Reviews
The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick by
leasummer's review against another edition
5.0
This is part biography of Milicent Patrick and part memoir/journey of Mallory O'Meara, the author. Together,they weave a wonderful tale of movie history, feminism and monsters. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey O'Meara took to track down Milicent, what perseverance! This is a page turner, very well written, the author's enthusiasm sucks you in. Highly recommend.
oldtobegin's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
fascinating, funny, and oddly moving, a must read if you're a weirdo who likes monsters, especially if you're femme
torrie_reads's review against another edition
5.0
"Women are the most important part of horror because, by and large, women are the ones the horror happens to."
This was truly everything I hoped it would be and more. Not only do we get to learn about Milicent Patrick and her work on The Creature From the Black Lagoon, but we also get a look into the misogyny in Hollywood that persists to this day. I won't say much more because I think these quotes will do it more justice than I could.
"We need women to be allowed to be simply good at what they do. We need them on set, in meetings, behind cameras and pens and paintbrushes. We need them to be themselves, to be human: ordinary and flawed. That way, more girls can see them and think "I can do that." That way, no one can look at them and say " She got that job because she's beautiful. She got that gig because she slept with someone. Actually, she got hired because she was damn good."
"Even when everyone is being respectful and polite, if you are the only woman in the room it's impossible not to be acutely, uncomfortably aware of it. This feeling only intensifies if you are a marginalized woman."
"Women don't get to be colossal monsters. Women don't get to fuck shit up."
shauna_shaunee_maher's review against another edition
4.0
Where to even begin, this book is just a glimpse into the world of the film industry, the harsh reality of what women working in the industry in the 40's to present day face. Credit where credit is due is thrown out the window! Milicent Patrick is just one of many people that had their marvelous creations claimed by someone else. This book is full of movie history, and I would recommend it to any movie or costume fan out there. Disney even makes an appearance!
As a student studying costume design and makeup, this book hurt my heart to read at times. however I did enjoy it, the author used humor where it was needed and I could really feel how much Mallory wanted to share Milicent's story with the world. The book now sits proudly with my costuming books to remind me that I can be myself unapologetically and to follow my passion just like Milicent.
Thank you @Aaron Lockhart for gifting me this book and for always believing in me and my dreams.
As a student studying costume design and makeup, this book hurt my heart to read at times. however I did enjoy it, the author used humor where it was needed and I could really feel how much Mallory wanted to share Milicent's story with the world. The book now sits proudly with my costuming books to remind me that I can be myself unapologetically and to follow my passion just like Milicent.
Thank you @Aaron Lockhart for gifting me this book and for always believing in me and my dreams.
alceriniel's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
I would have enjoyed this book far more without the author adding in her personal stories and conflating TQIA+ fluff with Feminism. If you are writing a story about someone else, whose entire story revolves around women in film focus on that person and that struggle. I am not here to listen to the author talk about her tattoos or how she thought she dressed as a cat burglar when she went to a Mormon archive.
Also, when a book is about the struggles of women, saying the words "woman-identifying" is a slap in the face to all of the women who actually fought for equality. You don't get to identify out of the material reality of womanhood and what that entails, and you don't get to identify into it either.
Also, when a book is about the struggles of women, saying the words "woman-identifying" is a slap in the face to all of the women who actually fought for equality. You don't get to identify out of the material reality of womanhood and what that entails, and you don't get to identify into it either.
madzsmiled's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Mallory O'Meara turns a light to one of the most influential women in horror, one that only recently is getting her dues. Milicent Patrick is an inspiration to me as a film professional and horror fan, and I'm delighted to finally read her story. O'Meara handles her complicated life with such compassion and love. I loved this book so much.
katrenalove's review against another edition
4.0
This book was extremely interesting to me. It is well written in a sort of conversational tone while still giving the read a wealth of information and history to mull over. I think that it is extremely important that books like this one are becoming more readily available, books that focus on the people that often get overlooked by the history books due to their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or really any other reason. I don't like horror movies or anything scary but this book made me want to watch A Creature from the Black Lagoon and she what was being discussed through out the book. I would recommend this book to any horror fans, classic monster groupies, history nerds, cinephiles, artisitic souls, feminists and more.