From the New York Times bestselling author of The Dressmaker comes a blockbuster novel that takes you behind the scenes of the filming of Gone with the Wind, while turning the spotlight on the passionate romance between its dashing leading man, Clark Gable, and the blithe, free-spirited actress Carole Lombard. When Julie Crawford leaves Fort Wayne, Indiana, for Hollywood, she never imagines … Wayne, Indiana, for Hollywood, she never imagines she’ll cross paths with Carole Lombard, the dazzling actress fromJulie’s provincial Midwestern hometown. The young woman has dreams of becoming a screenwriter, but the only job Julie’s able to find is one in the studio publicity office of the notoriously demanding producer David O. Selznick, who is busy burning through directors, writers, and money as he films Gone with the Wind.
Although tensions run high on the set, Julie finds she can step onto the back lot, take in the smell of smoky gunpowder and the soft rustle of hoop skirts, and feel the magical world of Gone with the Wind come to life. Julie’s access to real-life magic comes when Carole Lombard hires her as an assistant and invites her into the glamorous world Carole shares with Clark Gable, who is about to move into movie history as the dashing Rhett Butler.
Carole Lombard, happily profane and uninhibited, makes no secret of her relationship with Gable, which poses something of a problem for the studio because Gable is technically still married—and the last thing the film needs is more negative publicity. Julie is there to fend off the overly curious reporters, hoping to prevent details about the affair from slipping out. But she can barely keep up with her blond employer, let alone control what comes out of Carole’s mouth, and—as their friendship grows—Julie soon finds she doesn’t want to. Carole, both wise and funny, becomes Julie’s model for breaking free of the past.
In the ever-widening scope of this story, Julie is given a front-row seat to not one but two of the greatest love affairs of all time: the undeniable on-screen chemistry between Scarlett and Rhett, and offscreen, the deepening love between Carole and Clark. Yet beneath the shiny façade, things in Hollywood are never quite what they seem, and Julie must learn to balance her career aspirations and her own budding romance with the outsized personalities and overheated drama on set. Vivid, romantic, and filled with Old Hollywood details, A Touch of Stardust will entrance, surprise, and delight.
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interesting storyline, with very likable characters. As i finished it, i found myself wondering what happened next for the lead character. It was fun to learn more about the events and social climate at that time in America’s history.
Like many other stories, this book centers on a Midwestern girl’s efforts to make it in male dominated Hollywood. Julie Crawford wants to be a screenwriter. Not that unique a premise.
But her efforts to succeed, her break from disapproving parents, and her budding romance with a promising assistant producer, Andy — all take place against the making of David O. Selznick’s masterpiece, Gone With The Wind. It’s this movie and the insider’s look at the moviemaking that were the most interesting aspect of the book to me.
Clark Gable’s hesitancy about whether to cry on camera, Vivien Leigh’s anger over the daily taping of her breasts (to give her more cleavage), the firing of director George Cukor, and the racial battles behind the scenes over how slaves would be portrayed in the film — these were the items that drew me in. Not to mention the battles for control between Selznick and his father-in-law, studio head Louis B. Mayer.
There’s also a wonderfully rich and warm portrait of Actress Carole Lombard (Gable’s third wife) who becomes Julie’s employer and then friend. All of this in the 1938-9 period leading up to World War II.
It’s an easy and fast read. I just wish I had cared more for the Julie Crawford part of the story.
Gone with the wind is my favorite movie, so I really enjoyed reading this book.
An intriguing novelization of the Clark Gable/Carole Lombard romance and the making of ‘Gone With The Wind’, with great characters (real and fictional) and a wealth of history for any movie buff old or young. An almost ‘can’t put it down’ story.
A great old Hollywood read. Deals mainly with the filming of Gone With The Wind and the people involved. I loved the book.
If you’re a fan of all things pertaining to Hollywood’s vintage movie era, Clark Gable, Carol Lombard, Vivien Leigh AND Gone with the Wind, then this book is for you! Full of legendary romance, the magic of classic movie making and one girls dream to be a part of it all as a screenwriter. Julie Crawford leaves Fort Wayne, IN to head for the sights and sounds of Hollywood and arrives right in the middle of the filming of GWTW. What else will she find there? Where will this new journey take her as she breaks into the male-dominated screenwriters world, or will she? Her path takes twists and turns until one particular woman helps her in ways Julie never thought possible. Who would’ve thought they had hometown ties to one another. Lively depictions between famous and non-famous characters throughout are beautifully written. Ms. Alcott weaves a tale between fact and fiction so effortlessly you’ll be asking if the fictional characters are indeed real. With characters larger than life, this novel is beautifully blended and a delightful read.
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