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The Kid Stays In The Picture
by
Robert Evans
Far more expansive than You'll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again, The Kid Stays in the Picture by Hollywood giant and legendary "bad boy" Robert Evans is an intimate and fascinating account of his rise, fall, and rise again in show business that makes for a harrowing read. From his early days in radio to popularizing "women in pants" as part of Evan-Pi...more
Compact Disc
Published
by Phoenix Books
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Probably the most fascinating man in Hollywood. This book is just incredibly entertaining and well written, and the documentary that was made after is is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. I am not lying.
Robert Evans has lived about 30 lifetimes and he keeps going. Most notable of being a major producer (chinatown, the godfather, rosemary's baby, harold and maude) and running paramount, going bankrupt and making it all back.
You'll love it if you are in awe...more
Robert Evans has lived about 30 lifetimes and he keeps going. Most notable of being a major producer (chinatown, the godfather, rosemary's baby, harold and maude) and running paramount, going bankrupt and making it all back.
You'll love it if you are in awe...more
This is the autobiography of Robert Evans, actor producer head of Paramount Studios. Started in radio as a young boy... Got his big break in film playing Rhonda Shearers (she was a great actress way back when...) husband in a film. Robert Evans is the only actor ever to head up a major film studio. He is the man behind such block busters as The Godfather and China Town. He was married to Ali Magraw and Phyllis George as well as others And dated many starlets and models. He was cdiends with Carey...more
"The are three sides to every story: yours mine and the truth" thats how The Kid Stays in the Picture begins and the book ends with another statement that I can’t repeat here but it is now used as a mantra for any Hollywood player. Robert Evans is a player. From a habadasher to young actor, from a studio head to a major figure in a famous scandal, Evans has lived it all. The book while a great read, really it is a page turner, there is something about the audio version that gives this...more
I've had some trouble with this review - figuring out what to write. First of all this is a ridiculously good page turner - never a dull moment. Secondly some of Hollywood's sacred cows get slaughtered. Coppola comes off like a man lacking the discipline to realize his vision. This book is exhibit one on the evidence table against the fallacy of the auteur - making a movie is a huge collaboration - and sometimes the producer is the driving force behind an incredible accomplishment.
T...more
T...more
Robert Evans is hilarious without trying to be hilarious (I don't THINK he's trying). If you've seen the Mr. Show sketch with Bob Odenkirk as God (based on Robert Evans) reading the Bible as a book-on-tape, please note that this impersonation is spot on.
To give you a taste: Did I read this book? You bet I did. Did I like it? Does a brand-new baby crap his pants? Would I recommend this book to friends? Baby, if you have to ask, you ain't been listening.
To give you a taste: Did I read this book? You bet I did. Did I like it? Does a brand-new baby crap his pants? Would I recommend this book to friends? Baby, if you have to ask, you ain't been listening.
Evans has an interesting and unique voice, it helps that he was the
narrator of the audio book. His inflection and occasional self
depricating laugh are both very effective.
When describing the history of events/films of the which the reader is
familiar, casting of Rose Mary's Baby, will Al Pacino be in the Godfather,
who will direct these movies, Evans does a decent job of dragging out the
big "reveal". Some autobiographies people drag o...more
narrator of the audio book. His inflection and occasional self
depricating laugh are both very effective.
When describing the history of events/films of the which the reader is
familiar, casting of Rose Mary's Baby, will Al Pacino be in the Godfather,
who will direct these movies, Evans does a decent job of dragging out the
big "reveal". Some autobiographies people drag o...more
It's hard to build up a picture of Evans through the blustering, bullish account given here. With an ego the size of a fairly large continent, Evans knows he's been a handful, even for himself. Mix this in with the egos that are attracted to Hollywood and you have a potent brew waiting to explode, which it frequently did for Evans, generally taking the cash with it. Cash, however, came in a far second to ego for this power broker, and he'd exchange ten million dollars for well-timed handshake fr...more
Love it. I am a few chapters from the end but am slowing down because I dont want it to end. The quality of writing is patchy, but fuckit, who cares! The story is worth it.
This book reads like fiction. This guy was part of motion picture history. Plus, the behind the scenes politics is fascinating.
If you're willing to excuse an incredibly self aggrandizing narrator, this one is a blast. Evans names names and drops names like a champ. What's amazing is that Evans has been married a time or two since this book was published in the mid 90's. But he ran Paramount and has some really cool stories about Rosemary's Baby and The Godfather and so on. Read the book and then check out the amazing documentary of the same name. First read this back in high school, did it hold up? You bet your ass it d...more
I was only able to get through three-fourths of this book. it is an ego trip and I knew that going in but by the tenth time Evans judged another man's merit by describing him as a "cocksman" I was done. I really wanted some detail about how films like the Godfather and China Town were made. Evans is so self absorbed his only concerns are material possessions (house, clothes, cars, women). I got to the point where I felt slimy and embarrassed to be a member of the male species.
