HEDDA AND LOUELLA

by George Eells ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 24, 1971

A two-ply retread of the bellwether beldames of the industry when it still was one and when it quivered like blancmange to ""tis said."" Both Hedda, nee Elda Furry, and Louella, nee some indeterminable time before her, were notably inaccurate, opinionated, hardworking and self-promoting women. Louella actually was more harmless and began rather benignly via Hearst; actually, in retrospect, it's hard to find anything very memorable in what she said (unless it might be the time she called Shelley Winters Miss Nothingburger). Hedda, via marriage to an aging, unfaithful actor and the medium itself (19 pictures in four years, ""Queen of the Quickies""), became Louella's real rival by the '30's and eventually eclipsed her. All of this tittletattle has been apparently carefully researched and revived and while you can vaguely respect the ladies' tenacity, it's limited by their small-and-narrow-mindedness. When all is said and read, Hedda's hats seem old indeed.

Pub Date: Feb. 24, 1971

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1971

Categories: NONFICTION