Customer Reviews

Plain Beautiful: The Life of Peggy Ann Garner

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Peggy Ann Garner was a child actress who won an Oscar for her memorable performance in Elia Kazan's 1945 film "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn". This sympathetic, but objective account of her interesting, and at times difficult, life draws on the author's extensive research including interviews and correspondence with friends, colleagues and relatives. There are extracts from letters and dozens of rare black-and-white photographs. An appendix lists Peggy's film, TV and radio work and there is a thorough index. An important subtext is Peggy's relationship with her mother (who turns out to be a truly amazing character) and the book offers a fascinating account of a mother-daughter relationship through several decades which somehow just about endures despite the enormous strains induced by parental ambition.

The title to Sandra Grabman's book, "Plain Beautiful," nicely sums up Peggy Ann Garner.
She was plain, yet she was beautiful.
She was an extremely talented actress yet she never became a big star.
She was sweet and kind-hearted, yet had tragic family relationships .
She was an amazingly mature and level-headed youngster but not as much as an adult.
Garner led a unique life, yet so much like so many other actors.
There have been numerous great child actors on film the past century but few as talented as Peggy Ann. For any doubters, just watch "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn." This was an incredible child actress and why her career didn't go always go in the direction it should have gone is detailed in Grabman's lovingly-written biography.
This is a definitely worth a read for anyone who admires Peggy Ann's contiibutions to the film world and for those looking for another interesting biography of what pushy parents can do to their child.

I seldom read biographies because I find that many read like history textbooks. I found this book by accident and stayed up into the wee hours of the night reading it. I couldn't put it down!

Sandra Grabman left no stone unturned in researching "Plain Beautiful," and through friends and relatives she is able to get into the heart, mind, and soul of Peggy Ann Garner. If you were a Garner fan, this book will give you an inside look at every aspect of her personal and professional life. If you don't remember who Peggy Ann Garner was, as I didn't before picking up the book, you'll still enjoy reading about the life of this sweet, beautiful woman who won an Oscar for the role of young Francie in "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn."

The book is well written, contains lots and lots of photos of Peggy and her family and friends, and will keep you reading late into the night. I can honestly say it's the best biography I have ever read. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Sandra Grabman is starting to become one of my favorite authors. She's written a biography about Albert Salmi, Peggy Ann Garner and just recently came out with a bio/interview book with character actor Wright King. We need more books about character actors. With that in mind, she's come up with a winner with this one. I first saw Peggy Ann Garner on Studio One and realized she could act. A friend of mine who loves Hollywood gossip has a story of a famous celebrity who was cheating on his wife and theorized one of only three actresses doing the deed. She was one of the top two. He found proof of the relationship but to date has yet been able to prove who it was. This book is so tenderly touched that I cannot possibly imagine Garner was the woman. Yes, it's books like these are avoid the gossip that make these pleasant readings.

The biography include family photos since apparently her family helped cooperate with the book. Unpublished photos, a good read. It doesn't get any better than this.

This biography frankly took me by surprise. It begins rather benignly--almost in the manner of a vintage movie magazine--as it tells the story of Peggy Ann Garner, a pretty and talented child actress of the 1940s. Before long, this idyllic picture is replaced with a dark (and fascinating) tale of exploitation, abuse, and estrangement. Although the elements to this tale are complex, they are clearly presented by the book's author Sandra Grabman. To borrow a well-worn phrase, this is a page-turner. I could hardly believe my eyes as I read of the sad decline not only of Ms. Garner, but of her mother, daughter, and ex-husband. It's a testament to the Academy Award-winning actress's professionalism that she could present herself to the public as a happy, well-adjusted individual; indeed, she was anything but that. I highly recommend this book to film buffs and to students of human nature.

It was a great to get to know who Peggy Ann Garner was. I saw her play Francie in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, so I wanted to know who this fabulous actress was from the 40's. I appreciate a book out there to help me understand this child actress and her ups and downs.

Just reread this one and found I liked it as much the second time around.
For anyone who loves movies of the '30's and '40's and remembers cute little Peggy Ann Garner fondly, this is a must read book. The title of this book PLAIN BEAUTIFUL summarizes Peggy Ann perfectly. She was the sweet faced little girl who was cute and memorable, but not to the extent that her cuteness ever exceded her talent. She could break your heart with her subtlety at even an early age. She appeared in many high profile movies such a JANE EYRE(as the young Jane), IN NAME ONLY(as Carole Lombard's daughter), her youthful teen tour de force in A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN(as the remarkable and poignant Francie Nolan) as well as lesser films such as HOME SWEET HOMICIDE. Not one to overact, Garner managed to balance her performances beautifully. Then she disappeared before anyone noticed.
Thanks to author Sandra Grabman, Peggy Ann is no longer missing. Grabman has done a magnificent job of separating the 'reel' Peggy and the real Peggy whose real life was none to pleasant. At an early age, Peggy's archetypal stage momma used Peggy as a cash cow. Her home life was very contentious and there was little warmth or love on the home front. By the time Peggy approached her late teens film work had dried up (which is often the case), there was an early unsuccessful marriage, additional training and stage/live tv work out east, a second marriage to actor Albert Salmi, the birth of a daughter, divorce, a subsequent marriage and another divorce, and an ongoing battle with alcohol. As she aged, acting jobs were far and few between and Peggy worked in car sales and other pedestrian jobs to make ends meet. Periodically, she snagged work on episodic tv shows. In the end she died tragically of cancer at a much too early age.
This book could have easily evolved into a hard luck Hollywood story, but Grabman threw so much of herself into thoroughly researching her subject via interviews with Peggy's family, friends, and collegues, etc. that she never lost sight that her subject was a real person and not someone who existed solely on celluloid.
This is a wonderful book and anyone interested in Peggy Ann and/or films of this era will enjoy and appreciate it.

This was an interesting book to read, but tragic. Hollywood is a very hard place to live and be happy.

A very well written and informative biography of the life of actress Peggy Ann Garner.
I am pleased that Peggy Ann has not been forgotten. My thanks to Sandra Grabman.

Robert Titus