A story of Hollywood in the early days and the women that tried to balance careers, friendship, and love. Mary Pickford and Frances Marion became friends as single women making their way in Hollywood and Frances was writing movies for Mary. But as Hollywood changes so does their friendship. An enjoyable look at the early days of Hollywood and the strong women that helped establish it.

The Girls in the Picture
The year is 1914 and the movie industry is just beginning to flourish, known as the "flickers" the silent movies are gaining in popularity. Mary Pickford has already become "America's Sweetheart while Frances Marion, recently settled in Los Angeles, is not only enamored of the new industry, but gains entry into the world of "moving pictures" becoming a screenwriter. Both women become fast friends, similar in many ways, yet their background quite the opposite. While Pickford supported her family from the age of 8, with little education and always on the brink of poverty, Marion came from a much different family. Brought up in San Francisco, well educated, in a large home, and no money problems. Yet they were very much alike, both career driven, always thinking on their feet, both looking for the next opportunity. Pickford became the "Queen of the Movies" receiving an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Talkie and Marion received her fair share of Academy Awards as well. But the story relates to their close friendship, the bond that brought them much success in their professional years. However there was heartache as Pickford put her career above her private life. There was jealousy on both sides, for as close as both women were, times of jealousy and anger that threatened that bond.

What we read here is the story of two friends who were strong, overcoming obstacles that were thrown in their way by the men who were most powerful. Showing their strength and power at a time when the fledgling movie industry was just becoming exciting, we see how their sacrifices of these women enable them to succeed in a world of men. Reading this you can appreciate that times really haven't changed. The "casting couch" is still available, still an "open" secret (as we now, more than ever can attest to) men are still making it difficult for women, not only in this industry. The more things change the more they stay the same...and even when brought to life, they never change.

This book was well written, as Ms. Benjamin always gives us 5 star novels...this is one of her best! I would highly recommend this book for those who love historical fiction, for those who love reading about the movie industry, and especially for those who enjoy a great book. It was a privilege to read this advanced edition of the novel.Thanks to NetGalley for sending this book to me in exchange for an honest review.

Historical fiction about Mary Pickford and Frances Marion.
We are introduced to each character at the beginning of the career that makes each famous. Mary was an actress, the first major movie star. When she started, the movie industry didn't even put the actresses names in the film because they didn't want them to be famous themselves, they were just faces. Mary made a name for herself though and in large part due to Frances.

Frances wandered along a movie filming one day shortly after moving to California and became fascinated. She struck up a friendship with Mary and was soon writing dialogue for characters in the background in silent films.

The women became best friends, as close as sisters. As Frances' talent grew, she started writing movies for Mary to star in. She wrote Mary as a child, to make up for the fact that Mary had no actual fun childhood herself. The public loved "Little Mary". So, that's what she continued to give them. For better or worse, Mary became known for playing a child on screen.

Frances and Mary became very successful women in their fields. They can be credited for major innovations in the movie business.
Sometimes this "golden age" put a strain on their friendship and their relationship with others.

I can't imagine how much time the author devoted to researching these two women before writing this book, it must have been a lot. I didn't know anything about either one before reading this book, I was interested in the book entirely because of how much I loved her book The Swans of Fifth Avenue.
But the end of this story, I felt like I'd really followed these two through decades of their lives and careers.

Very interesting, very informative, occasionally a bit dry, sometimes a bit sad, but overall I came away feeling like I'd heard a story about two really innovative women who changed the face of the movie industry.

I got to read an early e book edition through NetGalley.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and even learned a few points about the early times of movie making. The alternating stories of Frances and Mary were well written.

This beautiful, epic novel details the relationship between Mary Pickford and Frances Marion. Melanie Benjamin writes and weaves the story making you believe you were actually there. I hadn't heard of Frances Marion prior to reading this, but apparently I have seen several of her films! Reading about the creation of the movies and the turn from silent to 'talkies' was fascinating. Highly recommend.

Some early thoughts as I was reading the book:
Loving this book so far! This historical fiction let's the reader into Old Hollywood and the world of silent film and the first movie stars through the stories of Mary Pickford, silent film star, & Frances Marion "scenarist." Before this story I didn't know much about the early stars, the forming of studios, and the growth of the fledgling industry.

The telling of this story uses Mary & Frances's friendship as the base and builds up the glamour & challenges of Old Hollywood & their careers as related to that relationship. Despite the very specific time and place these women lived through, I feel like much of the story is timeless; the struggle between two successful women to maintain a friendship despite busy careers, families, & small jealousies & mistakes; the struggle all of the dedicated career women faced in balancing family life with their careers, most of the actresses choosing to forgo having children for the sake of their careers; and, of course, the constant fight to be taken seriously by directors, studio heads, investors and all of the other men running Hollywood. I loved the savvy business side of Mary Pickford's career that the book highlighted. These women were the pioneers in the industry and paved the way for others of their gender in the field. I loved reading their story, although obviously changes were made and dialogue and feelings surmised for the purpose of this book.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful piece of historical fiction that makes you believe that you are there and that this is the way it all happened.

The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin is a wonderful read when it comes to historical fiction. The author writes a fictional depiction of Mary Pickford and her friend Frances Marion. Both women were part of the early days of Hollywood before "Talkies" were invented. Both women helped create memorable silent films. One as an actress the other as a "scenarist" which would probably be considered a script writer today in modern parlance.

