THE BEAUTIFUL and alluring Patricia Roc was the epitome of style, elegance, sophistication and finesse that defined the wonderful days of Britain's 'golden age' of cinema during the 1940s. Women loved her, men adored her, and for ten consecutive years from 1943 onwards, she was one of Britain's top box-office stars, packing cinemas worldwide in classic films such as Millions Like Us, Love Story, The Wicked Lady, The Brothers and Canyon Passage. In her hey-day, she was without doubt a phenomenon - actually rather modern in her style and ahead of her time - who, through her unpretentiousness and sincere approach, had the exceptional talent of making her audience believe in her whilst she was on the screen. Yet behind this ethereal screen image smouldered a passionate femme fatale. Men who came into contact with her couldn't help but fall in love with her, including America's future President, Ronald Reagan whom she helped get over a difficult period in his life. "I was seriously concerned that he might do something to himself if I didn't make him feel that somebody wanted him," explained Patricia Roc. Here, at last, is the complete and remarkable story of Patricia Roc's life, her films, her three marriages, her secrets and lovers, in an intimate biography that defines the character and the personality of a movie goddess of a million dreams.
Patricia Roc the goddess of the Odeons
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About the Author
Michael Hodgson interviewed Patricia Roc, her son, Michael and her sister Bobby many times, as well as surviving co-workers and acquaintances to research this biography. Brought up in Twickenham, Middlesex and now living in Wiltshire with his wife and two dogs, Michael first became interested in Patricia Roc after gaining a First-class Honours degree in Social History which encompassed the study of the cinema and society in Britain during the 1950s and 1960s, and the social role and cultural influence of film and television in America, Britain and Western Europe. He is now writing the definitive biography of the Rank Organisation's 'Mr. Beefcake' actor Anthony Steel.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Mb Davis
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is one of those rare occasions were a book is spoiled by the masses of errors that occur.Some are very basic.Words missing,words run together,punctuation missing.Then there is repitition.On page 44 ,line 8 and 9 are repeated on page 48 line 15 and 16.
Then we have factual errors.On page 121 the Royal command Film performance takes place at the "Odeon Empire cinema in Leicester Square to see King George IV....".Later on he refers to that well known screen couple of Myrna Loy and Dick Powell !He refers to her first husband as being 36 in 1939.however in the next para he says that he was 33 in 1933.It could have been a good book but it is ruined by the continual stream of errors.
Then we have factual errors.On page 121 the Royal command Film performance takes place at the "Odeon Empire cinema in Leicester Square to see King George IV....".Later on he refers to that well known screen couple of Myrna Loy and Dick Powell !He refers to her first husband as being 36 in 1939.however in the next para he says that he was 33 in 1933.It could have been a good book but it is ruined by the continual stream of errors.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As previously mentioned, I am very interested in the lives of the film stars from the 1940's and this is another good one.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By William Taylor
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Firstly, it's very nice to have a book written about Patricia Roc, surely one of the loveliest cinema stars ever to come from England.
So it was a great disappointment to me that this book was not better. The first problem is that it is very poorly proof-read,as there are many missing punctuation marks(mainly full stops), which makes reading the text quite irritating. This could have been avoided so easily!
More serious is that the author really gives us little information - there is an awful lot of padding,with very many obvious comments about other stars etc mentioned in the text. Patricia Roc obviously had a very tangled private life but her various extra-marital affairs (with Michael Wilding and Ronald Reagan, among others)are discussed in a very pedestrian way.
So, sadly disappointing has to be the verdict. It would have been a much better book if it had had more illustrations and the text had been stripped of the padding. The illustrations are varied, both film stills and publicity photos, and are well chosen. The photographs of Miss Roc in her old age prove that she'd lost none of her charm.
She just really deserved a better book than this.
So it was a great disappointment to me that this book was not better. The first problem is that it is very poorly proof-read,as there are many missing punctuation marks(mainly full stops), which makes reading the text quite irritating. This could have been avoided so easily!
More serious is that the author really gives us little information - there is an awful lot of padding,with very many obvious comments about other stars etc mentioned in the text. Patricia Roc obviously had a very tangled private life but her various extra-marital affairs (with Michael Wilding and Ronald Reagan, among others)are discussed in a very pedestrian way.
So, sadly disappointing has to be the verdict. It would have been a much better book if it had had more illustrations and the text had been stripped of the padding. The illustrations are varied, both film stills and publicity photos, and are well chosen. The photographs of Miss Roc in her old age prove that she'd lost none of her charm.
She just really deserved a better book than this.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
A real disappointment
Just to add to the two three star reviews - should have been copy read at least once, and then sent back to the author, along with a course on how to write a sentence. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Lying
5.0 out of 5 stars
Patricia Roc Book
This is a difficult one as the book was for my husband, but he has not complained so I am sure the book was perfect as he is not communicating at present, this is the best I can do... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Mrs. Hazel L. Sharif
5.0 out of 5 stars
Patricia Roc the Goddess of the Odeons
A fascinating insight into a film star I had nearly forgotten. Well written with an awful lot of facts some which may surprise you. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2011 by Wilf Talbot
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