Forever Mame: The Life of Rosalind Russell (Hollywood Legends Series) (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Rosalind never told the truth about her age..." (more)
Key Phrases: subway circuit, wonderful town, New York, Auntie Mame, Reverend Mother (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although the author has written several other biographies, this look at Rosalind Russell, the film star best known for playing Auntie Mame, offers very little revelation about her life, her times, or even her personality. Dick's research is very skimpy, relying heavily on Russell's memoir and various film archives. While the plot of every movie and play in which Russell performed is impressively recounted, there is virtually no insight into her major relationships, nor what drove her to become a movie star. Worse yet, the narrative proves hard to follow, full of repetition, awkward phrasings and obvious filler. It's easy to tell that many of the facts and anecdotes told here come from other sources, but the author rarely acknowledges them, and the odd way he paraphrases leaves some stories too convoluted to follow. Russell, who turned in skilled performances in His Gal Friday and Wonderful Town, appears to have been a woman of interesting contradictions: she was a devout Catholic, married for 35 years, but enjoyed making risque films and befriending men of ill repute like Frank Sinatra. Readers will be left wishing Dick had put more effort and skill into bringing that woman to life.
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Product Description

When it comes to living life to its fullest, Rosalind Russell’s character Auntie Mame is still the silver screen’s exemplar. And Mame, the role Russell (1907–1976) would always be remembered for, embodies the rich and rewarding life Bernard F. Dick reveals in the first biography of this Golden Age star, Forever Mame: The Life of Rosalind Russell.

Drawing on personal interviews and information from the archives of Russell and her producer-husband Frederick Brisson, Dick begins with Russell’s childhood in Waterbury, Connecticut, and chronicles her early attempts to achieve recognition after graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Frustrated by her inability to land a lead in a Broadway show, she headed for Hollywood in 1934, and two years later, played her first starring role, the title character in Craig’s Wife.

All of her films are discussed along with her triumphal return to Broadway, first in the musical Wonderful Town and later in Auntie Mame. Forever Mame details Russell’s social circle of such stars as Loretta Young, Cary Grant, and Frank Sinatra. It traces the trajectory of an extraordinary career, ending with Russell’s courageous battle against the two diseases that eventually caused her death: rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Realizing she had only a short time to live, Russell devoted her last years to campaigning for arthritis research. So successful was she in her efforts to alert lawmakers to this crippling disease that a leading San Francisco research center is named after her.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 289 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi (August 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578068908
• ISBN-13: 978-1578068906
• Product Dimensions: 3.7 x 1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #236,250 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT A LIFE IT WAS!, February 13, 2007

By	Michael A. Coviello (Waterbury,Ct. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well written biography on one of Hollywood's best loved actress,the one and only Roz Russell.Being born and raised in Waterbury,Ct. myself, it was really interesting to read about my hometown and how it formed Miss Russell to become the person that she did.This is not one of your typical "kiss-and-tell" books. There are no controversial stories in this book which I found to be quite refreshing.Miss Russell was a deeply religious person but at the same time she is not being portrayed as a person without flaws either.Miss Russell lived a very full,rich life with her husband and her son but her life,unfortunately, was cut short at the age of 69 by cancer.All in all,this biography is a fascinating look at a fascinating woman.I highly recommend it!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a disappointment, November 26, 2006

By	J. Winger (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sadly, the Publisher's Weekly review is right on the money. There is very little about the "life" of Rosalind Russell, as touted in the title. The book is little more than a poorly researched, dryly written synopsis of her movies & stage appearances.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Any serious film library needs this., December 10, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

While much has been made of the classic film character Auntie Mame, relatively little has been written about Rosalind Russell, who portrayed her: that makes Forever Mame: The Life of Rosalind Russell a 'must' for any serious film library collection specializing in film history. It is, surprisingly, the first full-length biography and uses personal interviews and private archives - including those of her film producer husband - to detail her life. While it includes black and white photos, the meat of the title lies in its biographical sketch of Russell's life and social circle: key to understanding her character and film career. Any serious film library needs this.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch