Customer Reviews

Hattie: The Life of Hattie McDaniel

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Carlton Jackson has done a concise, literate job delving into the life and work of Hattie McDaniel. Not only do you get a clear sense of who she was and her talent as a performer, but also of the context and times in which she lived. Jackson sheds much-needed light on a seldom-seen side of Hollywood - the black side - as well as the struggles between commerce & equality that still exist today. Reading about the NAACP protests against Hollywood vis a vis lack of opportunities for blacks is like reading today's headlines. But more importantly, getting a proper sense of who Hattie McDaniel was and her professional legacy are the primary reasons to read this book.

The author uses lots of footnotes to impress the reader. This
book is full of errors like saying Lilian Randolph played Beulah
and that Hattie did not film any episodes of the TV series (when
there are 3 available on video). One wonders, too, if the author
saw any of her films other than GONE WITH THE WIND and THE GREAT
LIE. This book was slapped together to coincide with one of the
re-release dates of GONE WITH THE WIND. It is a pity because Hattie paved the way for all the African-American stars of today and deserves a real biography instead of this piece of crap.

Considering how important Hattie McDaniel is to American movie history both for her talents and achievements, I've been surprised there are not more books about her. I was glad to discover Carlton Jackson's book. I'll mention the glitches first since I want to end on a positive note. Mr. Jackson mentions the constant confusion between Hattie, Louise Beavers, and Ethel Waters and this seems to extend to the copy editor and even Mr. Jackson himself. On Page 34 (paperback)it says "It is our intention to publicize her name as Hattie McDaniel, instead of 'the colored woman who was in Imitation of Life'....We have a feeling that Louise Beavers, cast in important pictures, can do much to enhance their entertainment value." I had to read this a few times before I realized the editor was confused and it should read "...publicize her name as Louise Beavers", since Hattie was not in that movie. This happens a few times throughout the book. And at the end, Mr. Jackson compares Hattie's funeral to a scene from Imitation of Life, but Hattie was NEVER in that movie, so it muddles things again. A factual mistake occurs on page 113 when mentioning James Baskett, who played Uncle Remus in Song of the South. Mr. Jackson states that he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Not true. Harold Russell won for The Best Years of Our Lives. Mr. Baskett was not nominated for an Oscar. He was, however, presented with a special Oscar for his performance as Uncle Remus. It's a minor thing, but does raise concerns about accuracy, since that is such an easy thing to check out. Anyway, glitches aside, I found this book to be very enjoyable and informative about Hattie McDaniel's life and career. The pages of pictures are a treat as well. The picture of her at age 15 is just beautiful. The book was worth the price and is a great read and should satisfy the reader until someone does a more in-depth and longer biography of this wonderful woman.

I read this because it was cited in "Hattie McDaniel:White Hollywood, Black Ambition." This was written sometime ago and I believe the author was able to interview people who knew her. There was more revealing information about her sad final days. However, if there was an epilogue written to this book today, it would add that she has received recognition by being featured on the U.S. Postage stamp in 2006, over 50 years after her death.

I was thrilled to stumble upon a hardcover copy of "Hattie: The Life of Hattie McDaniel" while browsing in a local used bookstore. Some minor factual errors aside, this well-deserved biography provides a moving look inside the life of one of America's most beloved character actresses. Carlton Jackson's flowing narrative is engaging, and it draws you in to Miss McDaniels' persona, private (and sometimes public) struggles, to better understand the scope of what her professional achievements really meant to her, to Hollywood and to society as a whole. This book was a welcomed addition to my book collection and I trust that it will be to any other classic film fan's, too!