Quantity:

More Buying Choices

14 used & new from �17.09

Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Joan Blondell: A Life Between Takes (Hollywood Legends)

See larger image

Share your own customer images

Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

Joan Blondell: A Life Between Takes (Hollywood Legends) (Hardcover)

by Matthew Kennedy (Author)

4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Price:	�30.95 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
	o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Only 2 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want guaranteed delivery by Thursday, November 12? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details

9 new from �17.09 5 used from �22.85

Frequently Bought Together

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

William Powell: The Life and Films

by Roger Bryant

�34.15

Forever Mame: Rosalind Russell (Hollywood Legends)

by Bernard F. Dick

�14.85

Carole Landis: A Most Beautiful Girl (Hollywood Legends)

by Eric Gans

�29.95

Claudette Colbert: She Walked in Beauty (Hollywood Legends)

by Bernard Dick

�14.86

The Busby Berkeley Collection [DVD] [1933] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

DVD ~ James Cagney

4.8 out of 5 stars (6)

› Explore similar items

Product details

Hardcover: 300 pages
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi (April 2007)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1578069610
ISBN-13: 978-1578069613
Product Dimensions: 20.6 x 15.7 x 3 cm

Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 688,509 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested in These Sponsored Links

(What is this?)

Hollywood Legends opens new browser window

Ask.com - Find the Best Results for Hollywood Legends.

Product Description

This volume provides a dedicated mailing and e-mail campaign to targeted film related media & organisations.Born into an established vaudeville family, Joan Blondell (1906-1979) was an effervescent, scene-stealing actress who found success in everything from Hollywood movies and Broadway theatre to television and radio.With her stellar smile, casual sex appeal, distinctive voice, and flawless timing, she became a Hollywood favourite, co-staring alongside everyone from James Cagney, Clark Gable, and Humphrey Bogart to Barbara Stanwyck, Judy Garland, and Bette Davis. By the time of her death, she had starred in more than 100 films in a glittering career that spanned more than 50 years.This superb volume is meticulously researched, expertly weaving stories from her public and private life, and featuring numerous interviews with family, friends, and colleagues.

About the Author

Matthew Kennedy teaches film history at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and anthropology at the City College of San Francisco.

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)

actresses

joan blondell

biography - movie stars

movie stars

television performers

music

mike todd

matthew kennedy

joan crawford

joan blondells life and performances

history

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	48% buy the item featured on this page: Joan Blondell: A Life Between Takes (Hollywood Legends) 4.7 out of 5 stars (3) �30.95
	16% buy Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing 4.7 out of 5 stars (6) �8.99
	13% buy A Rose for Mrs. Miniver: The Life of Greer Garson 4.7 out of 5 stars (13) �16.83
	12% buy Lana: The Memories, the Myths, the Movies 5.0 out of 5 stars (1) �12.99

Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

3 Reviews

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Victim of the System, 15 Aug 2008

By	Mb Davis "afc9871" (London) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One of the problems in writing a biog of an actress who has been dead for nearly 30 years is that for a substantial part of her life there will be no one to interview for their recollections.So for the period from the subject's birth till around 1940 we have to make do with cuttings ,studio archives and Blondell's own book.So there are large holes in the story and many unexplained actions.for example why did George Barnes continue to insist that Blondell seek abortions whenever she fell pregnant.It is not till the 1940s that the author is able to rely upon the recollections of her children,friends and coworkers.that the book really comes to life.However what we have here is a rather familiar sad story.Namely an actress at her peak in an era when her bargining power was limited by the depression and the power of the studio.Giving up her career for a failed marriage to Mike Todd,who abused her and took most of her money.Then trying to restart her career in her 40s when she was no longer a drawing card.I have read this same story many times.Ones that come to mind because of their similarities are the biogs of Joan Bennett and Veronica Lake.So if you enjoy Warners films of the 30s in general and Joan Blondell in particular then this is the book for you.Otherwise it is still a good read but nothing out of the ordinary.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Lady, Lovely Book To Match, 11 Sep 2009

By	Mark Cheshire (Wiltshire, England) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I suppose I'm biased about a Joan Blondell biography, already being of the opinion that she remains the prettiest girl to work in Hollywood ever. That was my cue to buy anyway, but I was certainly surprised by much of what I read. Particularly the very moving accounts of her uncompromising first husband who was determined to deny her children.
And, at least in personal terms - well, it is a Life Between Takes -the story of Joan's three marriages is fascinating, and you have to feel much sympathy for her. George Barnes, the dapper but emotionally frosty first, the entrepreneurial Dick Powell whose business mind was at odds with her homeloving side, and Mike Todd, another charmer with a hard streak.
Anyone who has seen such notable turns as Joan Blondell gave in A Tree Grows In Brooklyn and Nightmare Alley will find this a good read. It seems desperately sad that Joan Blondell's name isn't up there with the best known of Hollywood's leading ladies (where it most certainly could be), but Matthew Kennedy explains why very admirably in this book. The price is very reasonable for a discerning fan and the nature of her life through the good and bad times mix together to give a book that interests from start to finish. And fitting in Joan's centenary year too; this sits very well on my bookshelf.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Joan Blondell: A life between takes., 18 April 2009

By	M. Lucien "gunners" (London, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a good book. It goes through a lot of details about her early life and career and there are a lot of details about her 3 marriages.
A must for Joan Blondell fans.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 3 customer reviews...

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jqOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jqOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jqOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; }

Customer Discussions

This product's forum

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Active discussions in related forums

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
politics "Sour faced little Englanders" - David Cameron	3	4 hours ago
politics Would it be so bad if we let Europe run the UK	12	4 hours ago
politics Special relationship America and Britain	7	4 hours ago
biography Best Biography?	146	15 hours ago
biography Books that made you laugh out loud.	216	15 hours ago
biography A book for a man who doesn't usually read?	12	1 day ago
biography any suggestions for a new read	23	1 day ago