LITTLE GIRL IN BIG PICTURES: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 1930s CHILD STAR MARILYN KNOWLDEN

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, written by this impressive former child star about her amazing life. Very uplifting despite lots of sad moments along the way and historic as well. For fans of classic movies, you'll be able to associate the person with the face and a lot of back story as well. Enjoyable.

Marilyn, who turns 90 on May 12, 2016, has had an amazing life as revealed in this her autobiography. Her family moved to southern California when she was little more than a toddler, and her first entry into movies was almost as a mistake. She took to the quite new medium of "Talking Pictures" so readily, though, and was so uncommonly natural and photogenic, that she quickly obtained further cinema roles. Marilyn Knowlden, through the 1930s and into the '40s, appeared, mostly as a child, in a number of Hollywood's most important films, and she worked with many of the biggest directors and stars in the world--the list at the end of the narrative is extremely impressive. Unlike some other child actors of the era, she doesn't resent Shirley Temple's unprecedented career but respects her. Marilyn went on to other pursuits and extensive world travels, and repeatedly indulged her interests in various art forms. This book tells her entire life story with dozens of photographs and her own poetry throughout. It should be read especially by all interested in the early Talkies. Her memoirs are unique. TLR

Let me preface this review with a disclosure: 59 years ago Marilyn Knowlden (I knew her as Mrs. Goates) gave me my first piano lesson. As a child growing up in the 50's in Menlo Park, CA, it was my good fortune to live next door to Marilyn, her husband and children. This marvelous woman helped instill in me, via-a-vis those years of lessons, not only my love and passion for the piano, but also how practice, commitment and perseverance are paramount in achieving your dreams.Our families lost touch years ago, so I was excited to say the least, when I heard of the publication of her autobiography. Her story, from first page to last, kept me captivated.If you, like I, grew up entertained and mesmerized by not only contemporary movies of post World War II, but also those of the 1930s as well as early 1940s, you surely saw many of her movies such as: Little Women, Imitation of Life, Show Boat, Angel With Dirty Faces and All This and Heaven Too (to name but a few.)What a full and extraordinary life Marilyn has lived. The autobiography will surely fascinate all who read it. What a pleasure it has been for me to learn about Marilyn's life not only as a child but all those many years after her and her family moved away from my childhood neighborhood. Her life has been filled with experiences and riches beyond measure; be prepared to be entertained! Armed with a list of her film credits and my new found knowledge of her roles, I look forward to re-watching these movies.

What a marvelous autobiography!! Marilyn Knowlden seems the kind of person with whom I would love to chat! Delightfully funny, and at times tragic, but essentially Marilyn is a former child film star who went on to live a successful and full life. She authored this book in her mind eighties, and her communication is as clear as a bell. I ate up this book,and would recommend it highly!

OK, you are getting ready to hit the beach and you're looking for something that will entertain?? THIS is THAT book!!What fun I had in kickin it with my favorite adult beverage and just having a leisure read......ahhhhhh.The author has written an excellent work that connected me back to the Golden Age of film.Want to read the inside scoop of a child star as she worked with the BIG names of the 30's and 40's - this is the one!It's also interesting to learn about how the studios controlled ALL aspects of Hollywood, far beyond what I thought.So have funnnn with this book (paperback by the way) and let those summer breezes and this book let you "float" away to another time. ENJOY!!!!

Can't wait to read it, but it is a gift so. . . I'll have to wait. Afterwards, I'll likely check out a few of Marilyn's movies.

Marilyn Knowlden's autobiography is a fabulous tale of Old Hollywood- Hollywood at it's most glamorous time. What fun to read about the stars Marilyn worked with- Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn and Claudette Colbert just to name a few. A look behind the scenes. We always hear about the troubled lives of the movies' young stars so this is a nice change... to read about Marilyn's life as a youngster in the movies and to know what happened to her as she grew up, to know she had a positive and happy experience was very nice. If you love the old stars and Hollywood of yesterday, you will enjoy this book. Highly recommend this book!

Charming and well-written account of a childhood - and an adulthood - well spent. What a great life she's led. Disclosure: I met Marilyn recently and she's a lovely, vital woman...in her 80s she's using an iPhone.