“This is a must read for anyone who is a Myrna Loy fan.”
“An engaging and heartening portrait of the classic movie star who never let the glamour of her impossibly glamorous profession go to her head.”
“Leider’s meticulous research reveals the shy, warm, and modest figure behind the image of the cool, chic urbanite. Sprinkled throughout the text like small, glittering gems are glimpses of Loy’s friendships with famed celebrities such as Joan Crawford, Cary Grant, Rudolph Valentino, Clark Gable, and John Barrymore. VERDICT Leider’s books are smart and witty trips through the lives of her subjects, and this work is no exception.”
“Leider . . . has penned a thoroughly researched and stylishly written biography of an accomplished actress who was more than just her screen credits.”
“A highly readable, well-informed biography. . . . Leider peppers her narrative with savvy comments and behind-the-scenes stories about Loy’s many films.”
“A well-researched and comprehensive biography. . . . Leider’s portrait nicely details Myrna Loy as not only a movie star but also an ardent activist.”
“An excellent biography.”
“Emily W. Leider has managed to give us the biography of an actress that avoids the crass tell-all format of many celebrity biographies—it is well researched, the prose is eminently readable. . . . It is a must read for fans of Myrna Loy, it will interest fans of film in general and classic film in particular, and it is also an interesting read from a purely historical perspective, thanks to the research put into it and its scholarly tone. Pick up the book and revisit these films.”
“I've not wanted to put the book down. It's that good, yes, it is really THAT good. . . . Leider's impeccable research coupled with her elegant prose make for a thoroughly enjoyable read. . . . Leider's prose, in so many ways, reflects or mimics the manner, the lightness, the quirkiness of Loy's own voice as she tosses off quips with William Powell. It's a pure delight to read. . . . Myrna Loy was really much more, much deeper than Nora Charles and this book tells you why. I'm beyond grateful she portrayed Nora Charles as delightfully as she did, but I'm more grateful to read about and learn from her life off screen. Not a perfect wife, but quite a life. If you're a fan of Myrna Loy and her films, this is a must read.”
“Kudos to author Emily Leider for a brilliant, riveting portrait of a well-bred lady, an anomaly in the salacious, boudoir-driven Hollywood of the era. . . . ‘Myrna Loy’ is an encyclopedic, fascinating page-turner for film buffs.”
“Leider’s new book is certainly one of the best film books of the year.”
“Movie buffs will appreciate the careful research that went into this book, while readers wanting intimacy will delight in hearing Myrna’s own voice come through.”
“Well-researched and shrewdly conceived.”
“Myrna Loy has found an ideal biographer in Emily Leider, a gifted writer who loves film history and knows how to mine the field for the kind of details that help her paint a full and rounded picture of her subject.” —Leonard Maltin, film critic/historian
"A masterful tribute to MGM's subtlest star."—David Stenn, author of Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow
"Finally, a biography worthy of Myrna Loy—a smart, fascinating book about a smart, fascinating woman."—Eve Golden, author of Platinum Girl: The Life and Legends of Jean Harlow
“This first biography of Myrna Loy is so conscientiously researched, so closely written in detail and intelligent style that there will be no need for a second. Emily Leider documents both the woman and the actress: the early years in Montana and the multiple and sometimes foolish marriages of the former, and the development of the latter from exotic silent player to sophisticated lead in the Thin Man series to everyone’s image of a proud, understanding middle-class wife in the 1940s and beyond.”—Anthony Slide, author of Inside the Hollywood Fan Magazine: A History of Star Makers, Fabricators, and Gossip Mongers