Rob
rated it
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review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of autobiographies
Shelves:
autobiography
Hilarious! Robert Evans does it with style. The audio CD is tops, though. If you have the opportunity to listen to it, do it. One of my two favorite stories involve Warren Beatty arriving at Evan's house with a copy of the poster for Heaven Can Wait, which he was very proud of. The poster showed Beatty in a track suit with angel wings floating over his back. When asked what Evans thought of it, he gave Beatty shit because his crotch was flat. "Where's the buldge? It looks like you'r...more
I can't rate this book. Objectively it is probably two or three stars. But I took advice from an old Patton Oswalt cd and listened to the audiobook, which is quite an enjoyable experience. The hubris and the desperation of the book, coupled with Evans' voice, which makes Tom Waits sound like he never smoked, are so over the top, that I would have to rate it higher than I'm willing to. So I will abstain.
A funny kind of book. I started it hoping to get a sense of what producing The Godfather was like, but it turned out to be a straight-up autobiography of a larger-than-life figure who believes his own hype wholeheartedly, with more discussion of dealmaking than filmmaking. Such is a producer's life, I guess. Kind of boring after a point to hear about his hijinks, but when things start to go really wrong in the eighties, the story takes a strong, dark turn. I'm left wondering how good those good ...more
My favorite era in film is the New Hollywood. In general, I love everything about the 70's but the American films during that time were untouchable. Robert Evans really was the forefront of that movement. He produced Rosemary's Baby, Love Story, The Godfather and Chinatown to name a few. Robert Evans has an incredible story and the way he tells it in The Kid Stays in the Picture is irresistible.
This is not only the best book I've read about Hollywood (Though shouts out to Easy Riders, Ragi...more
This is not only the best book I've read about Hollywood (Though shouts out to Easy Riders, Ragi...more
I loved this book. Robert Evans rambles on about manipulating newspapers to save Henry Kissinger's job, strategies for seducing Grace Kelly, and giving Cary Grant marital advice. What I liked most was his ability to point to his mistakes. For all that Evans can tell a good story, he actually provides some worthwhile advice, all coming from a humble, this is what DIDN'T work for me perspective.
The unabridged book-on-tape read by the author is THE way to consume this perfect slice of Hollywood and its ethos. The personality of Evans is right there in his reading of his tale - you are a fly on the wall in a way reading the book alone will miss. Also a fun documentary was made of this, but nothing compares to the Evans tapes.
Listened to this as an Audible book and glad I did as it's read by the author himself. I picked this up solely at comedian Patton Oswalt's recommendation from his standup routine and I wasn't disappointed; the whole thing is highly entertaining and listening to it read by the author further blurs the line between what's real and what's entertainment. Now I'd like to see the documentary.
Robert Evans is a dirty old man, some sort of throw back rapper, a pied piper, childish and brilliant. I am so glad he wrote this book. The best part - even when I thought he was being gutsy and revealing I would find myself thinking, "Did that really happen? Or is he just writing a script for a movie." Only Evans will ever know.
He writes like he talks, and reading this is like pulling an all-nighter with Evans while he talks and talks gets increasingly plastered and moves through the various drunken stages of bravado, confession, remorse, and acceptance. He neatly threads the needle between egotism and self-deprecation, and gives an engaging back-room view of Hollywood history. Now looking forward to moving on to 'Easy Riders, Raging Bulls'...
I'd seen the documentary before reading this, and now I'd love to get my hands on the audiobook. While I thought pace falters a bit in the last fourth of the book (around where he has to sell Woodland and things really start to go to hell personally), there's no raconteur like Evans. Oh, to be a fly on the wall when Evans, Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. hit the town July 4, 1968.
this was a well done audio book and it was great hearing robert evans' voice reading it. he's a helluva business man and has had a pretty wild life. i hate hollywood and the glamorous life and all that but i love stories about it...i can't help it.
entertaining but gave me a stomachache - (I assume unintentionally) rather depressing. He comes off as a Hollywood Forrest Gump - involved in every touchpoint of Hollywood history for decades on end. Eh, maybe it's true.
Despite Patton Oswalt's referring to this book as Satan dictating his memoirs, I thought it was a much more sad tale of rags to riches to . . . well, rich rags I suppose. A cautionary tale and funny book as well.
One of my favorite books...I have read and listened to it probably a dozen times. You have to get a copy of the audio book, though. This book is well told, not well written.
some random funny and occasionally dirty stories about Hollywood since the late 50's. Does it help that the story is read by the author? Yes it does.
Thanks to Emily for the loan of this book on tape. It's priceless to hear Evans' drawl... "Was it a good book? You bet your ass it was."
robert evans is a great storyteller in the audiobook version. great companion book with biskins "easy riders, raging bulls".
Get this one as the audiobook read by the author. Audible has it, and it's worth it to hear Evans read it himself.
I'm not exactly sure why I'm still reading this book. Every page I think "this guy is a butthead" or "what a pompous ass" or "seriously? So arrogant".. and yet? and yet... I keep reading it, however I find myself reading in chunks now..."blah blah blah - I kicked his ass" or "yadda yadda yadda...I was free from my wife for the weekend!".
And it's like 400 pages long. I predict a "quick" read on this one.
...more
And it's like 400 pages long. I predict a "quick" read on this one.
...more
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Robert Evans (born Robert J. Shapera) is an American film producer best known for his work on Rosemary's Baby, Love Story, The Godfather and Chinatown as well as his hedonistic lifestyle and seven marriages.
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