the author. I always buy any book related to actresses from old movies anyway. But as I started to read, I became completely engrossed in the story, the drama, the lives of these pioneer women. These actresses were literally strangled in their creative flow by those stupid, rigid and close-minded officials who in 1934, decided to put a stop to what they felt were abominations, destroying a brilliant path the movies could have gone for if given the chance.
This book is simply superb. There are no words strong enough to express just how much I love it. I had never heard of the author and was amazed at how much he knew about his subjects. His comments are often funny, touching and always right on target. I devoured this book while being on a business trip out of the country and it became my companion on those long hours on the plane.
I recommend this book to everyone. I have read the other reviews and agree with all those who are highly praising. One of them was written by a woman who, saying that it was a must for all women, was wondering how men might feel about this book. Well, I can tell you right now that as a man, I would very strongly recommend to anyone who wants to learn about our movie history.
I have read the book at least 10 times by now and always enjoy it immensely. I only wish there were other extremely good books like this one about that period in film culture which is probably the most fascinating ever, even to this day. And in closing, I really have to say that I was SHOCKED when I realized, like many other reviewers, that many of those pre-code movies wouldn't even be made today. I mean, this is mind-boggling when you think about it! We are in 2002 after all!
An absolute MUST!!!
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
REDISCOVER SOME EXCELLENT FILM GEMS!
1 Oct 2000
Format:Hardcover
Mick LaSalle's COMPLICATED WOMEN showcases the development of an exciting genre of films (1929-July 1934) that should really be seen by anyone interested in good films and film history. LaSalle writes with a sharp, informed intelligence and wit. He capsulates the careers of the era's most significant stars: Harlow, Francis, Crawford, Harding, Hopkins, Chatterton -- and reminds us of the strong, sexual, intelligent roles they were able to play before the Production Code. Garbo and Norma Shearer provided the foundation in 1929-30 for what followed. His emphasis on these two makes perfect sense -- they had the most prestige, fan appeal and power during this time to shift the gears of how women were to be seen in the movies. This book is also a great reference of film titles to go out and seek or watch for on Turner Classic Movies. It certainly made me redefine my own outlook on women's roles in old movies. What I saw growing up in the 50's and 60's at the movies was a gigantic technicolor bore compared to some of these films. This book is a must for every film library.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > History > Cultural History
- Books > History > Other Historical Subjects
- Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Film > Criticism & Theory
- Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Film > Guides & Reference
- Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Film > History of Film > United States
- Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Performing Arts
- Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Women's Studies
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
