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Adrienne L. McLean
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Being Rita Hayworth: Labor, Identity, and Hollywood Stardom Paperback – April 23, 2004

by Adrienne L. McLean (Author)
3.1 3.1 out of 5 stars 19 ratings
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Who was Rita Hayworth? Born Margarita Carmen Cansino, she spent her life subjected to others' definitions of her, no matter how hard she worked to claim her own identity. Although there have been many "revelations" about her life and career, Adrienne McLean's book is the first to show that such disclosures were part of a constructed image from the outset.

McLean explores Hayworth's participation in the creation of her star persona, particularly through her work as a dancer-a subject ignored by most film scholars. The passive love goddess, as it turns out, had a unique appeal to other women who, like her, found it extraordinarily difficult to negotiate the competing demands of family, domesticity, and professional work outside the home. Being Rita Hayworth also considers the ways in which the actress has been treated by film scholarship over the years to accomplish its own goals, sometimes at her expense. Several of Hayworth's best-known star vehicles-among them Gilda (1946), Down to Earth (1947), The Lady from Shanghai (1948), and Affair in Trinidad (1952)- are discussed in depth.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Rutgers University Press
  4. Publication date
    April 23, 2004
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0813533899
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0813533896
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

McLean's work is significant because it addresses a major flaw in the majority of star studies--the lack of knowledge regarding how movie stars were created by the Hollywood studio system. She achieves an understanding of movie stars as economic constructs, of the relationship of their real selves to their images, and of how a star's original meaning and reception by fans sometimes differ from what we assume today....Being Rita Hayworth is a model of good scholarship. ― Film Quarterly

[T]he plethora of stimulating ideas in Being Rita Hayworth should jolt star, labor, and film scholarship to reassess contemporary, too easily accepted truths and lead to dynamic debates and exciting exchanges. Fresh perspectives rejuvenate, and that's a gift to scholarship. ― Quarterly Review of Film and Video

This book is praiseworthy in all aspects of the subject....This is an excellent book well worth reading because of the cogent discussion of ubiquitous processes of commodification, advertising, and their influence on modes of subjectivity. ― Visual Anthropology

Exploring the creation of this popular movie star's persona, Being Rita Hayworth takes an especial interest in her appeal to other women of the day who were struggling to navigate the demands of family and work outside the home. An excellent read for anyone with an especial interest in not only Hayworth's career, but the ripple effect her star persona had on the hearts and minds of a female generation. ― The Midwest Book Review

This book reexamines Rita Hayworth's star image and her proficiency as a dancer in order to challenge received wisdom about the objectification of female stars in classical Hollywood cinema. This is a superior piece of scholarship and an outstanding contribution to star studies. -- Ina Rae Hark ― University of South Carolina

McLean's argument is complex, coherent, and eminently readable. Through meticulous research, she productively opens up the notion of star as worker. -- Mary R. Desjardins ― Dartmouth College

About the Author


ADRIENNE L. MCLEAN is Professor of Film Studies at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is also the author of Dying Swans and Madmen and the co-editor of Headline Hollywood: A Century of Film Scandal.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rutgers University Press; None edition (April 23, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0813533899
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0813533896
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.1 3.1 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

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Adrienne L. McLean

Adrienne L. McLean

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3.1 out of 5 stars
3.1 out of 5
19 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

T. Kurtis
1.0 out of 5 stars PSYCHOLOGIST IN DESPAIR
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2009
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It seems this writer enjoys running through a hazardous psychological maze by applying stereotypical conjecture. I was simply dazzled by the rambling about Hollywood's mistreatment of women and ethnic cultures. This is not a biography, it is simply a boring doctrine about the duplicitous nature of an industry based on dreams. I felt like screaming to the writer the very obvious; "Hollywood is just that, a dream factory. We all get it, so can we please talk about Rita Hayworth."
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Marcco99
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, thought provoking...
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2008
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This is not your typical celebrity biography.

Author Adrienne L. McLean is a film scholar from the University of Texas at Dallas, and on the back cover of the book it says FILM/WOMEN'S STUDIES, with review quotes from other members of academia from across the country... so I would hazard to guess that this book --and, I find, many others offered here at Amazon-- are in depth studies by scholars for students studying film, film theory,etc. Thanx Amazon for offering these types of books to the public at large.

That being said, McLean approaches Rita Hayworth's career from a feminist perspective... how does a woman navigate "Superstardom", balance that with a full domestic life with a husband and children, while, at the same time, being boxed in by a society who sees her value only in being a "Beautiful Woman"? (As a lifelong fan of Hayworth's I admit to "boxing her in" myself, and I've made Sony VERY HAPPY buying Hayworth videos & dvds over the years.)

In six different chapters here, McLean analyzes several aspects of Rita's life and career...Rita's need to distance herself from the "the dark Spanish stereotype" Hollywood had placed her in early on to move up the ladder... her transformation (including the raising of her hairline to give herself a more elegant brow) into an "All American Girl" as she rose to top stardom.... how this transformation from Margarita Cansino to "Rita Hayworth" was recounted time and again in almost every newspaper and magazine article newsmen wrote on Hayworth throughout her career.
(That the public knew her real name and her early beginnings as a Spanish dancer with her father's company is not so amazing to me, I'm positive the real name and humble origins of MOST stars were known to the public thru the media, it made good copy).

McLean notes that Hayworth was quite proud of her Spanish-gypsy heritage, and by her successful integration of her anglo/ethnic heritage, she was able to transcend the "Spanish stereotype" of a Carmen Miranda or a Lupe Velez and present the public with a new, unique Spanish-All-American persona all her own. Interesting.

