The Charms of Miss O'Hara: Tales of Gone With the Wind & the Golden Age of Hollywood from Scarlett's Little Sister

This book is a charming biography of Ann Rutherford. There are three roles for which she is still known. Ann was Carreen O’Hara, the youngest of the three daughters in Gone With the Wind. Ann also played Polly Benedict (Andy Hardy’s love interest) thirteen times in the Andy Hardy series. She was Lydia in the 1940 production of Pride and Prejudice (she runs off with Mr. Wickham). Ann died in 2012 in Beverly Hills, CA. However, years before, she befriended a school teacher and budding author, Phillip Done. Over the years, she told him fascinating stories about the Golden Age of Hollywood.This book is a labor of love because Ann Rutherford comes across as joyous and enjoying her life to the max. These are wonderful stories that are never spiteful or demeaning. The tidbits she shares are things only someone active in the movie business could have known. Ann says that Pride and Prejudice was filmed in black and white for a unique reason. Technicolor was a new medium, and there were only seven or eight cameras in the world then. Gone With the Wind and The Wizard of Oz had them all. Since the stars were under contract and time was short, they were forced to use black and white cameras.If you are a “Golden Age of Hollywood” buff like me, the whole book is a trip down memory lane. Ann explains that the cast members always referred to Gone With the Wind as — The Wind (most folks writing about that film called it GWTW, but not those involved in it). Almost every page had something I didn’t know. Vivian Leigh (Scarlett) had tuberculosis as a child and never fully recovered. She was not well during the filming of The Wind and David Selznik wanted to reshoot the opening scene with Scarlett (of her running out of Tara with the twins running behind her). But he could not because Vivian had aged too much. Vivian was constantly losing weight; when she took off a costume, the seamstresses immediately took it in for the next day’s filming. Ann says The Wind was hard on Vivian; the filming took over six months. However, Vivian never came to work late or unprepared, even though rewrites were constantly problematic for the actors (new lines to learn for the next morning). One thing Ann mentioned that I hadn’t realized was that Vivian was in almost every scene. By the time the film was complete, they had twelve hours of story. However, they cut it down to four hours.Ann had stories about everyone in the film. She said that Clark Gable was poor while growing up and never lost sight that other workers made him look good. He waited for his time to film by playing cards with the gaffers and other blue-collar workers on the set. He did not let anyone call him Mr. Gable; he was always Clark.One of the few people Ann panned was Joan Crawford. She said she wished Christina Crawford, who wrote “Mommie Dearest,” had called her. Ann could have told plenty more about Joan. Miss Crawford was an early star who descended on the studio (when she worked) with an entourage (of employees following her). When Joan wasn’t looking, stars mimicked Joan and her entourage walking around the studio lot. When Joan found out, she wasn’t amused.Since the premiere of The Wind was before my time (in 1939), I had no idea about the hoopla associated with its opening. There were three premieres: Hollywood, New York City, and Atlanta, Georgia. The story of those premieres and the five, ten-year, and multi-year festivals was amazing. Films do not garner the kind of notoriety they did earlier.This was a unique and fascinating book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Ann Rutherford was an interesting woman, full of joy for being alive. She loved everything about being a star — and it showed.

This book revals what an incredible, gracious lady Ann Rutheford was. She knew most of hollywood greats and ralks about a lot. Great book.

I have been waiting for a new book from Phil Done, one of my favorite authors and people . . . and he does not disappoint. This book is a tender, funny tribute to Ann Rutherford, a true star from the (sadly) bygone Golden Era of Hollywood. It is a delightful and intimate glimpse behind the curtain and into her life and career, through the lens of the stories she shared with him during their friendship.I was completely engaged in the book from start to finish. I felt like I was sitting with them as she spoke of iconic stars, the making of movies, and her life. It is obvious that Phil has a deep affection for Ann and his book honors her amazing legacy.I became freshly acquainted with 'Gone With the Wind,' which my sister and I devoured one summer after my 7th grade year in school, and also with the movie. When I watch it now, however, I feel like a part of it - as if I truly have been backstage.My advice to you - read it and you will love it - and then, if you have not already read Done's other books (which are equally enchanting), I believe you will be compelled to read them as well.This is meant to be under the regular book version - but, I liked it so well, I bought the Kindle version, also. I strongly suggest getting the actual book because there are priceless pictures in it.

I start this review with a confession. Well, actually, two of them. One is that I only bought this book because of the Gone with the Wind connection. And second, I was completely unaware of how many movies in which Ann Rutherford had performed.What I discovered was that Miss Rutherford was present for the lion's share of the Golden Age of Hollywood. And this book is an excellent depiction of that era.This is not merely a walk down memory lane. It is, in turns, a romp, a bounce, a sad meander. Names are dropped as casually as sly belles once dropped fluttering handkerchiefs. There is no way I can do justice to all those names by trying to list them all; to do so would surely be to omit some Hollywood heavyweight.Phillip Done's previous books were based on his experience teaching children and he approaches this book with the same cleverness:. pay attention to your subject and let their voices lead the story. This book is simply well-written, without unnecessary flourishes and embellishments. Miss Rutherford's words speak for themselves. She blooms in the pages as someone you wish had picked you up in a mile-long convertible and taken you on a careening ride down Hollywood Boulevard, past all the landmarks to arrive, brakes screeching, breathless, wind-blown, in the parking lot of the Beverly Hilton.Once you get there, order a Bloody Mary and toast Miss Rutherford and Phillip Done. .

A very interesting book, i couldn't put it down and ready it in one night!It was lovely to hear the tales of old Hollywood, and feel the passion that there was. A very detailed book about Ann Rutherford and her consequent friendship with this author also. I really do recommend this to all who love the older films

I really liked the stories of Hollywood which is why I was keen to read the book, so I loved the way this was written and how it covered the big films in Ann Rutherford's career. I was a wee less sure at times re Ann Rutherford herself, hence the four stars

absolutely loved this book. well written and unputdownable. i only briefly knew the actress although she was in a monumental film. loved her story from beginning to end. told in a matter of fact way but with depth.

Clearly the work of a devoted fan. Nice little read, light and entertaining.

I didn't know a whole lot about Ann Rutherford but knew she was in my favourite movie, Gone With The Wind. What a lovely lady, such a genuinely nice person who always had time for her fans, kind words for her colleagues and a genuine appreciation of her career and opportunities.The only negative for me was it was written from the perspective of the author, how as a fan he met and got to develop a friendship with Ann. It's not written in classic biography style but still highly enjoyable.I would recommend.