Customer Reviews

Leading Couples: Unforgettable Screen Romances of the Studio Era (Turner Classic Movies)

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3 star:		(1)
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If like me you hugely enjoyed the Leading Ladies and Leading Men books, then you are probably really excited for the latest installment.

However, prepare to be disappointed. The couples chosen are no the greatest. Sure they've included Bogie & Bacall, Tracy & Hepburn, Fred & Ginger, and many others. However, many legendary couples like Carole Lombard & Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor & Montgomery Clift, and Gene Kelly & Judy Garland were not included. This in my opinion is appalling, since there are about three or four couples included in this book that do not deserve to be there. In fact, they are hardly remembered today, showing that they obviously did not leave a memorable mark on the screen.

They made the excuse that they couldnt included a certain person twice and therefore had to leave them out. That shouldn't be an issue. They even had to flip a coin on some of them, well I only wish we were all there to make the right choice for them.

Buy the book, it is entertaining to read about the couples that they did include who HAVE made a mark on film. However, do not expect the fantastic and hugely enjoyable style and content, that you adored in the previous two books.

this was in fact the first book of this series that I bought and having now seen the leading me/ladies versions, this is as good a selection as that. Most of the selections have every reason to be included - Astaire/Rogers, Bogart/Bacall, Ladd/Lake for example - but some are a bit of a mystery. Why Bogart and Bergman though? They only made one film together, and even if it was a remarkable pairing, it's hardly what you'd call a partnership in the way Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler were. And it is a shame that the pairings are male/female, which leaves no room for the likes of Laurel and Hardy, Glenda Farrell and Joan Blondell, or Lewis and Martin. Whilst not a couple, a place could have been found for The Dead End Kids if the title had been less rigidly adhered to.But this is nonetheless an entertaining read in the same style as the rest of the series. perhaps the ship has sailed, but I'd quite like an edition based on the great directors.

I ordered this book because I am a fan of the studio era of the 30's,40's and early 50's.It was exactly what I needed to supplement my Dvd collection.It contains many facts and details of each couple. I will return to it time and time again,to check the odd fact or two.If you are like me a fan of that era then this is the book for you.

Leading Couples is charming and informative and a must have for any fans of the TCM series of books.

While it includes many memorable greats, (the obvious Bogie and Bacall, Fred and Ginger, to name a few) I personally think some of the pairings chosen were a little a bit of a puzzle. Similarly, many great couples such as Mitchum and Kerr, Gable and Lombard, were not included. Then again, I suppose this is all subjective.

As for the actual content, you get lots of interesting trivia including each couple's onscreen appearances and real-life relationship. Overall: fantastic, just not quite as great as the other two books.

I bought this book as a present for a friend who is a lover of all things connected to the great days of Hollywood. She said it was one of the best books she had read about the stars who were couples during those times and that it was a most enjoyable present.

This book, along with TCM's other books in the series 'Leading Men' & 'Leading Ladies' are absoloutely FANTASTIC!!! So well done and beautifully presented ... being a young film fan of classic Hollywood and still discovering new films, stars & directors from the Golden days of Hollywood - This book is fantastic for discovering and learning more about the screen teams, behind the scenes and giving their top movies and best quotes!

This book was recommended to me by a friend and it is very good indeed.