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Against Type: The Biography of Burt Lancaster
A profile of the career of Burt Lancaster chronicles his impoverished East Harlem childhood, 1946 debut with The Killers, three marriages, and achievements in more than eighty films. 25,000 first printing. Tour.
- GenresBiography
Hardcover
Published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 26, 2019
One of my favourite actors, a talented if not torn character, with a lively personality.
A book filled with information of every film he made, in fact it seems, when you read the book, Burt Lancaster when from film to film, one straight after the other.
Reading so many autobiographies, I believe actors have often one thing in common. They love success, they love to be popular, they make one film after the other to find their next hit.
Burt Lancaster found success in his first film, and used his physical presence to dominate many leading film roles, use his great big white smile in some great swashbuckling films.
The author has researched this book enormously, so many co-stars were interviewed and amazingly some accounts of his personality so different. Many thought he was great, helpful and warm, but more found him cold, quite and often a bully, fame did seem to effect him, right or wrong he starred in many films but also bossed the directors, yes I guess he wanted the best for the film but often made him difficult to work with and tough on some co-stars.
The main reason for the three stars,as the book lost some interest with not enough about his private life and his work with other film stars, but more on each film he made, then the next film .
I admire the research, the interviews with many actors, the honesty from the author and co-stars, and It proves he was a great actor, but a difficult man in his private life.
He did make some great films, and will always be remembered for his films with another tough character Kirk Douglas, wow two strong personalities...
Enjoyable. Three stars
A book filled with information of every film he made, in fact it seems, when you read the book, Burt Lancaster when from film to film, one straight after the other.
Reading so many autobiographies, I believe actors have often one thing in common. They love success, they love to be popular, they make one film after the other to find their next hit.
Burt Lancaster found success in his first film, and used his physical presence to dominate many leading film roles, use his great big white smile in some great swashbuckling films.
The author has researched this book enormously, so many co-stars were interviewed and amazingly some accounts of his personality so different. Many thought he was great, helpful and warm, but more found him cold, quite and often a bully, fame did seem to effect him, right or wrong he starred in many films but also bossed the directors, yes I guess he wanted the best for the film but often made him difficult to work with and tough on some co-stars.
The main reason for the three stars,as the book lost some interest with not enough about his private life and his work with other film stars, but more on each film he made, then the next film .
I admire the research, the interviews with many actors, the honesty from the author and co-stars, and It proves he was a great actor, but a difficult man in his private life.
He did make some great films, and will always be remembered for his films with another tough character Kirk Douglas, wow two strong personalities...
Enjoyable. Three stars
December 8, 2019
Burt Lancaster is one of my favorite actors. This bio is kind of a gloss on his long life and career and there is actually little about the life. The author chose to tell his story through the actor's films, which works sometimes but often left me wanting to know more about Lancaster's home life and family. Maybe only 3 1/2 stars.
March 29, 2020
Gary Fishgall's warts-and-all biography provides some interesting insights into the life and work of the often underrated Burt Lancaster. The most interesting parts deal with his rise to prominence on stage and screen. Learning of his temperament and disagreements with co-stars tarnishes memories of some of my favorite performances, but it's a good solid read.
July 20, 2016
I Loved this book.
I fell madly in Love with Burt Lancaster when I was 12 after going to the Picture Show & seeing Trapeze. I came home & told my Mother I planned to join the circus. She informed me that Burt was an Actor & not a circus performer, and the life in the circus was not glamorous & I would not find the likes of Lancaster there.
However,not really true...He Did start out in the Circus.
This book tells his fabulous life story. He was charming, Handsome,extremely bright. And Every role he played was a true part of him..He Was In Life part Elmer Gantry, part Starbuck, part Doc in Come Back Little Sheba.
This Author captures Burt's spirit, love of acting,and love of life.
He did all his own stunts in Trapeze, as well as in The Flame and the Arrow & The Crimson Pirate.And even many in his later years in Westerns.
He loved opera.He was Brilliant, witty, a bit controlling,but always kind and loyal. He gave movie roles to his friend from his circus life to Nick Cravat,with whom he had remained friends throughout his entire life.
One of the rare Biographies that made me cry, and laugh and rejoice..a well lived life. A Beautiful man I wish I could have known.
I fell madly in Love with Burt Lancaster when I was 12 after going to the Picture Show & seeing Trapeze. I came home & told my Mother I planned to join the circus. She informed me that Burt was an Actor & not a circus performer, and the life in the circus was not glamorous & I would not find the likes of Lancaster there.
However,not really true...He Did start out in the Circus.
This book tells his fabulous life story. He was charming, Handsome,extremely bright. And Every role he played was a true part of him..He Was In Life part Elmer Gantry, part Starbuck, part Doc in Come Back Little Sheba.
This Author captures Burt's spirit, love of acting,and love of life.
He did all his own stunts in Trapeze, as well as in The Flame and the Arrow & The Crimson Pirate.And even many in his later years in Westerns.
He loved opera.He was Brilliant, witty, a bit controlling,but always kind and loyal. He gave movie roles to his friend from his circus life to Nick Cravat,with whom he had remained friends throughout his entire life.
One of the rare Biographies that made me cry, and laugh and rejoice..a well lived life. A Beautiful man I wish I could have known.
December 12, 2011
A lot of facts, but not enough about what made this great actor tick.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews