Theda Bara: A Biography of the Silent Screen Vamp, With a Filmography [Library Binding]

Ronald Genini (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786402024 | ISBN-13: 978-0786402021 | Publication Date: October 2001

Despite being a mediocre actress with less than classic beauty, Theda Bara was one of Hollywood's leading performers in the early years of cinema. Her success was primarily due to Fox Studio's publicity department; they created her image as a screen vamp and used it to titillate the public. And Bara, an ambitious actress who was nearing 30 when she made her first film, enthusiastically played the role designed for her. In real life, Theodosia Goodman bore little resemblance to the vampish Theda Bara character. But the studio-created persona, with the invented name, evil personality and fictional history, was a major star. Though Bara's films were often trite, poorly acted, extravagant and crude, the public packed movie houses and even rioted over her. Bara's film career ended once the public tired of the persona, though she went on to enjoy some success in regional theater. Through contemporary newspaper accounts, film reviews, interviews and other sources, this is a comprehensive account of the life and times of one of Hollywood's first female stars.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"carefully researched...unravels the fascinating trajectory of this cinematic vamp.... A useful volume in silent American film" -- Choice

“revealing the real woman behind the dark persona" -- Filmfax

About the Author

Ronald Genini is a high school teacher in Fresno, California.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 168 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786402024
• ISBN-13: 978-0786402021
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,816,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overlooked, October 1, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Theda Bara: A Biography of the Silent Screen Vamp, With a Filmography (Library Binding)

Rather like its subject, this book has been unfairly overlooked. Comparisons with Eve Golden's more mainstream "Vamp", published simultaneously, do not entirely work in Golden's favour, however. Whilst Genini clearly lacks Golden's wit and incisive style, his research does fill in a few gaps and missing details, particularly about Bara's activities in her later years. The films themselves are documented well, in chronological order, and Genini has the rare virtue of refraining from discussing the quality of films he has not seen.

One might argue that Bara's personality comes over as somewhat vague, though I wonder if that is not the point. Bara is elusive, and one suspects she was a much better actress than has been credited. In the light of no concrete evidence, Genini skillfully draws the reader to their own conclusions.

Genini is clearly a Bara fan, but his book does not suffer for that. Throughout he remains objective and apart from a few trivial errors, mostly involving dates and chronolgy which are more attributable to the editing, this is an honourable effort. Those who have invested in Eve Golden's book would be well advised to read this to give a different and no less valid perspective.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A quick read about a silent film vamp, December 15, 1999

By 

Bruce Calvert "silent movie collector" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Theda Bara: A Biography of the Silent Screen Vamp, With a Filmography (Library Binding)

Theda Bara was a silent screen icon whose meteoric career was over after five years. Mr. Genini has done an admirable job of digging up old magazine and newspaper articles about Ms. Bara. He even interviewed Bara's dentist. However, this book is not nearly as good as Eve Golden's VAMP book on Bara, which was printed the same year. This book has many great publicity photos, but few stills from her films. The book spends little time in describing Bara's films.

The author only viewed Bara's first starring film A FOOL THERE WAS (1914). He doesn't mention until nearly the end of the book that most of Bara's films are missing. However, he overlooked some of the few films that do survive. THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN (1925) has been available on the collector's market for years and EASY LYNNE is available in an archive. He also incorrectly states that MADAME MYSTERY (1926), her last film, is complete -- actually a one-reel albrigement is all that survives. [THE STAIN (1914) was discovered after this book was written].

If you are a big Theda Bara fan, by all means get this book. However, if you want to read an engrossing, well written book on Theda, try Eve Golden's VAMP first.