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Phantom Lady: Hollywood Producer Joan Harrison, the Forgotten Woman Behind Hitchcock
In 1933, Joan Harrison was a twenty-six-year-old former salesgirl with a dream of escaping both her stodgy London suburb and the dreadful prospect of settling down with one of the local boys. A few short years later, she was Alfred Hitchcock’s confidante and one of the Oscar-nominated screenwriters of his first American film, Rebecca. Harrison had quickly grown from being the worst secretary Hitchcock ever had to one of his closest collaborators, critically shaping his brand as the “Master of Suspense.”
Forging her own public persona as the female Hitchcock, Harrison went on to produce numerous Hollywood features before becoming a television pioneer as the producer of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. A respected powerhouse, she acquired a singular reputation for running amazingly smooth productions— and defying anyone who posed an obstacle. She built most of her films and series from the ground up. She waged rough-and-tumble battles against executives and censors, and even helped to break the Hollywood blacklist. She teamed up with many of the most respected, well-known directors, writers, and actors of the twentieth century. And she did it all on her own terms.
Author Christina Lane shows how this stylish, stunning woman became Hollywood’s most powerful female writer-producer—one whom history has since overlooked.
Forging her own public persona as the female Hitchcock, Harrison went on to produce numerous Hollywood features before becoming a television pioneer as the producer of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. A respected powerhouse, she acquired a singular reputation for running amazingly smooth productions— and defying anyone who posed an obstacle. She built most of her films and series from the ground up. She waged rough-and-tumble battles against executives and censors, and even helped to break the Hollywood blacklist. She teamed up with many of the most respected, well-known directors, writers, and actors of the twentieth century. And she did it all on her own terms.
Author Christina Lane shows how this stylish, stunning woman became Hollywood’s most powerful female writer-producer—one whom history has since overlooked.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2020
About the author
Christina Lane
6 books8 followersChristina is the Edgar®-Award winning author of [Phantom Lady: Hollywood Producer Joan Harrison, the Forgotten Woman Behind Hitchcock] (Chicago Review Press). Phantom Lady is the first biography of one of the most influential women of Hollywood's golden era, the woman who, working behind the scenes, shaped the screen style of Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense.
She is also the author of [Feminist Hollywood: From Born in Flames to Point Break] (Wayne State UP, 2000) and [Magnolia] (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011). She has published numerous scholarly essays on such topics as Carole Lombard, Alma Reville, Jodie Foster, Kathryn Bigelow, Goldie Hawn, and Susan Seidelman.
She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, the Women's National Book Association, and Biographers International Organization (BIO).
She is Professor of film studies at the University of Miami, where she also directs the Norton Herrick Center for Motion Picture Studies. She teaches courses on film history, women and media, and directors. She has contributed commentary to such outlets as [CrimeReads], [Ms]., and [AirMail] and appeared as a guest commentator on the [Turner Classic Movies] channel.
She is also the author of [Feminist Hollywood: From Born in Flames to Point Break] (Wayne State UP, 2000) and [Magnolia] (Wiley-Blackwell, 2011). She has published numerous scholarly essays on such topics as Carole Lombard, Alma Reville, Jodie Foster, Kathryn Bigelow, Goldie Hawn, and Susan Seidelman.
She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, the Women's National Book Association, and Biographers International Organization (BIO).
She is Professor of film studies at the University of Miami, where she also directs the Norton Herrick Center for Motion Picture Studies. She teaches courses on film history, women and media, and directors. She has contributed commentary to such outlets as [CrimeReads], [Ms]., and [AirMail] and appeared as a guest commentator on the [Turner Classic Movies] channel.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 7, 2020
For the umpteenth time, I wish that Goodreads had half stars, because I would give this a 3.5 rating.
If you are interested in classic film, this is something I would recommend. Joan Harrison has been on my radar for a long time, mostly because she produced some interesting film noirs and because she was so influential to many Hitchcock films.
As a biography, this suffers from a tendency to get hagiographic about Harrison and also because the author indulges into too much supposition for my personal taste.
It's a decent read. Just not an amazing one.
If you are interested in classic film, this is something I would recommend. Joan Harrison has been on my radar for a long time, mostly because she produced some interesting film noirs and because she was so influential to many Hitchcock films.
