Less an introspective look on the lives of these actresses and how their careers were affected by being featured by Hitchcock and vice-versa and more of a gossipy, surface deep look at the women and how they were treated by Hitchcock and other men in their lives. I wasn't expecting much from the book, but was still less than impressed by the content and the way the women were depicted by the author.

Laurence Leamer sets an ambitious task with this book: not only profiling the actresses who starred in films directed by Alfred Hitchcock but doing so in a manner that sheds light on the Master of Suspense himself, their stories serving as a biography by proxy. Leamer gives equal weight to performers who only worked with Hitch once and those who appeared in several of his films. The former group benefits from this even-handed approach. Kim Novak, thrust into the lead of Hitch's most personal film VERTIGO at the last minute, receives a sympathetic hearing. The chapter on Janet Leigh (PSYCHO) is all too brief, her story crying out for more detailed treatment. Eva Marie Saint, dazzling in NORTH BY NORTHWEST, has the least drama in her personal life, yet this section is the most interesting, likely because she hasn't received as much attention from cinema scholars. Conversely, the material about the actresses known for their Hitchcock collaborations (Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, Tippi Hedren) feels all too familiar. And the cumulative effect of these potted bios doesn't offer much insight into the filmmaker who links them all. Breezy and engaging but not revelatory.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I have been really fascinated with Hitchcock for years, so when I saw this book I thought that it would be an interesting look into his life.

This book details his relationships with the women in his films as well as in his life. I thought it provided great insight and information and it made me want to go and rewatch a handful of his films again.

This would have been a five star rating for me, but the one thing that bothered me was the author interjecting his personal opinion of the actresses and actors and his speculation as to what might have gone on in their private lives behind closed doors. To me that was a little unfair and these people are no longer here to defend themselves. Other than that I found this book really enjoyable.

I am a big fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Especially the actress of that time. I have such an admiration for them. The cards that were dealt to them because of their gender, but still continued to believe in their dreams. I’ve been a fan of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies, I really didn’t know much about him nor his personal life. The way I’ve seen him portrayed by people in Hollywood, he seemed to be sexist. But, in this book the readers get a little inside glance at his personal life. A perfectionist to the core, but the way he was described he was loyal to his wife. It seems to me that he really didn’t understand the female psyche or women in general. His films were great and he put his best into them. He lived for film making, when he grew older and he couldn’t do it anymore, he seemed to have given up on living.
The author did a great job researching and I loved the detailed descriptions of some of his films, I especially enjoyed the background on the actress that appeared in his films. This book was one of the best books I’ve read this year. If you want to read a little part of Hollywood history, this is a great book to add to your collection. The writing moves at a smooth pace. I enjoyed every minute of this book.

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN PUTNAM Group for this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Laurence Leamer writes succinctly. The chapters are pointed giving you exactly what the title portrays the book to be. I’ve always been interested in learning more about Hitchcock, but in all honestly my interest leans more towards the movies I’ve seen rather than his overall life. Leamer provides just enough of Hitchcock’s backstory to give you what you need to understand his motivations, fantasy for blondes and mistreatment of his leading ladies. I like that he gets to the meat of what I was looking for without boring me otherwise.

Leamer’s chapters aren’t just about the actresses that worked with Hitchcock, he also writes about the women in his social circle and their contributions to his work. When he does focus on an actress it’s not just about the work in the movie but also about their personal life before, during and after their movie(s) with Hitchcock. He paints a complete picture for the reader outside of their movies with Hitchcock and gives you the Hollywood gossip of their time. I learned aspects of these women’s personals lives I hadn’t known before.

