World Famous Comics: The Hollywood Book of Extravagance: The Totally Infamous, Mostly Disastrous, and Always Compelling Excesses of America's Film and TV Idols
The Hollywood Book of Extravagance: The Totally Infamous, Mostly Disastrous, and Always Compelling Excesses of America's Film and TV Idols
By: James Robert Parish Publisher: Wiley Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Wiley Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 288 Publication Date: August 24, 2007
Product Description: Savor the inside scoop on over-the-top superstars
"I'm not a paranoid, deranged millionaire. . . . I'm a billionaire!"
"Acting is an empty and useless profession."
"Good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go everywhere else."
"I'm interested in being provocative and pushing people's buttons."
Which screen icons gave us the quotes above? How do stars get away with self-indulgent, unrestrained behaviors-or do they? In The Hollywood Book of Extravagance, longtime industry insider and Hollywood historian James Robert Parish gives you a provocative look behind the scenes at the lavish indulgences and larger-than-life egos of Tinseltown's rich and famous. The featured celebrities range from heartthrobs to industry tycoons, and from yesterday's matinee idols to today's hottest celebs. The stars are grouped according to their excesses: ego, neurosis, partying, power, rich living, and romancing. You'll devour little-known details on the excesses and exploits of notables ranging from Mae West to Madonna, Greta Garbo to Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando, Bela Lugosi to John Belushi, Zsa Zsa Gabor to Paris Hilton, Errol Flynn to Jude Law, and many more.
The Hollywood Book of Extravegance Parrish writes in an easy to read, enjoyable style. A little light sometimes on substance but fun and interesting.
Nothing New Here A generally fun book for movie fans, but very little information offered that hasn't been covered in other books and articles. The most interesting sections were those that covered such not often written about people such as Louis B. Mayer, Clara Bow and Jennifer Jones.
What Fun! James Robert Parish's THE HOLLYWOOD BOOK OF EXTRAVAGANCE is well worth the investment. More than 80 two-to-four page biographies of show biz icons provide always interesting information about a wide variety of personalities, from actors to industry moguls, which can be read one or two at a time or in a non-stop trip through the book's 250+ pages. You can always depend on Parish for a good time--he knows his business, show business, that is!
Another Great Jim Parish Read James Parish always comes up with interesting subjects and writes in a readable, fun way. EXTRAVAGANCES is just that: colorful and flashy, but only in the best sense. Of course, it is entertaining to read about contemporary celebrities "acting out," but Parish is even better with stars of the past--who knew about Gale Storm or Sonja Henie? No one gets a pass here--not even America's first "Sweetheart," Mary Pickford. If the book can be faulted for anything, it is for not going into more depth with each story (even if it meant ditching a few entries, it would have been worth it). But, otherwise, THE HOLLYWOOD BOOK OF EXTRAVAGANCE covers its subject much better than all that TMZ stuff churned out today.
Hollywood never ceases to amaze Nothing exceeds like success and in Hollywood they take it to a level all of their own. Who did what and how over the top they went is an endless fascination, and Parish documents the worst examples in the latest of his line of always-interesting books. Parish knows his stuff and is able to share what he knows in an involving and authoritative way. I gobbled this book up from cover to cover.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
