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Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild Paperback – March 13, 2000

by David Stenn (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 347 ratings
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Hollywood's first sex symbol, the ' It ' girl, Clara Bow was born in the slums of Brooklyn in a family plagued with alcoholism and insanity. She catapulted to fame after winning Motion Picture magazine's 1921 " Fame and Fortune" contest. The greatest box-office draw of her day―she once received 45,000 fan letters in a single month, Clara Bow's on screen vitality and allure that beguiled thousands, however, would be her undoing off-camera. David Stenn captures her legendary rise to stardom and fall from grace, her success marred by studio exploitation and sexual scandals.
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  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Cooper Square Press
  4. Publication date
    March 13, 2000
  5. Dimensions
    6.04 x 0.8 x 9.1 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0815410255
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0815410256
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Stenn has found out as much to know about Clara Bow as it is given to mortals to know; he takes an intelligent approach, neither too solemn nor too flip, and the story he has to tell is almost always engrossing. ― The New York Times

Illuminating and unforgettable. ― Los Angeles Times

She was Marilym Monroe decades before Marilyn. How movingly David Stenn has written the story of this hilarious and heartbreaking star. -- Dominick Dunne

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cooper Square Press; First Thus edition (March 13, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0815410255
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0815410256
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.04 x 0.8 x 9.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 347 ratings

About the author

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David Stenn

David Stenn

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David Stenn is the author of Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild, and Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, both edited by Jacqueline Onassis. His writer-producer television credits include Hill Street Blues, 21 Jump Street, Beverly Hills 90210, The L Word, and Boardwalk Empire. His discovery of Hollywood’s best-suppressed scandal for Vanity Fair brought vindication to rape survivor Patricia Douglas and became his documentary film Girl 27.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
347 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this biography highly readable and meticulously researched, with one review noting how it captures Clara Bow's vibrant personality. The story receives positive feedback for its clear narrative and emotional depth, while customers describe it as heartbreaking. The book's pacing receives mixed reactions, though many find it an easy read.

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55 customers mention "Readability"55 positive0 negative

Customers find the biography highly readable, with one describing it as thoroughly engrossing.

"This book was an excellent read going through Bow's life. It was well written and covered the many ups and downs in her life...." Read more

"This book is probably one of the best books written on the subject of CLARA BOW (**). I just finished reading this book and loved it...." Read more

"...What I received was a pristine copy that had never been out of the shrink wrap. Very satisfied, indeed!..." Read more

"...NONETHELESS, IT IS A HORROR STORY OF THE WORST MAGNITUDE, ALBEIT FASCINATING AND GRIPPING...." Read more

26 customers mention "Biography"26 positive0 negative

Customers praise this biography for being meticulously researched and completely amazing, with one customer noting how the author goes into great detail about Clara Bow's life.

"...It was well written and covered the many ups and downs in her life...." Read more

"...The author goes in great detail regarding the life of Clara,-- from the time she was born, to the time of her death...." Read more

"...Very satisfied, indeed! This is a flawlessly written and documented book. David Stenn is a real pro...." Read more

"...IT IS SINGULARLY ONE OF THE BEST BIOGRAPHIES I'VE EVER READ OF THE PERIOD AND THE ONLY ONE ABOUT CLARA BOW. BUY IT, YOU WON'T BE SORRY." Read more

11 customers mention "Story quality"8 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the story quality of the book, with one review noting it provides an in-depth look into Clara's life, while another mentions it is neither too solemn nor too flip.

"...He did not disappoint. He presents Clara in a heart-wrenching narrative. Her story is tragic from the moment of her birth...." Read more

"...It is an amazing story of the rise of a Super Star, mixed with human emotion, family dysfunction, fear, and everything else one could imagine both..." Read more

"...Stenn's highly documented and detailed story is very well written and easy to follow. I thoroughly enjoyed it...." Read more

"...NONETHELESS, IT IS A HORROR STORY OF THE WORST MAGNITUDE, ALBEIT FASCINATING AND GRIPPING...." Read more

10 customers mention "Beauty"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful, with one customer particularly appreciating the photos and another noting how it captures Clara Bow's essence.

"...I also loved the photos of Clara in this book.(She sure was a pretty actress!) (**)..." Read more

"...The author seems to capture Clara's voice and fleshes out her background, successes and travails seamlessly--with barely a dull moment...." Read more

"...It also provides a nice look at the times she lived and worked in and how they both (publicly) made her and then tore her down...." Read more

"...Her life was so colourful. In a lot of way, she has been missed in the fog of other actresses of her time. Recommended." Read more

6 customers mention "Heartbreaking story"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartbreaking, with one review highlighting Clara Bow's tragic fall into mental illness.

"...This bio is a fantastic rendition of her storied life and tragic fall into mental illness...." Read more

"This book just breaks your heart for Clara Bow, who was a cash cow in Hollywood for years yet was underpaid and shunned by Hollywood society as..." Read more

"Awesome book on the life and career and death of the legendary Clara Bow. I felt like I was there witnessing the events unfold...." Read more

"Very sad story about Clara Bow, her terrible childhood and her resulting poor decisions that derailed her career...." Read more

4 customers mention "Ease of reading"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with one customer noting it is flawlessly written.

"...Very satisfied, indeed! This is a flawlessly written and documented book. David Stenn is a real pro...." Read more

"...So far it hasn’t been illegible. Note “wonderful talker” as example of distorted text." Read more

"...The book has a good flow to it and is easy to read and follow." Read more

"Easy read. Well researched information that lays many old, hurtful myths to rest. Clara must be smiling." Read more

8 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it sweet and lovely, while others express disappointment with the subject matter.

"...Good information about Clara's childhood in Brooklyn, but it did not seem exhaustive as to the background of the silents or her role in those...." Read more

"...Clara was a warm hearted girl who faced difficulty all through her life...." Read more

"Very sad story about Clara Bow, her terrible childhood and her resulting poor decisions that derailed her career...." Read more

"...The photographs in the book capture her lovely free spirit and David Stenn does an excellent job of portraying her sad and lonely life...." Read more

Printing problems
3 out of 5 stars
Printing problems
Partially into book. Enjoying so far. There is a problem with the print of the book. There is distorted smaller text in the middle of the pages of the book. So far it hasn’t been illegible. Note “wonderful talker” as example of distorted text.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Neal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Clara Bow was America's top movie actress.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This book was an excellent read going through Bow's life. It was well written and covered the many ups and downs in her life. I'm glad the author debunked the lies about Clara Bow that were in Hollywood Babylon. That book was made up of rumors and lies about most of the people in it.

    How Clara Bow could have such a positive outlook on life after the horrible upbringing she had and the way her studio treated her is amazing. There is a lot of sadness about her life with her mother's mental illness and her father who abused and used her throughout her life.

    She treated her coworkers and the crews with such respect and caring which is almost unheard of with any other star. For her to get as much as 45,000 fan letters a week and selling out theater palaces seven times a day shows what a great star she was.

    You want to root for her throughout the book when she has so many people during her career just use her. How can a studio neglect its greatest star in such a way is puzzling. She was just merchandise to be rush from one movie to the next regardless of her health.

    I saw the movie "It" and was blown away with not only her performance but how easily she outshines everyone else in the movie. Wings is another example how her acting and energy just grabs a hold of you. Why we don't hear more about Clare Bow is a mystery. She was one of the finest actresses ever to appear on screen and the audiences could not get enough of her.

    Does she get the happy ending that she always dreamed of is for you to find out. One of the best books that I have purchased about any star.
    19 people found this helpful
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  • Angie2
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on Clara Bow
    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    This book is probably one of the best books written on the subject of CLARA BOW (**). I just finished reading this book and loved it.

    The author goes in great detail regarding the life of Clara,-- from the time she was born, to the time of her death.

    Clara was such a misunderstood person. I think that the author has attempted to give us all a better understanding of Clara (the "It" girl).

    I also loved the photos of Clara in this book.(She sure was a pretty actress!)

    (**)= The only thing that I question is how the "professionals" came to the conclusion that Clara was (probably) Schitzophrenic?... In my opinion, rather than schitzophrenic, I think Clara probably suffered from Manic Depression. That is not to say that her mother was not schitzophrenic though.... From the sounds of it, Clara's Mom was probably schitzophrenic,that I agree with the author and "professionals" (eg: the instances when Clara's Mom tried to kill her with a butcher knife,while Clara was sleeping!).

    However, from all the descriptions of Clara's tortured life, to me, it sounded like Clara was more Bi-Polar than anything else. But Schitzophrenic (?)---probably not.

