Episode 7 – Discovering Marion Davies With Author Lara Gabrielle Part 1

On this episode of Hollywood Obsessed, host Tony Miros has an in-depth conversation with film writer, author, and Hollywood researcher Lara Gabrielle about her book – “Captain Of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies.” During their conversation, Tony and Lara chat about Davies’ career during the golden age of Hollywood, how Marion met newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst, her undeniable comedic talent, why there has never been an accurate portrayal of her on film, the arrangement she had with Hearst and his wife Millicent throughout their long relationship as well as her difficulties with stuttering and her alcohol addiction. LARA GABRIELLE Ms. Gabrielle is a film writer and researcher, who has been called “the world expert on Marion Davies.” Her work has been featured in Alta, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Missouri Review, The Wall Street Journal, and PBS’s American Experience. Gabrielle has spoken at film festivals and retrospectives worldwide and has served as a consultant on Davies’s life and legacy for books, dissertations, and film projects. Her biography, Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies, has been included on many top book lists for 2022. She lives in Oakland, California. In her book Captain of Her Soul, Gabrielle pulls back layers of myth to show a complex and fiercely independent woman, ahead of her time, who carved her own path. Through meticulous research, unprecedented access to archives around the world, and interviews with those who knew Davies, Captain of Her Soul counters the public story. This book reveals a woman who navigated disability and social stigma to rise to the top of a young Hollywood dominated by powerful men. Davies took charge of her own career, negotiating with studio heads and establishing herself as a top-tier comedienne, but her proudest achievement was her philanthropy and advocacy for children. This biography brings Davies out of the shadows cast by the Hearst legacy, shedding light on a dynamic woman who lived life on her own terms and declared that she was “the captain of her soul.” For more information or to the purchase the book “Captain of Her Soul The Life of Marion Davies” go to - https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520384200/captain-of-her-soul To connect with Lara Gabrielle go to - https://www.facebook.com/mariondaviesbook/ To see Lara’s blog “Backlots” go to - https://backlots.net To see the documentary “Captured On Film: The True Story of Marion Davies” go to - https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/11831379 The Official Hollywood Obsessed Website - https://www.hollywoodobsessedthepodcast.com/   Follow our Facebook Page – HOLLYWOOD OBSESSED PODCAST   Follow our Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hollywoodobsessedpodcast/   Titles VO Talent – Cam Frierson  - http://camfrierson.com/voice   Music by QubeSounds from Pixabay