No, I am not referring to Lana Turner's figure. I am stating that it is impossible for anybody who has any genuine interest and knowledge in the topics of Lana Turner, MGM, Warner Brothers (where Lana's career began), Juanita Moore, legendary director Douglas Sirk, or the Golden Age of film-making in general not to catch on quickly that no such genuine interest or knowledge is apparent on the part of those responsible for Lana Turner... A Daughter's Memoir. I am unfortunately reminded of those tributes to Luise Rainer. All videographers know about this remarkable actress now is that she's REALLY old and won two Oscars back-to-back. They wheel her in, interrupt her when she wants to speak, applaud, then push her out. These entrepreneurs get money and self-promotion without really caring. And it is the same case here. All they know is the same old sweater girl turned hormone-driven good-time gal and gangster's girlfriend who, by the way, posed-acted sometimes.
There is absolutely no compelling evidence that the narrator knows even the basic stats of Turner's life and career, or had even viewed Imitation of Life, for example, even once. Yes, Robert Wagner had been a B+ list film actor, then later a TV star. But that does not ensure he knows any more on the topics than the producer, writer or director of this drivel. It is both displeasing and dismaying that so many others, serious film students, film historians, legitimate biographers... those with a sincere interest in Turner, SHOULD have had access to all the interviewees and artifacts of Turner's life, and done a conscientious job. The only reason I give it 4 instead of 1 is that some work was done as far as tracking down some of Lana's former friends and colleagues, which counts for something. But in the end it is like the very amusing episode of Seinfeld in which George, to pad his intellectual resume, claims to have read War and Peace. Of course, he is always on the verge of getting busted, which is hilarious. Lana Turner... A Daughter's Memoir is not so funny. Many documentaries and factoid-type books have been put out on the topic of this very interesting, underrated actress, who just happened to be beautiful. Not one, including this one, does her justice.
