Angie Dickinson is one of American film and television’s most popular, durable, and talented actresses. In this, the first book-length study of her career, film historian James Stratton explores the professional highlights and personal experiences behind the household name. Carefully researched and richly illustrated, this long-overdue treatment includes a biographical profile, an analysis of each of Angie’s more than fifty feature films, an annotated listing of her made-for-TV movies, and a spirited appraisal of the dramatic skills that have enabled her to be equally persuasive whether playing a treacherous femme fatale or a dedicated military nurse. The Angie Dickinson who emerges from the author’s consistently engaging portrait is beautiful, smart, provocative, and resilient. A comprehensive, insightful resource designed for fans and general readers alike.
THE READ- ANGIE: THE LIFE AND FILMS OF ANGIE DICKINSON BY JAMES STRATTON
Actress Angie Dickinson- who will be 94 in September- is one of the last great stars still with us from an entertainment era that is sadly gone. The classic movies, TV, and other art forms are thankfully still here to remind us how good it was, and the award-winning Dickinson was there to see a lot of it as a young actress starting out in the early 1950's. Her best movie work in some of the best movies of their genres- think of the great western Rio Bravo, which made her a star in 1959, the Rat Pack's Ocean's 11 which also made her hip and cool in 1960, the solid remake, The Killers (1964), and one of our favourites, 1967's Point Blank, a film about a lot of nasty people she did with Lee Marvin, where she showed great range. Then there's a later entry, a great third act, the erotic crime thriller, Dressed to Kill in 1980. There was also a long list of great television work, most notably, her four years starring as Sergeant 'Pepper' Anderson in the 1970's classic, Police Woman. She also travelled in circles that included Sinatra, JFK, Dean Martin and a marriage to legendary songwriter, Burt Bachrach. Which leads us to the first in our series of "great summer reads", Angie: The Life and Films of Angie Dickinson by film historian, James Stratton. It is the first (and we say long overdue) book-length study of her career. It is also a real page-turner, taking you from her early years growing up far from Hollywood, through a career which would span over six decades and contain an impressive and diverse body of work. If you're a fan, this is a must- read. bearmanormedia.com
Richmond Sentinel "Our City Tonight" June 3-16, 2025
