Customer Reviews

The Good, the Bad, and Me: In My Anecdotage

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was so entertained by this upbeat memoir that I couldn't put it down -- but I did put it down. I made myself stop reading before the final 35 pages, because I didn't want to wake up the next day with none of it left to enjoy. There are certain performances that are indelible. Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson's performances in THE TYPISTS remain so vivid and welcome in my memory that to this day I can laugh over their big "dream of romance" scene and cry over the final moments of the play. I just knew this memoir would be wonderful -- and I was right.

Wallach is one of those people who savors every moment of life --and for that reason he does a great job of relating what he has experienced. His appreciation of his beautiful, talented and witty wife, Anne Jackson, makes this a triply delightful read. How great it must be to not only get the last word, but to have your husband treasure it and then share it with the world like a rare pearl!

I still don't want this to end. Perhaps the publishers could get a memoir from Anne Jackson and another book of acting wisdom by the two of them. Put me down for first editions!

How did a Brooklyn-born Jew who grew up in an Italian-American neighborhood wind up getting famous for playing Mexican outlaws in some of the greatest westerns ever made? What was it like working with Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe (both in their last pictures before death) and John Houston? How does a "method"-trained theater actor deal with the commercialism and quicker pace of filmmaking--especially down-and-dirty spaghetti western filmmaking? You'll learn the answers to these and more questions in this wonderfully entertaining, insightful, and charming memoir by one of America's finest actors--still alive, well, and working in his nineties!

The story is a love story, too--both of Wallach's love of the craft of acting and his love of his wife, Anne Jackson, and family. In a life that takes twists, turns, and zig-zags all over the creative and cartographic map of the world of stage and screen, you travel effortlessly through the pages with your "host" and get to know him well. Whether you're a fan of Mr. Wallach's great performances or merely a movie buff who wants to know "the way it was" in the golden age or a theater fan looking for Broadway anecdotage, you'll be satisfied with this perfect autobiography--and if you're an actor or know one seeking to "break in" to the business, this book should provide lots of inspiration and hope, too.

There are many showbiz memoirs in print--I've never read one with as much content for BOTH "fans" and professionals as this one. Buy it, enjoy it, and buy it for a friend or two, too.

This is one of those books I put on my wish list after running across it in a bookstore shortly after its release. I then sat back and waited for the theoretical eccentric millionaire who reads wish lists and randomly buys things for people... and sure enough, the book was mine within a few weeks. I have to admit up front that I simply was not around when most of the stories in this book took place, especially those relating to Wallach's life on the stage in the 1940s through 1960s. In fact, I'd never even heard of most of those plays, except perhaps in passing; I know him best from "The Godfather Part III", and (randomly) from the audiobook of Stephen King's "Insomnia". As the book's anecdotes essentially end in 1967, Wallach does not cover this ground. I put the book on my wish list simply because I wanted to know more about the guy, and to learn more about an era I missed out on.

The book's tone is set by the prologue, in which Wallach sets out to research the role of gangster Albert Anastasia for a guest appearance in a TV series, and learns that he has a much closer connection with the crime boss's family than he suspected. Several chapters then detail Wallach's Jewish upbringing in sepia-toned Brooklyn (just six miles from where two of my grandparents were doing the same thing in East New York).

I found myself equally captivated by Wallach's stories of growing up, and his tales of working on an impressive body of theatrical and film work. Entire chapters are given over to "The Misfits" and "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly". Wallach spends lots of time discussing his (often better-known) co-stars, ranging from Clark Gable to Marlon Brando to Sir John Gielgud to a very young Alan Arkin. No-one is insulted; particularly warm, extended looks at Marilyn Monroe and Clint Eastwood are featured. The tone is very pleasant and inviting.

Written in a very simple, direct writing style, with no credited co-author, this autobiography will not require much of your time, but will leave you with lots of anecdotes to re-tell. Based on the time frame presented, a sequel is theoretically in the offing. I will update my wish list accordingly.

Like many men his age, Eli Wallach has become anecdotal, as he freely acknowledges in his subtitle. This autobiography, therefore, isn't one of those arrogant books that bully you with pushy claims that "you can't put it down," books that demand grueling hours of sustained reading when you might prefer to take a break now and then to watch the news or have a sandwich.

The high anecdote content of Wallach's book means that you can clap it shut just about anytime you like, because anecdotes are meant to be followed by a pause of a few moments' duration, like a tacit bar in a musical score, allowing readers time to chuckle or reflect or take a sip of restorative. Under no circumstances would anyone want to interrupt the author in mid-anecdote. He's a richly gifted raconteur who could draw a crowd just by telling about the last time he had his teeth cleaned.

And of course, after an anecdote ends, it isn't long before another one begins. (Brilliant!) Was it Wallach who said, "I got a million of 'em!"?

Despite his long and successful career, Wallach is possessed of sufficient humility to accept the fact that in some of his stories he plays only a minor role. When he talks about working with Charles Laughton, for example, he recognizes that it's Wallach telling about working with Laughton, not the other way around. Likewise, some of the most entertaining bits are his recollections of Tennessee Williams, Marilyn Monroe, Arthur Miller, Yul Brenner, Elia Kazan, and many others.

But he also knows when to focus on himself, as he does in a story about Eva Le Gallienne's Broadway production of Alice in Wonderland. She had chosen the young Wallach to play the role of a duck --- not a part that he had coveted, though he was following in the webbed-footsteps of Burgess Meredith. Nor was he reconciled on opening night as he watched fellow actors who were more comfortably costumed and had speaking parts, while he could only quack.

As often happens in such situations, things took a turn for the worse. The caterpillar around whose mushroom Alice would dance and sing in an upcoming scene had failed to report for duty, and Miss Le Gallienne elected to sacrifice the duck in the interest of a creature with lines. Though he was unhappy as a duck, Wallach balked at the change, so she ordered the stage manager to wrestle him out of the duck costume, stuff him into the caterpillar suit, and push him back onto the stage. From the wings she commanded: "Go out and play that caterpillar!" Wallach remarks a bit anticlimactically and perhaps unnecessarily that Miss Le Gallienne never thanked him for his "courageous" performance.

Arthur Miller called Wallach "the happiest good actor" he'd ever known. He was, after all, a kid from Brooklyn who wound up with the girl of his dreams, the actress Anne Jackson, and the only job he'd ever wanted. His book is so thoroughly permeated by his good-natured outlook on life that it might be a '30s musical.

--- Reviewed by H.V. Cordry

I appreciate autobiographies like Eli Wallach's The Good, The Bad, and Me: In My Anecdotage because too often there is little attention given to the perspective of a character actor. As opposed to his contemporaries, some of whom Wallach new intimately; Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, George C. Scott, Steve McQueen, Montgomery Clift, Paul Newman, Tennessee Williams and Elia Kazan many books, authorized and not have been scribbled about them. As far as I could research no one had taken an interest in writing about Wallach. His story is certainly impressive, and not only for his success as an actor-for over 50 years now! But his experience in the military in WWII, his membership early in the Actors' Studio (has was on Inside the Actors' Studio? in it's 3rd season), his according success on Broadway and perhaps most notably, his relationship and marriage to Anne Jackson.
As one of the original "method" actors his experience and resume are valuable to read, for film, theatre and especially acting lovers. 90 year old character actors don't usually put out biographies. And it is also important to note that his success as an actor, on film, TV and the stage was achieved as a father and husband. To me that is as admirable as anything.
His writing and attitude clarify his success too. His fondnesses and compassion, appreciations and praise are fullsome here. It is little wonder why he has worked for so long, and is still going.
It is wise to note the sub-title In My Anecdotage, as Wallach, while staying mostly chronological, highlights certain markers in his career. Usually these are congruous with what he is know for: Baby Doll; The Magnificent Seven; The Misfits and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. The details of these films are fun to read, i.e, the controversial Baby Doll seduction scene's off-screen realities, Yul Brunner and McQueen's competetiveness during Seven, etc. Of course, the pecularities and idiosyncracies of The Misfits is detailed, making for an excellent chapter on being in the middle of a production storm amidst Monroe, Clift and Clark Gable-a man whom Wallach holds very dear...
Some other goods are that Wallach was offered the role of Maggio in From Here to Eternity, but declined it to do Tennessee Williams' Camino Real. Ever after Sinatra would have a limo pick Jackson and Wallach up to bring them to shows in NY. The bridge explosion from The Good, The Bad was actually the second bridge, how his hat from Seven originated, who once baby sat his children, etc.
As of this review Mr. Wallach has another film coming out in with Diane Keaton later in 2007. An amazing career for a true first class (character) actor.
As I said earlier, I appreciate the perspective of actors like Eli Wallach. Likewise I'd love to read about actors like: Lee J. Cobb, Warren Oates, Thelma Ritter, Christopher Plummer, Donald Sutherland, Peter Boyle, John Cazale, J.T. Walsh, etc. etc. Long (save Cazale) and impressive careers, experience with some of the greatest directors, actors and films ever, but very little is known....

