Straight Shooting

by Robert Stack

Straight Shooting is a wry, amusing, affectionate look at Hollywood over the years – the public drama and private feuds, the tyrannical reigns of the big studio bosses, the larger-than-life exploits of the big male stars – and what it was like to be part of that world. Stack is renowned for his Emmy Award-winning performance in TV’s “The Untouchables” and for films like “The High and the Mighty” and “Written on the Wind”. Less well known are the other roles this hard-working actor excelled in over the son, husband, father, friend to some of Hollywood’s most admired stars, and a consummate sportsman especially skilled in skeet shooting -- National Skeet Shooting Champion at seventeen and a member of the Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame. Stack was the son of a dazzling California socialite and an advertising giant (the man responsible for slogans like “The beer that made Milwaukee famous"). Among their friends, the elder Stacks numbered many well-known Hollywood personalities – lovingly described by the actor as he remembers them from his adolescent years. Each step in Stack’s career brought him in contact with fascinating people who became legends -- story after story rolls by, each more memorable than the last, told with unceasing admiration for the personal style these stars projected and the often profound effect many of them had upon Stack’s life. “The Untouchables” years are depicted with wonderful candor as Stack recalls many fine co-stars and hilarious behind-the-scenes episodes. In addition there are cameo appearances by luminaries Ernst Lubitsch, Betty Grable, W.C. Fields, the Ritz Brothers, Joe Pasternak, “Archie Bunker”, and Lauren Bacall, to make this a rich, engrossing reading experience. Straight Shooting is filled with good feeling, friendship, and a sense of a job well done – as was Stack’s own career and life. Through it all, Robert Stack emerges on target, a straight-shooter in every sense of the word.

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some interesting stories about Stack's long career but he seems confused who he's writing for.

It's a movie star biography did he really think his audience was so fascinated by skeet shooting that it required an entire 20 page plus chapter? Or bullfighting? Those sports have their adherents surely but I doubt it is those reading this, especially while his work with master director Douglas Sirk which encompassed two revered films and resulted in an Oscar nomination for Stack was given a scant five pages.

An okay read but an awful lot of unnecessary filler.

[Calvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhat odd that a man who is almost the benchmark for a Second Stringer during the hollywood era would write one of the best biographies from an actor during that period.

[Celeste Hoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are searching for the voice of ''Unsolved Mysteries," he's here alright and this is one autobiography where it is clear the star is the author! This autobiography details his life prior to the fame, with a great deal of emphasis on the early stardom and life in southern California with skeet shooting and traditionally masculine forms of bonding. The dating details are quite confusing but in a well lived life, they usually are! Unfortunately, a great deal of the historical name dropping, requires more research and it is less of a leisurely read than hoped for. Mary Pickford is one largely recognizable named historical person, but for those with little knowledge of Hollywood tidbits prior to the 1940's, this is an overwhelming medley with a history/class lesson to be learned. I wish he had recorded it with his voice for our now audio books, this would have kept my interest up a bit more... J.P. let me know how the read is going over there, world traveler you!