As a biography, this suffers from a tendency to get hagiographic about Harrison and also because the author indulges into too much supposition for my personal taste.
It's a decent read. Just not an amazing one.
November 30, 2020
Joan Harrison!! Polly Platt of the 40s — sharp, terrible at assistant work, brilliant at anything dealing with making a movie better. First woman to be nominated for an Oscar for screenwriting (Rebecca), first woman to be a producer at a major studio. She loved to shop, only voted progressive, and reignited the careers of many Blacklisted creatives post-Cold War. And dated Clark Gable!!
July 15, 2020
A truly enlightening and empowering read. Highly recommended!
My full review: https://www.outofthepastblog.com/2020...
My full review: https://www.outofthepastblog.com/2020...
December 1, 2021
Joan Harrison who began to work for Hitchcock in 1934 on The Man Who Knew Too Much, was 2nd to his wife Alma in his movie career. She worked with him for years, moving to Hollywood and even dating Clark Gable regularly. She wrote, produced and worked behind the scenes. She eventually became a producer of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Great biography.
April 12, 2021
Kudos to author Christina Lane for paying long overdue attention to Joan Harrison, one of the few successful female producers during Hollywood's Golden Age. Starting out in the business as Hitchcock's secretary, Harrison gradually proved savvy at screenwriting (her Rebecca screenplay garnered her an Oscar nomination) and producing such classic noirs as Phantom Lady before successfully transitioning into television with Alfred Hitchock Presents. Along the way, she had romantic flings with such stars as Clark Gable and married thriller author Eric Ambler. Unfortunately she deserves better than this lackluster biography; although well-researched, with an excellent filmography, the book is not aided by the wooden prose, and it's hard to get a sense of who Joan Harrison really was as a human being. (This is not totally the author's fault, as Harrison lost a treasure trove of letters and photos in a catastrophic house fire.) In the end, Harrison remains a phantom lady.
May 1, 2021
Very interesting read! Great biography of a criminally overlooked woman. I wished the author wouldn't try and presume Joan's feeling so much, but it's still a very good and well researched book!
March 15, 2021
This book would have been better had it started on about page 150. The three stars is for the second half of the book; the first part would have rated only two stars. Joan Harrison is a forgotten name in film and television history, although the subtitle, “The Forgotten Woman Behind Hitchcock,” certainly overstates the case. Harrison was involved with Hitchcock during much of his British film career and came over to the United States with him when he made Rebecca. After that she went out on her own, primarily as a writer and producer, with perhaps her best known film the noir Phantom Lady. Harrison comes back into Hitchcock’s orbit in the 1950s with Alfred Hitchcock Presents, as producer for the series.
Despite all the apparent research the author did so much of the book seems to be conjecture and surmise. And although there are a lot of letters, we don’t get a real sense of the woman. She “probably” did x or “thought” y, and because she was a woman with a strong sense of narrative she must have been interested in the woman’s perspective in films. The first 150 pages on her family and early life could really have been condensed and much more time devoted to her work on the Hitchcock series. Apparently she had affairs, maybe numerous, with, among others, Clark Gable. But we know little about them. She also may have had one or more affairs with women, but who knows? At age 51, she marries writer Eric Ambler, sort of out of the blue, and they’re happy (more or less).
It could have been better. Two minor issues that really annoyed me. Judith Anderson in Rebecca is mentioned as playing the head maid. Anyone who knows anything about stately British houses knows that the difference between the housekeeper (Anderson's role) and a maid is immense. The other was that Ray Milland was described as Welsh American. He was Welsh and served in the British Army. Although he became an American citizen in the 1940s, Welsh American isn't correct (despite what Wikipedia says).
Despite all the apparent research the author did so much of the book seems to be conjecture and surmise. And although there are a lot of letters, we don’t get a real sense of the woman. She “probably” did x or “thought” y, and because she was a woman with a strong sense of narrative she must have been interested in the woman’s perspective in films. The first 150 pages on her family and early life could really have been condensed and much more time devoted to her work on the Hitchcock series. Apparently she had affairs, maybe numerous, with, among others, Clark Gable. But we know little about them. She also may have had one or more affairs with women, but who knows? At age 51, she marries writer Eric Ambler, sort of out of the blue, and they’re happy (more or less).
