Synopses & Reviews
According to People magazine, If [Penny Marshall] is living the hectic life of a Hollywood hotshot, there's a reason. In the past ten years, Marshall has directed six major films, two of which (Big and A League of Their Own) have topped $100 million at the box office. This from a woman who became famous on television by playing a flaky Milwaukee bottle capper. Penny Marshall is in a league of her own.
With Penny Marshall: An Unauthorized Biography of the Director and Comedienne, Lawrence Crown uncovers the extraordinary talent of this unique woman. In an industry where just 9 percent of working directors are female, what separates Marshall's talent from that of the rest? Why was she the first woman to direct a $100-million-grossing movie? Why is it that her involvement seems to get a film green-lighted? How has her work been shaped by her amazing network of cohorts, particularly by her brother, producer Garry Marshall?
This is the first serious study of the improbable comic who, to the surprise of everyone, showed she could deliver popular films and who became one of Hollywood's hottest players.
Chances are you may know only one aspect of this multitalented artist.You may be mostly familiar with Laverne and Shirley reruns, or a fan of Big, Awakenings, or Renaissance Man. Or you may know Marshall from her television commercial spots. If so, this book provides the rest of the story -- the complete Penny Marshall, astute businesswoman, focused director, actress, and Hollywood celebrity.