Customer Reviews

Hollywood Diva: A Biography of Jeanette MacDonald

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If this WERE a work of fiction, Turk's book would not be so offensive, but I have spent well over twenty years interviewing people who knew Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald. I am NOT Sharon Rich. I have spoken with Nelson Eddy. I have even interviewed Gene Raymond. I can honestly say the evidence is overwhelming that Jeanette MacDonald lead a different life than the one presented by Mr. Turk. It is not enough to just read a woman's unpublished autobiography and talk to her husband. There are reasons why both might lie. Jeanette MacDonald did not want to shock her fans or bring down the public personnas of herself and Nelson Eddy when she wrote her autobiography. If Mr. Turk had taken the time to look at the evidence which refutes the "Gene Raymond" version of Jeanette's life, then the book would have fulfilled its potential as a fairly accurate portrait of a complex woman living in a difficult period that straddles World War II. Once Jeanette met Nelson Eddy, he was a driving influence in her life. Nelson Eddy was not a monogamous man. He had many female lovers, and some of them are still alive to talk about him and his relationship with Jeanette, Gene, and Ann Eddy (a woman I have also had the "pleasure" of meeting). Had Turk taken the time to actually follow up the research on the Eddy/MacDonald relationship, he might have presented history in a much more accurate light. It's a shame when an ordinary researcher blurs history by looking at it through "tinted" glasses. It is a sin when an academic does it, either accidentally or on purpose. Mr. Turk varnished the truth, rewrote it by omission, and basically did a disservice to both Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. I am curious why Mr. Turk did not accept Lina Basquette's account of Nelson Eddy's prowess with women. I am even more curious why he would insinuate that Eddy was gay when even Shelley Winters has recounted Nelson's attempt to seduce her. The University of California should be ashamed for accepting the publication without looking at the research on the other side of the coin.

This is a wonderful book, well researched and documented, about the greatest star ever to grace the Silver Screen. It portrays her as human, determined, disciplined and loving. If you want the real story of Jeanette MacDonald, read this and not the trashy fiction put out by another author who has created a real 'cash cow' with her lies about Jeanette. And to all of that author's fans, who want so desperately to believe in a doomed love affair, 'Wake up and smell the coffee!' This woman does not admire Jeanette or Nelson nor does she respect them. They are simply her meal ticket and she is eating quite well!

Edward Baron Turk's brilliantly realized biography of the singer-actress Jeanette MacDonald, "Hollywood Diva" is worth the long wait.

For years fans of the beloved red-haired, green-eyed soprano, have longed for a complete and concise biographical work. "Diva" is all that and more.

Turk has conducted scores of interviews and gleamed through mountains of papers including MacDonald's own unpublished autobiography, to accurately reflect his subject. The reader comes away both educated and enlightened not to mention very impressed with the woman who dazzled and delighted millions in virtually every medium of show business.

Jeanette MacDonald was much more than one-half of the classic screen team of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. She starred in nearly 30 motion pictures, broke records performing on stage and in concert, not to mention realizing her dream of starring in Grand Opera. Nightclubs, radio, television, and recordings were fields that benefitted from the special MacDonald touch, and while she may have appeared to do it effortlessly, this book reveals the incredible energy and work that she put into everything she did. Every facet of her life she gave more than 100% to and fans of the star will come away impressed anew with her tireless dedication to her art. Those to whom MacDonald is a name from the far past will want to go out and explore her career by watching her films and discovering what many of us have said for decades - Jeanette MacDonald is one of the greats!

Turk perfectly balances his story by not placing MacDonald on an unreachable pedestal but portraying his subject as a real person, replete with faults, ferocious in her determination to never give less than her best. Nowhere does this apply more than to her personal life. Mr. Turk's handling of the marriage between MacDonald and actor Gene Raymond is a lesson to everyone in every kind of relationship. Their nearly 28 year marriage had periodic difficulties but ultimately what stands out is the real, deep-rooted, and very moving love that the couple shared, something not easily achieved in the milieu of Hollywood.

While some would prefer to believe that MacDonald and Eddy were an "item", Turk disproves that myth completely. The MacDonald-Eddy team were pure on-screen magic but off-screen were merely friends. Naysayers would like to believe that author Turk treats Eddy in a less than respectful manner in this tome but nothing could be further from the truth.

