Sex Lives of the Hollywood Goddesses [Paperback]

Nigel Cawthorne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003 | Series: Sex Lives

Prion’s internationally bestselling Sex Lives series presents lighthearted accounts of the sexual escapades of major figures in history, politics, religion, the arts, and film. Irreverent and gossipy, the books are packed with carnal tidbits and eye-opening revelations. Sex has long been the common currency of the Hollywood Dream Factory. Early movie moguls packed their epics with ravishing dancing girls and frequently used the casting couch to determine who should be rocketed to stardom. Louise Brooks and Clara Bow were both brought down by sex scandals—the latter, in a rumored liaison with the USC football team. Mary Astor’s career was ruined when explicit extracts from her diaries were read in open court, and silent star Alla Nazimova began the trend for Hollywood lesbians—Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, and Claudette Colbert were all members of the "Sewing Circle."

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Sex has long been the common currency of the Hollywood Dream Factory. Early movie moguls packed their Biblical epics with naked women. In private, starlets often became stars via the casting couch, while others preceded their Silver Screen careers with "stag films." Joan Crawford starred in a number of blue movies, including one called "The Casting Couch." Louise Brooks and Clara Bow were both brought down by sex scandals—the latter, in a rumored liaison with the U.S.C football team. Mary Astor’s career was ruined when explicit extracts from her diaries were read in open court. And silent star Alla Nazimova began the trend for Hollywood lesbians—Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, and Claudette Colbert were all members of the "Sewing Circle." A spirited romp through the roster of Hollywood's female stars.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Prion (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853752509
• ISBN-13: 978-1853752506
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,679,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't Waste Your Time, Money, Or Bookshelf Space, July 31, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sex Lives of the Hollywood Goddesses (Paperback)

It is nothing short of astonishing that Mr. Cawthorne actually found a publisher for this compilation of discredited and malicious gossip, half truths and outright lies. For example, there is no evidence whatsoever that Jean Harlow was a slut. Mr. Cawthorne simply copied this nonsense from a 10th rate biography that has been long, and justifiably, disgraced. It's also not true that Miss Harlow's mother, a Christian Scientist, refused her daughter medical aid in her last days -- that myth was shattered long ago. And, in any event, it would hardly have mattered: Miss Harlow suffered from kidney failure, and there was nothing that 1930s medicine could do for her. And it is by no means certain that her husband, Paul Bern, committed suicide. Or, if he did, that the reason was devastating shame because of his purported impotence. The list of errors, blunders, guesses, and lifting of unproven or disproven "facts" goes on ad nauseam. For instance, there is ab! solutely no reason to think that Marilyn Monroe ever had a lesbian affair. And when Mr. Cawthorne does manage to get his facts right, he simply repeats what's already been long known -- e.g., Greta Garbo was a lesbian. Wow -- what a revelation! Stop the presses! Interested in Hollywood gossip? I suggest you read Kenneth Anger's books (problems there, as well, but at least he did more than copy out salacious nonsense from Grade Z bios). Give this silly, worthless book a miss.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Poor Man's Hollywood Babylon, November 19, 2005

By 

Samantha Glasser "Maliejandra" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sex Lives of the Hollywood Goddesses (Paperback)

Of course this book is entertaining; it is filled with gossip about some of the most loved classic movie stars.

However, it is completely trashy, false, and disgraceful. A lot of the information in this book like dates and ages are wrong. What makes the reader think that the more controversial information would be true then? Well, it isn't. Most of the information in this book was taken from Hollywood Babylon, a notoriously false book about the sex lives and scandals of famous movie stars. This book is only a cheap version of that book. Don't waste your time or your money.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What a Mistake!, April 5, 2002

By 

Joyce Handley (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sex Lives of the Hollywood Goddesses (Paperback)

Well the only thing I can say about this book is that some of it was shocking and a revalation,especially about Grace Kelly and what a slag she was. But all in all it goes to show what people will do to make it in the movies.I'm pretty sure that it's still the same for both men and women today they have to give head and more to get ahead.

But what really shocked me about the book was that NIgel got the date and year of Marilyn's death so wrong if he got that wrong what else did he get wrong in this book. For the record she died on the 4 August 1962 aged 36 and not in 1965 aged 39 jeez what a massive mistake.