Famous Stars #3

A quick, illustrated look at Hollywood stars of the era, featuring brief facts and small portraits of Barbara Stanwyck, Ray Milland, Rhonda Flemming, and Corinne Calvet.

At Western College for Girls, two student reporters land the interview of a lifetime when Hollywood heartthrob Farley Granger arrives to visit campus—and he graciously shares the story of how he broke into pictures, from his connection to silent-film comedian Harry Langdon through his eventual screen test for Samuel Goldwyn. Granger recounts his early theatrical training, his service in the Navy during World War II, and his return to Hollywood to take on substantive roles, including memorable work alongside Jimmy Stewart in Alfred Hitchcock's *Rope*. It's a candid glimpse into one of cinema's most promising young talents, told directly to his eager admirers.

French actress Denise Darcel grew up during the Nazi occupation of Paris, and when her beloved father died at the hands of German soldiers, she joined the underground resistance—a sixteen-year-old girl determined to fight back against the invaders who had taken over her home. This non-fiction account follows her transformation from a carefree baker's daughter into a fearless operative working in the shadows to reclaim her country's freedom.

After years at the top of Hollywood, Judy Garland faces a devastating personal crisis when her marriage to composer-conductor David Rose crumbles under the pressure of stardom and constant public scrutiny. Consumed by despair and isolation, she reaches a breaking point that threatens not only her career but her life itself, until the support of her husband Vincente Minelli and their daughter—along with an outpouring of love from her devoted fans—offers her a chance to find her way back.