FromtheNewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorofTheSwansofFifthAvenueandTheAviator'sWife,a"richexplorationoftwoHollywoodfriendswhoshapedthemovies"(USAToday)--screenwriterFrancesMarionandsuperstarMaryPickford

"FullofOldHollywoodglamourandtruedetailsaboutthepair'shistoriccareers...acaptivatingodetoalegendarybond."--RealSimpleNAMEDONEOFTHEBESTBOOKSOFTHEYEARBYREALSIMPLEItis1914,andtwenty-five-year-oldFrancesMarionhaslefther(second)husbandandherNorthernCaliforniahomeforthelureofLosAngeles,wheresheisdeterminedtoliveindependentlyasanartist.Butthewordoneveryone'slipsthesedaysis"flickers"--thesilentmovingpicturesenthrallingtheatergoers.Turnanycornerinthisburgeoningtownandyou'llfindmade-upactorsrunningaround,asamoviecameracapturesitall.Inthisfledglingindustry,Francesfindshertruecalling:writingstoriesforthiswondrousnewmedium.ShealsomakestheacquaintanceofactressMaryPickford,whosesignaturegoldencurlsandlivelyspirithaveearnedherthetitle"America'sSweetheart."Thetwoambitiousyoungwomenhititoffinstantly,theirkinshipfomentedbytheirmutualfevertocreate,tomoveaudiencestoafrenzy,tostartarevolution.Buttheirambitionsarechallengedbyboththemenaroundthemandthelimitationsimposedontheirgender--andtheirastronomicalsuccesscouldcomeataprice.AsMary,theworld'shighestpaidandmostbelovedactress,strugglestoliveherlifeunderthespotlight,shealsowondersifitispossibletofindlove,evenwiththedashingactorDouglasFairbanks.Frances,too,longstoshareherlifewithsomeone.AsinanygoodHollywoodstory,dramaswillplayout,personalitieswillclash,andeventhedeepestfriendshipsmightbeshattered.WithcameosfromsuchnotablesasCharlieChaplin,LouisB.Mayer,RudolphValentino,andLillianGish,TheGirlsinthePictureis,atitsheart,astoryoffriendshipandforgiveness.MelanieBenjaminbrilliantlycapturesthedawnofaglitteringnewera--itsmythsandicons,itspossibilitiesandpotential,anditsseductionandheartbreak."Aboffoproduction...InspirationisarareandunexpectedgiftinabookfilledwiththefluffofHollywood,butBenjaminprovidesitwithTheGirlsinthePicture."--NPR

"Profoundlyresonant,TheGirlsinthePictureisatitscore,anempoweringandfascinatingtaleofsisterhood."--BryceDallasHoward