"Gail Russell: A Biography of An Actress"

After watching Angel and the Badman (1947) and Wake of the Red Witch (1949) starring John Wayne after getting both on DVD during the past few years, one cannot escape being captivated by the Duke's co-star in both pictures, Gail Russell, in each viewing.

Years ago, I was watching Angel and the Badman on television and my mom mentioned that Russell had a sad life and died young at 36, the result of alcoholism. 

I noticed recently that there are two biographies on Russell, Fallen Star by Steven Glenn Ochoa and Gail Russell: A Biography of  An Actress by K. C. Motsinger, that were published in 2016. After checking the reviews, I decided to get the one by Motsinger as it had better overall reviews.

Both books, it is my understanding, were written by fans and not by professional biographers. The information supplied by the Motsinger book is plenty, although the manuscript cries out for professional editing/proofreading. (The Ochoa book suffers from the same problem, according to reviews.) 

That aside, the book contains many photographs to enjoy of Gail Russell over the years as well as some of her artwork. 

The description by the publisher:

Gail Russell, Hollywood's hard luck actress, is remembered as Stella in "The Uninvited" and the faithful Quaker girl, Penelope, who reforms John Wayne in "Angel and the Bad Man."

Gail was a gifted child artist who dreamed of growing up and becoming a commercial artist. But through a series of events she was thrust into a Hollywood career she never wanted. Unsuited for the life of an actress, and given little time to adjust, Gail battled the personal demons of nervousness and sever stage fright. Seeking a solution to cope with unwanted stardom, she turned to alcohol. Tragically, it would lead to her untimely death at age 36. The book includes rare, never before seen photos from Gail's 1941 high school year book as well as Gail's original artwork, not seen by the public for over 50 years.

Working with one of her few living relatives and after three years of research, author K.C. Motsinger brings to life the story of film legend Gail Russell.

"Trying to sort out the facts of Gail Russell's life, I hope to clear up what has been accepted as truth for years. When writing a person biography the ups and down have to be told, but in the end the true is revealed."

Source: Publisher

The book goes into some detail on the trials and tribulations of her marriage to actor Guy Madison (The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok), which eventually ended in divorce due to her alcoholism. Madison comes off well for toughing out the marriage as long as he could. Having dealt with borderline and full-bore alcoholic women myself, I can understand what he had gone through. It ain't easy by no stretch of the imagination. 

The book arrived this morning in the mail and I finished it this evening. Despite the need for good proofreading, it held my interest to finish it in an afternoon.

My grade: B.