MacDonald was married only once. She didn't indulge in the affairs nor have the sometimes tawdry personal life that others of her generation may have had. She was a professional and that is a sometimes rare commodity in show business.

"Hollywood Diva" is must reading for anyone with even a slight interest in the history of the entertainment industry. You'll laugh, cry, learn, and grow. When a book can accomplish all of that, as well as portraying a real person as someone to admire and respect, then it is indeed something very special.

I just finished reading this wonderful and touching biography. It is very well researched and having access to Miss MacDonald's actual autobiography through the Jeanette MacDonald International Fan Club (founded in 1937) and her husband of 27 years, Mr. Gene Raymond, plus countless interviews with people who new Miss MacDonald. It is a great achievement to bring forth an honest biography of a great, largely forgotten star, of the golden era of talking films. Thank you Mr. Turk, I hope all fans of Miss MacDonald's and of the entertainment industry of the first half of the 20th Century read and enjoy this book as I have. She was a great lady.

Mr. Turk writes with both affection and authority about the life of one of the most popular Hollywood musical movie stars of the "Golden Age." His detailed research does not override the bio's pure readability. Ms. MacDonald's career was enormously successful throughout the late twenties and into the 1940's; her popularity has endured well beyond her untimely passing in 1965...all from the sheer force of an endearing personality and unparalled talent, which was never tarnished by scandal or hollow opportunism. David Lapin, credited by Mr. Turk as having introduced him to the talent of MacDonald, has noted: "Edward Baron Turk's "Hollywood Diva" is the most complete and satisfying biographical treatment of Ms. MacDonald's life and career that I have ever read; and I've followed her career for over 35 years." Accented by several lavish and rare photographs, documented by first hand interviews with colleagues and personal acquaintences who best knew Ms. MacDonald, her life story is fleshed out beyond her famous association with Nelson Eddy. The narrative spans the range of her career from her early films with costars Maurice Chevalier and Ramon Navarro to her later work with her husband and true love, Gene Raymond in 'Smilin' Through." Her earlier love interests and professional relationships with her directors and movie studio chiefs...and especially with her devoted fans, help the reader relate to Ms. MacDonald almost as a personal friend...not an untouchable Hollywood icon. Jeanete MacDonald's stage and concert career, through which her fans enjoyed her pure lyric soprano first hand, helps us understand why she was indeed a "diva" , but one which, thanks to Hollywood, everyman could appreciate.

Hollywood Diva - a Biography of Jeanette MacDonald by Edward Baron Turk.

Mr Edward Baron Turk, the author of this lavish new biography of the famous movie singer Jeanette MacDonald, remarks that it is strange that such a legendary figure has inspired comparatively few serious biographies. MacDonald was ,after all, a superstar in every sense of the word; a beautiful and talented woman from a modest Philadelphia background on the wrong side of town who rose through her own diligence and determination to become one of the great movie actresses, up there alongside Garbo and Claudette Colbert.

But fashions change and these days the glory days of MacDonald and her singing partner Nelson Eddy in their melodious and colourful operettas are out of fashion. Despite the bright soprano and the rich baritone of the immortal duo the films by which they are best remembered are considered trite and sentimental. The mock heroics, the arch teasing and the cloying happy endings are now subjects of mockery. Perhaps this explains the lack of interest in the stars? Nevertheless as Mr Turk points out, the legends linger on. Even today Jeanette MacDonald and Neson Eddy are remembered with affection all over the world. And what is more a study of the subtext of many of their films reveals more than meets the eye.

However this splendidly detailed biography more than makes amends. There is a rags to riches account of Jeanette's early life and struggles, the Broadway successes (I had no idea she once starred in a show called ` Boom Boom!) and then the Hollywood years are given a meticulously scholarly treatment at the same time gripping and entertaining.

The, nice but naughty' though not forgotten early films with Maurice Chevalier, when MacDonald was known as the `lingerie queen of Hollywood' are analysed as are the films which made the duo into a world wide icon.