McLean also looks at Hayworth's domestic life, and it's sad that Hayworth seemed to fail here.... Hayworth, married five times, walked away from her lucrative career TWICE -- from 1948 to 1952, then again from 1953 to 1957 -- each time for a new marriage. It is quite obvious that Rita would have retired from the screen entirely had she found the RIGHT husband, but the men (Judson, Welles, Khan, Haymes, and Hill) found RITA HAYWORTH (the clout, the prestige, the power of that persona) irresistable and each, in his way, used that (and Margarita herself) for their own ends.

McLean further studies that persona by comparing the films GILDA 1946 and THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI 1948, a film she does not like (reading this section made me ponder: did husband Orson Welles -on some deep level- purposely try to destroy Hayworth's image in this film because at this point, commercially, she was on SUCH A HIGH AND A BIGGER STAR THAN HE?) McLean makes another interesting case here of Welles attempt at totally de-constructing Rita's GILDA image with his "Elsa Bannister".... yes I believe Welles enjoyed being subversive and he WAS wasteful & self-destructive, but could he go THIS FAR?

Finally, and this was most enjoyable part of the book for me, an in-depth analysis of Rita Hayworth the dancer. McLean gives Hayworth credit for her amazing abilities as a dancer, pointing out that in this ONE aspect of her career, Rita had total control -thru her movement in the dance- to create, to express herself, and to be free....NO WONDER SHE WAS SO FANTASTIC AT IT.... the dancing is totally Rita's spirit, Rita's voice. Another point I never really considered.

McLean also points out how an exceptional FEMALE dancer like Hayworth or Eleanor Powell was never given the acclaim or held in as high a regard by critics as a MALE dancer like Astaire or Kelly, and that it was mainly the MALE critics of the time who described/critiqued the women dancers by their looks first, not their abilities.

McLean also does an in-depth study of Hayworth's earthy dances in 1952's AFFAIR IN TRINIDAD, choreographed by Valerie Bettis. She greatly admires this collabaration of Bettis and Hayworth, and tracks down and quotes a number of articles Bettis gave over the years about this film and about dancing in general. Quite enjoyable.

McLean is at all times a sympathetic advocate for Hayworth and, being the scholar she is, her ideas are backed up with thorough research and footnotes. As a Hayworth fan I enjoyed the wealth of new information provided and found myself always challenged by McLean's views, insights and perspectives.

There's much more I haven't covered...I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book for Hayworth fans, whom I'm sure will savor this refreshing take on Hayworth's life and career..... yes, the book is at times highly technical in it's wording, and there's so much here to ponder... it's not an easy read... you won't finish this book in one sitting..... but if you already own books on Hayworth, you'll quickly see that this one goes beyond & beneath the standard facts of Rita's life and career... "Being Rita..." will be a great addition to your Hayworth library.
22 people found this helpful
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Judy Wempe
3.0 out of 5 stars We don't hear much about the troubled life of Rita Hayworth
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2013
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Much detailed love life and husbands, but not really a personal look at her life from her prospective. I was looking for a biography and this focused more about cicumstances surrounding her career and love life. No quotes from her daughters or hose closest to her. I think she is a beautiful, talented star who was somewhat overlooked in her day. If you are a fan, it would be interesting reading.
4 people found this helpful
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AmazonCustomer
4.0 out of 5 stars Academic and Engrossing
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2022
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This book may not be an easy read for the average layperson. It's packed with academic and cinematic jargon and makes plentiful reference to the equally dense and academic work of other authors. If you love Hayworth and make the commitment to digest it all, it is a rewarding examination of her development as a star, her craft and her unique position as a person of interest in the 1940s/1950s-era discourse about Hollywood celebrity and working women. I reread it every few years.
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Carol Fabitz
1.0 out of 5 stars Worst book ever
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2017
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I got nothing from this book. It was so boring that I skipped to 100% read so it wouldn't pop up. I am very angry that I wasted $15.00 on it, If you can get a free sample on it please do.
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Nora
5.0 out of 5 stars This is an academic star study, NOT a biography
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2020
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Many of these reviews are from confused readers who think this is a biography. It is NOT. It is an academic analysis of Rita Hayworth’s star persona, and a great one at that. Again, I repeat, don’t expect this to be a biography.
3 people found this helpful
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Mary M. Mansour
2.0 out of 5 stars A dull and very technical piece.
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2009
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I was expecting a biography worthy of Lee Server's work on Ava Gardner. I got nothing of the sort. This is a dry tome that might serve a student of film well but not a reader expecting a good autobiographical work. Dull, dull, dry and dull again.
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Sid B.
1.0 out of 5 stars Did not make a great deal of sense
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2014
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It was a rambling monologue on female physcology. Did not make a great deal of sense. Definitely not your average biography.
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TS
4.0 out of 5 stars A great read for any film buff or like me a ...
Reviewed in Canada on October 8, 2015
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A great read for any film buff or like me a fan of the Star. A study in how stars are created.
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Pinkly
4.0 out of 5 stars Très intéressant
Reviewed in France on January 11, 2013
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Pour les cinéphiles et les étudiants en cinema, sciences humaines, marketing, etc. Une étude sur le rapport du public à l'image Rita Hayworth/Gilda, de la façon dont les studios et les magazines entretenaient cette image et sur le contrôle plus ou moins important qu'elle-même avait sur sa propre image. Dans cette étude, on nous présente Rita Hayworth/ Margarita Cansino non pas comme une victime du système américain soumise aux quatre volontés des studios de cinema, mais comme une femme forte qui n'a jamais cessé de s'affranchir de ses employeurs, une des premières actrices à avoir monté sa propre boite de production (Beckworth), une femme qui a choisi de quitter ses maris et de travailler plutôt que de subir leur comportement adultère ou violent, bref, presque une féministe (selon l'auteur Adrienne L. McLean).
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