Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood

If you want to see a film that is a thorough biography of the great Hollywood writer, Frances Marion, then this TCM produced film might leave you a tad disappointed. After all, it's focused mostly on her film career and never mentions things like her first, second or even third marriages. However, as an overview of her work, it's quite good and well worth seeing.

The film focuses on the writing career of Marion. It begins with her as an actress who forged a lifelong friendship with Mary Pickford. Using this contact, Frances was able to being submitting scripts and soon was the highest paid writer in Hollywood. The film discusses a few of her great films, such as "The Big House", "Dinner at Eight" and "The Champ"--two of which garnered her Oscars. Then, the film follows her to the premature end of her career and her death several decades later.

The film is lovingly narrated by Uma Thurman and Kathy Bates provides the voice of Marion. Additionally, lots of wonderful interviews with the likes of Kevin Brownlow, Leonard Maltin and Jackie Cooper help to tell this intriguing story. A must-see for film students and folks like me who are nuts about classic Hollywood and its filmmakers.