Killer Tomatoes: Fifteen Tough Film Dames »

No delicate ingénues, these. In the middle of the twentieth century, the Mary Pickfords of the movie world were replaced by a different sort of woman-drop-dead gorgeous, witty, not afraid to speak their minds, they could slay you with a look-and if that didn't work, look out for the pistol in the garter. These ground-breaking actresses helped change the course of movie history, charting a path for generations to come.

These profiles of fifteen leading ladies-from Lucille Ball to Mercedes McCambridge to Marie Windsor-include overviews of their lives and careers, and excerpts from interviews. Five photos supplement each profile. Jane Russell (one of the actresses profiled) provides a foreword.

About the Author

Raised in Manhattan, Ray Hagen now lives in Washington, D.C. He spent 15 years acting, dancing, and singing on and off Broadway, has written two off-Broadway plays, co-authored a movie reference book, conducted numerous film-related interviews, and narrates books on tape for the Library of Congress.

Laura Wagner lives in Shoreham, New York. She has been a regular contributor to various movie publications, and is the book reviewer for Classic Images. She is currently working on several projects, including a book on Virginia Mayo.