I wasn’t a fan of some of the author’s off handed statements. He says about Grace Kelly “no man could be near Kelly without being touched by her beauty.” To me fluff statements like that don’t need to be added to the text. The author is already discussing her dating life in detail, so statements like this just seem like a waste on the page. It’s an assumption he’s taking without sticking to the facts and he writes this way about each of the women. I also didn’t care for the way the author describes the films in detail particularly Psycho. While a summarization is appreciative, especially adding in Hitchcock’s motivations for the scenes, the author describes the beginning 40 mins of Psycho in erroneous detail that would only benefit someone who has never watched the film. I thought it was in poor taste to discredit Tippi Hedren’s account of how Hitchcock had come onto her. The author says her account could be accurate but likely she misread him and then the author proceeds to make excuses for Hitchcock’s behaviors toward her. Leamer should have documented her memories of that time and left it at that but the entire chapter devoted to her is written with great disdain toward her. The impartiality the author provides the other 7 women disappears when discussing Tippi.

Despite the criticisms, the book is an excellent mix of the director, the films and the lives of the 8 women featured. I liked that his last chapter is a bow on each person’s life. This was the first book I’d read by Leamer and I’m interested in reading the other books he’s written.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In "Hitchcock's Blondes: The Unforgettable Women Behind the Legendary Director's Dark Obsession" Laurence Leamer presents a series of compact biographies of Alfred Hitchcock's most prominent leading ladies. Additionally, the book provides spoiler-full summaries of the films they starred in. There is also a cursory examination of Hitchcock himself and an exploration of his personality and his work as a director. However, the book does not do anything much to provide new insights and there are no big reveals in this work. As such, this book is likely to be of interest to strong fans and anyone who wants a quick though uninspired introduction to Hitchcock's films.

Three and a half stars rounded to three.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam which provided me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love old Hollywood and this gave me so much to enjoy. This gave me a great insight about Hitchcock and his muses. It was very well researched and written. Love it! Thanks NetGallery!

In this multi-figure biography, Laurence Lemer brings the many Hollywood actresses who starred in acclaimed director Alfred Hitchcock’s films during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Lemer explores the connections between these actresses, their careers before, during, and after they worked with Hitchcock, and why Hitchcock was so drawn to these actresses. Lemer studies the lives and careers of these incredible women who helped create the Golden Age of Hollywood and helped make Hitchcock the famous name he is today: Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, June Howard-Tripp, Madeleine Carroll, Janet Leigh, Kim Novak, Eva Marie Saint, and Tippi Hedren. By combining these women’s stories and using them to explore the psyche of the director in common, Lemer provides a fascinating insight into both mid-twentieth century Hollywood and the mind of a cinematic genius like Hitchcock. Lemer’s prose is engaging, and this book is incredibly readable and well-organized, built off a series of chronologically organized chapters (going from one actress to another in sequence) that allows readers to follow along with the evolution of Hitchcock’s cinema. A fascinating combination of film analysis, historical events, and individual biographies, Lemer’s latest book brings mid-twentieth century cinema and the actresses behind the director’s successes to life.

I am a fan of Hitchcock and a fan of the author (having read his other books). I liked the unique angle in this book - chapters that gave us great insights into Alfred and Alma (his wife) as well as each of the famous actresses in his best films (in my view).. I learned new things about all of them and he even outlines the plot of the films. There has been a lot written about Hitchcock's obsession with his leading ladies and at times purported cruelty (for example, using real birds tied to Tippi Hedren in the movie "The Birds.") My only disagreement with the author is at times he was dismissive of any alleged harassment or abuse reportedly suffered by any of the actresses. He almost came across as a Hitchcock apologist. I am a huge fan of Hitchcock's films -- in some ways I feel like he is a genius - but as I have learned to do with many of the great artists and creators, I have learned to separate their art and my enjoyment of it from what their character was like. Especially studio heads, producers and directors prior to me-too since abuse and harassment of leading ladies was unfortunately really common. Aside from that, this is a great book and a worthwhile read.

Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

For me, Alfred Hitchcock's films are the gold standard for suspense and noir, with Psycho, The Birds, and Rear Window holding a much revered placed in my heart. As fascinating are Hitch's works, so are the actresses he chose to portray his often ill-fated female leads. Laurence Learner's Hitchcock's Blondes promises to take us behind the scenes of these women's lives on and off set, peeking in on what it was like to work with the world-famous director.

As it turns out, Hitchcock's Blondes is not the book I expected to read. Written in what is basically a series of mini-biographies, Learner's work explores the lives of eight of Hitch's blondes, discussing everything from their childhoods to their latter years. Learner even goes off on tangents, examining the husbands, parents, and children of the stars.

Surprisingly, the information surrounding these women and their actual time on the sets of Hitchcock's films is few and far between. Rather, Learner goes into great detail about the plots of these films, giving away major points, twists, and turns, so if you have not seen all of Hitch's movies, proceed with caution. While there are intimate snippets of life on set, I wanted more ... this is, after all, what I came here for.

Hitchcock's Blondes is an informative, entertaining book if you know what you are getting into. If you want to learn more about the general lives of Hitchcock's actresses, this is a great place to look. On the other hand, if you are looking for more of an expose about what it was like to be a woman working for the legendary director, you may need to search elsewhere. For a book titled Hitchcock's Blondes, there's very little mention of said blondes and Hitch in the same sentence.

For this and all my other reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com

I received a complimentary copy of Hitchcock’s Blondes from NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s and Sons ahead of publication. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

Alfred Hitchcock was a lot of things, including a great director of some of my favorite films like North by Northwest, the trio of Grace Kelly films, and Psycho, to name a few. But in recent years, given the #MeToo movement, one has to reexamine the director’s works and see if they are worthy of our adoration. This is not even the first book to concentrate on Hitchcock’s blonde leading ladies, but it is the first I’ve read in a few years, so I was curious if there was anything new.

For the most part, Leamer’s book rehashes some stories, while some are fresh and new, like the focus on two of Hitch’s early blonde actors, June Howard-Tripp and Madeleine Carroll. I had not read anything in-depth about these fine actresses and what they had to put up with under Hitchcock’s watch. I knew everything about Ingrid Bergman and Grace Kelly’s time with the director, as I’ve done extensive reading on both actresses, and knew some of the stories from Kim Novak, Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint, and Janet Leigh. So if you’ve already read a Hitchcock biography or two, you might have come across some of these stories before.

It seems, given the tales, that Alfred Hitchcock started out as just a guy with a little fetish for blonde actresses, and over time, the reverence turned into something else, as was the case with his later actresses like Tippi Hedren. She’s been very outspoken over the years about the abuse she suffered while working with Hitchcock, and Kim Novak had a terrible working experience with him, too. Hitchcock was a great director, but he definitely was a little pervy, too, and as he got older, he took advantage of his women actors.

I really liked this new look at Hitchcock’s Blondes, I just wish the author would have concentrated on some other female actors or gone into greater discussion of how Hitchcock could not survive in today’s climate. There was a bit too much padding with an overview of their lives pre-and post-Hitchcock films, which is fine for those who haven’t read a lot about them, but I suspect people picking up this book want new stories, of which there are a few. Four stars!

Interesting mini biographies of the women who were involved with Hitchcock and making his famous movies. It’s sad that each of the actors was described by their sexual proclivities rather than anything else. It is clear that Learner is a film lover—taking the reader into each story, step by step. It would have been nice to have had the same parallel with the women rather than be focused on just their sordid details. These women were wives, mothers, and children who were dealing with a controlling and mentally abusive, often physically cruel, Hitchcock. The book seemingly downplays the inflicted torture and terrible treatment by both the director and those around him towards these young women. While great facts, still some additional details would have been better

