Product Description

The floozy, the gangster’s moll, the nasty debutante: Most Hollywood actresses played at least one of these bad girls in the 1930s. Since censorship customarily demanded that goodness prevail, vixens were in mainly supporting roles—but the actresses who played them were often colorful scene stealers.

These characters and the women who played them first began to appear in film in 1915 when Theda Bara played home-wrecker Elsie Drummond in The Vixen. Movie theaters filled and the industry focused on heaving bosoms and ceaseless lust. Bara never shed the vamp image. The type evolved into the flapper, the gangster’s moll, the "dame," and the "bad girl." This work covers the lives and careers of 28 actresses, providing details about their lives and giving complete filmographies of their careers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2326011 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 284 pages

From Booklist
Similar in arrangement to such recent McFarland publications as Women in Horror Films, 1930s and Women in Horror Films, 1940s [both RBB My 1 99], this volume profiles 28 of Hollywood's "other women," including Esther Muir, femme fatale of A Day at the Races, and Ona Munson, remembered best for her role as Belle Watling in Gone with the Wind.

Review
"A fascinating survey of 28 actresses of the late 1920s and 1930s Hollywood...essential" -- Midwest Book Review

"Lively descriptions" -- Choice

"Provides career essays on a group of actresses who were responsible for some unique characterizations" -- Classic Images

About the Author
Hans J. Wollstein has appeared as an actor on screen and in television in Denmark, Germany and the United States. Retired from performing, he now resides in his native Copenhagen.

Customer Reviews

Great reference and a book that fills a real need.
This is an interesting, well-researched book. I'm a fan of Hollywood's golden age, and this book helped make me aware of some of the lesser known (but still wonderful) stars of that era. Good writing and some wonderful photos. I also like how the author tells us what happened to these stars after they left Hollywood. Great reference. I've already referred to it many times while watching AMC and TCM.

Interesting Book
This book is well informed. Except for Anna May Wong, I didn't know any of these actresses. The sad thing is that the internet doesn't say much about these actresses either. So the author did well in giving praise to the unknown. The author says something to which I have to know. This is from the book, "But the roles would necessarily be smaller and being nasty to Shirley would prove rather lethal-as Astrid Allwyn (Dimples, Stowaway)and others would later discover." What did Temple do?