Full name: Jean Arthur: the actress nobody knew

Author: John Oller Year: 1997 Rank: Rating: Original Rating: Pop Rating: Genres/categories: Biographies, Non Fiction Purchase/reserch links: LibraryThing Goodreads Amazon ISBNs: 9780879102784 0879102780

The luminous star of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Shane, and other classic films was, as the subtitle aptly puts it, "the actress nobody knew." Jean Arthur (1900-91) kept her personal life private, disdained the Hollywood publicity machine, and was called "difficult" because of her perfectionism and remoteness from costars on the movie set. John Oller, a lawyer, tracked down kinsfolk and friends never before interviewed to capture the elusive personality of a free spirit best embodied in her favorite role, Peter Pan. Arthur herself might have appreciated his warm, respectful portrait. "...[An] insightful, painstakingly researched analysis of Arthur's life and career raises the curtain on the complex, conflicted person behind the screen persona...Captures the special shine of a unique star who turned out to be a genuine eccentric." -Chicago Tribune Similar books: Vivien by Alexander Walker Montgomery Clift by Patricia Bosworth John Wayne by Randy Roberts Charlie Chaplin by Peter Ackroyd Showman by David Thomson Clark Gable by Warren G. Harris Jimmy Stewart by Marc Eliot Vamp by Eve Golden Clara Bow by David Stenn Zanuck by Leonard Mosley Groucho by Stefan Kanfer Woody Allen by Eric Lax Dark Victory by Ed Sikov Orson Welles: The Road to Xanadu by Simon Callow How to Be a Movie Star by William J. Mann There's More to Life Than This by Theresa Caputo The Duck Commander Family by Willie Robertson To Selena, with Love by Chris Perez The Life and Legend of Chris Kyle by Michael J. Mooney The Women of Duck Commander by Kay Robertson