"MAUREEN O'HARA: THE BIOGRAPHY"--from author Aubrey Malone--breakthrough biography offers the first look at the woman behind the larger-than-life persona, sorting through the myths to present a balanced assessment of one of the greatest stars of the silver screen (see my review)

 

Maureen O'Hara: The Biography

From her first appearances on the stage and screen, Maureen O'Hara (b. 1920) commanded attention with her striking beauty, radiant red hair, and impassioned portrayals of spirited heroines. Whether she was being rescued from the gallows by Charles Laughton ( The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1939), falling in love with Walter Pidgeon against a coal-blackened sky ( How Green Was My Valley, 1941), learning to believe in miracles with Natalie Wood ( Miracle on 34th Street, 1947), or matching wits with John Wayne ( The Quiet Man, 1952), she charmed audiences with her powerful presence and easy confidence.

Maureen O'Hara is the first book-length biography of the screen legend hailed as the "Queen of Technicolor." Following the star from her childhood in Dublin to the height of fame in Hollywood, film critic Aubrey Malone draws on new information from the Irish Film Institute, production notes from films, and details from historical film journals, newspapers, and fan magazines. Malone also examines the actress's friendship with frequent costar John Wayne and her relationship with director John Ford, and he addresses the hotly debated question of whether the screen siren was a feminist or antifeminist figure.

Though she was an icon of cinema's golden age, O'Hara's penchant for privacy and habit of making public statements that contradicted her personal choices have made her an enigma. This breakthrough biography offers the first look at the woman behind the larger-than-life persona, sorting through the myths to present a balanced assessment of one of the greatest stars of the silver screen.

MY REVIEW:  Maureen FitzSimons was born in Dublin, Ireland on August 17, 1920. By the time of her twentieth birthday, she had been discovered by screen great Charles Laughton, renamed Maureen O'Hara, and, as they say: "the rest is history". Author Aubrey Malone gives readers a glimpse of Maureen's life, both on-screen and in her personal world, in "Maureen O'Hara: The Biography". Cinema buffs will enjoy the author's attention to details in his descriptions of Maureen's films, costars, and the undeniable lure of show business. The FitzSimons family was extremely close--a blend of musical theatricality and athleticism. Maureen was a tomboy, always strong and adventurous, but she had also inherited her mother's musicality--she had a lovely singing voice. Appearing alongside her mentor, Charles Laughton, in "The Hunchback of Notre dame" was an invaluable learning experience for the young actress, and it was the beginning of her long career as an indelible screen presence. A statuesque beauty with glorious red hair and a delightful accent, she was also an action film star capable of poignant performances in dramas and family films such as "Miracle on 34th street" and "The Parent Trap". It was her great on-screen chemistry and lifelong friendship with John Wayne that brought out the best in both of the stars. Their acting pairing in "The Quiet Man" is one of the best screen duos of all-time. In her private life, Maureen did not find romantic happiness until her third marriage. Aviator Charles Blair had been a longtime friend of Maureen and her family, and when when both of their life circumstances changed, that friendship turned to love. She helped him run his air boat company, and they remained contentedly married for ten years until his tragic death in a plane crash. After her husband's death, she took over the running of their business and became the first woman president of a commercial airline. One of the things that Maureen O'Hara enjoyed throughout her long life was detecting an element of Irish heritage--even the smallest trace--in her costars and others she met. Seeing this beautiful lass from Dublin on film with her strength, spirit, and determination to remain true to herself and her beliefs, and reading about her extraordinary life, will make us all long for a connection to the Emerald Isle.

Book Copy Gratis University Press of Kentucky 

 

Reviews

 

"Maureen O'Hara is a significant contribution to scholars in the field and to readers for its broad scope, rich movie lore and enlightening information about O'Hara, the woman and the actress, whose career spanned a vital period in American film history." -- Mollie Gregory, author of Women Who Run the Show: How a Brilliant and Creative New Generation of Women Stormed Hollywood

"Aubrey Malone turns back the veil on O'Hara's closely guarded private life to reveal a truly fascinating, spirited and down-to-earth woman behind the glamorous movie star." -- News OK

"Capably researched yet breezily written." -- Express Milwaukee

"Much like author Christina Rice, author Aubrey Malone creates a tender and intriguing glimpse into the world of Maureen O'Hara's Golden Era...[Malone] gives an amazing and thought-provoking analysis on O'Hara's films. Standing alongside O'Hara's own autobiography, Maureen O'Hara: The Biography is wonderful." -- Journeys in Classic Film

"The writing style is outstanding and immensely captures a reader's attention and intrigues with the contents of Maureen O'Hara's glamorous lifestyle." -- The Southeastern Librarian

Aubrey Malone

 

 

 

Aubrey Malone is an M.A. graduate in English from University College Dublin. He has been reviewing films professionally since 1972 when he wrote for “TCD Miscellany.” In 1977 he became the resident film critic for “Image” magazine and held that position until 1989. That year he became the resident film critic for “Modern woman”, a supplement of “The Meath Chronicle” and held that position until 2002. In 2002 he became the resident film critic for “The Irish Catholic” and has held that position until the present day. His reviews can be seen posted online on this website. Also, he has been a book author since 1996 and has written numerous books on the cinema: “Hollyweird” (Michael O’Mara Books, ( “I Was a fugitive from a Hollywood Trivia Factory” (Prion/Carlton), “The rise and Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley” (Leopold books), “Sacred Profanity” (ABC-CLIO), “Censoring Hollywood” (McFarland), “Maureen O’Hara: The Biography” (University of Kentucky Press), “The Defiant One: A Biography of Tony Curtis” (McFarland) “Hollywood’s Second Sex: The Treatment of Women in Films from 1900-1999” (McFarland). Forthcoming is a biography of Marlon Brando from Propertius Press. He also reviews books on the cinema for various publications and writes film features and profiles for journals and magazines as well.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/28415.Aubrey_Malone