The First Female Stars: Women of the Silent Era

by David W. Menefee

The First Female Women of the Silent Era rediscovers the fascinating lives and pioneering achievements of 15 women who dared to venture into early motion pictures, an industry dominated by men, and who not only succeeded but became the focal points of the industry. Each star earned a position at the height of her profession, and though many are largely forgotten today, made a lasting and significant contribution to early cinema. In this entertaining and informative volume, author David Menefee reveals these women and their signature roles, drawing on many original sources to show us how such actresses as Theda Bara, Sarah Bernhardt, Dorothy Gish, and Norma Talmadge were received in their time, and the many ways in which their influence remains important today.

Each profile contains a biographical treatment, an analysis of key films from her career, a discussion of the actress's influence on the medium, and selected filmography. Each also includes two photographs, most often one of the actress herself and a still from a film.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not great--basically Wikipedia and IMDB got together and had 15 boring babies. I was hoping for something more along the lines of Eve Golden profiles but it's basically a regurgitation of press releases, LENGTHY synopses, what feels like copy & pasted biographical information and lists and lists of film titles.

The author can't seem to mention a date, without also listing a half dozen films popular in that year, which plumps up the word count I suppose, but makes you feel like you are reading never ending lists instead of anything interesting. Also, seems rather pro DW Griffith (author obviously seems to be a very big fan) and there is nothing really piercing or especially thoughtful--like in covering the Gishes and Mae Marsh and Carol Dempster, you would think of Griffith as the kindly old uncle thoughtfully tending to those young ladies' careers ("magnanimously allowed each to pursue their destiny"), than the racist predatory pervert that he was.

I got this book since it has chapters on actresses that you almost never get to read about--Norma Talmadge and Beverly Bayne were two in particular I wanted to read about, but learnt nothing new. In fact, came up with more questions than anything else. Norma Talmadge was addicted to cocaine for thirty years? I thought it was pain pills after declining health, but even that I sort of wonder about. He repeats the story of how Bayne's career was ruined after it came out about her Bushman's love affair, but I'd love to hear more about that. Like Pickford and Fairbanks were married before that, and their audiences loved the onscreen romance between the two, why were they so against a public one?

The only thing that is making me give this a two star rating rather than the one is the copious amounts of photos in this book, so at least there is that.

[Laura Wigginton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written, I was very dissapointed in this book.

[Annie Garvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heartfelt, but a bit boring

[David Menefee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, well-written book, fascinating subjects, and first-rate printing by HarperCollins.