Not a "biography" of some of the character actors in the golden age of Hollywood, the book takes several of these actors and discusses their roles with regards to history. However, it wanders from history to Hollywood and back again with no real purpose. The book had several errors in it. Vivien Leigh's name was spelled as Vivian. This is such an easy thing to verify and that the author did not take the time makes one wonder what other errors are in the book. In the chapter on John Carradine, it is said that The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence was the only film that John Wayne and James Stewart appeared together. I guess the author forgot Wayne's last film The Shootist in which Stewart played his doctor, as well as How the West Was Won although in that one Wayne and Stewart did not share any scenes together. The author mentions All About Eve as the most nominated film but it is tied with 1997's Titanic. I had purchased the book thinking I would get more biographical information on some of my favorite actors such as Thomas Mitchell, Van Heflin, Donald Crisp, and others but was sorely disappointed. ( )