Great Stars Books in Order

David Thomson traces Bette Davis’s career through memorable roles, studio conflicts and a fiercely determined public identity. Her acting and private life form a portrait of a star whose refusal to defer helped make her a commanding presence in Hollywood.

Gary Cooper’s image as a reserved American hero masks a more complicated private life and carefully managed career. David Thomson examines the performances, relationships and professional choices behind the screen persona that made Cooper a major Hollywood star.

David Thomson examines Humphrey Bogart’s screen persona alongside the doubts and difficulties behind it. His portrait follows an upper-class outsider who became a Hollywood icon while distrusting stardom and navigating drinking, marriage, and his relationship with Lauren Bacall.

David Thomson explores Ingrid Bergman’s career and the passions behind her public image. The portrait examines how her commitment to acting and personal desires brought extraordinary fame, international scandal, and difficult choices between work and family.