Book Review: The Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mallory O'Meara (2019)
Synopsis: Milicent Patrick lived a full life in Hollywood. She worked in the animation department for Walt Disney, spent some time working as a model and, most famously, helped design the Gill Man costume for Creature from the Black Lagoon. However, because of her gender, most of her accomplishments, including that last one, have been erased from history and/or claimed by men.
In this non-fiction biography, the author chases down Milicent's lost legacy and helps her reclaim credit for her work.
Review: I love classic monster movies, but I am almost equally a fan of the history surrounding a lot of those classic films. So, when I learned about The Lady from the Black Lagoon, I decided to request a copy from my library and give it a read.
I was not disappointed.
Truth-be-told, I never heard the name Milicent Patrick before reading this book but, as it turns out, there is good reason for that - as much as she accomplished in her time in Hollywood, including one of the most iconic monster costumes ever made, she, like many women from that era, was systematically erased from history rather than given the credit she was due even though her influence on the industry had a ripple effect.
I thought this book about her was eye-opening, both because of her nearly forgotten legacy and the way it put her life and career in context with Hollywood at the time. I was especially intrigued with the author's revelation about Walt Disney and how his company was one of the largest employers of women in the animation industry at a level that you no longer see today, even with many more laws in place to ensure equal opportunity. Basically, without female artists like Milicent, it's possible the world wouldn't have had animated movies like Cinderella and Fantasia, at least not with the same amount of quality.
I also found the book somewhat refreshing because it was talking about someone who had more of a behind-the-scenes career rather than a Hollywood actress who became a household name. It's the type of story you don't always hear about, and in this case, it was about a woman who was in that behind-the-scenes role despite being arguably attractive enough to work as a model and potentially be a star had she pursued it.
One unique aspect about this book was how the author, O'Meara, brought herself into the story as well, discussing her journey to learn more about Milicent, the obstacles she faced, the people who helped her and the influence Milicent's story had on her own life. At first, I wasn't sure what to think about that decision but, as the book progressed, I had to admit it added something extra that helped make the book worth reading.
Final Opinion: It's an interesting and entertaining book that both tells the story of a forgotten Hollywood influence and also reminds the reader just how hard it can sometimes be to find information about someone who history has tried to erase. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
My Grade: A
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Here are some reviews of other books about Hollywood's history:
Book Review: Room 1219 by Greg Merritt (2013)
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