Like so many of her collaborators Mr Turk seems to have fallen for his heroine and gives detailed accounts of her charm and kindness to her staff and family. He revels in descriptions of her redheaded patrician beauty. But her dark side gets the full treatment as well. Not for nothing is she known as the `Iron Butterfly'. Her steely determination, the almost ruthless manipulation of her directors and studio chiefs, the flashes of temper and the true diva behaviour about topics such as her billing, the choice of her - 2 -

songs and the way she was photographed, make entertaining reading. McDonald personified old time protestant values of hard work, ambition, diligence and loyalty to family and country. After finally marrying the actor Gene Raymond she remained with him for the rest of her life. She emerges as a likeable Republican right winger but a a complex and fascinating personality. In a way Mr Baron has trouble in reconciling the different sides of her character.

The only aspect of her career which in my view is not given the explanation it merits is the curious question of why MacDonald abandoned her promising though short lived operatic career. Her singing technique was excellent - we have the word of the great German Diva Lotte Lehmann - and although her voice was considered `small' her stage presence, and her grasp of French won her critical praise in her performances of Gounod operas. But then she suddenly abandoned her ambitions to become a world famous operatic soprano and to sing at the Metropolitan Opera New York and she settled instead for the cosy familiarity of her concert tours - singing songs from her films and light classics. It seems odd that such a feisty lady was so easily discouraged from embarking on a second career as a serious artist -clearly within her grasp and which could have meant personal fulfilment. After all from this time her career took on a decidedly subdued tone.

The most fascinating aspect of the book however, lies in Mr Turk's Analysis of why, even today the romantic operettas are disliked and dismissed by male critics and appeal to female ones. He thinks that McDonald's interpretations of her roles overwhelmed the paler persona of Nelson Eddy and thus are perceived as threatening by many men. Viewing the films again made me think that MrTurk is onto something here. He also gives many other insights into the gender relationships and the ladylike yet erotic appeal of his heroine. Again, MacDonald offers opportunities for parody and burlesque but Mr Turk doesn't seem to explore the popularity and affection she elicits from the Gay Community.

All in all though the story is presented in a most readable style,packed with anecdotes and fascinating details plus sociological and psychological commentaries. There are lavish notes and photographs, a bibliography, an index and best of all a comprehensive listing of all MacDonald's stage and screen appearances.

For those who like me love the movies of the thirties, music and opera, this is a terrific read.

I have been a fan of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy since I was a child. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I thought, finally we would get the truth of this couple once and for all. I have to agree with most of the comments left here on this subject. The book was well written but not very well researched. It seems as though the man who wrote this had a sincere dislike for Eddy and belittled him at every turn, making Raymond some sort of hero! I do believe that it was Raymond who was a supposed homosexual and not Eddy. There are to many cases in history that testify that indeed Jeanette and Nelson had a wonderful relationship with eachother, not just mere aquaintances as Turk tried to imply here. Not to mention that anyone who listens to Eddy sing could never say he had a mediocre talent or that Jeanette was the only reason people watched these movies. Jeanette is my favorite, but where would Rose-Marie had been without her Canadian Mountie? The truth is the work is a good work of Fiction not Fact.

I have loved Jeanette for years and I honestly think this is the worst biography ever written about her. After all these years how can the author ignore all the evidence of a love affair between Nelson and Jeanette. A biography is supposed to uncover the truth about a star but this is just a sanitized look at Jeanette's much too perfect life. It seems like this guy is trying to nominate Jeanette for sainthood. You can't possibly get Jeanette's full life story here because there is so much that is left out. One of the biggest problems here is that Jeanette's widow Gene Raymond is one of the main sources. He was obviously trying to preserve their image as a perfect couple and never revealed anything new about their life together. This book makes Gene and Jeanette's marriage look like a glossy pictorial from a 1940's movie magazine. Since the stories about Jeanette and Gene are purely fiction it makes you wonder if anything in this book is true.

You won't know it by reading this book but the real Jeanette was a passionate human being who made a lot of mistakes in her life. If the author had dared to talk about her ill fated romance with Nelson it would have shown another side to her personality. I don't know why there are certain Jeanette fans who want to believe she was perfect. Are they really happy accepting a nicely packaged bunch of sugarcoated lies about her life? If you want to learn about the real Jeanette please read Sharon Rich's well-researched book about her. Sharon is the first author was not afraid to tell Jeanette's true life story. Since at least nine other fans have written negative reviews I am obviously not the only one who has problems with this so-called biography. Amazon should move Hollywood Diva into their fiction section. I am praying that this author doesn't write a book about any of my other favorite stars.

