Fireball: Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3
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Fireball: Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3 Hardcover – December 2, 2013
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Devoured Fireball in a single day while recuperating from the Toronto International Film Festival. Fantastic job of research, served up as a real page-turner. It would make a great movie." —Lou Lumenick, chief film critic, New York Post
"Rather than dwell on the superficial or get bogged down on the sensational aspects of the story, Matzen treats the subjects like real people, getting right to the heart of the men and women the story revolves around. It all culminates in a single, horrible night on a cold dark mountain in Nevada. But that’s not the whole story. Thankfully, Matzen gets deeper into the personalities than others might, and in doing so he makes the book worth reading." —Jamie Beckett, General Aviation News
“Fireball is a gripping, harrowing biography about Lombard and the tragic plane crash that ended her life. Robert Matzen explores the other members of Flight 3, fleshing out a story that wasn’t all Lombard’s. Fireball is an exhaustive examination rendered with all the sincerity and honor it deserves.” —Journeys in Classic Film
About the Author
Robert Matzen is a former federal contractor for NASA who now specializes in Hollywood history. He has appeared on BBC 2 and BBC Radio 4. He is the author of Carol Lombard: A Bio-Bibliography and Errol & Olivia and the coauthor of Errol Flynn Slept Here. He lives in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
83 of 86 people found the following review helpful
By
Agatha Christie
TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on December 7, 2013
Format: Hardcover
Verified Purchase
2 Comments
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I initially read the digital version of this book compliments of NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
Compelling, exactingly correct, suspenseful, detailed, visual and well-written. All these words came to mind as I read and then reread Fireball. This book is an interesting hybrid that combines the accurate and truthful personal life story of actress Carole Lombard and the events that lead to her early death in January, 1942 as the result of a plane crash.
I'm a long time fan of Lombard's and was curious when I saw this as an offering from NetGalley. Since I have access to detailed information about this air disaster that isn't in the public domain, I wondered how accurate this book would be and how it would be constructed.
Seventy-one years after her death, Lombard is remembered primarily by fans of '30's and '40's American cinema or her death at a young age. Her films frequently are shown on cable network Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and are available on DVD. Lombard is also remembered as the third wife of film icon Clark Gable. Lombard and Gable were the Jolie and Pitt of their time. Gable may still remembered for his long and productive career, but at the time of Lombard's death they were both top box office draws. While they shared on screen pairing in 1932, a chance meeting at a party four years later lead to a fabled romance that was not without difficulties (such as Gable's second wife) and then finally marriage. In January, 1942 Lombard was one of the first film stars to use her celebrity to sell war bonds at what would come to be known as a Victory Drive. Lombard concluded the drive in her home state of Indiana.Read more ›
Compelling, exactingly correct, suspenseful, detailed, visual and well-written. All these words came to mind as I read and then reread Fireball. This book is an interesting hybrid that combines the accurate and truthful personal life story of actress Carole Lombard and the events that lead to her early death in January, 1942 as the result of a plane crash.
I'm a long time fan of Lombard's and was curious when I saw this as an offering from NetGalley. Since I have access to detailed information about this air disaster that isn't in the public domain, I wondered how accurate this book would be and how it would be constructed.
Seventy-one years after her death, Lombard is remembered primarily by fans of '30's and '40's American cinema or her death at a young age. Her films frequently are shown on cable network Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and are available on DVD. Lombard is also remembered as the third wife of film icon Clark Gable. Lombard and Gable were the Jolie and Pitt of their time. Gable may still remembered for his long and productive career, but at the time of Lombard's death they were both top box office draws. While they shared on screen pairing in 1932, a chance meeting at a party four years later lead to a fabled romance that was not without difficulties (such as Gable's second wife) and then finally marriage. In January, 1942 Lombard was one of the first film stars to use her celebrity to sell war bonds at what would come to be known as a Victory Drive. Lombard concluded the drive in her home state of Indiana.Read more ›
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40 of 42 people found the following review helpful
By
Rikki White
on December 18, 2013
Format: Hardcover
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I like to read about film stars and so do lots of readers judging by the means the media use to get every little detail about the lives of celebrities...Carole Lombard was the typical great star at the height of the golden age of movies. She was married to the King of Hollywood, Clark Gable, a man who adored her devil may care attitude to life. She had it all and what she wanted, she got, which ultimately resulted in her untimely death. The Fireball died in a Fireball which was totally avoidable for her and her travelling companions who were desperately against the flight she insisted upon, but couldn't prevail against her determination to get home to Clark as quickly as possible. The reason being Lana Turner who was filming with the King and, though he adored Carole, he had a roving eye and jealousy reared its head in Carole's mind. She knew that fidelity was rare in Hollywood and the casting couch reigned supreme. After all, she herself had reached the pinnacle the same way. Her studio told her she must not fly, A contingent of army personnel were given priority and she was ordered to give up her seat, but she threw her weight around, she was after all a famous movie star, and was permitted to remain on the flight on which she perished.
The author has researched her life so thoroughly, the feel of the book is that he was a witness to everything that went on. All these events happened more than 70 years ago, but it's like it was yesterday. A very well written account of an incredible life and a very enjoyable read.
The author has researched her life so thoroughly, the feel of the book is that he was a witness to everything that went on. All these events happened more than 70 years ago, but it's like it was yesterday. A very well written account of an incredible life and a very enjoyable read.
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31 of 34 people found the following review helpful
By
S Riaz
TOP 500 REVIEWER on January 6, 2014
Format: Hardcover
1 Comment
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This book is part biography and part the story of a tragic accident, in which actress Carole Lombard and twenty one other people lost their lives. Much of the wreckage of TWA Flight 3, the commercial airliner which crashed on the evening of January 16th, 1942, is still strewn across the side of Mount Potosi in Nevada. The author actually climbed to the crash site and it took him four and a half hours to ascend the steep mountain slope. It can only be imagined how hard it was to mount a rescue mission on that dark night, so long ago.
However, despite so much time passing, the author does a wonderful job in recreating those events – tracking down living eyewitnesses and accounts from people that were there. He tells of how the plane was refuelled at McCarren airfield in Los Vegas, where it took off without problems; heading for the Birbank Air Terminal, where Clark Gable, Lombard’s husband, and the wife of the Hollywood publicist accompanying her, were waiting for the plane. Lombard should not have even been on board, having promised not to fly. As well as being accompanied by publicist Otto Winkler, she was also with her mother – who had made her promise to travel by train, due to her fear of flying. Desperate to get home quickly, Lombard insisted on taking a flight. Her mother, Elizabeth Peters was a student of numerology and begged her not to take the plane. Three was apparently an unlucky number and they were taking Flight , arriving at Indianapolis at 3am, there were three of them flying and her daughter was 33 years and months old... The omens were not good.Read more ›
However, despite so much time passing, the author does a wonderful job in recreating those events – tracking down living eyewitnesses and accounts from people that were there. He tells of how the plane was refuelled at McCarren airfield in Los Vegas, where it took off without problems; heading for the Birbank Air Terminal, where Clark Gable, Lombard’s husband, and the wife of the Hollywood publicist accompanying her, were waiting for the plane. Lombard should not have even been on board, having promised not to fly. As well as being accompanied by publicist Otto Winkler, she was also with her mother – who had made her promise to travel by train, due to her fear of flying. Desperate to get home quickly, Lombard insisted on taking a flight. Her mother, Elizabeth Peters was a student of numerology and begged her not to take the plane. Three was apparently an unlucky number and they were taking Flight , arriving at Indianapolis at 3am, there were three of them flying and her daughter was 33 years and months old... The omens were not good.Read more ›
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