Benjamin's story is a perfectly plausible one as she details the ups and downs of the women's relationships including their "falling out" and reconciliation.

The Girls in the Picture is a great read and gives a glimpse of how women helped create Hollywood and the movies.

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from Net Galley.

This is an interesting account of the very early days of Hollywood and motion pictures. The story revolves around the lives of two Actress Mary Pickford and screenwriter Frances Marion. They were successful by determination and talent, but they were hampered by discrimination, husbands and the adoring fans. Their friendship suffered as did they.

Thanks Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and netgalley for this ARC.

This is a epic novel that we've come to know Melanie Benjamin will turn out. YOu'll never think about Hollywood the same again. It's life-changing, moving, and I hope they make a movie of it.

Mary Pickford and Frances Marion took Hollywood by storm in the fledgling years of the movies and birth of the huge studios. Both took gambles and gave up much of their lives to become the best in the business although they were constantly inspected, measured and diminished because of their sex. Frances was able to rise above it but fame took much from Mary in the end. It was true then and is still true today - the public idolizes celebrities and doesn't want their image of them tarnished with real life events. You had to choose your friends and spouses carefully because someone was always waiting in the shadows looking for you to fall off that pedestal. Melanie Benjamin does what she does so well -showing us the real women not the myth, with all their frailties grit and spirit. Historical bio-fiction doesn't get any better. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for a review. Here is that review:

Before I picked up this book, I had never heard of Frances Marion - althoug I was familiar with many of the movies she wrote! Of course, everyone who is at all familiar with American movies has heard of Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Pickfair. This is a fictional account of Mary Pickford and Frances Marion's friendship - beginning way back in the beginning of the silent film era and continuing to 1969. Mary was the darling of America, mainly because of the pictures written by Frances. She was bigger than life, but did not have a happy life, constantly worrying about "her public" and what they would think of her, how they would receive her next picture, any stories about her, or anything to do with her. Frances didn't want to be a movie actress, so the two got along without Mary being jealous of the other young woman.

This was a fun read. While I know much of it is imagined, the characters were well-drawn and I could hear the authenticity of their conversations.

I would rate this a 3.8. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. I really liked Melanie Benjamin's prior works, The Aviator's Wife and The Swans of Fifth Avenue. I enjoy historical fiction and this seems to be the focus of Ms. Benjamin's novels. I did enjoy the historical aspect of her latest novel, The Girls in the Picture, but found I often struggled to read this novel. For me, it was not a fast read and I do not think it was due to the subject matter. In fact, I found the subject matter very interesting as it dealt with the advent of movies in the early 1900s, with the primary focus on Mary Pickford and Frances Marion, the latter who I had never heard of before. Like her other other novels, Ms. Benjamin focused on women and their roles in history. The two women in this novel were extraordinary women who accomplished so much in a "man's" world. This is obviously a very well researched novel but the writing was not as engaging as her others.

Once again Melanie Benjamin gives us a look at history that is often considered a mere footnote. Fleshing out the characters and events so well that one is left wanting to learn more.

Many thanks to Random House for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I've read several other Melanie Benjamin books and have thoroughly enjoyed them. While this book was an interesting read, it was my least favorite of her books (that I've read) to date. The book started strong and was intriguing until somewhere around the halfway point. After that it seemed to drag and was almost hard to finish. On the plus side, I really enjoyed learning about the birth of the film industry and what it was like for females working in it. I also enjoyed the development of both of the main female characters, Mary and Frances, as well as their friendship. Seeing how their different choices and paths played out and that they were, in the end, able to better understand one another was worth persevering. I definitely think the book is a good read, but feel the second half could have been condensed without losing much.

This was an interesting book about friendship, They have triumphs and disappointments just like the rest of us. The women were far ahead of their time. Well written. Highly recommend.

The Girls in the Picture is an interesting story of early Hollywood and follows the friendship of film star Mary Pickford and screenwriter Frances Marion. An inside look at women in the film industry and the early film industry itself...it wasn't as glamorous as it appeared to be!

This historical fiction novel describes Hollywood's earliest days through the two main characters, Mary Pickford (silent film star; founder of United Artists) and Frances Marion (silent film scenarist-turned-screenwriter; winner of two Academy Awards). At a time when women had little power, these two were pioneers in a fledgling industry, and this novel does much to trumpet their accomplishments when faced with numerous challenges.

But this is also a story of friendship and how "perfect" lives are flawed, just like everyone else. Sometimes the characters were hardly likable, but the alternate perspectives helps the reader through.

The title is unfortunate; although a scene at the end helps give more context, for most of the novel I was reminded of how my grandfather called movies "pictures" (as in, let's go to the pictures) and I really wanted the picture to be plural!

I always enjoy Melanie Benjamin's books and this one one was no evception. Frances Marion and Mary Pickford were pioneers at the start on the movie industry and their stories are told in alternating chapters. Love, friendship, loyalty and outright hostility it is a fascinating look at two intelligent, talented and powerful women.

This book was not for me. This is a fictional novel about Frances Marion and Mary Pickford and the early days of Hollywood and the movies. Since it is a novel the author has created a lot of fictional conversations and situations. I have read a lot of the nonfiction books about both of these ladies and I enjoyed those a lot more than this novel. Many of the best parts of both of their lives was left out and I did not like the way she portrayed both women. I had a hard time finishing the book. If you are not familiar with either women you might enjoy this book. The author lists many of the nonfiction books about them and many of them are very good. After reading this I would recommend reading one of those.