First published 2016
Robert Wagner opens his memoir by reflecting on sixty years in Hollywood, from the final days of the studio system through television's dominance. He knew the greatest female stars of his generation both as colleagues and friends. Wagner examines what made Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe, Gloria Swanson, and others into icons. He explores how the camera transformed attractive women into stunning screen presences, and how color film allowed actresses to express sexuality in ways black and white movies could only suggest. Wagner writes about the emotional and dramatic qualities that shaped these women's career decisions and personal lives. He discusses Joan Blondell, Irene Dunne, Rosalind Russell, Dorothy Lamour, Debra Paget, Jean Peters, Linda Darnell, Betty Hutton, Raquel Welch, and Glenn Close. The memoir includes his relationships with Natalie Wood and Jill St. John, both of whom he married. Wagner reveals how these actresses created their particular magic through the combination of sexual appeal and romantic attraction that captivated audiences.
Genres: 20th-century, autobiography, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, relationships
Setting: Hollywood
Period: Studio System, Television
256 pages · Hardcover · Viking