Beauty And The Brain [Paperback]

Peerless Studios begins filming I in the San Bernadino Mountains in 1907. Martin Tafft, the man in charge of the film's production, assembles a fascinating crew for the filming. As his responsibilities to Peerless escalate, Martin hires Colin Phillips as his assistant for the summer.

Unfortunately, Colin has spent most of his life with his head inside various schools and universities. As much as he understands facts, Colin is not equiped for emotions. A child protege and now an assistant professor, the summer job with Peerless Studios allows him to learn more than this new and booming industry. Fascinated by motion pictures, he's not prepared for the necessity of sacrificing accuracy for completing production.

Brenda Fitzpatrick abandons Broadway to accept the lead female part in Indian Love Song. Although she loved the stage, her financial responsibility to her family dictates that she accept the high paying salary associated with motion pictures. Brenda makes her living with her looks, masking her intelligence in an eye-pleasing package that belies her intelligence. She's never minded men assuming that she has no brains, at least, until she meets Colin. Although she's not aware that her accent labels her an unlettered booby in Colin's eyes, she does quickly realize that he does not believe in the sincerity of her questions. Indeed, Colin scoffs at her dream of being a librarian rather than an actress, and does not appreciate the sincerity of her desire to retire with a room full of books and the leisure to enjoy them.

BEAUTY AND THE BRAIN is a refreshing, light-hearted novel that underscores the foolish assumptions lovers make. The classic case of not understanding the opposite sex, or even one's self, makes for a lovely conundrum. Further, the film industry background, sandlot baseball, and gently mentioned social commentary result in a vividly realized, fabulously entertaining read. BEAUTY AND THE BRAIN comes very highly recommended.

Peerless Studios begins filming I in the San Bernadino Mountains in 1907. Martin Tafft, the man in charge of the film's production, assembles a fascinating crew for the filming. As his responsibilities to Peerless escalate, Martin hires Colin Phillips as his assistant for the summer.

Unfortunately, Colin has spent most of his life with his head inside various schools and universities. As much as he understands facts, Colin is not equiped for emotions. A child protege and now an assistant professor, the summer job with Peerless Studios allows him to learn more than this new and booming industry. Fascinated by motion pictures, he's not prepared for the necessity of sacrificing accuracy for completing production.

Brenda Fitzpatrick abandons Broadway to accept the lead female part in Indian Love Song. Although she loved the stage, her financial responsibility to her family dictates that she accept the high paying salary associated with motion pictures. Brenda makes her living with her looks, masking her intelligence in an eye-pleasing package that belies her intelligence. She's never minded men assuming that she has no brains, at least, until she meets Colin. Although she's not aware that her accent labels her an unlettered booby in Colin's eyes, she does quickly realize that he does not believe in the sincerity of her questions. Indeed, Colin scoffs at her dream of being a librarian rather than an actress, and does not appreciate the sincerity of her desire to retire with a room full of books and the leisure to enjoy them.

BEAUTY AND THE BRAIN is a refreshing, light-hearted novel that underscores the foolish assumptions lovers make. The classic case of not understanding the opposite sex, or even one's self, makes for a lovely conundrum. Further, the film industry background, sandlot baseball, and gently mentioned social commentary result in a vividly realized, fabulously entertaining read. BEAUTY AND THE BRAIN comes very highly recommended.

However, Colin becomes disenchanted with the blatant errors that the film contains as Martin brushes off his feedback for the most part as unnecessarily unimportant. Colin finds himself attracted to Brenda, but believes the brainless beauty could never fall for a civilian like him. Brenda finds herself attracted to Colin, but believes a brilliant brain could never fall for an actress.

BEAUTY AND THE BRAIN, the second Dream Maker novel (see COWBOY FOR HIRE), is an entertaining historical romance that brings to life a bygone fascinating era of Americana history. The story line contains tidbits of early Hollywood (on location) through a lovable cast. The lead couple is fun to observe as sparks fly, but neither can see beneath the mask of the other although both Brenda and Colin sense something off kilter. The secondary characters augment the intriguing plot with a feel for the period and propel the story line forward. Alice Duncan's homage to the silent screen is another triumphant novel.

Harriet Klausner