It could have been better. Two minor issues that really annoyed me. Judith Anderson in Rebecca is mentioned as playing the head maid. Anyone who knows anything about stately British houses knows that the difference between the housekeeper (Anderson's role) and a maid is immense. The other was that Ray Milland was described as Welsh American. He was Welsh and served in the British Army. Although he became an American citizen in the 1940s, Welsh American isn't correct (despite what Wikipedia says).
April 21, 2021
3.5 stars. better than average Hollywood bio about Hitchcock colleague Joan Harrison. Did learn some new stuff, I had been unaware she had a long term relationship with Clark Gable and ended up marrying thriller novelist Eric Ambler, just wish there had been even more behind the scenes stories instead of long plot summaries of her films.
August 25, 2023
Phantom Lady is an excellent biography written by Christina Lane. It is about the woman named Joan Harrison. She was Alfred Hitchcock's right hand. He would not have been Alfred Hitchcock without her and her screenwriting. She wrote the movie Rebecca (by Daphne Du Maurier) and many others. She eventually ventured out on her own away from Hitchcock and struggled to make a big name for herself; the recognition and credit she deserved. Although, there were many projects she was involved in she was not credited for many of them. However, throughout her career she succeeded and became the first powerful female producer in Hollywood.
I grew up watching many of the movies mentioned in this book. I am so glad to have learned the facts that were behind the scenes. I enjoyed this book. I recommend it.
Thank you Books Forward for this ARC.
I grew up watching many of the movies mentioned in this book. I am so glad to have learned the facts that were behind the scenes. I enjoyed this book. I recommend it.
Thank you Books Forward for this ARC.
January 4, 2022
A long overdue spotlight shown on the career of Joan Harrison who was instrumental in the early success of Hitchcock’s films as well as his outstanding television anthology series.
December 2, 2021
In the past year, I've read three books about Alfred Hitchock, and I don't recall Joan Harrison mentioned in any of them. I was excited to read this book and get another glimpse of one of my favorite directors. Joan Harrison was a Phantom Lady when it comes to Hitchcock's career, not because Hitchcock didn't appreciate her as a co-writer and producer. Still, it seems as though it was just easier to hand the "Woman Behind the Genius" badge to his wife by other authors. The book details Harrison's personal life and her working relationship with Hitchcock, who hired her with no experience different than she knew how to speak french (although Hitchy was looking for someone who spoke German to communicate with actor Peter Lorre). After working for Hitchcock, she produced several classic noir films, Phantom Lady (1944) being one of them.
Christina Lane covers Harrison's life with crisp writing and remarkable detail. Lane paces the book between Harrison's personal and professional life, which many times melded into the same thing. By the end of it, I had a new respect for Hitchcock's work, but even greater respect for this unsung talent that stood in his giant shadow. This book is an excellent read for film and early television buffs and fans of noir film and fiction.
Christina Lane covers Harrison's life with crisp writing and remarkable detail. Lane paces the book between Harrison's personal and professional life, which many times melded into the same thing. By the end of it, I had a new respect for Hitchcock's work, but even greater respect for this unsung talent that stood in his giant shadow. This book is an excellent read for film and early television buffs and fans of noir film and fiction.
March 30, 2023
A woman ahead of her time
A toast to Joan Harrison!
She was a remarkable lady and could have turned into an upper class debutant-type who just traveled and spent money and obtained husbands. But early on she wanted her life and career to have meaning and it most certainly did. It’s unfortunate that her name is not as recognized as Alfred Hitchcock’s but she greatly contributed to his success. ( I see her name in the credits of Alfred Hitchcock Presents but never really knew who she was).
The 20th century was a fascinating time to be alive with 2 world wars and the repercussions of those times still having significance today. Joan forged an amazing career in films and did so as an independent woman, who didn’t marry until she was in her fifties. She definitely lived life her way.
I would definitely add Joan Harrison to my list of those people I would love to have met and hopefully been called her friend.
I understand why the book is entitled Phantom Lady, since she was so much in the background, as a screenwriter for “Hitch” and later as a producer of films and television shows. But this book shows that she should be known as Independent Lady or Maverick Lady or Extraordinary Lady.
Ms. Lane has written an excellent biography.
5 stars
A toast to Joan Harrison!
She was a remarkable lady and could have turned into an upper class debutant-type who just traveled and spent money and obtained husbands. But early on she wanted her life and career to have meaning and it most certainly did. It’s unfortunate that her name is not as recognized as Alfred Hitchcock’s but she greatly contributed to his success. ( I see her name in the credits of Alfred Hitchcock Presents but never really knew who she was).
The 20th century was a fascinating time to be alive with 2 world wars and the repercussions of those times still having significance today. Joan forged an amazing career in films and did so as an independent woman, who didn’t marry until she was in her fifties. She definitely lived life her way.
I would definitely add Joan Harrison to my list of those people I would love to have met and hopefully been called her friend.
I understand why the book is entitled Phantom Lady, since she was so much in the background, as a screenwriter for “Hitch” and later as a producer of films and television shows. But this book shows that she should be known as Independent Lady or Maverick Lady or Extraordinary Lady.
Ms. Lane has written an excellent biography.
5 stars
May 29, 2021
This is an example of what a good biography should be! Stylishly written, well-paced and -told, with compelling anecdotes, this book engagingly tells the story of writer and producer Joan Harrison. It delivers on what you'd expect it to, as it recounts her work with Hitchcock, while also telling a lesser-known story, of Harrison's work apart from Hitch. Making a case for her work as championing a feminist approach to cinematic storytelling, the book traces Harrison's life from its privileged beginnings through her industrious film and television career. An interesting highlight is her relations with the House Un-American Activities Committee, and her courageous championing of the cause of black and grey listed actors and writers as producer of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. This biography is enjoyable, informative and thought-provoking.
(The end-matter includes an extensive filmography; some looking at the book details may be interested to know that the actual text is about 280 of the 400 page book length indicated.)
(The end-matter includes an extensive filmography; some looking at the book details may be interested to know that the actual text is about 280 of the 400 page book length indicated.)
March 18, 2023
It's an important contribution to film history but the title is a bit misleading in that it offers more than it delivers. It is a biography of Joan Harrison who did, indeed, break into the film business working for Alfred Hitchcock in England and came with him to the United States and worked on several of his films here. She then struck out on her own as a producer and Hitchcock largely disappears from the story.
As someone who succeeded as a woman in 1940s Hollywood, her story is worth telling, but her lasting achievement was as producer of the groundbreaking TV series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." While her contributions as what would now be called the "show runner" are noted, her work on the series gets but one chapter. So if you're interested in Harrison's story, this is likely as detailed a biography as possible, but if you're thinking this is a contribution to the larger bookshelf on Hitchcock, not so much.
As someone who succeeded as a woman in 1940s Hollywood, her story is worth telling, but her lasting achievement was as producer of the groundbreaking TV series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." While her contributions as what would now be called the "show runner" are noted, her work on the series gets but one chapter. So if you're interested in Harrison's story, this is likely as detailed a biography as possible, but if you're thinking this is a contribution to the larger bookshelf on Hitchcock, not so much.
August 23, 2023
Straightforward biography of Harrison, one of the most prominent female producers in the classic Hollywood era, puts special focus on her career prior to that, when she was an assistant and collaborator of Alfred Hitchcock whose personal stamp is very clear during the late British and early American phase of his career. She also went on to be "show runner" on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and played a major role in breaking the blacklist while in that post. This is an important piece of research, even if the most remarkable facets of Harrison's creative work are in limited supply in terms of tangibility, and you can guess why. Lane's even-handed approach to Hollywood context and uncovering of intriguing personal details that were otherwise unlikely ever to come to light will make this a treasure trove for researchers, though I'm curious why Lane's very able criticism seems to disappear two thirds in. Was she just not very interested in the TV shows?
May 31, 2023
I watched a documentary on Hitchcock some weeks ago which introduced me to the name of Joan Harrison and included Christina Lane as one of the 'talking heads'. I had never heard of either women but was immediately intrigued and ordered the book from my local bookshop. It was a fascinating insight into the business of writing and producing films. I lapped it all up. Now, I did feel that the last third of the book ran out of energy as Harrison started to age and was obliged to step away from her previously frenetic existence. The marriage to novelist Eric Ambler sort of came out of nowhere and then her late years were dealt with very quickly and, I felt, all too briefly. However, it was still an enjoyable read and I absolutely loved all the mentions of folk like Clark Gable, Joan Fountain and Joseph Cotten.
June 11, 2023
This is a wonderful look at someone who the title correctly deems was "forgotten", Joan Harrison, a very successful producer who began her career as Hitchcock's right-hand woman. It's a detailed and engaging portrait of Harrison's life, in some ways perhaps a tiny bit too in love with its subject, but that can be forgiven. I'm very glad to have read this and got to know Harrison - she was a forthright career woman working in an industry, and during an era, where there were not a lot of other women, she was quite a trailblazer. Even though she probably isn't remembered elsewhere very much, am glad this book was been written as a tribute to her.
May 30, 2021
Certainly an interesting and well-written and researched biography about an important person in the history of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
The significant drawback is that it spends too much of the narrative in detailed plot summaries of several movies Joan Harrison helped to create and not enough portraying Harrison as a real person with a personality. By the end, I’m not sure I know Joan as a human being, aside from someone consumed by her work. The Kindle edition I purchased also doesn’t appear to have any photographs.
The significant drawback is that it spends too much of the narrative in detailed plot summaries of several movies Joan Harrison helped to create and not enough portraying Harrison as a real person with a personality. By the end, I’m not sure I know Joan as a human being, aside from someone consumed by her work. The Kindle edition I purchased also doesn’t appear to have any photographs.
December 16, 2023
This is a terrific study of the pioneering producer behind such classic noirs as "Phantom Lady" and "Ride the Pink Horse" and the TV series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and the unjustly neglected "Journey to the Unknown." Christina Lane puts Joan Harrison's work into historical context and creates a fascinating picture of a woman who may have been a bisexual, pointing out instances of queerness in her films and TV shows, and also did her bit to help break the blacklist.
May 12, 2021
One way to grapple with the disturbing parts of Hitchcock’s legacy is to research the phantom ladies that worked with him—the women in his shadow that deserve their own spotlight. Joan Harrison was a pioneering producer in her own right, and I can’t wait to watch some of the films she made after striking out on her own.
October 1, 2021
Excellent biography
This well researched biography cast light on a previously overlooked subject, producer Joan Harrison. The book is well researched and the author conveys a great appreciation for Harrison’s life and work. A must read for anyone interested in classic cinema and the early days of television.
This well researched biography cast light on a previously overlooked subject, producer Joan Harrison. The book is well researched and the author conveys a great appreciation for Harrison’s life and work. A must read for anyone interested in classic cinema and the early days of television.
October 21, 2021
Really interesting. I love discovering books about forgotten women. This gave me The Lady from the Black Lagoon vibes. Joan Harrison produced several movies that I have not watched and as I was reading about them I would have loved to know about them. I definitely enjoyed reading about the movies I have watched. But still Enjoyed this one a lot.
October 20, 2020
Found the book interesting, but seemed many details were added without any reason, than to show the author had found in in some papers. Book did provide some insights, but the full story could have easily been told in 100 fewer pages. Very extensive bibliography though.
September 20, 2021
Well-written and filled with a lot of interesting facts, tidbits, unknown information about Joan's relationship with the Hitchcocks, the movies, and the TV programs they produced. I found most of it of interest but not one of my favorite biographical reads this year.
July 10, 2020
I found that the book dragged after I got about halfway through. Chapter after chapter of minutiae of different films got to be a bit much too read through.
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January 6, 2021Excellent book about Joan Harrison who started as a secretary to Hitchcock and ended up producing many of his films and TV series -
Multi award woman pioneer in Hollywood
Multi award woman pioneer in Hollywood
July 29, 2021
An interesting subject, worthy of more thoughtful inquiry than is mustered here.
February 5, 2023
Joan was a bad-ass! Worth reading if you're a Hollywood geek
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews