William Donati

Before Jean Harlow, before Marilyn Monroe, before Anna Nicole; there was a beautiful, vivacious blonde actress named Thelma Todd, who died at age 29. William Donati’s well-researched biography on Todd tells the story of her life from her beginnings in Lawrence, Massachusetts and her desire to be an actress to her starring roles in films with Laurel and Hardy and the Marx Brothers. She even tried a serious film using the name Alison Loyd. When she was found dead in her car in a garage the accusers included her ex-husband Pat DiCicco, her lover director Roland West, and even gangster Lucky Luciano. The book examines all the theories and includes the transcript from the coroner’s inquest. While it seems very plain it was accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, the press of the day sensationalized the story to the myth it has become today. Donati does a great job at dispelling the myths while presenting a thorough investigation of Todd’s life and work. There are plenty of photographs, lots of first-hand accounts by those who knew and worked with Todd, and good footnote, bibliography, and filmography sections.… (meer)