Shadowland [Paperback]

William Arnold (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Berkley (April 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425054810
• ISBN-13: 978-0425054819
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,859,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Riveting--until you find out it's fiction, December 23, 2004

By 

JMK (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadowland (Paperback)

This is the book that seems to have introduced most people to Frances Farmer. It is chilling, gut-wrenching and completely riveting--until you discover it is largely fiction. Arnold admitted as much in a lawsuit he brought against the producers of the feature film "Frances," which was based upon his book (though the producers denied it). The basis for his claim was that his book, and therefore the film, had "fictionalized" elements (including the alleged lobotomy) which were not based on public record, therefore the film's producers had violated his copyright. The Judge in that case, in ruling against Arnold, raked Arnold over the coals for representing and marketing his book as non-fiction, then admitting afterward that it really wasn't. "Shadowland" is so rife with factual errors and outright misrepresentations that it would be funny, if it didn't so seriously distort what actually happened to this brave and valiant woman. There is an in-depth web article which goes into great detail about all the misrepresentations in this book, which can be found by Googling "Shedding Light on Shadowland."

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting account of opression, abuse and medical "treatment", October 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Shadowland (Hardcover)

This is a spell-binding account of the life of Frances Farmer, a promising, gifted actress whose only "flaws" were a critical mind and a fierce sense of independence. An independent thinker and a rebel from her teenage years, ms. Farmer paid a high price for not acting submissive and "ladylike". The response to her challenges to legal, political and medical authorities was brutal, and can not be justified in any manner. But such was the political and medical climate in the 1940s and `50s that if you absolutely refused to conform, you were doomed to what some might call a fate worse than death. What was then considered medical treatment is now considered torture, and with the paranoia of the McCarthy era it was dangerous to have a social conscience. Ms. Farmer was critical and courageous, and thus deemed to be an outrageous deviant by the authorities. Perhaps worst of all, she was a fiercely independent woman in a time when women were not supposed to think for themselves. Thus, ms. Farmer suffered in the hands of just about anybody who had the power to abuse and degrade her, from film directors to medical personnell and legal authorities. Perhaps worst of all is the role her mother played in all this. Shadowland is more than just another Hollywood biography. It provides insights into a crucial, if not so proud part of American medical and political history. This book makes excellent reading for high school and college classes in the sociology of deviance/social control, as well as 20th century history, and women's history. This book may cause you to lose some sleep, but we should be thankful to mr. Arnold for showing us the dark side of our treatment of non-conformists.

22 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most indepth, interesting biographies ever., April 2, 1998

By 

vicdru - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadowland (Paperback)

The biography of film star Frances Farmer is truly one of the most heartwretching, depressing and indepth bios I've ever read. Great insight to Hollywood of the 30's and 40's and great insight into one of Hollywood's most beautiful and tragic stars.