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Betty Grable: The Girl with the Million Dollar Legs
This is a newsy, respectful, affectionate tribute to a trouper...— Booklist
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
Paperback
First published October 28, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 23, 2016
This is a truly wonderful book about a beautiful and talented film icon. The author delved deep into her character and you really felt that you knew her. The author made sure to mention both her generous, "always room at the top" attitude when it came to competition and her bouts of grouchiness, too. It's all there.
You really got an interesting view of the workings of the studio system, too. Betty Grable was the top moneymaking actress for years at Fox and was apparently under-appreciated by her studio. I love How to Marry A Millionaire and found that segment of the book incredibly interesting. The author mentions how Marllyn Monroe and Grable were put in the movie together so that Monroe would outshine Grable and oust her from her throne as top Blonde. Well, that didn't happen exactly the way they expected. Buoyant Betty had a way of looking fantastic and holding her own beside the younger actress.
The book goes into detail about her marriages and home life. No area of her life is glossed over. An appropriate amount of time was spent in each area.
The photos are wonderful and there are lots of them!!
This is a must read for Betty Grable fans!
You really got an interesting view of the workings of the studio system, too. Betty Grable was the top moneymaking actress for years at Fox and was apparently under-appreciated by her studio. I love How to Marry A Millionaire and found that segment of the book incredibly interesting. The author mentions how Marllyn Monroe and Grable were put in the movie together so that Monroe would outshine Grable and oust her from her throne as top Blonde. Well, that didn't happen exactly the way they expected. Buoyant Betty had a way of looking fantastic and holding her own beside the younger actress.
The book goes into detail about her marriages and home life. No area of her life is glossed over. An appropriate amount of time was spent in each area.
The photos are wonderful and there are lots of them!!
This is a must read for Betty Grable fans!
April 5, 2019
Easy reading. Interesting era. Have seen many old movies with Betty Grable so i was interested about her beginnings. Seems like Betty was a genuinely nice person whose talents & generosity stretched over multiple decades, particularly during several wars. The author shared details about Betty’s life in a deeply respectful way, unlike some other Hollywood biographies that attempt sensationalism to hook the reader. Didn’t think I’d like it as much as I did. Worth the read!
June 11, 2014
This is a really well-researched, and well-written biography. The author is a longtime Grable fan, but (for the most part) he doesn't let this cloud his judgment. The problem is, Betty Grable was by all accounts a nice, normal gal - a rarity in Hollywood. But unless you're a huge fan, her life lacks some of the drama surrounding other, less 'grounded' stars.
November 14, 2015
My only criticism is on the blatant adoration the author had for the subject. He clearly worships her, and therefore Betty Grable could do no wrong. It leaves me wondering how much was glossed over or skipped, in order to keep Grable seeming the perfect film star.
Otherwise, well written, informative, well researched. It was fantastic to read about Betty Grable's life and loves.
Otherwise, well written, informative, well researched. It was fantastic to read about Betty Grable's life and loves.
July 26, 2018
Elizabeth Ruth Grable was always a pretty girl who could sing and dance and became the family
breadwinner at the tender age of 11 when she made her motion picture debut in a Fox film Happy Days. Done with that new fangled gimmick of sound, perky blond Betty was in blackface during a
musical number.
Betty Grable had a long apprenticeship during the Thirties in supporting parts and musical bits for
various studios when she went back to her debut studio now rechristened 20th Century Fox and headed by the dynamic Darryl F. Zanuck. He saw how Grable could be cast as the beautiful but likeable girl next door type. It was he who thought to exploit her greatest asset those gorgeous legs
of her insurd with Lloyds Of London for a million dollars. That act itself was a multi-million dollar
publicity gimmick.
For the most part her films were happy and escapist entertainment and Betty with Rita Hayworth
at Columbia were the number one pin up girls for GIs across the globe. I read with interest Zanuck's attempt to make her a serious actress in I Wake Up Screaming. She did wonderfully but
the film so drained her emotionally that she refused to do serious roles after that.
Author Tom McGee met Betty while she was touring in the British Isles in the 60s over a decade
after her last film. The book is based on many hours of interviews with her and with co-workers
over a 20 year period before the book came out in 1995. Not an authorized biography by any means, but one as good as you'll get on this subject.
The usual Hollygood gossip of the time is retold. Her marriages with Jackie Coogan and Harry James are explored and the dynamics of her relationships with various co-workers is explored. None of them had an unkind word, apparently she was genuinely a nice person.
The final chapter and the description of Betty in the grip of lung cancer are overwhelmingly sad.
She was a heavy smoker and in the end paid dear. No doubt that's what caused the cancer.
This is one fine show business biography it gets my stamp of approval.
breadwinner at the tender age of 11 when she made her motion picture debut in a Fox film Happy Days. Done with that new fangled gimmick of sound, perky blond Betty was in blackface during a
musical number.