Eli Wallach grew up in my old neighborhood in Brooklyn several decades before my birth. Too bad...I wish I had known him...I wish I'm able to make his acquaintance, now. (I guess in a remote sense I have, by reading his book.) He's a kind of guy I always felt comfortable palling around with..and, a great raconteur, as well. The book's genre is kinda like sitting in a candy store booth over an egg cream or a lime rickey listening to the events of a lifetime spun by an old friend who's "been there". Eli's narrative is chock full of wonderful moments, colorful people, and insightful observations of a long and memorable life..and career. The book leaves you hankering for more...but, alas, it's getting dark and your mother is calling you home for supper.
His long and loving marriage to the talented Ms.Jackson is not only indicative of the kind of person he is...but what you can expect in his book (it ain't Hollywood Babylon). It's a "feelgood" book in all respects. I couldn't put down--and neither will you. I wish Mr. Wallach and his family many more years of Mazel and thank him for sharing.

I actually borrowed this book from my husband's bookshelf. Although they are never anything I would buy for myself, once he gets them, his books always look so interesting to me. He has very different tastes in books than I do, and while I am interested in his books, I seriously doubt he is interested in mine. But I digress.

This book is quite a departure for me. For one, I hate, and I do mean HATE, autobiographies. Most of the time, I find them poorly written, boring, badly edited, and generally lackluster. The last time I read an autobiography I actually liked was when I read "Elvis and Me" by Priscilla Presley, and I was in the 5th grade, so my expectations were pretty low (thanks to the Sweet Valley Twins). I guess I take that back, I love Frank McCourt's books, but those are more of memoirs. Maybe that is why I liked this one so much, it is also more of a memoir.

Another reason I am shocked I read this book, and liked it, is because it is about Eli Wallach. All I knew of Eli Wallach was he was in westerns. If there is anything I hate more than autobiographical books, it is western movies. So an autobiography about a western movie star? I was more than a little doubtful. But my husband read me a couple of snippets one night, and I knew instantly I HAD to read this book.

So what makes this book about Eli Wallach so great? ELI WALLACH. He excels as an author for the same reason he excels as an actor; the man is one hell of a storyteller. The book is a simple read, I think I completed in a little over 26 hours. My husband said he wished the book was 75% about the film "The Good The Bad and The Ugly", and 25% about everything else. I love the book precisely because it is not.

We learn about Wallach's struggle for legitimacy within his own family, when it came to his passion for acting. We learn about his loyalty to the theater. We learned about the Method Acting movement in America, and the part he played in it. We learn about his struggle to balance his career with that of his wife, also a successful actress. I learned so much.

The first time I ever heard of Eli Wallach, being the western hater I am, was New Years Eve 2008, when my then boyfriend, now husband, begrudgingly watched the movie "The Holiday" with me. All of the sudden, he exclaimed, "Oh my god, it's The Ugly!". Never did I think some chick flick would result in me reading a book about a man who acted in westerns, but I am so glad it did.

As I said, I get into reading ruts. This means I do not really stretch my reading muscles that much, and I do not always grow as much as I could from reading. However, this book really pushed me. It took me to places I had never been. I was in Brooklyn with him, I was in Hawaii with him, I was on the stage with him, hell I was on a horse with him. And I loved every minute of it.

Eli Wallach had a dream, and with his wife's help, he has achieved it. I listened to Wallach speak about his book earlier in May, and his efferevescent personality and humor made me glad I did. He and his wife make quite a team, and she helped him remember details as he spoke.

His book, too, is warm and pleasing. He and his wife worked well together in drama and movies, even when projects forced them to be apart. Somehow, they stayed together when other Hollywood marriages collapsed.

His stories about Marilyn Monroe, the Method Acting Classes, Elia Kazan and Laurence Olivier were new to me and enchanting. His range from portraying Asians, cowboys and tough gangsters was well explained and fascinating.

I'm so happy I saw him in person and read his book. Thanks for everything, Eli.

by Larry Rochelle, author of BLUE ICE, GULF GHOST and TEN MILE CREEK.

Can a book without divorce, unhappy childhood, addiction, philandering -- you know, the stuff that makes a lot of books sell, be a wonderful celebrity read? Eli Wallach's is. A man who has had the same wife for almost five decades, three well-adjusted children, warm memories of his parents & brother and an amazing career.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Read it. If you love theatre and movies and reading about an actor of extraordinary range and talent who has graced both stage and screen, try E.W.'s highly readable story.

I have only one complaint about this book. It should be several volumes long. With such a long and varied career, it would have been great to read more about some of the classic movies in which Mr. Wallach appeared. With out giving into gossip, he entertains with behind the scenes stories that make us appreciate the movies even more. One can only hope for a sequel.