Edward Turk Baron has done a great job in recounting the life of Macdonald, a complex diva to say the least, and very misunderstood by more recent generations, most of whom haven't even seen her movies.

Many of us are younger, and have happened upon Macdonald by accident, at night on the late show, or (more rarely), at a revival at a theatre specializing in retro movies. There's something very moving about Jeanette Macdonald's voice and movie persona, something that no other actress has quite captured.

Baron gives us both the woman, and the professional diva, and offstage it seems she was at least as stunning as she was onscreen. It was particularly gratifying to read a serious analysis of her life and work, since there's been some truly silly puffery about her supposed romance with Nelson Eddy.

A mesmerizing read about a truly magnetic star, and woman.

Jeanette MacDonald was born in West Philadelphia on June 18th, 1903 with a brass spoon in her mouth. She was poor and had two elder sisters, 10 and 12 years older. In 1964, when she died, two former presidents attended her funeral and two men who would later become presidents. In 1939, she was the biggest female star in the world bar none. Directors and producers would fall in-love with her. One after the other. They wanted to marry her! This would happen over and over again. Including Louis B. Mayer. Turk does an outstanding job of doing exhaustive research. Privy to her private memoirs and correspondence. I've read 100 biographies of "big shots". But this one was incredible. On Broadway in the late twenties. A Sex Goddess in the early thirties who self-admittedly stated that she spent more time taking her clothes on and off during her films than acting. A Virgin Goddess in the late Thirties. A 180 turnaround. She was extrordinarily ambitious. Nothing could stop her. Yet she was extraordinarily kind and generous to all alike. Unless...you took unfair advantage of her. I have read the four-volume biography of Robert E. Lee. He was kind and tender like MacDonald. And he was ambitious. But not he wasn't anywhere ambitious like her. How these two traits, great ambition and great kindness can reside in any human brain still remains a mystery to me after reading this book. But that she was. She emanated Power and Kindness. Also great Virtue. She just bulldozed her way through everything! I found this biography more fascinating than those of FDR, Eisenhower, Marshall, Beckett, Churchill, Patton, et all. But Turk gives it to us straight. I have never believed that anybody could be like this. She would give you the shirt off her back. She would do pranks. She would make fun. Extremely generous. Yet...extremely hard-working to the point of unbelievability. Strong as a brick house. Ambitious beyond belief. Yet she always kept her integrity in tack. I didn't think that this constellation of traits could spell out success. But you couldn't cross the line with her in regards to her career. And boy was she smart. I can see how all these "power-house" directors and producers could fall so totally in-love with her without even a kiss. Read this book. And try to understand this woman. It will be very hard. A director made an anti-semetic remark about another actress in a play. She fired him on the spot. She took on Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper, later to become friends with both. She seemed to have "I'm Going to Be a Star" etched in her brain. Whether it be in opera, acting, comedy, and whatever you can think of. But she would NEVER compromise her principles. This is all good news for males and females who believe in these cynical times that "Nice Guys Finish Last". In the other biographies that I have read of highly successful people, luck had a great deal to do with it. She went beyond luck and was qouted has stating in 1940 to a reporter that if you don't change with the times, than you are dead. I think that everybody should read this biography. General Chinese Gordon had the tenacity and kindness of MacDonald. But he wasn't extremely ambitious. Gordon's match is the closest I have come in my reading of biographies that matches the profile of MacDonald. Sir Richard Francis Burton stated that Gordon's best trait was his "control". But MacDonald comes close. In fact, I would bet on MacDonald. It doesn't matter that she never reached the historical heights that these other men obtained. She was incredible. She had all these extremely powerful Hollywood moguls on a leash like poodles. Something couldn't be done, but she would do it. Incredible will-power. Incredible kindness. Read this biography about a truly incredible woman. And throw away all those "trashy" Hollywood biographies. They are all garbage. This one stands at the top. Fascinating!