    Clara, by all accounts,was never a violent person. She did not "hear voices". Clara had intense "ups and downs" (as described by her children and husband). Clara loved sex, and the attention it brought her. She was an insecure person, who was searching for love and approval her whole life.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Rod McFain
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read on an Exciting Gal
    Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    In full disclosure, Clara Bow has captivated me for a long time. In me, Stenn had a ready and excited reader. He did not disappoint. He presents Clara in a heart-wrenching narrative. Her story is tragic from the moment of her birth. Stenn does a fine job of walking the tightrope of presenting Clara with her failures and shortcomings in full view while never losing sight of the sympathetic and abused person she was. I've always thought that if I could go back in time and have real conversations with someone from long ago, I'd pick Clara. Clara Bow, Runnin' Wild is as close as I'll ever get. Two thumbs way up.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • jackflash
    5.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed in the Subject
    Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I bought my copy as "used" for $ 7.98. What I received was a pristine copy that had never been out of the shrink wrap. Very satisfied, indeed! This is a flawlessly written and documented book. David Stenn is a real pro. And it is clear that he tries to bring out the best in Clara Bow. I had seen her in It and Wings on TCM and wanted to find the best in this unusually fetching star myself. Clara's horrific upbringing and deplorable treatment at the hands of her Hollywood exploiters are well-documented. And yes, she seems to have been loved by a lot of people despite her seventh grade education, incredible naivete, and general ignorance. I was rooting for her most of the time. But in the end, I didn't like her very much. For me, her embrace of ultra conservative politics renders her no better than the people whose only concern for her was of the money she could make for them. Seems ironic. Clara is not despicable, just a little disappointing and kind of pathetic. Still, I highly recommend Mr. Stenn's book for an insightful look at ancient Hollywood . . .
    3 people found this helpful
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  • RBI
    5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT BIOGRAPHY
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    CLARA BOW IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ACTRESSES AND ONE OF THE MOST MALIGNED WOMEN TO EVER GRACE THE SCREEN. THERE IS STILL SO MUCH MYTH AND FLAT LIES THAT ARE ACCEPTED BECAUSE OF TRASH LIKE "HOLLYWOOD BABYLON", MOST OF WHICH IS NONSENSE. WHAT IS FACTUAL IS THAT CLARA BOW MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE 5 GREATEST ACTRESSES WE'VE EVER PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES. WHAT IS ALSO TRUE IS SHE WAS HORRIBLY ABUSED BY POVERTY, IGNORANCE, AN INSANE MOTHER WHO TRIED TO MURDER HER, A SEXUALLY ABUSIVE, MENTAL DEFECTIVE OF A FATHER, MOST OF THE MEN IN HER LIFE, PARAMOUNT PICTURES, THE MEDIA AND HISTORY. WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE, ALTHOUGH THIS BOOK INSISTS IT IS, WAS THAT SHE WAS SCHIZOPHRENIC. KEEP IN MIND, PSYCHIATRY IN THE 1940'S AND 1950'S MISDIAGNOSED SCHIZOPHENIA REGULARLY, ESPECIALLY IN WOMEN. CLARA WAS A BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER, BI-POLAR AND WITH SEVERE PTSD, BUT MOST ASSUREDLY NOT SCHIZOPHRENIC AND THAT IS A FACT. NONETHELESS, IT IS A HORROR STORY OF THE WORST MAGNITUDE, ALBEIT FASCINATING AND GRIPPING. IT IS SINGULARLY ONE OF THE BEST BIOGRAPHIES I'VE EVER READ OF THE PERIOD AND THE ONLY ONE ABOUT CLARA BOW. BUY IT, YOU WON'T BE SORRY.
    10 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Claudia M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Clara bow life , covered in a fantastic and complete way
    Reviewed in Italy on September 30, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Fantastic book full of nevee heard before insights . A real window on claras life , so accurate yet super readable. Covers also the years after her fame. Totally suggested.
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  • Nicole
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Read!!!
    Reviewed in Canada on February 5, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    What a star and legend Clara Bow became. A Taylor Swift song intrigued me and I am glad it led me to this bio. Well written and very interesting to learn about her, it is sad her silent movies were not recovered.
    I am now onto Bombshell!
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  • D. Nelson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    David Stenn is the go to man on anything Clara Bow , his book running wild , has it all, a life contained within the covers, from Clara's impoverished abusive childhood , to her first tentative steps into the film world .

    On paper Clara did not stand a chance , menial jobs or prostitution like her Mother ,would have been her only escape ,by luck , determination and being at the right place the right time ,things worked out for her .
    Hollywood and her greedy grabbing Producer worked her like a dog , the irony is her work was keeping the demons away ?

    Clara largely forgotten today deserves a film about her life , if one is ever made this book will be the source , i read it from cover to cover in one sitting , at least she made "it " , she did both figuratively and literally and that set her on the road to mega stardom .

    I was recently watching Singing in the Rain , at the start of the film in the move premier scene there is a nod to Clara as she arrives , even in the film the announcer says they hope she now finds happiness , at least when that classic was made she had not been forgotten
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  • Iván Fanego
    5.0 out of 5 stars Una historia brutal y demasiado desconocida
    Reviewed in Spain on April 26, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Descubrí la existencia de Clara Bow al ver Babylon, con la típica investigación de "en qué personas reales se inspiraron".

    Duele ver lo desconocida que es la figura de Clara hoy en día. No me sonaba de nada, pero es que a casi nadie que conozca.

    El libro está muy bien escrito, te traslada a la época y al final es imposible no sentir cierto amor por una persona que tuvo tanto que superar.

    Merece la pena.
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  • marthahmauri1
    5.0 out of 5 stars a belter of a book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    LOVED this book,could not put it down,dont often have the luxury to be able to read a book straight through but i did not regret missing the best part of a nights sleep for this one,well written and researched,felt nothing but sympathy for this poor lady who on the surface had everything.a
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