Betty Grable had a long apprenticeship during the Thirties in supporting parts and musical bits for
various studios when she went back to her debut studio now rechristened 20th Century Fox and headed by the dynamic Darryl F. Zanuck. He saw how Grable could be cast as the beautiful but likeable girl next door type. It was he who thought to exploit her greatest asset those gorgeous legs
of her insurd with Lloyds Of London for a million dollars. That act itself was a multi-million dollar
publicity gimmick.
For the most part her films were happy and escapist entertainment and Betty with Rita Hayworth
at Columbia were the number one pin up girls for GIs across the globe. I read with interest Zanuck's attempt to make her a serious actress in I Wake Up Screaming. She did wonderfully but
the film so drained her emotionally that she refused to do serious roles after that.
Author Tom McGee met Betty while she was touring in the British Isles in the 60s over a decade
after her last film. The book is based on many hours of interviews with her and with co-workers
over a 20 year period before the book came out in 1995. Not an authorized biography by any means, but one as good as you'll get on this subject.
The usual Hollygood gossip of the time is retold. Her marriages with Jackie Coogan and Harry James are explored and the dynamics of her relationships with various co-workers is explored. None of them had an unkind word, apparently she was genuinely a nice person.
The final chapter and the description of Betty in the grip of lung cancer are overwhelmingly sad.
She was a heavy smoker and in the end paid dear. No doubt that's what caused the cancer.
This is one fine show business biography it gets my stamp of approval.
March 27, 2019
Betty Grable was one of the most beloved Hollywood stars but somehow I never read a book about her. I absolutely loved The Girl With The Million Dollar Legs! It was everything I want in a biography. First of all, it was written by a man who was a fan of Grable, and that meant the book was a positive and fully comprehensive look into her life. The author talked about her personal life, her experiences on set and with studio heads, and her interactions with other stars and lovers. For me, this was an excellent read!
I know Grable best from How To Marry A Millionaire, but she rose to fame as a pin-up girl during World War II. Her picture helped many servicemen get through the war and her most famous picture is probably the one of her backside with her smiling over her shoulder. I loved that she embraced the way she rose to stardom and frequently said she was famous for two reasons and she was standing on both them. She was a beauty who called herself an okay singer and dancer but not a great actress.
Grable was a production of MGM’s studio system and both benefited and was punished by the rigors of being under contract. That meant she didn’t get to decide the movie she was in, which often resulted in bad roles and type casting. She excelled as the good girl who danced her way into a young man’s heart. I was especially interested in her interactions with other stars, and appreciated each story the author included about her relationship with people such Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall.
What struck me the most about Grable was how many people remember med her as a nice and generous woman. She was the epitome of stardom: someone who loved what she did, loved the happy impact her films had on fans, and became a better person because of it. I was so glad I bought this book and would highly recommend it to other classic Hollywood buffs.
I know Grable best from How To Marry A Millionaire, but she rose to fame as a pin-up girl during World War II. Her picture helped many servicemen get through the war and her most famous picture is probably the one of her backside with her smiling over her shoulder. I loved that she embraced the way she rose to stardom and frequently said she was famous for two reasons and she was standing on both them. She was a beauty who called herself an okay singer and dancer but not a great actress.
Grable was a production of MGM’s studio system and both benefited and was punished by the rigors of being under contract. That meant she didn’t get to decide the movie she was in, which often resulted in bad roles and type casting. She excelled as the good girl who danced her way into a young man’s heart. I was especially interested in her interactions with other stars, and appreciated each story the author included about her relationship with people such Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall.
What struck me the most about Grable was how many people remember med her as a nice and generous woman. She was the epitome of stardom: someone who loved what she did, loved the happy impact her films had on fans, and became a better person because of it. I was so glad I bought this book and would highly recommend it to other classic Hollywood buffs.
May 5, 2019
I read this book a long time ago. I remember it was paperback, I remember loving it. I did not remember the details because I took no notes on it, so I am very glad to read it again. I had forgotten that this book made Betty (and maybe she was) a great person. A person who was still humble even though for a time she was the most popular lady in America. Famed for her gorgeous legs, many forget that she was also a gifted actress. One of my favorite films ever is Pin-Up Girl, it is fun and this book gave us a peek into Betty's life as she was making the film. I am glad I stumbled upon this book later on in life after I had seen many of Betty's films and could really appreciate her contributions to the great world of classic movies.
January 22, 2012
Being an old-movie buff and a huge fan of Betty Grable I liked it because it did contain an abundance of detail on her films,costars, broadway shows, etc..
However I couldn't help but feel there was more to her than this portrayal provided. Although McGee did expose some of her failings and insecurities they were pretty subtle and few. It was that softer kinder image that I didn't find believable--but yet I wanted to because I was such a fan. I enjoyed the book over all.
However I couldn't help but feel there was more to her than this portrayal provided. Although McGee did expose some of her failings and insecurities they were pretty subtle and few. It was that softer kinder image that I didn't find believable--but yet I wanted to because I was such a fan. I enjoyed the book over all.
August 19, 2011
More of a filmography than a biography.
August 24, 2012
I have always enjoyed Betty Grable's movies this was a fun read to see the person behind the dancer.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews