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LANA: The Memories, the Myths, the Movies
Lana Turner was the ultimate personification of the term “movie star.” The actress and world-class beauty lived the glamorous life to the hilt, and was part of one of the most notorious scandals in Hollywood history. Lana’s daughter, Cheryl Crane, now tells her mother’s story for the first time, featuring hundreds of never-before-seen photos from her private family collection. The Memories, the Myths, the Movies will chronicle her life and 50-year career, starting with the Cinderella story of a girl discovered at a soda shop at age fifteen and made a star overnight. From blonde bombshell to box-office queen of the ’40s, Lana led a whirlwind life marked by seven marriages and a murder trial that made her and her daughter infamous. While Lana’s private adventures inspired the press, her talent and provocative presence shone on the silver screen. Her films The Postman Always Rings Twice , The Bad and the Beautiful , and Imitation of Life are extensively covered as part of a complete filmography. And from chapters on her lovers to her makeup tips, Lana will show the complete spectrum of the woman, at work and at play. The gorgeous photographs throughout showcase not only the stunning glamour of one of Hollywood’s classic celebrities, but also reveal her other as a mother, a wife, an adventurer, and above all, a woman with a zest for life.
- GenresBiographyNonfictionFilm
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 20, 2008
About the author
Cheryl Crane
8 books35 followersCheryl Crane is the daughter of movie star Lana Turner. She became infamous in 1958 after stabbing Turner's boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato. It was ruled to be justifiable homicide as Crane had been protecting her mother. Crane is the author of the autobiography Detour: a Hollywood Tragedy - My Life With Lana Turner, My Mother and other books.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 6, 2011
As far as high-gloss, pictorial biographies go, this is outstanding. Lana Turner was one of the most glamorous Hollywood actresses of the 40s, and despite a tempestuous love life she sustained her career through the 50s and 60s. With a text by her daughter Cheryl Crane, co-written by Cindy de La Hoz, this book offers a unique insight into the golden age of the studio system and the woman who survived it. There are chapters on Lana's background, image, friends and lovers, and each of her movies is examined in detail. It's also a sumptuously presented book, with gorgeous photos on every page (the candid ones are most interesting of all, given that like other stars of her era, Lana so rarely let her mask slip publicly.) The tone is most definitely fan-magazine, but of the highest order. I have read and enjoyed both of De La Hoz's books on Marilyn Monroe, but this is De La Hoz's best work to date.
July 3, 2009
Perhaps the best of this type of book I've ever seen -- this type being over-sized, crammed with pictures, a little fan-gushy but a terrific wallow if you're into the subject matter. The photos are really amazing, both posed and candid -- well, as candid as a studio-trained star could ever get, anyway. It's co-written by Lana's daughter Cheryl Crane, without an ax to grind, so there are lots of personal details and unexpected tidbits. Beautifully done.
April 29, 2009
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cheryl Crane was very candid about her mother's life, both private and personal. But what I really enjoyed where the photographs, from her personal and professional life. They are all breathtakingly beautiful, and help to tell more of Lana's story than the words themselves. It is a great addition to anyone's collection, especially if you are a fan of old Hollywood.
May 2, 2015
Very informative. feel like I lived with the woman . only.issue the size of the book was cumbersome. hard to hold, heavy, scared if I tried to read in the tub...my fave place....I'd be crushed by it
December 4, 2017
I am not a fan of Lana Turner at all. The only reason I have this book is because I got it for free and it's a wonderful time capsule. I love 50s style, hair, make-up, etc. Lana Turner was beautiful, but she was a lousy actress.
February 4, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book and looking through all the beautiful photos put together by Cheryl Crane, Lana's daughter. The format was great - a coffee table book with gorgeous photos but also a biography divided into various themes. Told from her daughter's perspective, the book divides up Lana's life story into time with her family, as well as her childhood, her style, her films, her husbands and loves, and her time at the studio, among other things. The pictures were beautiful and it was very interesting to have Cheryl's commentary throughout the book based on her personal experiences and what her mother had told her. Great insight and enjoyable reading!
June 7, 2018
What a gorgeous book of information and photos! I didn't expect the book to be so big, but it was a great treat to find huge glossy photos on nearly every page. Lana's daughter, Cheryl, wrote a beautiful memoir that covered everything from when Lana was born to her last days. I liked reading the story of her life, then having a synopsis of every movie she made with her feelings on filming, costumes, co-stars, producers and what was happening in her life at that time. This was a really fun read and I'm glad to have it in my collection.
August 26, 2019
fantastic if you love Lana's movies.
January 4, 2018
Really enjoyed the gorgeous pictures of Lana and the story of her life as told through her daughter’s eyes.
February 19, 2009
I'm a complete classic movie nerd, so it's no surprise I loved this thing. I'm not even a huge Lana Turner fan, but I was pretty riveted by this impressive coffee table book. Tons and tons of gorgeous candid and studio photos of Ms. Turner, plus behind-the-scenes gossip courtesy of her daughter: who Turner dated, what her homes looked like, how she dressed, what she drove. It was sort of like hanging out with Lana for a few days and getting an inside look into her very dramatic personal life. If you dig old movie stars, you must read this.
December 3, 2013
I read this book just after finishing Detour, Cheryl Crane's autobiography. The pictures are beautiful, evocating a time when Hollywood really was glamour personified. The life and times of one our most popular movie stars of all time, this book gave the reader a peek into her life. This was interesting and a very good read.
November 26, 2015
This book is written by her daughter. She started out form nothing and became one of the biggest movies stars of her time. This is a very candid look at her life. Typical for this era though she chose mates poorly and did not do good in love. This book had great pictures.
February 10, 2024
The most beautiful coffee table book I ever owned!
Written by Lana Turner's daughter Cheryl Crane, it's a must for every Lana Turner fan.
On 400 pages one can admire over 500 photos, many of them in color, others in black & white.
It also contains Lana Turner's filmography.
Written by Lana Turner's daughter Cheryl Crane, it's a must for every Lana Turner fan.
On 400 pages one can admire over 500 photos, many of them in color, others in black & white.
It also contains Lana Turner's filmography.
December 8, 2015
I enjoyed this book so much that I wish I could read every old Hollywood biography with the same format/layout. It's obvious this book was created with love.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews