Customer Reviews

Ann-Margret: My Story

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This review is based on hardcover 1994 publication...

Accomplished actress, entertainer, wife, daughter, mother -- Ann-Margret writes an informative, entertaining autobiographical picture of her life, loves, losses, heartaches, and continued triumphs. Candidly, this performer tells of her successes but is also honest about her bouts with alcohol - and her triumph over the illness - more than once. It is interesting to note pride in her heritage from Valsjobyn, Sweden, her birthplace... with a close and loving relationship with her parents and their immigration to the US.

To read Ann-Margret's autobiography is to cry, laugh, & cheer... reading of her downs but mostly ups, with her loving husband and manager Roger Smith, who battled his own nerve disease to remission, and remained at Ann-Margret's side to support her personally and professionally, through hard times and more good times. The loss of her father to cancer; the death of Elvis Presley; her accidental fall from a platform at a performance in Lake Tahoe and finding the astounding strength and determination to come back to the entertainment world so quickly from so many injuries suffered in that fall... tells of the inner strength, stability, astuteness, professional, unselfish and loving human being that is Ann-Margret, who always keeps her positive focus within reach.

Ann-Margret's career began at an early age; even though a "natural talent", her success came with a lot of very hard work, high standards, and fortitude based on a mannerly upbringing and strong support by her parents, friends and husband Roger Smith. Ann-Margret describes in her bio a close and soulmate relationship within the scope of personal as well as professional essence with legendary Elvis Presley. Her upbeat description and tales of her co-stars, including "Duke" John Wayne; Claudette Colbert; Bette Davis; George Burns; directors, producers, along with many supportive individuals.

Her range of talent is wide -- in song, dance... acting on stage, movie screen and television, along with her comedy performances among which are Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Lucille Ball, and the great George Burns. Acting roles she assumed were highly challenging and to her credit she glowed with each performance, in differing genre delving into in-depth characterizations -- her repertoire includes but not limited to "Bye Bye Birdie", "Tommy", "Streetcar Named Desire", "Carnal Knowledge", "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles".

This reader has always been a fan of both Ann-Margret and husband Roger Smith, ignoring the tabloid garbage... cheering and admiring the fortitude of both of these talented persons and their lasting relationship...

And to Ann-Margret I say... thank you for writing your biography, even though it took me some years to get to reading it among my large collection of books. And, I am so glad I did... I am proud to be a "forever fan" of yours. God bless you.

Ann-Margret is one of America's most versatile actors/performers. I admire her not only for her incredible and diverse talent but also for her humility, warmth, integrity and discretion. I knew this book wouldn't be your usual "kiss and tell" autobiography but I do feel there were so many missed opportunities here.

I feel some of Ann-Margret's better works are the films she made in England: Joseph Andrews, The Return Of The Soldier and The Last Remake Of Beau Geste. These films starred the likes of Glenda Jackson, Julie Christie, Alan Bates, Marty Feldman, Beryl Reid, Michael Hordern, John Gielgud, Peter Ustinov, Michael York and so on...in her book she barely acknowledged these films. I wanted to know how she got along with such a cast of talent? Ann-Margret has worked with some of the most respected actors in the business. I would loved to have read about her times spent on the Dean Martin show.

I've given the book three stars, all of which go to the lady herself for taking the challenge and being as candid as she could possibly be at the time. Hopefully one day she'll sit down again and bare more of her spiritual self?

Ann-Margret: My Story is the absloutely fascinating story of this international legend, and is not to be passed up. I can account to the excellence of this tale: I have it read over a dozen times. Sometimes this seems almost more fiction than fact, and the reader will find himself, at the lowest times of Ann-Margret's life (such as her nearly-fatal fall from a 22 foot platform, and her bouts with alcoholism), rooting for their heroine to pull through. This is a must-read for veteran and new fans of this incredible superstar alike.

I've always enjoyed AM's performances whenever I come across them, but I wouldn't consider myself a fan. That's why I'm surprised to be rating this autobiography with 4 stars. I wanted to get the dish on Elvis, and yes, it's here. But there's more, too. She's refreshingly honest about the duality of her nature -- the onstage strumpet who can (to borrow a phrase) start a heat wave by letting her seat wave coexists with the "good girl" who brought friends with her on dates so she wouldn't have to be alone with a man before she was ready; the dutiful daughter who couldn't bear to disappoint her parents coexists with the reckless woman who truthfully, regretfully admits to having ended marital arguments by roaring off on her Harley with a good deal of alcohol in her system. It must be hard for her to live her life with, as she refers to it, "the two Ann-Margrets." I found that, and her enduring love story with Roger, to be the best and most surprising aspects of the book.

Ann-Margret is one of the most private Hollywood Legends ever...her candid tale is so riveting and just terrific, it's not to be passed up! She is truly a legend and always will be...you will respect her even more after reading this.

Some may think that Ann-Margret showed class when writing this but actually it's just boring.

It goes along like a freight train, no depth, substance or insight. Comes across as an extemely vain woman who is manipulated by her manager/husband. Where was the gossip, this is what sells a book, not all the rubbish in this.

Avoid at all costs. Totally void of any depth.

She has always been one of my most favorite entertainers. She is a truly remarkable woman and reading this book reinforced that fact. I enjoyed every page. Well done, Ann-Margret!

I thought this book was great. I am a great fan of Ann-Margrets and I thought this book was great! It was such a great book I read the whole book in less than one day. Even the people who were'nt fans of hers became interested in the book I was reading because it looked so interesting. This book is a good read and I do suggest it to anyone.

I had the audiotape version, read by the author, and was surprised at how hokey it sounded, given that she is an actress. I mean, I expected a better reading. Not sure how well it represents her, but the book makes her come across as a bit shallow. I've enjoyed her movies, but found this book a bore.

I thought this book was great. I am a great fan of Ann-Margrets and I thought this book was great! It was such a great book I read the whole book in less than one day. Even the people who were'nt fans of hers became interested in the book I was reading because it looked so interesting. This book is a good read and I do suggest it to anyone.