When I started reading Hitchcock's Blondes, I thought I was going to find a kind of typical biography of the famous director, but as I read further I realized that the book focuses on his films and, obviously, the actresses who starred in them.
Some of these artists were practically unknown, others were not even actresses, but from the moment Hitchcock entered their lives, they would change in an incredible way.
Hitchcock's Blondes is an abbreviated history of cinema, from the silent film era, when Hitch began his career as a director, through the first films with sound and black and white, to modern color cinema, without forgetting his famous television series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents."
A book that is worth reading, and that will awaken in the reader the desire to see at least one of those films that are already classics.
I thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.

dnf @ 32%

Okay, I decided to DNF this one but I think its more me, than the book. The concept and the content is really interesting. But what I find very hard is the organization of the book. At times I was lost because it went from Hitchcock to the actresses and it was hard for me to keep up. Now, I think if you don't have hang ups about the organization of your nonfiction books, this is a good read for you. The content is great.

*Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for giving me an early copy to review. All thoughts are my own*

In Hitchcock’s Blondes: The Unforgettable Women Behind the Legendary Director’s Dark Obsession, New York Times bestselling biographer Laurence Leamer offers readers a fascinating look at the stories of the women Alfred Hitchcock handpicked to star in 14 of his movies, casting a golden glow on the silver screen, and not just through the lens of the legendary director.

While the impact Hitchock had on actresses June Howard-Tripp, Madeleine Carroll, Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, Kim Novak, Janet Leigh, and Tippi Hedren is central to the book, we also learn more about what their lives were like pre-and post-Hitch.

Leamer also takes a look at Hitchcock’s early life. Born in 1899 Victorian London, the young Alfred was not coddled or showered with affection. After one unspecified naughty deed, his father sent him to the local police, where he was locked in a cell. A visit to hedonistic 1924 Berlin, may have sewn the blonde fixation seed and Hitchcock’s need for control, after an encounter with two German women. Both events embedded in his psyche.

For younger readers, it should be noted Hitchcock created his films at a time in Hollywood, where there was no #metoo movement, there was a casting couch and the industry was ripe with sex and misogyny.

While it seems that Hitchcock didn’t take things to the level we’ve heard in recent years, he did enjoy telling dirty jokes and making some of his blonde actresses blush. The director also did his best to mold every detail of his actresses’ lives to his vision, not just for the film but the way they dressed, wore their hair, and who they were involved with in offscreen.

For a few, his control was torture. If you’ve ever seen The Birds, Tippi Hedren was incredibly brave conceding to Hitchcock’s insistence that real birds should not only attack her, but that on the fifth day of filming the attic scene, several would be attached to her with elastic bands to show a frenzied attack, where she was just an inch or two away from her eyes being pecked out.

The stories of each of the women was engaging, each more intriguing than the next. You’ll have to read to find out.

Born before most of these films were released, I’ll share just this one impression. After growing up naïve and Catholic in Philadelphia, I was rather astounded to read about the promiscuity of some of his actresses including Ingrid Bergman, who I watched on our living room television set portray both Joan of Arc and Sister Benedict in The Bells of St. Mary’s, not to mention Philadelphia’s own ethereal princess – Grace Kelly. No moral judgement here just something I was quite surprised to read.

The book also gives us a sneak peek into the making of some of Hitchcock’s most iconic works - Notorious, North by Northwest, Vertigo, To Catch a Thief and The Birds. In fact, I want to go back and rewatch those favorites, along with some of his older thrillers.

I highly recommend Hitchcock’s Blondes to Hitchock fans, film buffs, and the general reader. I received this Advance Reader’s copy of Hitchcock’s Blondes from G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House, courtesy of NetGalley.

I was surprised to learn Hitchcock was even more controlling and a perfectionist than I knew. Learning about his wife, Alma, was interesting. This is a series of mini biographies of the actresses in Hitchcock’s movies. It was interesting and I learned things about the actresses I didn’t know. It also gives details of the movies including the endings, so beware if you plan to watch the movies later. It did feel tabloid-ish with the commentary on the sex lives/affairs of the stars. There were 21 pictures at the very end of the book after the Notes and Bibliography sections so they would be easy to miss.

Thank you to the author, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I have always been obsessed with Hitchcock and his leading ladies. This book offers so many insights into the director and his muses and how he treated them. It is a fascinating journey through Hollywood and how it used to work and what was tolerated. I found it incredibly interesting to read.

Despite being a fan of every movie of his that I have seen, I admittedly didn't know very much about Alfred Hitchcock. Or, as it would turn out, about his leading ladies. As completely expected of a man of his time and power, he was at best a sleaze and at worst a predator. His insatiable sexual proclivities infected every segment of his artistry and was oftentimes palpable to the audiences of his films through his distinctive directorial approach. It is important with historical figures in particular to analyze their lives and accomplishment through the prism of perspective in order to more accurately portray their complexity. In the case of Hitchcock, he was a pioneer of his craft, one of the very best who has ever done it. But at the same time he was also a serial abuser who revelled in the power he wielded over women. The two are both true. A well written book with a great narrative flow, this is a winner.

Listed as one of fall’s most anticipated books, the cover of Hitchcock’s Blondes is stunning especially in a world before photoshop.

Going into this, I expected a TED-talk style, highly engaging, well-organized book, but…….

Let’s off with the band-aid, shall we?

This book didn’t work for me.

Full Disclosure: I have never seen an Alfred Hitchcock film, but I was interested to learn more. Maybe I would have enjoyed this more if I was familiar with his works.

The editor should be fired because this book is a hot mess. Hitchcock’s Blondes is not well organized, and each chapter should have been titled after the particular actress. At times, the book veers off topic, starting to go into the weeds with the actors. Perhaps a more fitting title for this work would be Old Hollywood?

Also, there are a few photos in the book that are wasted by being placed at the very back of the book. In fact, I missed them the first time through because they are truly the last pages of the book even after the long notes, acknowledgement, and sources. Instead, these should have been strategically weaved in with the corresponding chapter.

The narrative voice was underdeveloped and inelegant. The super quick film summaries didn’t work for someone not familiar with Hitchcock’s work. It was like the author took a big breath and tried to punch through the summary as quickly as possible.

Finally, the tone of this book is a little cringy especially in light of the #MeToo movement. The author attempted to downplay sexual assault and harassment, noting when an actress asserted abuse in later years and trying to pass off uncomfortable, inappropriate jokes.

In one of the last chapters, it is noted that Hitchcock’s secretary would come into his office and shut the door. David Freeman, a screenwriter, thought she was partially undressing to buy a new car.

Unless the secretary wanted this story out, it is shameful to publish it. First, this appears to be based on no more than speculation and vicious rumors. Maybe she shut the door to transcribe some notes? Second, even if this story is 100% true, the inherent imbalance of power is abusive and is the secretary’s story to share.

*Thanks to Putnam Brothers, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion who I am sure will love to work with me after this absolutely brutal but honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I grew up watching Alfred Hitchcock’s movies and TV shows, so I was extremely excited to read Leamer’s new book.

Hitchcock began his career working at a bank before moving to films. His start in film began when he was hired to write captions for silent movies. While in that position, he met and married Alma Reville when he was 27. This relationship remained intact throughout the years, in spite of his obsession with beautiful blondes.

This is a biography that zeroes in, as you might guess, on the blondes that stared in Hitchcock’s pictures. It was an interesting twist on a typical biography. For each actress that Leamer features, he has included a small biography.

My Concerns
I think the book would have been far more meaningful had I refreshed my memory by watching some of his movies.

Final Thoughts
I enjoyed the way each actress was introduced, and, basically, I liked learning more about Hitchcock. However, the subject felt a bit dark as descriptions were shared regarding what it was like to work with Hitchcock. The more I read, the more I realized it wasn’t a good fit for me.

However, I felt it was thoroughly researched, and Hitchcock fans won’t want to overlook this unique book.


My thanks to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an ARC to review.