Irene Dunne: A Bio-Bibliography

(Hardback)

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Description

Often called the "First Lady of Hollywood", Irene Dunne, in a long and distinguished screen career, juggled comedies, dramas, and musicals with aplomb, and all three genres were represented in her five Academy Award nominations. Her television career was successful, including appearances as host or guest on numerous comedies, dramas, and variety shows. Active in many civic and philanthropic causes, she also served as an alternate delegate to the United Nations. All aspects of her career are documented in this first in-depth study of her work including much information never previously chronicled. The opening biographical overview features reminiscences from colleagues such as James Stewart and Ralph Bellamy. Dunne's multiple careers on stage and in motion pictures, radio, and television are fully detailed in separate chapters, as are her recordings, song sheets, and numerous awards and nominations. An annotated bibliography records the diverse writings by and about her, and a list of magazine covers featuring Dunne over a period of twenty years is appended. All sections are fully cross-referenced and indexed. Photographs are also included - ranging from her childhood to her last public appearance as a recipient of the Kennedy Centre Honours in 1985.

Reviews

These four titles constitute the latest additions to a series that has previously included celebrities Jean Arthur, Cary Grant, Julie Andrews, and Milos Forman, to name a few. Each volume provides a brief biographical sketch of the individual along with a thorough listing of credits in all the arenas in which the subject worked. A bibliography of secondary sources finishes each volume. The biobibliography on Mary Martin is no exception. Rivadue documents Martin's career from 1938 to 1990. A short biographical sketch gives the basic outline of Martin's life, but for information in more depth readers should be referred to either Shirley P. Newman's Mary Martin on Stage (1969) or, better, Martin's own autobiography My Heart Belongs (CH, Jul '76). The strength of Rivadue's title is the detailed listing of Martin's work. Martin's stage performances fill the longest section, listing all of her plays in chronological order. This section also states when and where a show opened and how long it ran; gives all major credits including set and costume design, music and lyrics, dance direction, etc.; lists casts: cites critical reviews: and includes comments by the author. The second section, a discography, lists Martin's recordings alphabetically and then those available on 78s. The broadcasting section gives all of Martin's performances and appearances on radio and television in chronological order. The filmography lists Martin's films in chronological order, noting cast, director, producer, and songs performed. Rivadue also cities reviews and provides a synopsis of each film along with his own comments. Finally, the bibliography lists books and magazine and newspaper articles about Martin,1938-1990. Most of the alphabetically arranged entries are annotated. Appendixes include a chronology of Martin's life, awards won, endorsements she has made, and locations of her archives. General index and song index. Several black-and-white photographs show Martin at various stages of her career. The other three new volumes are similar in format and scope, with some unique aspects tailored to each performer. For example, the work on Irene Dunne has an appendix listing the magazine covers that featured the actress, and Tallulah Bankhead's biobibliography has an appendix "The Use of Her Name in Books and Films." However, all three volumes provide thorough listings of the performer's work, a good bibliography, and illustrations. This admirable series should provide quick access to information on performers for many researchers. Recommended for reference collections in university libraries with large film or theater departments.-Choice
"These four titles constitute the latest additions to a series that has previously included celebrities Jean Arthur, Cary Grant, Julie Andrews, and Milos Forman, to name a few. Each volume provides a brief biographical sketch of the individual along with a thorough listing of credits in all the arenas in which the subject worked. A bibliography of secondary sources finishes each volume. The biobibliography on Mary Martin is no exception. Rivadue documents Martin's career from 1938 to 1990. A short biographical sketch gives the basic outline of Martin's life, but for information in more depth readers should be referred to either Shirley P. Newman's Mary Martin on Stage (1969) or, better, Martin's own autobiography My Heart Belongs (CH, Jul '76). The strength of Rivadue's title is the detailed listing of Martin's work. Martin's stage performances fill the longest section, listing all of her plays in chronological order. This section also states when and where a show opened and how long it ran; gives all major credits including set and costume design, music and lyrics, dance direction, etc.; lists casts: cites critical reviews: and includes comments by the author. The second section, a discography, lists Martin's recordings alphabetically and then those available on 78s. The broadcasting section gives all of Martin's performances and appearances on radio and television in chronological order. The filmography lists Martin's films in chronological order, noting cast, director, producer, and songs performed. Rivadue also cities reviews and provides a synopsis of each film along with his own comments. Finally, the bibliography lists books and magazine and newspaper articles about Martin,1938-1990. Most of the alphabetically arranged entries are annotated. Appendixes include a chronology of Martin's life, awards won, endorsements she has made, and locations of her archives. General index and song index. Several black-and-white photographs show Martin at various stages of her career. The other three new volumes are similar in format and scope, with some unique aspects tailored to each performer. For example, the work on Irene Dunne has an appendix listing the magazine covers that featured the actress, and Tallulah Bankhead's biobibliography has an appendix "The Use of Her Name in Books and Films." However, all three volumes provide thorough listings of the performer's work, a good bibliography, and illustrations. This admirable series should provide quick access to information on performers for many researchers. Recommended for reference collections in university libraries with large film or theater departments."-Choice

Author Bio

MARGIE SCHULTZ, a writer specializing in the entertainment field, is the author of Ann Sothern: A Bio-Bibliography (Greenwood Press, 1990). She is a contributing editor for Hollywood: Then and Now and has published articles in Show Music, Classic Images, The TV Collector, and Art Beat.