• I Loved Her in the Movies

  • Memories of Hollywood's Legendary Actresses
  • By: Robert Wagner
  • Narrated by: Robert Wagner
  • Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (303 ratings)

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I Loved Her in the Movies  By  cover art

I Loved Her in the Movies

By: Robert Wagner
Narrated by: Robert Wagner
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Publisher's summary

Film and television actor and New York Times best-selling author Robert Wagner's memoir of the great women movie stars he has known.

In a career that has spanned more than 60 years, Robert Wagner has witnessed the twilight of the Golden Age of Hollywood and the rise of television, becoming a beloved star in both media. During that time he became acquainted, both professionally and socially, with the remarkable women who were the greatest screen personalities of their day. I Loved Her in the Movies is his intimate and revealing account of the charisma of these women on film, why they became stars, and how their specific emotional and dramatic chemistries affected the choices they made as actresses as well as the choices they made as women.

Among Wagner's subjects are Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Marilyn Monroe, Gloria Swanson, Norma Shearer, Loretta Young, Joan Blondell, Irene Dunne, Rosalind Russell, Dorothy Lamour, Debra Paget, Jean Peters, Linda Darnell, Betty Hutton, Raquel Welch, Glenn Close, and the two actresses whom he ultimately married, Natalie Wood and Jill St. John. In addition to offering perceptive commentary on these women, Wagner also examines topics such as the strange alchemy of the camera - how it can transform the attractive into the stunning and vice versa - and how the introduction of color brought a new erotic charge to movies, one that enabled these actresses to become aggressively sexual beings in a way that that black and white films had only hinted at.

Like Wagner's two previous best sellers, I Loved Her in the Movies is a privileged look behind the scenes at some of the most well-known women in show business as well as an insightful look at the sexual and romantic attraction that created their magic.

©2016 Robert Wagner (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“He’s wooed - and worked with - some of the biggest actresses of his time, including Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and his one-time wife, Natalie Wood. And now Robert Wagner has written a memoir, titled I Loved Her in the Movies, as a tribute to some of his favorite screen stars. ‘I had this gift of meeting wonderful women and working with a lot of them and it was amazing,’ says the 86-year-old actor. ‘They made an imprint on me and on all of our lives.’” (Liz McNeil, People)

“Screen legend Robert Wagner has worked with some of the greatest female screen personalities of all time, from Marilyn Monroe to Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor to his former wife, Natalie Wood, and more. Wagner’s new memoir, I Loved Her in the Movies, pays tribute to his talented female counterparts over his 60 year career.... Wagner discussed the issue of gender equality in Hollywood and admitted that it’s difficult for women, even in more recent years. ‘It’s a business that’s run mostly by men. And - I think when you become successful and you become - an object - they’re put upon so much...it’s hard to separate all of that.’” (ABC News)

“Wagner’s engaging memoir offers a warm embrace for the many women who helped him establish a successful career as a leading man or inspired him professionally and personally in their unforgiving business.... I Loved Her in the Movies is a delight in large part because Wagner can see...great female stars from a fan’s perspective. They were his colleagues and friends - some were his lovers - but he never lost his admiration for the women who could move an audience to cheers and tears.... What might be most surprising in the pages of I Loved Her in the Movies is the streak of feminism that runs through his reflections on stardom, the nature of talent and the demands of a Hollywood career. Actors had it tough in the studio system, but actresses endured even more in a business that, Wagner notes, was run by and for men who expected women to be submissive. Those who were not, like Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland, paid an even higher price for daring to rock the boat.” (Douglass K. Daniel, Associated Press)

What listeners say about I Loved Her in the Movies

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Outstanding!

Mr. Wagner has written a thoughtful, compelling memoir of the great actresses he has known and worked with throughout his career. He began as a young man at the end of Hollywood's golden age and his reflections on the greats from Stanwyk, Dunne, Davis, both Hepburns, Ball and on and on and on to the present day. It's short of a love letter without getting overly sentimental. His insights and observations are honest, intelligent, delightful and quite remarkable... great book for film buffs, or any woman considering a career in acting. This, along with Wagner's other two books are some of the best written on his life and Hollywood. I have come to have a renewed respect for the actor....and the person!!! Thumbs up & bravo, Mr. W.! I hope there are more to come. I devour bios, and have for most of my 62 years... I've read them all, and Wagner's are among the very best.

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11 people found this helpful

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Icing on the Cake

This was the 3rd book of his I listened to, and I do recommend You Must Remember This as first, and Pieces of My Heart as 2nd, and this as 3rd. If you love Hollywood's Golden Era history, then these three books are a MUST for you. The history details are sheer delight and good entertainment. Robert Wagner makes his three books go over the top in listening enjoyment. He seems to know exactly what OLD HOLLYWOOD fans want to hear and what is interesting to us. I have recommended these three books to everyone.

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7 people found this helpful

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Entertaining, insightful, and easy-to-listen to

I use audiobooks as background for my workouts, so I love this type of book, which is made up of short, entertaining stories. I don't have any personal feelings about Mr. Wagner himself, having never seen any of his movies or TV shows (except for a recent appearance on TV Land), but the women he writes about are known to all, and he has some entertaining stories and insights about them. Recommended.

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A great and personal view from the man who knows.

If you could sum up I Loved Her in the Movies in three words, what would they be?

I loved it! Not only does Mr Wagner have a fantastic voice but his love and admiration for the ladies of the movies was obvious. I am 70 and have always been a movie buff so I was very familiar with all the women he spoke of.

Not only is the information about them interesting but Mr Wagner has shown himself to have very definite writing chops.

The only question I have is how did he remember all of them so vividly? I may never know but I'm very grateful he shared with us. All these terrific actors and women should be remembered and beloved.

Thank you Robert!

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5 people found this helpful

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A Surprise!!!!

What a beautiful tour with a thoughtful and kind guide through a maze of characters.

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3 people found this helpful

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A winner!

Thoroughly enjoyable read! Wagner has a terrific career and acted with some of brightness women stars in the business. His stories are gleaned from his work, life and relationships. A great read if you're interested in old .. and new show business.

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. Loved it!

Honest but respectful behind the scenes stories of all our favorites. One story lead to the next and I couldn't stop.

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Thank you, RJ!

Loved it! Mr Wagner writes about the Hollywood years when I was young. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

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  • MC
  • 08-17-17

Engaging and Enlightened

Would you listen to I Loved Her in the Movies again? Why?

Loved this book and Mr. Wagner's read. He appreciated outstanding women in film, the struggles so many of them overcame and how shortchanged many were by the studios that limited their careers.

Who was your favorite character and why?

His reminiscences are personal and respectful. You get the sense he truly loves women but not in a pandering way.

Have you listened to any of Robert Wagner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

His other book, about the historical places in Hollywood, was also very interesting.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Very enjoyable. He has lived a rich life and shares details and reflections from it.

Any additional comments?

I respect his observations. And greatly enjoyed his read. He sounds younger than his years and quite timeless. Classy guy.

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Looking back into greatness...

A great window onto the past and a wonderful take on the future.
Actress or not this is a must .

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