“Laura really nails writers who don’t know their subjects and make big mistakes,” says King, from his office in Muscatine, Iowa. “Today there are some writers who just don’t know their stuff and they write about celebrities only to cash in. They shouldn’t be writing about them until they learn more. Laura unceremoniously pops their bubble, and readers love it when she does that.”
After reading Diana Serra Cary’s 2007 book on actor Jackie Coogan, Wagner was quick to offer praise, calling it, “the most penetrating and perceptive biography yet on a child star.” But she went gunning after the co-author of a 2002 Virginia Mayo biography, suggesting the author “just slapped this one together with a few bits of rags, some bones, and a hank of hair.” Appalled at a 2005 Cary Grant biography, which Wagner claimed was full of factual errors and lacked evidence for the author’s claims, her review sarcastically asked where the copy editor was during production. “My guess is he’s drinking in the back room laughing at the author’s stupidity,” wrote Wagner.
Wagner’s glib tone seems to bubble over from her confident personality to her writing, but she makes no apologies for upsetting authors or readers who disagree with her views. At the same time, her snappy writing and wacky sense of humor have also led to a considerable fan following, including some 1,500 Facebook fans. Readers include prominent film writer and historian James Robert Parish and well-known TV film critic Leonard Maltin.
Despite her many fans, Wagner has made some enemies.
Rather than cowering in a corner when disgruntled authors respond with personal attacks, Wagner actually seems to thrive on their vindictive comments. Rather than the traditional blurbs, her recent book, Let me Tell You How I Really Feel: The Uncensored Book Reviews of Classic Images’ Laura Wagner, 2001-2010 (published by BearManor Media), features some of the venomous comments her reviews have elicited from authors and readers. “She is a bigot and fanatic who distorts truth…” “[She’s] functionally illiterate…” “…A troublemaking bigoted bitch…” “…A dried-up old maid with as much sex-appeal as a broom…”
For her part, Wagner takes these insults and jabs in stride. “One colleague has told me that he has never heard of any male book reviewer being bullied the way I have,” she says. “I’ve been threatened with lawsuits, but none of these threats will stop me.”
Best known to TV audiences, film critic Leonard Maltin is also the author of numerous film books. “Obviously no one likes to get a bad review and Laura is a demanding reviewer,” says Maltin, from Los Angeles. “But I think she’s very fair. It’s rare to find intelligent and knowledgeable reviews of current books, so I’m a big fan of her work and I eagerly await her column each month.”
Wagner has interviewed many of her favorite actors over the years, including Alice Faye, Cyd Charisse, Anne Francis, Janis Paige, and Virginia Mayo. “I called [Mayo] up to interview her, and we became friends for 10 years,” said Wagner, who is currently writing a book about the late actress. But don’t expect pages filled with trashy gossip in any of Wagner’s work.
“Too many people like to write about gossip, whether it’s true or not. Real film fans, like me, like behind-the-scenes stories and interviews with co-workers, friends, and family. That’s the best biography, where the author talks to people who knew the actor,” says Wagner, whose highly praised 2004 book, Killer Tomatoes: Fifteen Tough Film Dames, follows those guidelines.
“I love movies,” she says. “I will continue to praise authors who actually do the research, and love the movies and the people who made them.”
Movie Trivia!
By Nick Thomas
When I interviewed Laura I asked her these questions because I wanted to see if she was as good as I had heard. I gave her 3 seconds to answer them (being on the phone I figured she could have got the answers off the computer, but not in 3 seconds). She answered them all. How many do you know? No cheating! (Answers below.)
1. How many William Powell and Myrna Loy “Thin Man” movies were made?
2. Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, and Ronald Colman starred in only one movie together, in 1942. What was it?
3. Michael Curtiz directed nearly 200 movies, including some classics such as “Casablanca,” “WhiteChristmas,” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” What was the last film he directed?
4. What 100 year old actress, who still lives in London, was the first to receive two consecutive Oscars for Best Actress?
5. What “spacey” TV mom from a popular 60s show appeared with both her parents in a 1938 Christmas movie classic?
6. Which witch was flattened by Dorothy’s falling house, in “The Wizard of Oz”?
7. The year 1939 is often referred to as the greatest year in film history. Which of the following classics were released that year: Gone with the Wind, Wizard of Oz, Stagecoach, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Goodbye Mr. Chips, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Young Mr. Lincoln?
8. Which actress, often referred to throughout her career in the 30s and 40s as the most beautiful woman in the world, held a US Patent for a radio guiding system for torpedoes?
9. Which dashing leading man, who often fought his way on screen as a pirate, cowboy, or soldier, was born in the Australian state of Tasmania in 1909?
10 Which 5-foot leading lady went to a royal wedding with Fred Astaire and tried to keep with peace among seven young brides?
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Answers
1. Six
2. “The Talk of the Town”
3. “The Comancheros,” in 1961, starring John Wayne.
4. Luise Rainer, who won the 1937 Oscar for “The Great Ziegfeld.” and the 1938 Oscar for “The Good Earth.”
5. June Lockhart appeared in “A Christmas Carol” with her parents, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart
6. Witch of the East
7. All of them!
8. Hedy Lamarr
9. Errol Flynn
10. Jane Powell