Customer Reviews

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

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

 

 

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!

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.

I don't know whether or not the reviewer was being facetious but his/her use of His Gal Friday as the title of the Rosalind Russell/Cary Grant movie makes one wonder if he/she should be the one reviewing this work. With Miss Russell long dead and many of her contemporaries as well, it would be hard to offer any more insight than the author has. This being the first work on Russell since her own was published in 1977, it should stand on its own merit as a bibliography of her films as well as an insight into the life of her husband, a man I have long been curious about. Although Rosalind's son was interviewed for the biography, it's possible that he might be saving more information about his mother for his own work should he ever write one. Also, since she appeared to be more "normal" than most stars, her family might have the good sense to keep any dirt about their famous relative to themselves.

I was excited to read this biography of one of my favorite actresses, but could barely get through it. The bulk of the book is just a filmography with detailed synopses and strangely subjective insights about the successes or failures of the films. I found myself just skimming chapters TRYING to find something that I couldn't learn just through watching the films. Not worth your time.

I did not think that it would be possible to write a boring biography on Roz, but this author managed it. Factually it is OK, but he does not bring that vivaceous lady to life. It is also rather disconcerting that he refers to her all the way through the book as "Rosalind", when to her friends AND fans she will always be "Roz".

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

Another college essay style biography characterized by indifferent research and flaccid writing. The author succeeds in making Russell BORING with a narrative style that is singularly uninteresting. Don't waste your time with this one.

This was one of the best biographies I've ever read, especially of a film personality. Mr. Dick has researched his subject thoroughly and has gleaned all facets of her personality. He gives the impression of really having uncovered her inner traits and, in particular, her ability to maintain a private person sharing a life with a rather different screen persona. One senses that members of her immediate family, as well as good friends and colleagues were interviewed in depth, resulting in a full portrait of this fine woman and superb actress. Her triumphs ("Auntie Mame" and "Gypsy")and her disappointments (the 1946 Oscar loss to Loretta Young, for example) are impartially recounted, leaving the impression of a well-rounded woman and professional, able (to paraphrase) Rudyard Kipling, to treat triumph and disaster just the same. A book to savor and enjoy re-reading.