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Das Sexleben der Hollywood- Göttinnen. Die Skandalchronik der Traumfabrik.
Tackles the steamy world of movies and their stars, including the sex lives of such heroes as Errol Flynn, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, James Dean and Marlon Brando. This book is one of a series that includes "Sex Lives of the Popes" and "Sex Lives of the Kings and Queens of England".
- GenresNonfictionHistory
Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Nigel Cawthorne
328 books129 followersNigel Cawthorne is an Anglo-American writer of fiction and non-fiction, and an editor. He has written more than 80 books on a wide range of subjects and has contributed to The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph Daily Mail and The New York Times. He has appeared on television and BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Many of Nigel Cawthorne's books are compilations of popular history, without footnotes, references or bibliographies. His own web site refers to a description of his home as a "book-writing factory" and says, "More than half my books were commissioned by publishers and packagers for a flat fee or for a for a reduced royalty".
One of his most notable works was Taking Back My Name, an autobiography of Ike Turner, with whom he spent a number of weeks working with him on, taking up residence in Turner's house. The book caused much controversy, resulting in court cases for three years following its release.
Cawthorne currently lives in Bloomsbury, London with his girlfriend and son, Colin (born 1982).
Many of Nigel Cawthorne's books are compilations of popular history, without footnotes, references or bibliographies. His own web site refers to a description of his home as a "book-writing factory" and says, "More than half my books were commissioned by publishers and packagers for a flat fee or for a for a reduced royalty".
One of his most notable works was Taking Back My Name, an autobiography of Ike Turner, with whom he spent a number of weeks working with him on, taking up residence in Turner's house. The book caused much controversy, resulting in court cases for three years following its release.
Cawthorne currently lives in Bloomsbury, London with his girlfriend and son, Colin (born 1982).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 2, 2018
Starts with a chapter on Charlie Chaplin, then moves forward through various idols of the twentieth century, to conclude with a chapter on Warren Beatty. Kind of a fascinating read in one way, but also rather horrifying and depressing. These wonderful actors whom we love so much in their classic films, have feet of clay. Without exception, each of the actors depicted must have been an egotistical, self-centred man who was serially unable to commit to any real relationships.
The early section of the book is particularly bleak. The habits of some directors and producers, particularly in the early twentieth century were well known to be absolutely disgusting. They used and abused woman simply because they could. They were in positions of influence and power, and they took full advantage of that. Some prominent characters would not allow you onto their film set unless you had spent time on the casting couch. And some were clearly pedophiles, even, apparently, the great Chaplin himself. Ugh.
And sadly, it seems there were many stage mothers who were more than happy to pimp out their daughters just to get them into a movie. Again, ugh. There were even known cases of both mother and daughter screwing the same guy just for the daughter to get a role (unbeknownst to the daughter that her mum was doing it too).
The screen idols were no better than the immoral powerbrokers behind the scenes. Many of them were clearly addicted to sex, and promiscuity was their byword. They could screw anyone they liked, so they did. Some of them were also huge drinkers (probably alcoholics) and some also dabbled in drug-taking. John Barrymore supposedly spent his entire life doing exactly what he felt like doing, whenever he felt like it, until the day he died. And it seems that was mainly screwing and drinking.
The whole issue about homosexuality and bisexuality was more difficult because of its illegality and shame value during those times. Actors who were gay had to hide it, sometimes by marrying a woman. Scandals with 'rent boys' etc were quickly covered up by the studio bosses. Sometimes it all came out, such as when Rock Hudson died of AIDS, but usually adoring audiences never knew that the idol they dreamed over was nothing like their starry-eyed fantasies.
The book did suffer from having too much information crammed into its pages. Each idol covered by one chapter could easily have a whole book written about their life (and no doubt they all have). This made for rather dense and slightly disjointed reading. Oh yes, such-and-such is going to marry such-and-such. But suddenly on the next page, it's all over and they are both screwing someone else.
Overall, it was an eye-opening read for me. The epic scale of the bad behaviour of some of these men is horrifying. And yes, rather depressing. Some women gave as good as they got, but sadly, it was so often men in power taking advantage of women with no power. At last the tide is turning and we are finally seeing such men in the twenty-first century being outed for their creepy and awful behaviours. But I won't be able to rewatch those old classic movies through the same eyes anymore.
The early section of the book is particularly bleak. The habits of some directors and producers, particularly in the early twentieth century were well known to be absolutely disgusting. They used and abused woman simply because they could. They were in positions of influence and power, and they took full advantage of that. Some prominent characters would not allow you onto their film set unless you had spent time on the casting couch. And some were clearly pedophiles, even, apparently, the great Chaplin himself. Ugh.
And sadly, it seems there were many stage mothers who were more than happy to pimp out their daughters just to get them into a movie. Again, ugh. There were even known cases of both mother and daughter screwing the same guy just for the daughter to get a role (unbeknownst to the daughter that her mum was doing it too).
The screen idols were no better than the immoral powerbrokers behind the scenes. Many of them were clearly addicted to sex, and promiscuity was their byword. They could screw anyone they liked, so they did. Some of them were also huge drinkers (probably alcoholics) and some also dabbled in drug-taking. John Barrymore supposedly spent his entire life doing exactly what he felt like doing, whenever he felt like it, until the day he died. And it seems that was mainly screwing and drinking.
The whole issue about homosexuality and bisexuality was more difficult because of its illegality and shame value during those times. Actors who were gay had to hide it, sometimes by marrying a woman. Scandals with 'rent boys' etc were quickly covered up by the studio bosses. Sometimes it all came out, such as when Rock Hudson died of AIDS, but usually adoring audiences never knew that the idol they dreamed over was nothing like their starry-eyed fantasies.
The book did suffer from having too much information crammed into its pages. Each idol covered by one chapter could easily have a whole book written about their life (and no doubt they all have). This made for rather dense and slightly disjointed reading. Oh yes, such-and-such is going to marry such-and-such. But suddenly on the next page, it's all over and they are both screwing someone else.
Overall, it was an eye-opening read for me. The epic scale of the bad behaviour of some of these men is horrifying. And yes, rather depressing. Some women gave as good as they got, but sadly, it was so often men in power taking advantage of women with no power. At last the tide is turning and we are finally seeing such men in the twenty-first century being outed for their creepy and awful behaviours. But I won't be able to rewatch those old classic movies through the same eyes anymore.
August 2, 2017
Fun trashy read. Kinda wish it had more details about the references it pulled from and a few more photos - there's none of the women referenced at all!
July 13, 2019
gossip gays and rudeness , where on earth do they get the energy for all these shenanigans good old fashioned tales .
June 20, 2020
Informative
Things I never knew and validation of what I already knew. I hadn't known how conflicted James Dean was. So sad he left this world unhappy.
Things I never knew and validation of what I already knew. I hadn't known how conflicted James Dean was. So sad he left this world unhappy.
November 15, 2012
I must have a different version, because there was only half a sentence about Brando. And am I the only person in the world who didn't know Cary Grant was gay? Trashy gossip...not that that's a bad thing.
October 4, 2014
Absolut filth. Partly witty, mainly just rude and completely stupid. Soul and brain killing.
April 16, 2017
This was an intriguing look "behind the scenes" of some of the top actors of Old Hollywood. I can't remember how this ended up on my bookshelf, but I am glad it did - because I feel that I have learned quite a bit about the gritty side of Hollywood. Cawthorne has deftly avoided it feeling like a cheap gossip column, but I feel it had more potential than it delivered and it would be even more engaging if there were some photographs to accompany the text.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews