The Golden Girls Of Mgm: Greta Garbo Joan Crawford Lana Turner Judy Garland Ava Gardner Grace Kelly and Others [Paperback]

I could put up with her writing if the book did not have numerous other faults.

One example of this book's many faults is that in the chapter on Hepburn, the decade between 1928 and 1938 -- when Hepburn started in the movies and achieved stardom -- is not even mentioned. I don't know if this is Wayne's fault or simply an editing glitch.

I bought this book because I am a fan of several of these actresses, but I was disappointed that most of the information on them appeared to have been stolen from other sources. Including conversations at which the author could not possibly have been present is the height of bad journalism and a hallmark of sleazy biographical writing. In addition, I didn't learn anything new about any of the actresses whom I had already read a lot about, and I tired of the sensationalistic recounting of their affairs, abortions, tantrums, divorces, drunkenness, and so forth. How about mentioning something positive about them? Surely there was something. But wait. I guess that doesn't sell books.

If you want to learn about these stars, there are bound to be well-researched, balanced, in-depth books about each one, particularly Crawford and Hepburn. So don't waste your money on this crapfest.

Wayne opens each chapter with a coyly feeble teaser. She then gives a brief description of the women's lives and how they got into the movie biz, and what they did when they got there. Among these actresses: much-married Elizabeth Taylor, deceptively icy Grace Kelly, busty Lana Turner, fiery ex-Sinatra wife Ava Gardner, mysterious Greta Garbo, tragic Judy Garland, and some weren't quite so juicy (Katherine Hepburn, Hedy Lamarr, Esther Williams).

Why bother with one trashy biography when you can have a bunch all in one book? Be assured that Wayne will give you a detailed description of every lover, abortion, suicide, police-cover up and failed marriage that went on under Louis B. Mayer. Despite all this dirt, Wayne seems to be scared to have any strong opinions about anything (Joan Crawford is painted very blandly). You'll find every rumor -- true or not -- reported in various other trashy bios. Insights? New information? Decent writing? Not a trace.

"Golden Girls" fails even as a guilty pleasure. In a word, it's boring. Very boring. Gossip about stuff like affairs, abortions, failed marriages and massive scandals are related in the driest prose that Wayne can manage. She glosses over major events in these actresses' lives, but gives detailed transcripts of uninteresting personal conversations. It only makes her inept attempts at being coy painful. And it takes a special kind of ineptitude to make Katherine Hepburn so boring.

The worst kind of trashy biography is a dull one. And "Golden Girls of MGM : Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Lana Turner, Judy Garland, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, and Others" is very boring indeed. Wayne can't even manage to make this a naughty pleasure.