Audiobook9 hours
The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick
Written by Mallory O'Meara
Narrated by Mallory O'Meara
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this audiobook
2019 SCIBA Book Award Winner for Biography
A Hugo and Locus Award Finalist
Winner of the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award
The Los Angeles Times Bestseller
A Thrillist Best Book of the Year
A Book Riot Best Book of 2019
One of Booklist’s 10 Best Art Books of the Year
The Lady from the Black Lagoon uncovers the life and work of Milicent Patrick—one of Disney’s first female animators and the only woman in history to create one of Hollywood’s classic movie monsters
As a teenager, Mallory O’Meara was thrilled to discover that one of her favorite movies, Creature from the Black Lagoon, featured a monster designed by a woman, Milicent Patrick. But for someone who should have been hailed as a pioneer in the genre, there was little information available. For, as O’Meara soon discovered, Patrick’s contribution had been claimed by a jealous male colleague, her career had been cut short and she soon after had disappeared from film history. No one even knew if she was still alive.
As a young woman working in the horror film industry, O’Meara set out to right the wrong, and in the process discovered the full, fascinating story of an ambitious, artistic woman ahead of her time. Patrick’s contribution to special effects proved to be just the latest chapter in a remarkable, unconventional life, from her youth growing up in the shadow of Hearst Castle, to her career as one of Disney’s first female animators. And at last, O’Meara discovered what really had happened to Patrick after The Creature’s success, and where she went.
A true-life detective story and a celebration of a forgotten feminist trailblazer, Mallory O’Meara’s The Lady from the Black Lagoon establishes Patrick in her rightful place in film history while calling out a Hollywood culture where little has changed since.
Don't miss Mallory O'Meara's upcoming novel, Girly Drinks!
A Hugo and Locus Award Finalist
Winner of the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award
The Los Angeles Times Bestseller
A Thrillist Best Book of the Year
A Book Riot Best Book of 2019
One of Booklist’s 10 Best Art Books of the Year
The Lady from the Black Lagoon uncovers the life and work of Milicent Patrick—one of Disney’s first female animators and the only woman in history to create one of Hollywood’s classic movie monsters
As a teenager, Mallory O’Meara was thrilled to discover that one of her favorite movies, Creature from the Black Lagoon, featured a monster designed by a woman, Milicent Patrick. But for someone who should have been hailed as a pioneer in the genre, there was little information available. For, as O’Meara soon discovered, Patrick’s contribution had been claimed by a jealous male colleague, her career had been cut short and she soon after had disappeared from film history. No one even knew if she was still alive.
As a young woman working in the horror film industry, O’Meara set out to right the wrong, and in the process discovered the full, fascinating story of an ambitious, artistic woman ahead of her time. Patrick’s contribution to special effects proved to be just the latest chapter in a remarkable, unconventional life, from her youth growing up in the shadow of Hearst Castle, to her career as one of Disney’s first female animators. And at last, O’Meara discovered what really had happened to Patrick after The Creature’s success, and where she went.
A true-life detective story and a celebration of a forgotten feminist trailblazer, Mallory O’Meara’s The Lady from the Black Lagoon establishes Patrick in her rightful place in film history while calling out a Hollywood culture where little has changed since.
Don't miss Mallory O'Meara's upcoming novel, Girly Drinks!
Author
Mallory O'Meara
Mallory O'Meara is an author, screenwriter and a producer for the independent film company Dark Dunes Productions. Whether it is for the screen or the page, she seeks creative projects imbued with horror and monsters. A New England native, she now lives in Los Angeles.
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Reviews for The Lady from the Black Lagoon
Rating: 4.125 out of 5 stars
4/5
40 ratings4 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mallory O’Meara has a deeply personal connection to her subject. Milicent Patrick was a pioneer- a woman in 1950’s Hollywood who was beautiful and full of artistry- she designed the Creature for Universal, lived at Hearst Castle, animated for Disney and was denied credit for her talent because, well, men. This is a feminist shout with a very Sarah Vowell vibe- O’Meara is a great storyteller, seeking Patrick’s story and telling her own. 5?Audio
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I really loved learning about Milicent Patrick. I applaud the author for doing so much research.
Unfortunately, the book isn’t well written. It is full of black, white, and superlative claims/opinions. Assuming the goal of this book is to shed light on Milicent Patrick’s life and her contributions to art and monsters, there’s a lot of commentary about women’s rights and the author’s personal struggles, that often feels misplaced and distracting. I almost stopped reading this book when the author criticized Frankenstein for being another male creation, and completely left Mary Shelly, the author and creator of that monster, uncredited and unnamed. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was an accurate and honest rendition of a creative and intelligent woman who brought her talents to the silver screen. The author shows a great sensitivity to her work painting a picture of a woman who loved drawing and making monsters for the silver screen.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A remarkable memoir / biography on inclusion, monsters, and art told by an intelligent, passionate voice. It was so fun following the author's curiosity. Highly recommend!!