Wyman's childhood, struggle for success in Hollywood, marital encounters--including her eight-year marriage to Ronald Reagan--and real-life roles as wife and mother are detailed.

A fascinating story of Jane Wyman, Ronald Reagan, and Nancy Davis

First published in 1986 and nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, Early Reagan is still the most in-depth portrayal of the pre-government years of the late president. The book uncovers Reagan s formative years: childhood poverty, film stardom, and his politicization via the Screen Actors Guild. Anne Edwards interviewed more than two hundred people important in the life of Reagan as well as those of his two wives, Jane Wyman and Nancy Davis. The book concludes with Reagan s entry into politics in 1966, when he announced his candidacy for Governor of California in the living room of his hilltop San Onofre home. As the late historian Barbara Tuchman noted, For anyone who wants to know about the circumstances . . . that formed Ronald Reagan into a political figure, this is the book to read. "

Showcasing a dazzling collection of 200 photographs, many of which have never before been seen, this lavishly illustrated book offers a captivating historical, social, and political examination of the first 75 women--from Janet Gaynor to Emma Stone--to have won the coveted and legendary Academy Award for Best Actress.t Actress.

Though often thought of as primarily a male vehicle, the film noir offered some of the most complex female roles of any movies of the 1940s and 1950s. Stars such as Barbara Stanwyck, Gene Tierney and Joan Crawford produced some of their finest performances in noir movies, while such lesser known actresses as Peggie Castle, Hope Emerson and Helen Walker made a lasting impression with their roles in the genre. These six women and 43 others who were most frequently featured in films noirs are profiled here, focusing primarily on their work in the genre and its impact on their careers. A filmography of all noir appearances is provided for each actress.