Zuzu's Wonderful Life in the Movie's: The Story of Karolyn Grimes (Hardcover)

by Christopher Brunell (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Who has not heard the line, "Look, daddy, teacher says, 'Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings?'"

Karolyn Grimes, in 1946 who spoke that line in the classic film, "It's a Wonderful Life", has had a life full of challenges, and she shares that the way to live a "wonderful life" is to embrace the values of family, friends and life's greatest gift.

Karolyn is best remembered as Zuzu, when she delivered this line as a child in the arms of Jimmy Stewart. This magical moment appeared at the end of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". It conjures up feelings of family togetherness and values that help us to reflect on what really is important in our lives today.

From 1944 to 1952 Karolyn appeared in over 16 movies that are chronicled in this book. They are accompanied by over 140 photos on 100 lb. paper stock. Th photos virtually jump off the pages.

Karolyn recounts some of her experiences about each of these films. This was a golden age of cinema and Karolyn had the good fortune to be associated with some of the greatest stars in Hollywood film history.

This book recounts the films that Karolyn was in with insights into the making of the films, the stars she worked with and enlightening personal accounts of making movies in the golden era. The films she is in include...

THAT NIGHT WITH YOU - staring Franchot Tone, Suzanna Foster and Buster Keaton.
PARDON MY PAST - staring Fred MacMurray and Marguertite Chapman.
BLUE SKIES - staring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and Joan Caufield.
SISTER KENNY - staring Rosalind Russell.
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE - staring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.
THE PRIVATE LIFE OF BEL AMI - staring Angela Lansbury and George Saunders.
SWEET AND LOW - staring Richard Webb.
PHILO VANCES GAMBLE - staring Alan Curtis.
MOTHER WORE TIGHTS - staring Betty Grable and Dan Dailey.
UNCONQUERED - staring Gary Cooper, Paulette Goddard, and Boris Kaloff.
THE BISHOP'S WIFE - staring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven.
ALBUQUERQUE - starring Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton, Gabby Hayes and Lon Chaney Jr.
LUST FOR GOLD - staring Glenn Ford and Ida Lupino.
RIO GRANDE - staring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Ben Johnson and Harry Carey Jr.
HONEYCHILE - staring Judy Canova, Eddie Foye Jr. and Alan Hale Jr.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON - staring Danny Kaye...

Most of the stars that appear in this book have already "gotten their wings." They worked hard, won the respect of millions, and had the ability to make a character come alive on the screen. Karolyn knew them not only as great actors but as friends.

About the Author
Christopher Brunell is well aquainted with Karolyn Grimes and her career. In travels with Karolyn, he has been amazed at the growing interest in her movie career and in particular her role as Zuzu in the classic film, "It's a Wonderful Life". Christopher decided to write this book in order to highlight some of the golden era's greatest films, as well as the film career of Karolyn Grimes, having had the opportunity as a child actess to be in some of the greatest movies ever made. Christopher is also a Licensed Clinical Psychologist.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 102 pages
• Publisher: Brunell Publications (November 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970971001
• ISBN-13: 978-0970971005
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #725,600 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for fans of classic movies, August 7, 2003

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Zuzu's Wonderful Life In The Movies: The Story of Karolyn Grimes by Christopher Brunell is a veritable showcase of on-screen and behind the scenes photographs featuring Karolyn Grimes, the talented child star of "It's a Wonderful Life" and many, many other memorable Hollywood films. Complementing these captivating black-and-white photos is a brief yet involving story of actress Karolyn Grimes' personal life, the obstacles she faced, and her extensive filmography. Highly recommended for fans of classic movies, Zuzu's Wonderful Life In The Movies is a seminal contribution to Cinematic History reference collections and a "must" for any dedicated fan of the Golden Age of movie making.

5.0 out of 5 stars Here's to Zuzu!, July 20, 2005

By	Spitzer - See all my reviews

This is such a wonderful book! I wasn't much of an "It's a Wonderful Life" fan until I met the lovely Karolyn Grimes recently. She spoke about IAWL with such passion that I went out and bought the DVD the next day and watched it again, through new eyes.

This book is full of rare photographs as well as little known trivia. You'll feel as though you have a new friend after reading this book.

If you love little Zuzu Bailey, then you need to buy this book! And even if you're only a casual viewer of "It's a Wonderful Life", you're still going to really enjoy reading this.

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect book for the holidays... or anytime!, November 15, 2001

By	Anthony Wynn (Portland, Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This gorgeous book is absolutely chock-full of stunningly crystal-clear photos and delightful remembrances from Karolyn Grimes. It's perfect for collectors of books and memorabilia related to old Hollywood as well as those who would just like to know more about the Karolyn and her movies. "Zuzu's Wonderful Life in the Movies" is a cherished book in my library.